Gardening is one of the most wonderful pastimes you will ever have. It is a nice time for bonding with your spouse and kids on a cozy afternoon weekend. Your garden is also a nice place in your home where you can relax. It is also beneficial especially if you plant vegetables in it. However, one problem you will have by having a garden is a place where you can keeps your gardening tools.

So if you love to tend your garden but having trouble in keeping your garden tools and equipments in a safe and organize place, then you should check out garden shed designs that fit your budget and home. Although it may seem simple, you must also remember that there are things to consider in building storage sheds.

So to help you better in making a perfect storage space for your things, here are tips in building your garden shed.

Budget- like in any project, you need to consider how much you are willing to spend in building your storage shed. Budgeting is important so that you do not tend to overspend. It also keeps you in the right track to only spend what is necessary for your garden shed. Have a little allowance for unexpected expenses.

If you choose to hire a professional, be prepared to pay more for their services. Make sure though that the professionals that you hire are really great and reliable so that your money won’t go to waste.

Design- choosing garden equipment shed plans can be a little difficult especially if you need to agree with your household. Your wife might like it to have a girly touch and if you have kids, you also need to consider making the shed is child-friendly

Choose a design that is hip and simple. Try putting everyone’s personality in it so that everybody is inclined to help out in keeping things in order. Put shelves that are not too high for your kids to reach, but if you do, try putting sturdy ladder so that they can reach the things kept inside the shed. Ensure that the storage of dangerous and sharp objects is not accessible to your kids to avoid accidents.

For better lighting and air circulation, put big windows and wide doors. You can also put transparent roofing so that light can come in.

Space- to make use of your investment in storage; make your garden shed big. Do not hesitate to use your backyard space especially if your lot area is big. This way, you don’t need to make an extension of your shed when you need more storage because sooner or later, you will need more space. This is also important so that you can put your big equipments in proper and dry place such as lawn mowers. Aside from being a garden shed, you can also use it as your workspace for you other hobbies as well.

Materials- you can opt for wooden or concrete shed. However there are factors to consider whichever shed you decide to choose.

Concrete shed- this kind of shed lasts longer than the wooden one. The base and foundation is stronger. It can also stand better in bad weather conditions. However, its downside is that it is more difficult to remove especially when you decide to use the space or lot area for something else. Maintenance is also not that expensive because all you have to do is regular cleaning.

Wooden shed- the expenses vary on the type of wood that you choose. It can be more expensive than concrete sheds should you use logs or hard wood, but these types of woods can last longer than ordinary or the synthetic ones.  They are easier to remove if you choose to remove the shed. However, maintenance is quite expensive because you need to repaint it more often than the concrete one.

Taking all these into consideration will help you build a wonderful garden shed. You just have to remember that you make your shed spic and span all the time by placing organizers and sheds to help maintain its cleanliness. Try making rules for everybody to observe to ensure that your things are well organized.

Isn’t it nice to indulge yourself in doing things that you really want do? To do something that can free yourself from stress; let your imaginative and creative mind put to work by starting a hobby.

Having a hobby isn’t that easy especially if you require a bigger that space you can work on. It is also crucial to start a hobby when you have little kids around knowing that they are too curious and touch everything that you have. If you have sharp objects and tools, it is best to keep them away from your kids. But what do you do if you have no workspace inside your home? Will you just quit thinking about making ways of doing your hobby? What if you build a shed workshop to keep your things untouched as well as keep them organize.

This article will teach you how to build a workshop. Follow these simple steps and in no time, you can start your hobby in your brand new workshop.

• Choose a workshop plan- workshop plans help you to decide easier on what type of shed you want. You can choose a design that suits your taste as well. Of course, that practicality and the size of your workshop shed are dependent on the type of hobby you are into. For instance, if you are into carpentry, you will need a bigger workshop that can accommodate all your things.

Since the workshop will be a place for you to relax and think creatively, it is preferable to make it wide. Big windows and doors are also advisable as it gives you better air circulation and lighting. Aside from that, you can save electricity if lighting and circulation are great. You should also have a high ceiling so that there is so much room for you to move especially if you have big projects to do.

Save an open space where you can put heavy and big equipments such as mowers, chainsaws and wood cutters. If you have kids, make sure that this area is inaccessible for them so as to keep them away from harm.

• Materials to be used- you can choose to build a concrete or wooden workshop. If you choose to have a wooden one, make sure that you make preventive measure to always put the wood in very condition such as termite proofing and painting the walls to prevent water absorption caused by rain or snow. As we all know, moisture hastens the decaying of wood.

Same thing goes to concrete sheds; the walls must be well -finished to avoid moisture that may damage your tools and equipments.

Walls should also be reliable so that rain water doesn’t come in especially during bad weather conditions. Again, to avoid the rusting of your roof make sure that you paint it as needed.

• Organizers and shelves- you should have enough built-in shelves to organize your things. Segregate your things according to sizes, types and frequency of usage. Meaning, if your tool is frequently used, then you should put it somewhere very accessible. If you seldom use the tool, might as well put it somewhere a little hidden.

You can also make small drawers where you can put your little tools. If it is too tasking for you to make little drawers, you can buy small plastic drawers in the market. Boxes are nice compartments for your things too; you just need to ensure that they are sturdy enough to handle heavy materials. To help you better in organizing, make some labels and stick then unto the boxes.

• Work table- this is the most important part of your workshop, a nice and sturdy table that can accommodate all your projects. You can make your own table provided that you sanded it well to avoid having splinters on your hands. Also, the base and foundation of the table should be able to support the weight of your projects.

Aside from that, it is a good option to have drawers in your table for easier access to your tools. This way, you can work with comfortably in your project.

If you follow these simple guides, you will surely achieve the kind of workshop that you want.

I have a really nice house (about 1600 square feet), but it has no basement and attic and five people living in it, so it can storage is an issue.  We do have a garage that is packed full of stuff, but that is starting to get old.  I would love to actually park my car in there at some point soon.   So I started thinking about building a wooden shed.

I looked into buying a used wooden garden shed, but no go… I couldn’t find any that were in good enough shape that I would want to go with them, but I could see this being a great option if you could find one in nice condition.

When I started looking around at wooden garden shed plans, I couldn’t help buy notice how expensive some of them were.   I was amazed.   The free plans out there are usually not detailed enough for me and it is not unusual for a good quality shed plan to cost $20 or more, and while that is not bad (and building will save you a ton of money), I really wanted more for my money.

That is when I started looking for woodworking plans online and I came across this site called woodworking4home.com.   This site has a product that has amazing value.  There are 14,000 woodworking plans and projects for just $49.oo.   That is pretty amazing.  One of the best things for me about this particular product is that it brings building wooden storage sheds and many other projects down to my (beginner) level.   I like that a lot, because it will save me a ton of money in the long run.

Another thing that really impressed me is that this  woodworking4home.com membership is only a one time fee and has a money back guarantee.  That way if you buy it and don’t like it, it is OK.     But in all reality, with 14,000 plans you may never need another woodworking book, guide or manual again.

So I am looking forward to saving a bunch of money because I’ve looked at wooden sheds for sale and they are expensive.  Instead, I can just pick from the 39 different shed plans at woodworking4home.com and build one myself (if I was buying that many plans individually, I would hate to think what it would cost).   Next project…. a fence. 

If you are considering building your own shed, then you will need a good quality set of shed plans.  There are tons of shed designs to choose from, and finding the right shed plan for your situation doesn’t have to be difficult.   Here are three guidelines to help.

Know what you are using your shed for:

When you looking at purchasing storage shed building plans, you need to know what you are going to use your shed for.   Many times ordering a package of shed plans is your best option.  That way you can look through them and pick the design that will suit you best.

Some people use sheds as workshops, sometimes they are used as garden prep  areas, and sometimes they are used for storage.  Carefully think about your needs and build your shed accordingly.

Get shed building plans that reflect your style.

Whatever shed you choose to build you want to make sure it reflects the style of the house that you live in.  You want your shed to blend seamlessly with your property.   A lot of times this is in the details.  Match the trim and colors to what is on your house and you should be good to go.

Get a plans for sheds that are geared toward your level of expertise.

Even though your shed should match your house, you don’t want to kill yourself.  Make sure that your shed plans match your ability to build them.  They should also be fairly detailed and include a supply list to make it as easy as possible to build your shed.  If possible get your lumber precut.  That will make the job much easier, and most home improvement stores do this for a minimal charge.

Enlist help.

Assembling your shed from shed plans is really a two person job, so enlist help.  Get everything together and serve pizza, then have your friends come over to help you build your shed.  It’s kind of like an Amish barn raising, but on a much smaller scale.

Getting the right shed plans doesn’t have to be difficult.  Just keep in mind what you are using your shed for, match the design to your house, and keep it within your skill level.   If you do these three things you will have a project that you can complete in a weekend or two and you will have a garden building you can enjoy for many years to come.

I’ve had some time to do some reading lately and I’ve managed to come across a few really interesting posts that I thought I’d let everyone know about. Check em out and let me know your thoughts on some of the topics they talked about within -

My Garden @ House n Style Blog Archive Tips and Ideas For …

Storage sheds are pretty simple to build, but if you feel it is beyond your carpentry skills, consider hiring a local handyman. Building a storage shed is a rewarding experience in many ways, but before we get too carried away with …  Read More…

Tips and Ideas For Outdoor Storage Sheds | Information Solutions

Storage sheds are best built some distance away from the main building. Storage Sheds – Choosing the right shed constructing your own shed or buying a prefabricated storage shed kit can be daunting. There are many styles, material, …  Read More…

Building a Shed

Coming up with the design will help you answer a lot of questions before you begin building a shed. For example, there is the matter of siding for the storage shed. Do you want to go with aluminum siding, wood siding, or brick siding? …  Read More…

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

How To Build A Lean-to Storage Shed

Let’s begin with the materials list that you’ll need to build this shed :
- Pressure treated skids (4×4)
- Pressure treated floor joists (2×4)
- Exterior grade plywood flooring 3/4”
- Top plates, bottom plates, studs, header, trimmer studs, cripple studs, rafters, subfascia (2×4)
- T1-11 exterior siding 5/8”
- CDX roof sheathing 1/2”
- Fascia (1×4)
- Corner and door trim (1×3)
- Drip edge and 15 lb roofing felt
- Asphalt shingles
- Galvanized nails
- Door hinges and latch
- Paint or stain

Step.1.FRAME THE FLOOR
Cut two pressure treated 4 by 4s to 5 feet long for skids.Do the same with two pressure treated 2 by 4s for the rim joists.Cut six floor joists to 45 inches long and position them between the rim joists, 16 inches on center; secure with 16d nails.Place the frame on the skids, shim it level as required, square it up and toenail the floor joists to the skids.Cover the frame with 3/4 inch exterior plywood.

Step.2.BUILD THE WALLS
For the back wall, you must cut 6-foot-long top and bottom plates and lay out studs 24 inches on center.The wall studs are 8 feet long, with their top ends angled at 18 degrees.Build the back wall and nail to the floor frame, bracing as necessary.
For the front wall, cut the top plate 6 feet long and two bottom plates each 1 foot long.Mark a 4-foot-wide door opening and the stud positions.Cut four wall studs to 81(1/4) inches long, plus two 71(1/2) inch long trimmer studs.Also cut two 51-inch-long 2 by 4s, plus a same size strip of 1/2 inch thick plywood as a spacer, and nail them all together for a header.Assemble the wall and attach the header, then add four criple studs on top as shown on the facing page.Secure the front wall to the floor and brace as needed.
Build the side walls with 41-inch long top and bottom plates and 81(1/4) inch long studs.Attach them to the floor.When the wall sections are square and plumb, nail or screw the corners together.

Step.3.FRAME THE ROOF
The roof framing consists of 2 by 4 rafters that rest on the front and back top plates.Cut four rafters as shown on the facing page.Toenail them to the top plates every 24 inches.Then cut a 2 by 4 gable stud to fit between the end rafter and the top plate of each side wall.Next, cut the 2 by 4 subfascia to length and attach it to the front ends of the rafters.

Step.4.ENCLOSE THE WALLS
Next cut pieces of T1-11 siding to cover the front and the sides; save the cutouts to make the doors.Position the siding flush with the bottom of the rim joists and attach it with 8d galvanized nails every 8 inches or so.

Step.5.INSTALL THE ROOF
Use 1/2-inch CDX plywood to sheath the rafters, using 6d nails.Cut the side (or rake) trim to cover the exposed edges of the roof sheathing, and attach.Also cut and install the front fascia, aligning its bottom edge with the bottoms of the side rakes.Install drip edge and 15-pound roofing felt, and apply the shingles.

Step.6.ADD DOORS AND TRIM
Using left-over siding scraps, build a pair of doors to fit the opening, trimming them out with 1 by 3s.Cut and instal 1 by 3 trim along the shed’s front corners and back edges, then around the top and both sides of the door opening.Prop the doors in the opening with wood shims or blocks and check the fit; they would be snug on the side and have about 1/2 inch of clearance top and bottom.Finally attach, the doors with strap hinges and add a door latch.

RESUME : The floor frame for this small shed will rest on pressure-treated skids instead of a fixed foundation.If your site is sloped or has poor drainage, first excavate soil to a depth of 4 inches and replace it with gravel, then place your skids and floor atop that.Next, frame the walls and roof on top of the level platform and enclose them with plywood siding and asphalt shingles.Finally, build and hang a simple door and tidy things up with a little trim.

PS : Enjoy your new lean-to shed.

By: Paul Wakins

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

So … do you want to learn more about outdoor sheds ? eCopyus can help you with free knowledge
about storage sheds, gazebos or garages.Also we can help you selecting the best Arrow Sheds for
your home or business.

I’ve had some time to do some reading lately and I’ve managed to come across a few really interesting posts that I thought I’d let everyone know about. Check em out and let me know your thoughts on some of the topics they talked about within -

My Garden @ House n Style Blog Archive Tips and Ideas For …

Storage sheds will come in many styles and sizes for different needs. A garden shed is a simple structure. Building your own shed will be more economical. You will also have more options in terms of design and size. …  Read More…

Finding The Right Landscape Supplies & Garden Sheds Supplier

Watch the television commercials and the ads in the flyers as to when the different garden sheds and home improvement stores are having their sales or specials on landscape supplies. If you are on a really tight budget but have a lot of …  Read More…

Landscaping On Your Own – Garden Sheds

What you must actually do is put together a well though out landscaping design with the right kind of plants that will basically pop out from the background color. You need to also make sure that you have the right kind of landscape … Landscaping is much more then just plants as it is also about the garden decorations, garden sheds and the rocks that you put out. These items also have to be planned in terms of where they are going to go because you just cannot throw …  Read More…

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

Wooden Shed Kits – Common Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Wooden Shed Kit

If you want to get hold of a wooden shed kit, but you’re looking for further information, then this article was written for you. In particular, we’re going to cover some of the mistakes people make when getting a wooden shed kit. My hope is that by reviewing these mistakes, you’ll save yourself from making them.Mistake Number 1 – Not Realizing why you need a storage shed.Most people fill their garage with their garden “junk”. I’m talking about things such as your lawn mower, perhaps some garden chairs, and other equipment which is better kept in a shed. By getting a nice garden shed, you’ll also be able to park your car in the garage where it belongs.Mistake Number 2 – Not knowing where to get a good deal on a wooden shed kit.Most people simply go to their local garden store and pick up a premade shed, and in doing so, pay hundreds of dollars more than they needed to. Why not buy a kit which you can put together yourself? Most of the time, you can put it together in a day, and you’ll save yourself hundreds of dollars. Everything you will need will come with the kit. All you need is a little woodworking experience and some basic tools like a hammer, a ladder and a screwdriver.Mistake Number 3 – Not realizing how easy it is to build a shed yourself, from scratch.There’s no need to panic! Even if you’re a rank beginner when it comes to woodworking, building a shed is far easier than you ever imagined. You will save yourself hundreds of dollars, too. The basic materials are very cheap. As long as you have a good, step-by-step plan to follow, you will have no trouble building your own shed from scratch.

By: Ryan Carlton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

If you’re looking for quality shed plans, you should take a look at my blog – where I’ll show the best online resource for downloading high quality shed designs and blueprints. These designs are step-by-step, fully illustrated, and make building your own shed as easy as falling off a log. Click here to go there now.

Garage Storage Ideas: Creating a Garage Storage Plan

Here are a few handy garage storage ideas that will help you to spruce up your garage. Use garage storage cabinets, shelves, and racks to make the optimum use of the space you have in your garage.

Garages these days are no longer just repositories for vehicles, household junk, and unused tools. They are often an integral part of homes, doubling up as laundry rooms, hobby areas, workshops, children’s playing area, and so on. Garages can also double up as home offices. In order to optimize your garage storage, you need to find out what the various options are.

Here are some garage storage ideas that you can use in order to reduce the clutter and find the things you require when you need them:

Garage Storage Ideas

Optimize the Garage Space: One of the best ideas is optimizing the space in your garage for your storage requirements. In order to keep your garage uncluttered and clean there are myriad storage options that are available these days. Begin by categorizing the things you use according to how frequently you use them. For example, cleaning supplies and garbage bags are used frequently whereas the weed trimmer or the lawn mower need not be kept in the middle right in the center of your garage. Garage storage items can range from items that are not used to tools to sports equipment to even an RV or a small boat.

Use Containers to Keep Items: Containers are very handy for stacking items. And if you label them it will save you effort and time later. Bicycles and other paraphernalia like inline skates, bike helmets, and so on can be mounted on a sidewall. You can also install a workbench in the garage if you are into carpentry and such like.

Garage Storage Shelves: Garage storage shelves that are wall mounted are one of the best ways to store practically everything you require, with the added convenience of being able to spot anything you should need, since they are right there on the shelves. There are various designs in shelving units with some that cover the entire side or back wall. Once you organize the shelves, it will prevent anything being kept scattered on the floor. Another good idea is to label each of the shelves, so that everybody will know where things need to go once they put them back, plus it makes it much easier to find things when you need them.

Free Standing Storage Cabinets: You can also use free standing storage cabinets that are very useful in garages. All you need to make certain of is that the cabinets will be able to stand on their own and that the garage floor is level. This type of storage is particularly useful because they can be moved around in the garage when you need to store something else in a certain area of the garage.

Use Rafter Racks for Extra Storage Space: Add rafter racks so that you can make the optimum use of the space overhead for storage. This kind of overhead shelving will provide lots of space where boxes can be kept and things that are not used very frequently.

Use Brackets, Hooks, and Pegboards: Some of the other garage storage ideas include using brackets, hooks and pegboards on the walls where items like golf clubs, gardening tools, shovels, and work clothes. There are also special units that are available which are ideal for storing sports equipment like snowshoes, baseball balls and bats, tennis rackets, and so on.

Safety Proof your Garage: If you have hazardous stuff such as paint, pesticides, and fertilizers, keep them in a safe place so that they are out of reach of children. This holds true for sharp gardening tools too, which need to be hung overhead, and those that cannot be hung should be kept in locked boxes.

Garage Storage Plans: There are plenty of house planning sites on the Internet from where you can print out garage storage plans, in order to get more garage storage ideas. With a few good ideas about garage storage planning along with the appropriate storage implements and a killer garage flooring you can maximize your garage storage and space to their optimum best.

Wood vs. Metal shed for my backyard?

Do to storage issues, I think having a shed in the backyard would be an easy way to clear out some stuff from our garage. Locally there is a lot of retailers selling wood sheds that look great, but if you look around everyone I know has a metal shed. We live in southern Georgia where it is swampy and humid. My concern with the wood is that it will rot or attract termites. My issues with the metal are it will rust and be leaky. I know there is vinyl sheds too, but I haven't see many of those so I don't know what to think of them. So what are the pros and cons of wood and metal sheds.