Posts Tagged ‘woodworking’

How To Choose The Right Set Of Plans For Wooden Sheds

November 2nd, 2009

Wooden sheds are very versatile in how you can use them and they’ve been around for a long time. Building a wooden shed for yourself makes a great project, especially if you are the kind of person who is relatively handy with tools. And, although it can be a bit challenging to build wooden sheds, you don’t have to be a seasoned handyman to tackle this project.

Before you purchase your own set of plans, keep in mind a few of the following important considerations.

A good starting point is to figure out how you’ll be using your wooden shed. For example, maybe you just put in a pool and now you need a place to store all those new pool toys and chemicals. Or, you simply want it to store all those tools you have piling up in your garage.

Knowing how you will be using your new wooden shed is an important first step in choosing the right plans. Since you know its intended purpose, you should know approximately how large of a space you will need to fulfill its purpose. When researching plans, you will need to look for plans that fit the size requirements of your needs.

Chances are, you will start your search for shed plans online. You’ll quickly notice that there is either a three-dimensional rendering or an actual photo of the shed. The style of shed you choose comes down to personal taste and is an important factor when selecting your plan. You should already have a good idea of where you will be locating your shed. This could also impact where the windows and door is located. Keep this in mind as well when you are selecting your plans.

Take extra care to read the description of what is included in the set of shed plans. The best plans will make it easier to construct by including exploded diagrams of intricate areas. They will include plenty of reference illustrations or photographs of the wooden shed in progress. And, to make it easy to go shopping for the materials, every set of plans will include a complete materials list.

For over 20 years now, Dan Reiling has been working (and playing) in his own wooden shed. For more info, tips and resources, be sure to visit his web site: BestWoodenSheds.com

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Help For Deciding Between Plastic, Metal or Wooden Sheds

October 25th, 2009

So you are trying to decide between plastic, metal or wooden sheds. There are quite a few considerations you should keep in mind. Let’s look at three categories (besides cost).

Strength and Reliability

Although they are both durable and reliable, plastic and metal sheds do have their weaknesses. In warmer climates, metal sheds can get blistering hot. And, plastic (or vinyl) can be damaged over time if exposed to extreme heat. If wood is treated, wooden sheds can last for years even if overexposed to heat and sunlight. A real plus for all three types of materials is that they can all be painted to add protection.

Imagine how unsightly your shed would look with a few good sized dents in it. This is exactly what can happen to your shed if it is made from metal. Wooden sheds, on the other hand, are pretty easy to repair if they are nicked by filling in the hole with wood filler and simply painting or staining over it. Wooden sheds can also handle extreme weather conditions quite nicely since they are framed very much the same way that houses are.

Freedom With Wood

There are so many choices of shed styles to choose from, that it can be overwhelming when you start shopping. Each type of shed – plastic, metal and wood, come in all kinds of sizes and styles, and ultimately – cost. The big advantage wood has over the other two choices is that you can build your own custom shed from scratch.

You can purchase (for a minimal cost) and download shed plans online. There are literally hundreds of shed plans to choose from. If you have basic carpentry skills, this makes a great starting point. Building from plans gives you the extra freedom to alter it any way you need. So, if you need more space for your riding mower or quad, just add the extra to accommodate them.

Aesthetics

When it comes to wooden sheds, there really is no comparison for how it will look in your backyard. Use a good quality water sealer or stain to take advantage of your wooden shed’s natural beauty (especially if its cedar). Metal and plastic sheds are much better placed at the side of the house or farther away out of view. Whereas, wooden sheds are better placed where you can easily see them from your house.

Timothy Corcoran has a long time passion for wooden sheds. You can find more info and resources at his web site devoted to these wonderful structures: Best Wooden Sheds

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A Few Important Considerations of Owning Wooden Sheds

October 23rd, 2009

So you are considering building a wooden shed for yourself and you’ve been doing your research. Yes, there are a few important considerations to be thinking about, like where it will be located, what its purpose will be, what materials will you be building it out of and whether or not you should even build it yourself or hire someone else. Let’s have a look:

Your Shed’s Purpose

You should try to use your wooden shed to its fullest potential. Ask yourself if you will be using it to store your garden equipment or woodworking tools or even pool supplies. Think of how convenient wooden sheds can be if used properly. And, they can be used for so much more than as a shelter for storage. If a shed is decked out with some furniture, refrigerator, maybe even a flat screen TV, it makes a great sanctuary or retreat area.

Location

In determining where you will put your shed, a big factor is knowing HOW you will be using it. Obviously, a garden shed will be best utilized next to or near the garden. Likewise, next to the pool is where a pool cabana is placed. Keep in mind that any electrical wiring or plumbing running to your shed will also be a determining factor to the location of your shed since you will want them to be easily routed from their source to the shed. When digging any trench, be extra careful as there may be existing wiring or plumbing in the ground. Other important considerations include water drainage and location of any shade that will be on the shed throughout the day.

If you are building a wooden shed (which I recommend), you will probably want it to be pretty visible from your main house. After all, wooden sheds have a certain charm and character that you will want to show off.

Building Materials

Yes, I recommend wooden sheds over other types of sheds, but your options include metal or plastic sheds. Plastic sheds generally cost less than metal but metal is more sturdy even though it can be dented rather easily. They both have positive aspects but you may want to place them farther away from view or near the side of your house since they aren’t quite as attractive as real wooden sheds.

Hire a Pro or Build Yourself

For a great weekend project, purchase a wooden shed kit if you feel comfortable with your skills for carpentry. Your project will take a bit longer if you decide to pour a concrete foundation. A good way to go is to search for shed plans online, especially if you already have some carpentry skills. Be careful in your selection since there is such a wide variety of plans out there. As another option, you can buy a wooden shed kit that is packaged and delivered right to your property. The instructions and all the parts you need are included.

As you can tell, an important part of owning a shed is the planning that goes into it before you actually start building.

Find all kinds of tips, information and resources for wooden sheds at Timothy Corcoran’s excellent web site devoted to garden sheds.

categories: wooden shed,wooden sheds,backyard,water drainage,site preparation,storage shed,cedar,DIY,woodworking,storage

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Wooden Sheds And Their Many Benefits

October 22nd, 2009

You know those tools you seldom use but you can’t bare to get rid of? Wooden sheds are a great place for storing them, but they can be used for SO MUCH MORE than just storage. They can also be made (or adapted) for several different purposes.

Using a shed for the garden is perhaps the most popular reason to have a shed. Its quite a convenient place for storing your garden tools and supplies so the natural location for a shed is right next to the garden. Plus, potting your plants is a snap with a proper workbench in your shed. Many of the garden sheds built today connect us to a simpler past just with their charm and character.

You can use sheds for other reasons also. For instance, a shed next to a pool actually serves the purpose of a pool cabana. Pool chemicals that really should be stored away from the house are better placed in the cabana. You can also use the cabana for housing a refrigerator for cold snacks, towels, pool toys, and other supplies. Storing towels and dry clothes also helps keep the kids from running into the house all wet.

Sheds make great kids playhouses as well as artists’ studios since they are so small. And they make a great little sanctuary by accommodating a couple of pieces of furniture and other accessories.

If you are seriously considering building your own shed, there are a couple of alternatives for the kind of material you can build it with. If your shed is going to be in a highly visible place, I strongly recommend building it from wood for aesthetic reasons, if nothing else.

A couple of other popular options are plastic and metal. Although metal is strong, it can dent easily and should be placed in an area that isn’t highly visible (like the side of the house). Plastic is less expensive and is almost maintenance free.

Now, if you have decided upon a wooden shed, you need to figure out if you are going to build it yourself or hire someone else to build it. If you are fairly handy with tools (please be honest with yourself), then there are a LOT of shed kits out there for you to choose from. Wooden shed kits are much easier and faster to build than making one from scratch.

Before you choose your shed, its really important to step back and evaluate what its purpose(s) will be. Then the rest will fall into place.

Terry Shaw enjoys everything about wooden garden sheds. For more info, resources, and construction tips, visit his site: Best Wooden Sheds.

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