Building a Shed? It Has Got To Have This
Are you considering adding a shed to your property? If so, you might be considering building it yourself.
Building your shed yourself is a great way to save a lot of money and you will always have the satisfaction of knowing that it was built just the way you wanted and with your own hands.
Building a shed can be a great family project, or just a solo project.
Also, an attractive and well-built shed will add a great deal to your home's property value.
There are some architectural elements you can consider when planning your new shed project.
Foundation Remember, even a shed must have a solid foundation.
With a smaller structure it might be tempting to skip laying a foundation, but that is a mistake.
There are some shed plans designed specifically to be portable and which do not need a foundation.
However, unless your shed was designed specifically not to need a foundation, do not skip this step.
A standard shed foundation is a concrete slab; however there are other options, such as crushed rock with pressure-treated timbers, concrete paving slabs, or cement blocks laid on top.
Framework Make sure to spend the extra time, attention and possibly expense to give your shed a sturdy and reliable framework.
Even if you skimp on some of the other materials, the framework really makes the difference between a shed that will last and a shed that may collapse or deform.
Take into consideration factors like whether or not your property has a slope.
You may need to make the support beams on one end longer than the other if you plan on sinking support beams into the ground.
Also consider whether or not you would like your shed to have windows.
Some people prefer not to have windows on their sheds for security reasons.
If you are storing expensive lawn equipment in the shed you may not want anyone to be able to see in.
However, windows offer a few nice advantages if you are interested in them.
For one, you can open them to let the shed air out when it gets musty if you don't want to leave the door hanging open.
Also, you can have more light coming in to help you see when you are digging around in the shed if you do not have lighting fixtures installed.
Electricity and Plumbing Speaking of lighting fixtures, you may want to consider running electricity out to your shed.
There are many practical advantages to have an electric hook-up in your shed.
Not only can you then install lighting, you can also connect power tools that need to be charged for example.
Plumbing may seem extravagant, but there are reasons to consider it as well.
For example, if you are thinking about a larger shed, you could build a summerhouse style that can function as guest space.
If you are not thinking about a summerhouse style shed, you can also enjoy having a water hook-up for other practical reasons.
If you use your shed to house garden supplies, think of how useful it would be to be able to just get your water right there at the shed.
Building your shed yourself is a great way to save a lot of money and you will always have the satisfaction of knowing that it was built just the way you wanted and with your own hands.
Building a shed can be a great family project, or just a solo project.
Also, an attractive and well-built shed will add a great deal to your home's property value.
There are some architectural elements you can consider when planning your new shed project.
Foundation Remember, even a shed must have a solid foundation.
With a smaller structure it might be tempting to skip laying a foundation, but that is a mistake.
There are some shed plans designed specifically to be portable and which do not need a foundation.
However, unless your shed was designed specifically not to need a foundation, do not skip this step.
A standard shed foundation is a concrete slab; however there are other options, such as crushed rock with pressure-treated timbers, concrete paving slabs, or cement blocks laid on top.
Framework Make sure to spend the extra time, attention and possibly expense to give your shed a sturdy and reliable framework.
Even if you skimp on some of the other materials, the framework really makes the difference between a shed that will last and a shed that may collapse or deform.
Take into consideration factors like whether or not your property has a slope.
You may need to make the support beams on one end longer than the other if you plan on sinking support beams into the ground.
Also consider whether or not you would like your shed to have windows.
Some people prefer not to have windows on their sheds for security reasons.
If you are storing expensive lawn equipment in the shed you may not want anyone to be able to see in.
However, windows offer a few nice advantages if you are interested in them.
For one, you can open them to let the shed air out when it gets musty if you don't want to leave the door hanging open.
Also, you can have more light coming in to help you see when you are digging around in the shed if you do not have lighting fixtures installed.
Electricity and Plumbing Speaking of lighting fixtures, you may want to consider running electricity out to your shed.
There are many practical advantages to have an electric hook-up in your shed.
Not only can you then install lighting, you can also connect power tools that need to be charged for example.
Plumbing may seem extravagant, but there are reasons to consider it as well.
For example, if you are thinking about a larger shed, you could build a summerhouse style that can function as guest space.
If you are not thinking about a summerhouse style shed, you can also enjoy having a water hook-up for other practical reasons.
If you use your shed to house garden supplies, think of how useful it would be to be able to just get your water right there at the shed.