Methods for Building a Garden Shed Base

garden shed baseHaving a garden shed can be a nice addition to your backyard and garden.   It can act as a storage area and perhaps even a working area for the garden. You are probably ready to get started putting your shed in place so you can begin to take advantage of it.  But before you can worry about the shed, it is vital you focus your attention on building a solid garden shed base.

It is absolutely vital you construct a firm and stable base for the shed.  Every shed requires a level base of some sort.  While you can pay someone to construct one for you, you can also get the job done yourself with a little bit of knowledge and detailed instructions on how to complete the job.

Garden Shed Base Considerations

Prior to building your shed base, there are a few things you want to take into consideration.

First, do not place the base too close to walls or fences in case the shed has an overhanging roof.

Second, cut any branches that may be in the way if you are building a large shed.

Third, allow for sufficient access to the outside walls for regular treatments.

Once you have taken these precautions, it is time to determine which method you will use to construct your garden shed base. There really are three methods you have to choose from; concrete, paving slab and timber bearers. While each is different in its own way, there are benefits and downsides to each.

Regardless of the method, the first step is to always mark your area.  This allows you to clear any obsticles you may have. You can mark the area with string and pegs so you know exactly where it is going.  It can also allow you to visually picture where and how the garden shed will look in the place you have it.

Garden Shed Base Methods

1)  Concrete Base – The first method we will go into detail about is the concrete base method.  This is usually recommended for large sheds and log cabins.  After you have marked your area, you will clear the ground to approximately 6 inches deep and 2 feet beyond the area of your building.  From there, you will lay 3 inches of gravel that will act as sound foundation.  Once laying this, you can remove the pegs and string.

The next step is to cut and fit four timber rails to act as a frame for the concrete that will set on top of the foundation.  Finally, it is time to lay the concrete.  As with the foundation, you will lay approximately 3 inches of concrete to fill the entire 6 inches you dug up.  It is easiest to purchase bags of dry mixed concrete and add water gradually for making your concrete.

It is important you lay the concrete evenly, spreading it to all areas of the outline. Then, cover the concrete with plastic or a tarp to allow it to dry naturally. If the weather is dry and warm, spray it with water lightly so it does not dry too quickly.

2)  Paving Slabs – The next method you can use to build a garden shed base is a paving slab. For this method you will excavate the ground 2.5 inches deep and lay a mixture of one part cement and eight parts building sand 1.5 inches deep.

After leveling this mixture, you can then begin to lay paving slabs starting from a corner. You will want to tap the slabs down with a rubber mallet to ensure the top of the slabs is higher than the surrounding ground.

3)  Timber Bearer – The last method you can use to construct a base for your garden shed is the timber bearers method. For this method, you will excavate the ground 2 inches deep and lay 1.5 inches of gravel or soil. You will equally space concrete or timber bearers approximately 16 to 24 inches apart. If it is necessary, you can use a rubber mallet to tap the timber bearers down.

How much supplies you need for each method will all depend on the size of your shed. It is vital you have a plan that shows you how you will construct the garden shed base, how big the base will be, and what kind of shed you are going to purchase.  From there, simply follow the instructions for one of these three methods and you will be on your way.

Garden Shed Base Conclusion:

There are a number of things to thinks about before you begin the actual construction of your garden shed.  Preparation of the building site and base are vital to the long standing success of your new garden shed.  For easy do-it-yourself instructions, plans and more look HERE, and check back with Garden Shed Plans Blog.

Wood Shed Plans Are The Easiest To Build

wood shed plansWood shed plans are perfect for anybody who likes working with wood and out-of-doors building projects, saving money on a shed, or just when you need a unique or customized outbuilding. Very little woodworking expertise is necessary if you have good quality wood shed plans to work from and a few simple tools.

Wood shed plans can be used by either complete beginners right up to expert carpenters. There are so many wood shed plans obtainable today that you are certain to hit upon one that suits your specific needs.

Shed plans are readily obtainable from a number of assorted sources. For beginners, it is very important that your wood shed plans have very detailed and easy to grasp start-to-finish directions. Before your purchase of a design, there are different Stages to go through to decide on the size and variety of shed that best Suits your requirements.

You will have to decide on a design sizable enough for your storage space needs both now and In the future, but not so huge that it takes over your back yard or garden leaving you with too little legroom for backyard furniture, children’s toys and plant tubs Never mind the lawn and garden itself.

Wood shed plans are a popular option for people with very little house storage as well as the storage of gardening supplies and tools.  You will need to consider what You will be using the shed for.  If It is simply for storage space you should select a simple design that will keep items safe and away from destructive elements like sun, rain, snow and wind.  If it is to be used as a garden shed, or a child’s playhouse or a workshop more specialized designs may be necessary.

Wood shed plans are a great way for you to create the shed you want for your needs.  If you have ever considered the purchase of a ready made shed you will already appreciate that they can be expensive and the styles are very restricted, bland and similar. The money you can save by doing it yourselkf will allow you to add features and details that make your wood shed just what you want.

Wood Shed Plans – Invest Wisely

If your object is just to save money be sure that you don’t go cheap on the wood shed plans that you finally get.  It is far better to invest in good shed plans from the start than get to a point in construction and realize that nothing fits correctly.  Don’t panic thinking about all that can go wrong, invest in a good set of wood shed plans and you will be just fine as you build the shed of your choosing.

Talk your design decisions over with others in your household of friends, they will often think of things that you might have overlooked.  Visit garden centers or neighboring Do-It-Yourself outlets and take a good look at the ready made sheds that are on display.  You can order promotional material from the many woodworking firms that offer standard or custom designed sheds.

Wood Shed Plans Conclusion:

Most of all remember that the process of choosing  wood shed plans should be fun!  Take your time and consider all your options.  Draw out a few ideas of what you’d like on paper.  It’s surprising how that starts the creative juices flowing.

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Storage Shed Plans – DIY Shed Construction

storage shed plansThere are thousands of storage shed plans or blueprints for every imaginable type of shed construction . As our individual or family interests grow, so does the need for additional space or storage. Clutter interferes with our lives.

Most good clutter is seasonal.  Gardening tools, hoses, wheelbarrows and such need a place to sit out of the weather in winter.  Snow shovel, or blowers, decorating lights and other seasonal decorations need a place out of the way in summer.  Imagine what it would be like to build a standard lean to shed to house all of these necessary items in their off season.   A lean to shed is the simplest of shed designs, an excellent project for a beginning woodworking enthusiast.

A DIY shed construction would be an excellent weekend family project.  Have a family meeting after dinner and review the types of storage shed plans and choose one that will serve our family’s needs.

A shed built from basic storage shed plans can be simple or complex depending upon the needs of your family.  Take into account the weather where you live and insulate, and ventilate accordingly. The majority of these sheds are kept simplistic in design as most of the utilitarian needs will be in the interior of the shed.

Depending on the type of shed you elect to construct, select a roof height that will be comfortable for you as you enter and exit the building.  Roof trusses may be considered as additional storage space offering an open floor not hindered by storage.

Shed foundations are made with concrete, concrete block, brick, and pressure treated lumber.  Sheets of plywood create the flooring. Flooring should be supported to afford strength.

Storage Shed Plans – The Options Are Almost Endless

Doors to be used can either be single, double or roll up. The roll up door is the most beneficial for housing a single or a double car garage.

A window or two needs to be considered for ventilation. Vehicle fumes, gas powered appliances, paints and other flammable products need circulation of air.

Electricity may be considered for heat, air conditioning, and power tool operations.

Special hooks for hanging baskets, shelving, ladders, side windows for ventilation electricity for fans, heat, and air conditioning. Do not forget plumbing fixtures, and a work bench.

Think back to when you were a child wishing you had a special room.  Your talented woodworking craftsman hands can make it a reality.  Your storage shed can be designed to do double duty as storage shed and workshop.

Today’s sheds have become a second or an additional room away from the main house. Storage shed plans are readily available with a large variety of options to build the shed to  suit your needs.

The shed design may be A-frame or barn style with or without a porch, barn shaped garage, pet barn, saltbox greenhouse, a playhouse, pool cabana, cottage, or a replica of your personal home.

Storage Shed Plans Provide Fodder for Your Imagination.

Imagination and your personal needs will dictate the exterior of the shed.  Other considerations can be cupolas, skylights, electrical lighting, motion detector, alarm systems, and even partitioning your storage areas to separate different items.

Your needs and imagination will dictate your shed design project. Check this out for shed construction and the different types of storage shed design and blueprints, along with other ideas available to you.

An keep in touch with Garden Shed Plans Blog for useful building tips and ideas.

Shed Building for Dummies or A Good Set of Shed Plans

A friend of mine told me this story. I pass it on to you (with some editorial additions) for encouragement and inspiration:

Last Christmas my better half had decided that come next summer I would be building her a shed. She even got me the Shed Building for Dummies book as a gift. At first I thought that I got gypped on that one but if the truth be told, I found out that the Shed Building for Dummies book was exactly what I needed to complete the job and make her happy.

Normally I am the guy who jumps into a project with both feet and don’t really know where I will land. I don’t know what the job will cost me both in dollars and in time. Sometimes I will scratch out some sort of plan but I always end up making lots of trips to the building supply store buying more materials because I got the wrong size or made a basic mistake in my plan. Having the Shed Building for Dummies book changed all that; now I use a professional set of shed building plans and am a lot more organized. It saves me a lot of time and money on a project that size.

I would suggest that you not even consider starting to build a shed without a detailed set of plans. A good set of plans will save you both time and money. Plans will come with a material and a cut list so you only need to make one trip to purchase material and then you can cut everything to size, usually all in the same day. Just think of how much time and cash that will save you.

A book like the Shed Building for Dummies is a great place to start but if you have any carpentry skills all you need is a good set of plans. Just make sure they were designed by a professional and will comply with all the local building codes. Any professional plans you get will have already considered this.

There are some other things to consider as well; location, foundations, electrical (if required), types of finish and maintenance. All these things will need to be thought about before you even break ground for the foundation. If this is the first time that you have built something this size you need to educate yourself and get a plan in place before you even get started.

Reading the Shed Building for Dummies book made me realize that I needed a good set of shed building plans to be able to finish this project. Once I got started it only took me a couple weeks of working part time to complete the job. If I just jumped right in like I usually do it probably would have taken me a lot longer and would have ended up with a sub-standard shed that would have been unattractive and would not have lasted very long.

Shed Building Is Easier Than You Think

Have you been trying to find a simple solution to your storage needs? If you are looking for an easy way to build the shed you need, then look no farther. You will discover everything you need for your shed projects, a Shed Building book is great place to start, but you need a set of plans with a detailed material list and more how to information. The best shed building program I’ve seen is here it will solve any of your shed building needs.

Shed Plans – 5 Reasons to Build a Shed

shed plansWith a good set of shed plans, you have the chance to build a garden shed to your very own liking, designing every aspect that is important to you in a shed. The shed you build can take into account your need for storage of tools, and supplies, it can also give your home property the look that you want.

Shed Plans Considerations

1) Shed plans are a “dummy’s guide” to shed building. With step-by-step instructions and diagrams, it provides a fool-proof and inexpensive alternative to simply buying a shed, allowing you to save money and time.

In some cases, purchasing a shed that you have to assemble yourself can cause more frustration, time, energy and general resources. Without suitable plans, the margin for error increases greatly, and could cause you a lot of money to correct by having to buy new equipment or parts.

2) With shed plans, you know exactly what you need and how much you need.  You save money by not overspending and you save hassle by having everything correct and ready from the start.

3) Shed plans also offer a great piece of mind, even if you are employing someone else to build your shed.  Not only does it allow you to keep up with construction all along the way, it also gives the builder an exact idea of what you want and aids in the billing of construction, meaning no overcharges.

4) Obtaining your own shed plans has become a popular choice, as it simply saves time and money.  These plans give you numerous choices in materials and techniques, allowing you to be as creative and innovative as you want.

5) A shed is used for a variety of purposes, mostly as storage for lawn equipment, garden furniture, unused toys.  Whatever you require, shed plans enable you to design the shed you want, as big or as small as that may be, without too much cost or hassle. They are the obvious choice for homeowner.

Shed Plans Offer:

A low cost, dummy proof, piece of mind solution to getting the garden shed that you want.

 

To download thousands of shed plans for garden sheds,storage sheds and easy to assemble plans, diagrams and DIY lessons visit here now and save yourself a huge amount of money.
And check back with Garden Shed Plans Blog for useful tips on building your own shed from shed plans.

Saltbox Shed Plans For A Self Build Saltbox Shed

saltbox shed plansSaltbox shed plans provide an easy, attractive and unique looking garden shed that is a highly useable for small lots.  The unique roof style enables extra storage on a small area of land because the front of the building is actually two stories and slopes back to one level, hence the distinctive appearance of the roof which is short and steeply angled in the front and long and gradually sloping in the back.

This style of roof requires some unusual and complicated cuts that will be difficult to figure out on your own.  You therefore need to get your hands on a good set of saltbox shed plans in order to get these cuts done accurately.  Remember, the most important thing that adds cost to your shed project is improper measuring and cutting.

Saltbox Shed Plans Advantage

A detailed set of saltbox shed plans will save you trips to the supply store because they come with a complete material list.  There is no easy way around this style of garden shed, it needs to be built following a detailed drawing or you might end up with an unsound and ugly structure that will have the neighbors and your wife complaining to the proper authorities!

Saltbox sheds get their name from New England colonial structures and can add character and charm to your backyard. The elevated storage area allows you to build in a smaller space while adding overall square footage.

Saltbox Shed Plans Conclusion:

These sheds are used for storing lawn tractors, snow mobiles or personal water-craft because you can put double doors in the front while keeping a keen sense of shape. This is a unique design and a challenge to build but is within the scope of most do-it-yourself enthusiasts as long as you have a good set of saltbox shed plans.
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Using garden shed plans to build a garden shed

garden shed plansBuilding your own garden shed can be fun, make the look of your garden and home increase and give you a wonderful place to put equipment and supplies along with a spot to just hang out.  There are a number of things to consider before building a garden shed from your new garden shed plans.

The first thing to thinks about is what shape will your garden shed be?   The roof layout can determine a great deal about the usability of your shed and well as the looks and weathering ability of your new garden shed.  “Apex” and “pent” roofs are terms used to describe the two most common shapes used when building garden sheds.

Garden Shed Plans Using the Pent Design

The pent design is where the garden shed roof will slop from high on one end to low on the other.  This is best used in smaller garden shed plans since the low side of the roof will still need to be above head level and on larger buildings the high side could stand way too high, or the roof itself will not have enough slope to shed water and even snow.  The pent design normally has the windows and doors on the high side. This means that when you choose this deign, it would be prudent to put your working materials on the high side and store your tools and any other equipment on the lower side.

Garden Shed Plans Using the Apex Design

The Apex shape is where the garden shed roof comes to a point in the middle of the shed.  With regards to the apex design the shed will have a lot more room in the middle of the shed for head room as apposed to the sides of the shed.

 

The next step to build your own garden shed would be to decide on the materials.  The garden shed plans you choose may make this decision for you since some shapes, sizes and appearances work best with one material or another.  The materials that you can use are commonly of three types that are: metal, wood and plastic. The most popular material used for the building of a garden shed is wood.  The reason behind the use of wood would be that when you build your own garden shed you will find that it blends with the garden itself.  It will give it a more natural look than when you build using metal or plastic.   Using softwood for the construction of your garden shed is a much cheaper option then hardwoods.  Try to find wood that has been treated with preservative which has been forced into the wood.  When you use a wood that has been treated with a preservative it will last longer as opposed to paint that will where off over the years.  Another advantage of using wood is that you can stain some of it to enhance the features of your garden.   This in turn will make the garden look more beautiful and natural.  You want your garden shed to be weather proof so the best option for that is to use either weatherboard or cladding.

Good garden shed plans will offer you a variety of design options, with and with out a porch, overall shape and size options, window and door locations.  Look and consider what it is you want not only for storage but also the look of your garden.  Well selected garden shed plans can really enhance the look and appeal of your home.

Garden Shed Plans Conclusion:

Consider your needs and wants in selecting the type of roof and overall shape and design of your garden shed.  Build it to last with good materials and you will have a project that gives you enjoyment for a long time.  Choose your garden shed plans wisely and the rest is easy.

And, stay in touch with Garden Shed Plans Blog for more tips and guides.

Potting Shed Plans for the Gardening Enthusiast

potting shed plansFor the gardening enthusiast an easy to build set of potting shed plans can enhance your gardening experience and lifestyle.  Look at it this way if you enjoy working in your garden and have been using your garage, laundry room or backyard to house all of your gardening tools and materials, you can understand how frustrating and crowded this can become. With the increasing number of garden tools, new plants which have to transplanted, storage of bulbs, seeds, and compost aids and more, there never is enough space. Moreover, these add to the clutter. The best solution for these woes is to get yourself a good set of potting shed plans and build yourself a potting shed.

What is a Potting Shed?  A potting shed is simply a place where you store all your gardening tools, supplies, and more. By selecting the right small shed plans it can also be a place where you come to relax and unwind. Not only would you have a separate place for keeping all your gardening equipments, your garage or laundry room would also be free of clutter.

Selecting Potting Shed Plans

When choosing your potting shed plans, here are some of the things you should consider. You should select a design which has big windows allowing as much light inside as possible. Once the seedlings outgrow this stage, they head towards the light, by placing a small under the window shelf it allows you to place new seedlings next to a source for sunlight, an important ingredient for their survival at this stage. The plans should also show you how to build a bench, small bins which can hold your supplies of potting materials, and racks for the storage of pots, pans, boxes and other containers.

Think about your requirements for light and heat.  Do you need more light and heat?  Look close at your potting shed plans and consider where to add a heating element and switches for electric lights. There is a double advantage in having some form of heating inside the shed in that it will protect you from the cold while working in the early part of the season, and it will also ensure that plants and soil are not chilled.

Getting access to water supply nearby will greatly help you in your work. You can easily carry out your pot washing, watering and other related jobs.

It is best to use the services of a qualified electrician and plumber to get your electricity and water connection done. This way, you need not worry about getting it done without hitches.

Selecting the location for your shed is very important. You have to ensure that the site chosen is shady, but not in heavy shade. It is best to avoid choosing a location which is in the shadow of tall trees or buildings. Such areas are likely to be moist and damp, and also rob you of sunlight. South facing structures are ideal, as they receive more natural sunlight throughout the day than a north-facing one. Study your potting shed plans regarding the placement and position of your shed, the location of windows for southern exposure at the same time considering the look of your small shed on your property.

While choosing materials for construction with the help of plans, your budget would be one of the main considerations. Softwood such as pine or hemlock is very popular mainly due to their affordability. Red cedar is more durable and naturally decay resistant, but more expensive, too. The most expensive material for building potting sheds are oak and birch, but to justify their selection, they are extremely robust hardwood. You can use your shed plans to guide you in the selection.

Potting Shed Plans Conclusion:

Building a small shed on your own with the help of easy to build potting shed plans will greatly help you in your gardening, with the added benefit of reducing clutter, and saving in expenses. You may even wonder how you could have got by earlier without a potting shed.

For plans which give you expert advice on building a potting shed and much more, visit this site.   And stay in touch with Garden Shed Plans.