Choosing a Proper Outdoor Storage Shed Plan for Your Garden

Your landscaping is completed for the season and it looks great, except for all the garden tools and equipment that are lying around. Obviously there is a need for a storage area. A storage shed would be the perfect answer. The question is how do you go about this? No doubt you are going to need a storage shed plan. First you will need to determine which type of plan you require. This you can only determine by doing your research as to what your requirements are regarding the shed. 

 
You know you want to store all of your garden items. You most likely know what items you have now and what size storage area it would take. But consider any future garden purchases you may make in the future. For example are you thinking of purchasing a new ride on lawn mower, or a snow blower? This are items you may need to store and your new garden shed may become their home, but only if it’s big enough.

Then where are you going to put the shed? This will partly depend on what area you have available, plus what style you are thinking of going with. Let’s say you have two choices of location. One is tucked away in the back of the garden almost out of site, and the other one is at the edge of the flower bed. The one tucked away will be more difficult to get at. They both will accommodate the size of the shed you have in mind.

Here’s where your decision of style comes in. If you use the tucked away area, your style can be pretty basic because it’s not going to interfere with your landscaping. On the other hand if you choose the more open space, they you are going to want a fancier style that will complement your garden. You will have to keep this in mind when you pick your shed plans.

You will need to have at least a rough budget in mind. When you go to get your storage shed plans you may have the option of choosing your plans according to what materials you want to use. Different materials have different price ranges. For example if the basic plan falls well within your budget then perhaps a more deluxe version will be an option for you.

Be practical when choosing your plan. You are probably going to be surprised as to just how much you are going to have to choose from. If you aren’t careful and stick to your own plans you could get carried away quite easily. Most often the plans will give you a picture of the finished projects. You’ll see several that you really like. Some of them look like little cottages. Now look at them realistically, they have to meet all the needs that you have identified. Pick out two or three that you really like and see if they answer these questions.

1. Are they the size that you need?
2. Will it fit in with the area you have chosen?
3. If it requires a building permit will it meet the criteria?
4. Is it simple and easy to understand for the novice?
5. Does it give a complete list of materials, and will these materials be readily available in your area?

If you have gotten all the right answers, then you just need to choose the shed plans you like the best out of the group and get ready to work.

 

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7 Questions You Need to Know Before Using Shed Plans

For the novice builder it is very important that you have everything in place before you start any project. Of course the best way to do this is to have an action plan. So you have decided, you want to build a shed using a set of plans. Then first we need to put your action plan into place, and start by listing a series of questions you will need answered before you even begin construction.

1. What do you really need the shed for?
To start with you may be thinking it’s going to be used to store just the garden equipment. Think hard about this. Is it going to end up being a family shed? In other words, are the kids going to want to store their sports equipment in there? Or is the wife going to find a new place for the Christmas decorations, in your shed? So make a hard and fast rule of what the shed will be used for.

2. What size do you want it to be?
Now you know exactly what it is going to be used for, that will give you the size that you are going to want. Don’t forget to plan for the future. If it’s restricted to garden outdoor items, you will most likely be adding to your collection over the next few years, so you don’t want to have to build a shed all over again.

 
3. Where are you going to put it?
You need to determine when the best place is for it. It has to be some place accessible, without walking through your flowerbeds. Probably tucked away so it doesn’t interfere with your landscaping. Again think of the future, you don’t want to have to move it. Now is the area you have allotted for it and the size of the shed you wanted compatible? If not then there has to be a compromise, either in the space or the size.

4. Does in need to be insulated, waterproof, or open?
If you are in a four season climate then you need to decide what seasons you need the shed to be able to withstand the most.

5. Do you require a building permit?
Know what your local by-laws are for building a shed. It wouldn’t be nice to get your project finished, and then have city officials come along and tell you to take it down. Normally you won’t need a building permit if you stay within a specific size, but if you have determined to go larger than what’s allowed, you will have to submit building plans for approval.

6. Now one of the most important questions, what is your budget for this project?
Everything you have decided up to now is dependent on your budget. Its kinds of difficult to set a budget when you haven’t determined the cost of materials yet. It’s your budget that’s going to help you when it comes time to get your building shed plans.

7. Where should you get your plans for building a shed?
You have lots of answers now. The purpose, the size, the budget, and now to answer the final question. For this you will need to check out what resources are available to you. Your local home hardware and building center, home planners, and of course the internet.

 

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How to Get Free Shed Plans and Blueprints

If you are planning on building a garden or storage shed you will need some type of plan. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice or a pro, you need guidelines. There are many sources to obtain free shed blueprints and plans. If you are a novice and the word blueprint scares you, relax. These are simple detailed drawings that show everything that you are going to need to know to build your shed. They are no different than a travel map. It simply tells you that you need to travel from one step to the next, and what you need to get there.

So why bother with free shed plans? How often have you purchased an item, and then when you got it home, you wished you had bought the deluxe version, or vice versa? It’s the same with plans. You go to all the trouble of picking one, purchasing it, and then get it home, and for one of several reasons it just isn’t want you want. If it’s free, then you have lost nothing, you can just go and find another one. You can do this several times if you need to until you find the perfect one for you.


Ok it’s a great idea. Now where do we go to find these free shed blueprints and plans? To start with you could check out your local home improvement stores. Some of these have some great options. They often will have a series of standard plans in stock. They will give some of these to you free of charge, in the hopes that you will buy your materials from them. These plans usually consist of the majority of items they carry in their store. Some of them have even written their own series.

Another option is take in a rough sketch of the details of what you are looking for. Many building suppliers will draft up blueprints and plans for you. They may offer to do this for you with some type of commitment that you will purchase supplies from them. Sometimes they will offer this as free deal as a promotion.


Then there is always the internet. Lots of sites are willing to give away the prints and plans for free. One such example is MyShedPlans. Not because they are generous, but because they hope it will entice you to purchase some of the other items they carry. 


These items are usually applicable to what they are giving you at no charge. For example if they give you all the drawings and plans you need, then you are going to have to know how to do the things that the plan says. This is where the extras come in. Perhaps the company that gave you the free shed plans sells some self help, or does it yourself books. They would be pleased to sell these to you. This is not being sneaky. In fact it’s an excellent business proposal. They help you identify what you need and then offer support where you need it. With the combination of your plans, and the self help books you need, you’re ready to build one good looking shed!

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