A few summers ago I decided that I wanted to spend some "therapeutic" time working on improving my yard and maybe planting a little garden. I purchased an assortment of yard equipment - shovel, pick, wheel barrow, small rototiller and such. In addition to this I bought bags of lime, compost, grass and vegetable seed.
When I got this stuff home and looked for a place to put everything the garage seemed like the likely alternative. But bags of lime and compost did not store well in the garage and the new tools just looked like clutter. I needed a different solution, one that would fit in with my desire to beautify my yard and maybe expand my "therapy" to include building something. I needed to build a garden shed.
I looked at a variety of garden shed plans and eventually found a set that included all the things I wanted and needed, even a small porch to sit on and enjoy my yard and garden. As I searched for plans I learned that there were five planning decisions to be made before I actually started building.
1. Roof Load - The one thing I hadn't thought much about prior to my search was the load on the roof when it snowed. Accumulated snow can become really heavy and most shed plans come with fairly flat pitched roofs and use small sized lumber which will collapse under any real load.
2. Security - You need to consider where your garden shed is located, visible or not, because sheds make for a great target when people are looking to steal things to sell at the pawn shops and flea markets. Lawn and garden equipment sell great at these types of venues, so select a good heavy door and solid lock.
3. Door Size - While we're speaking about the door, consider the items you need to move in and out of your shed. A door too small can really spoil the utility of your shed. And also consider building a ramp in the future to make getting heavier items, like a wheel barrow and a rototiller in and out easier.
4. Shed Size - I would also recommend that you get a set of plans for a shed that is a bit larger than you think you need because believe me, it fills up fast and if you decide you no longer need "gardening therapy" and you end up using your shed to store extra stuff, you will appreciate the extra space.
5. Maintenance Easy - If it gets hot where you are located you need to make sure the plans include roof venting because it can get really hot in a shed and possibly damage some of the shed's contents. And please, do not try and save money by using cheap lumber that will quickly rot. Use pressure treated wood where it's needed and the appropriate lumber every where else. Then seal and paint your shed to keep it standing for many years to come.
A garden shed is nice to have and worth the investment. Just make sure to get a good set of garden shed plans, it will save you a lot of time and money and make your effort more enjoyable during construction and after.
When I got this stuff home and looked for a place to put everything the garage seemed like the likely alternative. But bags of lime and compost did not store well in the garage and the new tools just looked like clutter. I needed a different solution, one that would fit in with my desire to beautify my yard and maybe expand my "therapy" to include building something. I needed to build a garden shed.
I looked at a variety of garden shed plans and eventually found a set that included all the things I wanted and needed, even a small porch to sit on and enjoy my yard and garden. As I searched for plans I learned that there were five planning decisions to be made before I actually started building.
1. Roof Load - The one thing I hadn't thought much about prior to my search was the load on the roof when it snowed. Accumulated snow can become really heavy and most shed plans come with fairly flat pitched roofs and use small sized lumber which will collapse under any real load.
2. Security - You need to consider where your garden shed is located, visible or not, because sheds make for a great target when people are looking to steal things to sell at the pawn shops and flea markets. Lawn and garden equipment sell great at these types of venues, so select a good heavy door and solid lock.
3. Door Size - While we're speaking about the door, consider the items you need to move in and out of your shed. A door too small can really spoil the utility of your shed. And also consider building a ramp in the future to make getting heavier items, like a wheel barrow and a rototiller in and out easier.
4. Shed Size - I would also recommend that you get a set of plans for a shed that is a bit larger than you think you need because believe me, it fills up fast and if you decide you no longer need "gardening therapy" and you end up using your shed to store extra stuff, you will appreciate the extra space.
5. Maintenance Easy - If it gets hot where you are located you need to make sure the plans include roof venting because it can get really hot in a shed and possibly damage some of the shed's contents. And please, do not try and save money by using cheap lumber that will quickly rot. Use pressure treated wood where it's needed and the appropriate lumber every where else. Then seal and paint your shed to keep it standing for many years to come.
A garden shed is nice to have and worth the investment. Just make sure to get a good set of garden shed plans, it will save you a lot of time and money and make your effort more enjoyable during construction and after.