Building a Garden ShedTips for Helping You Build Your Own Garden Shed

The success of any shed hinges on choosing and constructing the proper foundation. It doesn’t matter how well you’ve planned, designed or built your shed if its foundation is poorly built.
The On-Grade shed foundations… are by far the simplest to build, plus you can make easy adjustments as you lay it out. Most sheds under 200 sq. ft. are designed for these types of foundations.

The following is a basic overview of the most common
On-Grade Foundations:

1. Solid-Concrete Block Foundation…
The most economic approach to producing a strong shed foundation. Simply put, it is laying and spacing a series of solid-concrete blocks in a straight row. The blocks come 4-in. and 2-in. thick and measure 8 in. wide by 16 in. long. It’s a good idea to clear the ground cover under each block and add about 2 in. to 3 in. of gravel, for extra drainage, plus it helps to prevent the soil from settling. Compact the gravel with a hand tamper or use the end of a 4 x 4 in. post. Always begin with 1 or more 4 in. blocks on the bottom, use the 2 in. block for the top layer. The number of blocks needed, will be determined by your shed size and the specs supplied in your plans. Your plans direct and illustrate the squaring, leveling and shimming process.

NOTE: Never substitute a solid-concrete block with a hollow wall block… It Will NOT LAST… it will break down over time, from the sheds weight!

2. Pier Block Foundation…
Very similar to a solid block foundation, the pier blocks are arranged in 3 straight rows which will support each of your 2x floor joists. Check your local building supply to see the available pier block styles. Although this style block was designed for deck building, they work extremely will as a shed foundation. The blocks measure 8 in. high by 11 in. square. Again the number of blocks needed, will be determined by your shed size and the specs supplied in your plans.

3. Skid Foundations…
One of the most popular and easiest on site foundations to construct. It’s no more then taking 2 or more solid straight 4 x 4s, 4 x 6s, 6 x 6s or 8 x 8s Pressure-Treated lumber and placing them in a row and building your shed floor frame upon them. This technique is best suited for a building site that’s as level as possible. If you find the building site to be slightly off level, simply dig the high end deeper or raise the low end with either solid blocks or an additional skid partially buried. You also have the option of laying your skids on a complete bed of leveled gravel.

Always use “Ground Contact” Pressure-Treated Lumber for any wood style foundation.

4. Wood-Frame Foundation…
Is as simple as constructing the footprint of your shed on a bed of gravel. The ground supports the shed. There are 2 ways to build your frame: A. Half-lap joint construction or B. Stacked corner construction. You can use 4 x 4s, 4 x 6s, or 6 x 6s fastened with screws, landscape spikes. The stacked corner foundation allows you more creativity with your flooring. You can use brick or other pavers to achieve a hard surface floor, slate or crushed stone, your options are endless, it’s your preference. If you’ll be storing gas powered equipment I suggest using a concrete floor. Keep in mind you want at least 4 in. of concrete level to the top of your frame. You’ll want as least a 2 to 3 in. or more gravel base below your 4 in. concrete floor, so plan your frame accordingly. You will be constructing your walls directly on the top layer of this foundation, keep it as clean as possible.

Frost-Proof foundations… are generally used for sheds over 200 sq. ft. to prevent the freeze and thaw cycles from disrupting the buildings integrity in cold-weather regions. Check your local building code for specific requirements and options.

Please NOTE: Before starting any building project, always check your local building code.

Gary is a contributing author to shedplananswers.com and has been an avid Woodworker, DIY/Handyman, for over 30 years, We want to make sure your shed building experience is successful and stress free… visit us at http://www.shedplananswers.com for more tips, resources and our Top Recommendations to help you build a shed, quickly and easily.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Shed-Foundations-To-Ensure-Your-Building-Success&id=5984811] 4 Shed Foundations To Ensure Your Building Success

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Sousa]Tim Sousa

So, you’ve found the perfect shed plans, and you’ve built a storage shed to hold your lawnmower, rakes, shovels, and other gardening tools. There is only one problem, it sticks out like a sore thumb, and it detracts from the landscaping. Instead of just letting the garden shed draw attention to itself, there are several things that you can do to help it to blend in to the landscape.

First of all, you can paint your shed. If you have a wooden garden shed, it will be easy to paint. Take a look at the lawn and garden around the shed. Look at the flowers and the foliage. What are the predominant colors? If you have a lot of blue and purple flowers in your garden, you can choose a nice shade of blue to paint the shed. A nice green color may help the shed to blend in with the lawn and the leaves of any plants or shrubs in your garden. You probably won’t want to choose a color that exactly matches the surrounding lawn or garden, but something that will complement the garden, and help the shed to look like part of the garden. If you want, you can choose a contrasting color for the trim to help it to stand out. Take a couple of scrap pieces of lumber, and paint them in the colors that you are considering for the shed. Prop them up next to the shed, and take note of how the colors work in your garden. If they work, then use those colors for your shed. If they don’t, then experiment, and find a color or combination of colors that work.

The outside walls of the shed are probably pretty bare. If you go to your local home and garden store, take a look at the garden art that they have. Many times you’ll find wall art, meant to be hung on the outside wall of the house, or on a fence. If you have a theme in your garden, chances are you’ll find something to hang on the walls of your shed that will complement the other art in your garden. You can also browse local garage sales, flea markets, and antique stores for old gardening tools and equipment. Hung on the walls, or just propped up against an outer wall of your garden shed, these pieces can add their own unique charm. Anything hung on the walls or propped up against the outside of the shed can go a long way in breaking up the lines of a bare wall, and adding interest to your garden.

If you don’t have any flowers or shrubs around your wooden garden shed, you should consider planting them. You can plant flowers and shrubs around the edges of the shed to add a touch of color. A trellis attached to the side of the shed would be ideal for growing ivy, honeysuckle, clematis, or other climbing plants. If your garden shed has exposed eaves, you could hang planters or flower baskets, or you could attach planters to the outside of the shed. Just take note of how much sun each side of the shed receives each day, and plant accordingly. Even just a few containers of colorful plants sitting next to the garden shed can make a huge difference.

Okay, so you’ve painted the shed, you’ve planted flowers and shrubs in appropriate locations, and you’ve placed a few pieces of garden art on the walls. Now the shed looks like it is a part of the garden, and not just a storage shed. Now the shed is a part of the decor. Just use your imagination, and your shed can become a focal point of the garden, rather than an eyesore.

Be sure to visit [http://woodengardensheds65.weebly.com/]Wooden Garden Sheds for more information on sheds and [http://woodengardensheds65.weebly.com/]garden shed plans.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Make-Your-Wooden-Garden-Shed-Blend-in-to-the-Landscape&id=4118726] How to Make Your Wooden Garden Shed Blend in to the Landscape

Planning to build a garden shed yourself may seem a bit challenging if you have little building experience, but with adequate research and planning you should handle every task with confidence. One of the first major decisions will be whether to purchase a set of plans to build the shed from scratch or to purchase a shed kit with plans, all materials and instructions included. Each method has its merits. These five tips may help you decide which method to choose.

1. If you choose a shed kit, most or all of the materials are included so there is little choice over the kinds of materials to use. To build from scratch you can choose from a wide variety of different kinds lumber, sheeting, roofing and fasteners that meet your requirements. However, if you have limited building experence, the kit method with all the instructions and materials included could be the easiest plan to build.

2. Building a shed from scratch using your own plans or plans you purchased can make it easier to make changes. If cost is a problem, you could design it so that windows, vinyl siding or electrical wiring from the house can be added later.

3. The cost of building the shed from scratch could be somewhat lower because you have more control over the kinds of material you purchase. Sometimes good quality materials can be purchased at sale or surplus prices. In fact, you could also consider buying good used materials if they are available in your area.

4. Garden sheds built from kits are often displayed outside at building supply stores. Some of these sheds have been outside for several years in adverse weather conditions.. Examine these sheds to see how they stood up to heavy rainfall, snow or hot sun. Sometimes the particle type sheeting on the roof is too thin and sags between rafters over time. With your own plans, waterproof plywood and a size thicker would be a better choice.

5. The foundation and floor of the shed is usually not included in the shed kit and therefore, you will need to choose the kind of foundation that is best suited for its location. In wet areas or where high winds are a problem you may want to consider a concrete or a cement block foundation, but in a drier level area treated lumber on a gravel base may be quite satisfactory.

To help you make an informed decision, these five tips along with plenty of research should help you choose between building the garden shed from scratch or from a shed kit. Remember, the time spend looking at different sheds and gathering all the plans and ideas necessary to make wise choices can give you the confidence to build a structure you will be proud off.

My wife and I recently moved house and fortunately there was not a lot of redecoration required as the previous owner, an elderly lady, had been very house-proud. The garden was rather neglected with a rickety outdoor garden shed that needed coming down before it fell of its own accord. It didn’t take me long to empty the shed and demolish it but it became obvious that it would need replacing as the old lady had left us all of her late husband’s gardening tools plus flowerpots, bags of compost and so on and there was no room in the garage.

I had some experience in building a garden shed so the first item on my list was to get a good set of outdoor garden shed plans.

There are quite a few things to take into consideration when planning your shed and I’ll list just a few here:-

- Is your area liable to suffer from heavy snowfalls in the winter if so you made need to a stronger roof or a flat roof may not be ideal at all.

- Strong winds would require you to use better fixings, tie downs etc.

- Security, is your area prone to burglary, sheds attract petty thieves looking for stuff to unload at flea markets? If so a good solid door and heavy padlock would be the ideal.

- Does it get really hot during the summer months; this may require venting the roof so as not to damage your contents. Also you will need to consider what roofing felt or sealant will be needed.

- Avoid using cheap timber and buy good sealants and paints.

A good set of garden shed plans should cover all the above scenarios and more. Some will include other projects that you might like to try.

Here’s a tip that you probably won’t find in your set of plans: I would seriously recommend that having decided on the size of your new shed that you select the next size up, if you only choose one with enough storage area for your present needs next year could see you without space for new acquisitions.

With summer on the way your thoughts may be turning to the garden and maybe investing in that new garden shed that you have been promising yourself.
If it has been the price that has held you up why not consider building your own?

Here are the steps you should take:

Firstly decide where you will site the shed taking into consideration how it will look in the garden, the floor area and drainage.

You can now invest in a set of garden shed plans; this should be your only outlay so far. Shed plans are available online and come in sets of many designs and sizes. You would choose from the ones that match your shed floor area.

When choosing your new shed you will need to decide whether or not you will need windows, electricity and importantly where the door will fit.

You now need to check that your shed does not violate any building codes or upset the local tenants association; you do not want to build only to be told to pull it down again. All the information required for these checks will be on your garden shed plans.

The foundations need to be prepared and you can choose a concrete base, a gravel base with the shed sat an inch higher on blocks to encourage air circulation or sit the shed on treated timbers.

You can now take your set of garden shed plans to your local suppliers and from them order all your wood and hardware (nails, screws and hinges etc).

All or some of your timbers can be pre-cut to size which is a great time saver, some suppliers will not charge for this.

Every bloke has one, but what about the women?

Building a garden shed does not have to be for the tools, the kitchen sink or the boy’s toys it could be slanted towards an extra room for art, crafts, dressmaking studio. The first choice before drawing up building plans is to decide the purpose of the building and who will be using it the most. There are many great plans for building different styles of shed but the basics remain the same.

• The site being of main importance as the shed /studio will be there for a long time. The fact that the property will be sold a number of times also means that the building needs to be attractive, functional, and handy to the home on the section.

• Accessibility should also be considered as there may be a need to unload items from a vehicle or trailer if it is being used for storage.

• Surroundings such as location of utilities and the likelihood of existing services at risk of being damaged from building excavations, site preparation.

• Siting for the sun of huge importance, the main part orientated to the sunny side because the sun has a feel good factor, makes the shed/studio warmer and more pleasant to work in. Obviously, this depends where in the world you are building.

• Materials that you plan on using and where you will get them. eBay, your local hardware shop, the neighbor, demolition yard, or manufacturer.

• The council permits that may be required, they will be different depending on the council involved.

• The cost, always allow more than you budget, even the very best laid plans can go astray, Murphy’s law has a lot to answer for sometimes!

• One of the most important suggestions is talk to your neighbor and tell them your plans. The shed may spoil their view, cut down on the amount of sun their garden receives in the course of the day. They may also have some good ideas that may be of help in your building project. Who knows, they may even help building your shed.

• Measure your planned site. Will it fit? Distance from your home, access, services.

• Who is going to have the use of your shed or studio, and what inside finishing it may need. The lady of the house may want to decorate appropriately, if it’s going to be for her. A blokes shed will need a beer fridge and very little else!