5 Things You Need To Know About Building a Shed

When you decide to build a shed you probably—mistakenly—believe that it will be a simple task. Toss up four walls and a roof and you’re ready for a game room, storage shed or utility shed, right? Well it’s not quite that simple, but it can be if you take a few things into consideration before you pick up that hammer. A great place to start is Adam Smith’s “How to build a shed” website called 3dshedplans.com, where he shares top tips, provides general information about everything related to shed building.

But before you do anything you need to consider where your shed will be erected. This must be done before you choose a design, style or layout. Plus you want to make sure you’re building a shed that will fit in the space you designated. So here are a few things you should know before you start building a shed. 

You Can Buy It Pre-Assembled 

If you don’t have the time and energy to learn all you need to know about building a shed from scratch you can always buy one pre- or partially assembled. Your favorite home improvement stores offer a wide variety of sheds that simply need to be hammered or snapped into place.

Of course these sheds don’t come in quite as many varieties as the sheds you can build from scratch, but you do have plenty of options. This is the perfect option for people who don’t know anything about building a shed, but are in dire need of additional storage space.

Wood Isn’t Your Only Option 

Perhaps one of the most important things you should know about building a shed is that you have other materials than wood from which you could choose. Wood is a solid option because it is inexpensive and you can make any color you want. But wood is also very susceptible to falling prey to the elements.

This is why many shed builders opt for metal or plastic. They may be loud when the rain is falling heavy, but they stand up better in the bad weather and have pretty low maintenance. If you don’t want to dedicate a lot of time and effort cleaning and weather-proofing your shed, look to an option other than wood.

You Might Need A Pro 

The one thing that many of those self-help shed building guides won’t tell you is that you might need to hire a pro to help build your shed. Why? One of the most difficult things about building a shed is the foundation. Sure you can pour the foundation on your own. But if your ground is uneven you may have to put posts into the ground. If that happens, depending on what is under your building spot, you may need to hire a contractor.

If your experience level is limited this is something you’ll need help with, particularly from someone with experience. If your goal is to build a large shed or one with multiple floors, you want to make sure your foundation is stable.

 

There Are Plenty Of Designs 

When you think about building a shed do you think of those carbon-copy structures that look exactly like the bigger house next to it? Or do you think of those cheesy miniature cabins? It doesn’t matter because chances are good that whatever you have in mind for your shed, you can find building plans to match.

Whether you are a fan of classical, modern or rustic architecture, you can find shed plans to fit your goals. Then all you have to do is build it!

 

You and Your Buddies Can Do It 

The thing about building a basic storage shed is that it is something you and your friends can do in a few days. If you’re surrounded by a few people handy with power tools you can pour the foundation and get everything erected in a long weekend.

It is not only a fun way to spend a weekend outdoors, but it is a cheap way to the shed you need.