February 5, 2012

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Wooden Skid Foundation

Posted by Storage Shed Plans

Wooden Skid Foundation

A Wooden Skid Foundation is very simple. It’s two or more treated wood beams or landscape timbers  set on a bed of gravel. The gravel provides a flat, stable surface that has good drainage which helps to keep the timbers dry. Once the skids are set, the floor frame is built on top of them and is nailed to the skids to keep everything in place.

Building a skid foundation is just a matter of firstly preparing the gravel base, then cutting, setting, and leveling the timbers. The timbers you use must be rated for ground contact.

To add a decorative touch, you can make angled cuts on the ends of the Skids which  make it easier move the shed to a new location, if need be.

Because a Wooden Skid Foundation sits on the ground, it is subject to slight shifting due to frost in cold-weather climates. Often a shed that has risen out of level will correct itself in spring when everything starts to thaw, but if it doesn’t, you can lift the shed with jacks on the low side and add gravel beneath the skids to level it.

Best,

Brad Smith

PS. After reading this, you may feel inspired to check out some shed plans, so you can start organizing to build your next shed. These are some of the best storage shed plans I have seen at such a reasonable price.  So check them out now. Click here to purchase these quality shed plans now!

 

Filed Under: Garden Shed Plans, Outdoor Storage Shed, Playhouse Plans, Pole Barn Plans, Storage Shed Plans Tagged With:

Storage Shed Foundation

Posted by Storage Shed Plans

Storage Shed Foundation

Your Storage Shed Foundation provides a level, stable structure to build upon and protects the building from moisture and erosion. So when considering which storage shed plans you are going to use to build your shed, the first thing to consider is the foundation.

In following posts we will be looking at how to build five of the most common types of shed foundations. All but the concrete pier foundation are built on top of the ground and can lower and rise a few inches during seasonal freezing and thawing of the soil underneath. A storage shed is quite a small free standing structure which isn’t attached to any buildings, so this really isn’t a problem. However, it can affect some interior finishes (wallboard, as an example).

When you choose a Storage Shed Foundation type for your storage shed, consider the specific site and the performance qualities of all systems in various climates; then check with the local building department to learn what’s allowed in your area. Some foundations, for example concrete slabs, may classify sheds as permanent structures, which can affect property taxes, among other things.

Depending on your area and your climate, you may need to install special tie-downs or ground anchors according to local laws. If your building department requires a “frost-proof” foundation (so the building won’t move with the freezing ground), you should be able to pass inspection by building your shed on concrete pier foundations.

Photo Credit: BenLucier

Best,

Brad Smith

PS. After reading this, you may feel inspired to check out some shed plans, so you can start organizing to build your next shed. These are some of the best storage shed plans I have seen at such a reasonable price.  So check them out now. Click here to purchase these quality shed plans now!

Filed Under: Garden Shed Plans, Outdoor Storage Shed, Playhouse Plans, Pole Barn Plans, Storage Shed Plans Tagged With: ,

Shed Building Materials

Posted by Storage Shed Plans

Shed Building MaterialsThe Shed Building Materials used for outdoor buildings is most commonly lumber or wood. The type of wood used is pine or related softwoods or cedar. These are naturally rot resistant and are generally less expensive than most other rot resistant woods. For pine to be rot resistant, it must be pressure treated, with a chemical mixture called Chromated Copper Arsenate. Pressure treated lumber is cheaper than cedar, but it’s not as good looking, so you may want to use it only in areas

where appearance is unimportant. Exterior grade plywood is made with layers of cedar or treated wood and a special glue that makes it weather-resistant. Even though this is the case, it’s always a clever idea to cover exposed wood edges to prevent water possibly leaking in.

Framing lumber such as pine or pressure treated pine come in a few different grades: Select Structural, Construction or Standard, and Utility. For most peoples needs, Construction Grade No.2 offers the best balance between quality and price. Utility grade is a lower-cost wood suitable for blocking and similar uses but should not be used for structural members, such as studs and rafters.

Always remember when selecting wood for your shed make sure all nails, screws, bolts, hinges, and anchors that will be exposed to weather or rest on concrete or that come in contact with treated lumber must be corrosion resistant.

The best all around choice for nails and screws is hot-dipped galvanized steel, recognizable by its rough, dull-silver coating. Hot-dipped fasteners generally hold up better than the smoother, electroplated types, and they’re the recommended choice for pressure-treated lumber. Aluminum and stainless steel are other materials suitable for outdoor exposure, however, aluminum can corrode some types of treated lumber.

Expensive stainless steel is the best guarantee against staining from fasteners on cedar and redwood.

Lastly, applying a finish to your shed will help protect the wood from rot, fading and discoloration, and insects. Pine or similar untreated lumber must have a protective finish if it’s exposed to the elements, but even cedar is can  rot over time and will turn gray if left bare and is not treated. If you paint the wood, always apply a primer first, which helps the paint stick and makes it last longer. If you want to preserve the natural wood grain, use a stain or clear finish.

Best,

Brad Smith

PS. After reading this, you may feel inspired to check out some shed plans, so you can start organizing to build your next shed. These are some of the best storage shed plans I have seen at such a reasonable price.  So check them out now. Click here to purchase these quality shed plans now!

Filed Under: Garden Shed Plans, Outdoor Storage Shed, Playhouse Plans, Pole Barn Plans, Storage Shed Plans Tagged With: , ,

How to Build a Shed

Posted by Storage Shed Plans

How To Build A ShedHello and welcome to the beginning of a series of blogs where I will be taking you on a journey on how to build a shed right from the start.

You might be building a shed for the very first time and you want to get a better understanding of how to undertake such a project, or you might be in the middle of building a shed, but want some extra tips and hints to make your shed spectacular.

Well then this series will help you no matter what you want to achieve.

What I will be covering is:

Most of us finally settle into a home that we are fully comfortable with. It has the number of bedrooms and bathrooms we want, but no matter how big it is, we always want or need extra storage space.

Attics and basements are fine to store extra clothing, furniture and Christmas decorations, but a separate outdoor building is the sensible solution to store gardening tools, lawn mowers, bicycles, camping gear, ladders, wood and so on.

So with this in mind it’s not a matter of just building a shed, the key is to build the right shed, and this takes a little thought and planning which will determine which size and style of shed will suit your household situation.

You begin by asking yourself, what are you specifically going to use the shed for?

The first thing to consider is how the shed will be used and what you want to store in it. It’s very easy to be tempted to just jump in and get some storage shed plans and start building your shed, or even purchasing one without thinking about the items to be stored.

This can only lead to a cluttered mess because you may construct a shed that’s too small for all the items you want to store. A shed should be a place that’s well organised and all the items in the shed should be easy to get to.
Now that you have considered what you want to store in it, you have determine the size of the shed. Sheds range from 2ft to 4ft all the way up to 16 ft. by 20 ft. or even bigger. The best way to work out what size shed you require is by asking yourself some simple questions:

•    How much space do I have in my back yard?
•    Are their size restrictions imposed by the local building department, zoning board or homeowners association?
•    How far from the property line must the shed be built ?
•    Will you be storing long items such as a ladder or lumber?
•    How much money do you have to put into the shed?

A really good tip is to make a list of all the items you want to store in the shed, then measure the largest items and that will determine what size shed you need to consider building.

Another thing to consider is just because you have the available space to build the shed, doesn’t mean you should build the largest shed possible. It has to fit in with  the look and feel of your house and you don’t want it overpowering your home and looking odd.

Another good tip is to look at building your shed to even number dimensions. Eg. 8 ft. by 10 ft., 10 ft by 12 ft. The reason for this is that common building materials such as lumber and plywood come in even numbered sizing. This will prevent you having to cut the materials to size and will reduce waste.

The next step is to contact your local building department and they will be able to tell you about the restrictions on the sheds minimum and maximum square footage as well as the maximum height. Also ask the building inspector for the documents you will need to apply for a building permit.

So from here click on one of the links below to explore further how to build your dream shed and what things to consider:

Photo Credit: geocam20000

Best,

Brad Smith

PS. After reading this, you may feel inspired to check out some shed plans, so you can start organizing to build your next shed. These are some of the best storage shed plans I have seen at such a reasonable price.  So check them out now. Click here to purchase these quality shed plans now!

Filed Under: Outdoor Storage Shed, Storage Shed Plans Tagged With: , ,

Outdoor Bike Storage Shed

Posted by Storage Shed Plans

Outdoor Bike Storage ShedIf you or your family owns a few bikes, and you are having trouble storing them, a good option would be to build an outdoor bike storage shed.

Before building a bike shed, there are a few important things to consider:

  • The first most important thing is to use good quality storage shed plans or blueprints to work from. You want this shed to be sturdy and durable, and by starting with the right plans, you are well on the way to building a quality shed.
  • The plans should allow for proper spacing between parked bikes so they are easy to get in out, without knocking over all the other bikes in the process.
  • Also make sure that you have a some walk space between the back wall of the shed and the bikes, in order to get to things you might hang on the back wall, for example a bike pump, spare tires, wrenches and other tools.

There are plenty of sites on the internet that provide outdoor bike storage shed plans, but just make sure they come with a materials list, step by step instructions and plenty of designs to choose from.

Best,

Brad Smith

PS. If you are looking for inspiration for your bike storage shed, then check out the plans at My Shed Plans Elite.

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