The rental storage business is booming. Why is that? It seems like everyone has extra “stuff” lying around. What do you do with that stuff? Some people just let it piled up, and it ends up taking away valuable space. If you’re like me you like to have things somewhat organized. Think about it; do you want to pay someone else a monthly storage container rental fee to store those things, or would you rather invest a little money up front, and build your own shed?

The word “storage” indicates you have something that needs to be put away until a later time. If your things are organized, you have a lot better chance of finding them the next time you need them. If you just let your things lay around outside, they probably will deteriorate over time, as the weather elements get to them. How valuable is that stuff anyway? You may be saving some money now by not storing it away, but replacing it may cost you a lot more in the long run. That is certainly one primary reason for having a storage shed. But, do I buy a shed or get storage shed plans, and build one? If you have at least some carpenter skills, building a shed may be the best option for you. But, before you just start nailing some boards together, you may want to acquire some clear and concise step by step shed floor plans. You are reading this article, so you have already found my site. We have some wonderful plans for you to follow. Check these out. We have thousands of plans to choose from.

Before you begin the actual building process, there are some important questions that should probably be answered first. The first of those questions is “What is my biggest need in a shed?” What kind of “stuff” do you have lying around? It may be lawn equipment. That’s something you don’t want siting outside. Some people use part of their lawn storage shed to store their lawn equipment and the rest for storing garden items, such as fertilizer, week killer, and the like. If that’s the case for you, a garden storage shed is what you are looking for. Before building this shed, you may want to check out garden shed plans review.

Maybe your storage need is for fire wood. In the winter months, you need to keep that wood dry, or it won’t burn very well. In that case, your need is for firewood storage shed plans. These sheds don’t need to be built as solid, and sometimes have an open area for you to retrieve the wood. There are also lean to shed plans that work very well for firewood. Regardless of the shed type, you at least need a sloped roof to keep the water away from the fire wood.

So what kind of shed should I build? There are a number of different types of sheds and shed designs. There are wood sheds, plastic storage sheds and even metal sheds. There are plastic and metal storage shed kits if you just want to assemble one. The storage shed kits aren’t as solid as most of your do it yourself garden shed plans.

When different types of sheds are mentioned, one is normally speaking of the roof type. There are several types of shed roofs. The barn shed has a roof that looks more like a barn. This typically has a higher roof than most other sheds, and has at least two sloping angles on each side of the roof. This type of roof is also known as a Gambrel roof. The shed could also be referred to as a Gambrel shed. To build this shed you would need a set of Gambrel storage shed plans. The upper slope of the roof has less of an angle, and the bottom slope is normally very steep. Barn sheds are good for building a loft area for storage, above the floor. By using this space, you end up with a lot more storage space than you would with a typical shed. What is usually called a “shed roof” is a one sided roof that has its high point at the front of the shed, and slopes down to the back side of the shed. This diverts water from the roof onto the ground, away from the front side. Another very popular roof style for sheds is the Gable roof. This is shaped like an upside down “V” with equal slopes on either side. The angle of the slope varies greatly from one shed to another. Another shed style is a flat roof, with no slope at all. This is the least desirable kind of shed, since water is more apt to sit on top, and leak into the shed. It’s more a matter of one’s personal preference as to which style one chooses. Personally, I like the Gable style shed. Which ever style you choose, you will want to get your hands on a good set of plans for your storage shed.

Another very important decision you will need to make is Choosing a Site For Your Shed. This normally will be dictated by the size and shape of your yard if the shed is going to reside in your yard. Some storage sheds are built on commercial property to store parts, equipment, or machinery. You want to have easy access to your shed and want it handy in retrieving what you have stored. You want to stay away from low lying areas in your yard. If you live in an area that gets very much rain, you don’t want water standing near, or under your storage shed. You also want to place your shed on level ground. It’s a good idea when laying your foundation that you also put cinder blocks or river rock down first. This will help you in having a more firm foundation. If you use river rocks, they will allow water to flow down and not stand around the shed. Some like to put down a cement foundation or cement floor. If you do, make sure water will drain away from the shed, not into it.

The next question to ask is what size of a shed should I build? The number of things you have to store will also play a big part in the size of the shed you build. The location of the shed can also play a big factor. If you have limited space, your shed may have to be smaller by necessity. If you only have an area that is 10’ wide, you may need to limit your width to six or seven feet. If your shed is out in the open, with no restrictions, you may want a 12 X 12 shed or a 10 X 12 shed. These are common sizes. When you are looking for plans for building a shed look for some other common sizes: 8 X 8 shed plans; 10 X 10 shed plans; shed plans 8 X 10; shed plans 8 X 12; 10 X 14 shed plans; 10 X 16 shed plans; 12 x 16 shed plans; and 12 X 20 shed plans.

When you settle on a size, look for a storage shed plans that meets your needs. You can get some free storage shed plans, but you generally get what you pay for. The plans listed on this page are excellent plans, plus they give you a tremendous variety to choose from. When you have completed your shed structure, you may want to continue, by finishing the inside. This could include a work bench and/or shelves, which make organizing much easier. Good luck in your building project.