You may be looking for storage shed plans because you want to build a storage shed. Before you choose your plans there are a few things you should know.
Your options for building a shed are doing it yourself as a complete DIY construction, to using shed kits, or you might decide on hiring a builder to do it for you. It will come down to your budget, desire and confidence as to which method you go with. Whichever construction path you choose you will need plans.
What Type Of Plans Do You Need?
Do you want plans for a storage shed, garden shed or some other type of plans? Shed plans are named after either their purpose like a storage shed, a garden shed, an outdoor shed or wood shed. Or they are named from various designs like a lean to shed, a gambrel or barn style shed and so on. They are also named based on their size and dimensions like a 8×8, 8×12 or a 12×12 shed. The difference between any of these is in the functionality, design, dimensions and fit out of your shed.
Shed Kits Or Build It Yourself?
The fact is that there are storage shed kits available at your local home improvement store or online, and these may seem like an easy solution for your storage needs. It really depends on what you are looking for. Most people decide pretty quickly that these kits are far too expensive and often don’t fully meet the needs they have. I wouldn’t even look at them unless they are made properly from timber and easy to assemble. Vinyl and plastic sheds don’t quite seem like a real shed. Really if you want quality, to save money and to get what you want, building your own storage shed is often the best option.
Think Through The Practicalities
The last thing you want to do is spend several weeks of your time shopping around online for the right plans, buying all of those supplies, and constructing your building only to realize you didn’t build the right structure after all. Many people have some pretty specific needs in mind for constructing a shed in their yard, so you want to ensure that the design you choose is large enough for all of your needs. Consider your storage needs and you might want a workspace to do any work-type activities in the area such as woodworking projects. Also consider the size of the doorway or doorways in relation to the items you need to store in the space.
Don’t Forget The Look Of Your Shed
You need to decide what shed type you want as well. Even though it is a storage shed you will want to look at different designs to make sure it suits your house and backyard as much as your needs. It is all part of the planning process and the decisions you and your family need to consider. Build a shed that looks good, is functional for now as well as for the future, a shed that is built to last.
A Bit Of Expert Help Is A Good Thing
Even with storage shed plans, blueprints, and materials lists you may need a bit of expert guidance from a local builder with things like windows and doors. I got my two brothers in law who were both builders to help me when I built my house with those things and to guide me on what to do. Knowing how to build a shed, the steps involved will help you enormously too. Alternatively you can do it yourself and access woodworking how to guides and resources online.
Avoid Getting A Building Contractor To Do It For You
There is a difference between getting some guidance and hiring a contractor to build your shed for you. The cost of using a builder is significantly higher than on a do it yourself construction. It could save several thousand dollars even on a basic shed construction. By choosing to build your own shed you can get a bigger and higher quality shed for the same or less money than if you hire a building contractor. Obviously, there is more to do and figure out for yourself. You can get plenty of guidance as you need it for a lot less than getting to builder to do it all for you.
Do Your Research And Planning
You will have to make some decisions about design, size, location and what type of storage shed you want. Plus you will need to start gathering some ideas, looking at possibilities and educating yourself on building a shed. Especially if you want to build it yourself. Even if you employ a builder you will need to get storage shed plans, and you will need to be clear about what you want.
Whichever way you choose to build your shed work through your budget and watch the costs of building your shed closely to stay on target. Plan your shed out up front and then you can work out what is possible and what is not before you start. Do your best to lock in your material costs as early as possible so you can stay within your budget.
I tend to want to at least try and do most things myself just so I can afford to get it done. I am operating on a minimal budget and cannot afford to pay for the cost of labor. Besides that, I am pretty handy and good with understanding schematics and blue prints. I think I would like to outfit a shed with electrical outlets so I can also run air conditioning and other comforts.
I was actually thinking about building it myself until I read your blog about the shed kits. I know that you mentioned some of them cost quite a bit of money but I was thinking that if you were to buy the materials separately you may end up about the same position. I am going to have to do some more research into it. Thank you for the post.
If I was planning on giving one of my enemies a beat down, I would be interested in a wood she (get it?). Seriously though, I am wondering if the outdoor shed type is the right classification of blue print for what I am looking for. A friend of mine erected what looks like a large storage container with a metal exterior, but inside, it has electrical outlets on the roof and walls and has a work bench. That’s what I want.
I was looking at the 8 feet x 12 feet Wester Red Cedar Storage Shed when I noticed the solar lights below it. I am considering the Gama Sonic Light or the Heath Zenith 180-Degree Outdoor White Solar LED Motion-Sensing Security Light, not for an outdoor shed, but instead, as a an indoor light for my home that I can use at night. I figure it might produce less heat then a standard 60 watt bulb and save a bit of electricity on A/C as a result.
This was very informative, I was just reading about a bicycle shed and decided that was an excellent idea then I ran across your blog about the shed designs and knew it was something I had to do. I didn’t get a chance yet to go out and look at the designs but I will here shortly, I just wanted to thank you for giving me the idea to build it instead of buy it.
I haven’t gone through all the plans yet but I was wondering if there is a shed out there that looks like a little house with a porch and everything. My neighbors have one of these and I was just wondering how big it could be on the inside or if it was even a shed at all. I’m thinking it could be the biggest play house ever and it’s pretty.
Geraldine, I was looking at those same lights because I have always wanted yard lighting but I don’t want to have to deal with a cord. Do you suppose that they have a very long charge life? I apologize for the comment not being around a shed, but I got my shed already based on your advice and now I want some yard lights around it.