Storage Shed Kits – Important How To Advice & Tips!
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Storage Shed Kits - Important Advice & Tips When Selecting and Building
Storage Shed Kits
* Important! – Foundation Requirements Are A Major Consideration!
The foundation largely goes overlooked by many do-it-yourselfers when considering the purchase of their first storage shed kit. Learn about the various foundation requirements for the storage shed kits you are considering before you make a purchase! While not an absolute requirement for very small size sheds, some preparation of the ground under the shed is recommended. It can be as simple as leveling off the ground or a step further – adding a thin layer of sand-gravel mix for the shed to settle on. Bricks, stepping stones, and concrete blocks can also be used to elevate and will provide solid floor support.
The purpose is 2 fold. It makes the shed higher than the surrounding ground and it will provide uniform support for the floor. You don’t want water to puddle under the flooring or for water to run into the shed at floor level because it is lower than the surrounding ground, or because it is placed in the path of run-off when it rains or snow melts. The best time to divert or redirect water run-off is before it happens. Analyze your individual situation and make appropriate adjustments.
Most storage shed kits will provide recommendations and instructions on preparing a good foundation on which to place their particular design of shed. Most shed installations require additional expenditures to cover the cost of constructing and preparing a suitable foundation.
You’re right!
This article is not a sales pitch for a shed company. Generally, they don’t disclose this information until people open-up their new storage shed kits – surprise! Since it’s not a positive selling point they probably won’t be telling you about this until after you make your purchase; unless you are well enough informed to ask – do ask the questions.
Another important consideration for some installations is the direction the entry will face. Obviously you want the entry to be located along the most convenient path. But you should also consider other factors like the direction of high wind, wet weather, water run-off, and future landscaping or building plans.
*Important! – Winds May Blow Over A shed!
Anchor your shed to the ground. Even a modest wind can walk a shed off its foundation over time. Plan to anchor it down. You should find instructions to cover this inside most storage shed kits.
*Important! – Storage shed kits in larger sizes may require a permit!
Before you purchase a kit be sure to check with the appropriate agency in your area.
Ok, that super important stuff is out of the way – now the normal intro.
Among the most popular are kits used for garden storage; however, most storage shed kits will adapt to just about any type of storage you have in mind. Storage shed kits are available from most do-it-yourself building supply stores and online. Online research is a great place to learn about sizes, options, and price points. There is no shortage of information on storage shed kits, just look around.
Storage Shed Kits Are A Smart Alternative
to constructing your own storage shed from scratch. Kits serve as a welcome alternative to hiring a well equipped tooled-up skilled craftsman to construct a storage shed from scratch. There are many advantages associated with kits. They can save us a lot of money, time, hassle, and effort in constructing a new shed.
If you ask my wife, she will tell you it provides her with self-satisfaction for me doing something constructive, productive, or being useful around the house. When using a kit it doesn’t take weeks or months to construct your shed. Many storage kits can be successfully completed as a weekend project. Putting it together can usually be done without helpers; but, if friends and family members insist on helping, it may take a much longer – ha-ha.
Shed Kits – A Few More Things To Consider
If you are pondering the purchase of one of the many storage shed kits to build in your backyard, here are a few more points you may want to think about.
- Figure out the minimum storage space required to store the items you have in mind. If possible allow for some expansion. Extra storage space comes in handy. I for one never seem to get enough of anything.
- Select a location that is both handy and one that will accommodate the size and shape of storage shed that you want. Sometimes you must compromise on size and or location. Shape, size, and what will it fit are the primary considerations. As they say, bigger is better when it comes to storage shed kits – just as long as it fits in the space allotted. Obviously if you only plan to store a few items, a smaller size will suffice.But, believe me; you will eventually try to stuff as much as you can in that small space. So take some good advice here, buy at least 1 or 2 sizes bigger than you think will do the job. Bigger opens up the possibility of shelves, a window for natural light, a bigger lockable door, and the ability to have an isle to move around and gain easy access to get to your stuff. Sure these are luxuries; but they’re luxuries you will appreciate each and every time you use your storage shed. I’ve even contemplated a skylight to pass the time while resting up in the loft after retreating to the dog house.
- Often the unobstructed clear space available for placing your shed will dictate the maximum shed size, thereby it will restrict the selection of storage shed kits you have to choose from. Look for obstacles and potential obstructions like trees and other landscaping that may impede your access or that may become problematic when a shed is in place. Try to get a picture in your mind of what the spacing would be like with a shed resting there. Do take measurements!
- Be sure to measure the space you have chosen carefully. It’s a good idea to at least draw a rough visual layout of the shed dimensions and shape along with any nearby immovable objects and their distances from the proposed shed, especially the door area. Don’t overlook things like overhanging tree limbs. Make sure you have enough free access to get the largest items in and out comfortably.
- Storage shed kits are available in a fairly wide variety of construction materials. Kits are commonly available in molded plastic, wood and steel and vinyl coated steel.A good choice for urban home backyard sheds are the relatively new plastic or vinyl storage shed kits. They offer some advantages over wood and uncoated steel sheds in that they weather the outdoor environment very well and provide an attractive backyard storage solution with little or no maintenance. Small and smallish-medium sizes go up fast and easy; often a day or weekend project. They require minimum skill and often only require common basic tools – the tools which most homeowners already own. Some of the wood and steel kits require a few more tools and more work to complete the assembly.
- The various construction materials all have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, you can easily gingerbread-up a wood storage shed kit. Just add some fancy molding and colorful paint trim to customize it. For many homeowners it’s mostly about preferences, what fits, features for price, and ease of construction.
- Small sheds usually come with a simple single door entry. Shelving options are available with many kits. Larger size storage shed kits offer bigger entries for larger items, equipment, and supplies. Some larger sheds offer duel entries, customary shelving and cool loft style shelves for storage.
These do-it-yourself storage shed kits all come with instructions.
Most are easy to understand and follow by a novice do-it-yourselfer, like me. Now that I have gotten your attention focused on a few things and offered a bit of advice, I have but one last suggestion. Merge your list of considerations to these; and with that you are ready to go shopping for storage shed kits.
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