Have you ever considered building your own shed? It is a massive undertaking and before selecting your shed plans and attempting to begin the construction phase you need to ask yourself some serious questions.
First and foremost, what are the requirements of the shed? Will it be housing a car, garden tools or have you decided you just need a private space to escape to occasionally.
With this simple question answered you should be able to get an idea of the least the size of the shed you are after and then you can begin researching the shed plans available to determine the style you are after.
Make sure you think about access to the shed, does it require roller doors or hinged doors, will it be a powered shed or do you need to rely on natural light? In many areas your local council may need to approve a permanent structure being built on your property and this is quite often driven by the size of the new construction.
There may also be a requirement to submit your shed plans to your local governing body for approval prior to starting.
Secondly, positioning of the shed.
Determining where to begin construction of your shed will rely on a number of different factors.
The following is not an exhaustive list but should get you thinking.
Is access to the shed by vehicles require?.
This is not just for storage of cars but also will there be a need for you to transport heavy equipment or materials to and from the shed.
If your shed is to be powered it should be positioned where cabling can be run to it.
The same applies if you want other services such as water or gas.
Does the area have adequate drainage or will your shed be flooded by the first rain storm? If you are planning on making a bit of noise in your shed you should attempt to locate it in an area that will have a minimal disturbance for you neighbors.
If the area has trees, are their root systems likely to affect your shed in the future? You should also make sure that your shed will not be blocking light to existing gardens or houses.
If you are considering a concrete slab, will cement trucks have access to pour the base or will they have to use booms to get it over the top of another structure? Once your shed plans have been picked and your area has been earmarked then the following needs to be considered.
Materials.
Any shed plans you follow will almost certainly have recommendations on specific wood types to use during construction.
A bit of research about the types of wood available in your area will prove invaluable as the shed plans you have may be from someone in Australia who recommends using Jarrah, a wood which is specific to a certain area and may be unavailable or at least very expensive to purchase in your locale.
Speak with lumber yards about suitable replacements ensuring that your decision isn't purely money driven as this will be a structure you want to stand the test of time.
Also think about the type of finish you would like.
If your shed plans state that bricks will be required around the framing then your hands are tied with the exception of choosing the color.
If on the other hand you are thinking of painting your shed, do you really need to use that perfectly finished hardwood, noting its grain will be forever hidden under layers of paint.
The final thing you should take into account is the financial cost.
Whilst you may want space to hold four cars, does your budget allow for that? Whilst it isn't necessary for you to purchase all of the materials required in one big hit, it should be taken into account what the total final cost is and a realistic view should be taken as to whether it is within your budget.
If your selected shed plans do not include an estimate for material costs then, again, consult your local lumber yard with resource list in hand to get an idea of the total cost.
These are some of the bigger issues you will need to consider when sourcing your shed plans prior to commencing your project.
There are a number of other factors which may affect you individually, the important thing is to carefully plan out your exact requirements before proceeding.
Once the decision is made, ensure that your shed plans come from a source that will guide you through the process from start to finish, explaining each step in detail as with a project this size, the last thing you want is to be left out in the rain.
First and foremost, what are the requirements of the shed? Will it be housing a car, garden tools or have you decided you just need a private space to escape to occasionally.
With this simple question answered you should be able to get an idea of the least the size of the shed you are after and then you can begin researching the shed plans available to determine the style you are after.
Make sure you think about access to the shed, does it require roller doors or hinged doors, will it be a powered shed or do you need to rely on natural light? In many areas your local council may need to approve a permanent structure being built on your property and this is quite often driven by the size of the new construction.
There may also be a requirement to submit your shed plans to your local governing body for approval prior to starting.
Secondly, positioning of the shed.
Determining where to begin construction of your shed will rely on a number of different factors.
The following is not an exhaustive list but should get you thinking.
Is access to the shed by vehicles require?.
This is not just for storage of cars but also will there be a need for you to transport heavy equipment or materials to and from the shed.
If your shed is to be powered it should be positioned where cabling can be run to it.
The same applies if you want other services such as water or gas.
Does the area have adequate drainage or will your shed be flooded by the first rain storm? If you are planning on making a bit of noise in your shed you should attempt to locate it in an area that will have a minimal disturbance for you neighbors.
If the area has trees, are their root systems likely to affect your shed in the future? You should also make sure that your shed will not be blocking light to existing gardens or houses.
If you are considering a concrete slab, will cement trucks have access to pour the base or will they have to use booms to get it over the top of another structure? Once your shed plans have been picked and your area has been earmarked then the following needs to be considered.
Materials.
Any shed plans you follow will almost certainly have recommendations on specific wood types to use during construction.
A bit of research about the types of wood available in your area will prove invaluable as the shed plans you have may be from someone in Australia who recommends using Jarrah, a wood which is specific to a certain area and may be unavailable or at least very expensive to purchase in your locale.
Speak with lumber yards about suitable replacements ensuring that your decision isn't purely money driven as this will be a structure you want to stand the test of time.
Also think about the type of finish you would like.
If your shed plans state that bricks will be required around the framing then your hands are tied with the exception of choosing the color.
If on the other hand you are thinking of painting your shed, do you really need to use that perfectly finished hardwood, noting its grain will be forever hidden under layers of paint.
The final thing you should take into account is the financial cost.
Whilst you may want space to hold four cars, does your budget allow for that? Whilst it isn't necessary for you to purchase all of the materials required in one big hit, it should be taken into account what the total final cost is and a realistic view should be taken as to whether it is within your budget.
If your selected shed plans do not include an estimate for material costs then, again, consult your local lumber yard with resource list in hand to get an idea of the total cost.
These are some of the bigger issues you will need to consider when sourcing your shed plans prior to commencing your project.
There are a number of other factors which may affect you individually, the important thing is to carefully plan out your exact requirements before proceeding.
Once the decision is made, ensure that your shed plans come from a source that will guide you through the process from start to finish, explaining each step in detail as with a project this size, the last thing you want is to be left out in the rain.
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