Shed Blueprints – Free Shed Blue Prints

Free is awesome! Receiving a free set of shed blueprints lets you review the product of a company. By previewing how the shed blueprints are packaged, and whether you can easily understand them or not, free shed blueprints give you the flexibility to choose whats right for you.

If you have searched the internet and have not found any free blueprints that interest you, you might want to check out modifying your own set of plans. Starting a project from scratch can take hours of planning and fixing errors. A simple modification of a set of blueprints is all you may need.

Before choosing your certain type of shed, make sure you have contacted your local building department. I have seen time and time again where someone builds a nice looking structure on their property, only to have the local building department come by make them tear down the entire project.

Anything from the type of materials used, to the location on the property can be an issue. The first shed I tried to build at our first home we purchased, the building department had way too many restrictions and regulations. So I ended up with no storage shed at all.

Shed Blueprints

In another state of our future home we were building, we let the construction company gather up all the pertinent information for the building department and local zoning boards. The best idea is to order pre-designed shed plans and get the information on all the materials needed. When you apply to the permitting department, your plans may not be accepted.

You might end up having to hire a legal draftsman to draw up your set of plans. Here are a few more things to consider.

Will you have the right materials for your local weather conditions?

Is your foundation going to be set on blocks or permanently with a concrete foundation?

A certain distance may be required the shed to be placed from the property line, septic tank, and sometimes even a water line.

The facts about zoning permits concern the public’s need for personnel safety and the overall functionality of the structure. The Determining factor whether you need a permit or not will usually be the size of the shed.

Planning is the most vital stage before building your shed. Take time to visit Free Shed Blueprints for your free shed plan from My Shed Plans.

Storage and a Play Space under One Roof

The Best Projects are the ones designed from the
floor up, creating something prissily the way you
want it. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to
build my own home, but I did get to feel the
satisfaction of building a custom, smaller scale
combination shed and playhouse.

I had an idea to build a shed for my mother, her
65th birthday was coming up and I wanted her to
have a place in the backyard to store her lawn
knick knacks, and I wanted to add a playhouse for
when the grand kids visited. Mom didn’t want two
separate buildings in the backyard, so I combined
them.

Someday the kids will get to big for the
playhouse, (which I feel will be sooner than I’d
like), and when they do I can remove the divider
wall and get twice as much space. Or, maybe I will
turn it into a new game room.

Double-Duty Shed

I came across a detailed set of shed plans (do it
yourself shed kit) online. You can pick what
materials you want to use and end up with a much
higher quality structure for less the money.

While designing the style of the shed, I kept it
basic and went with a single sloped roof that
would be easy to construct and also would
compliment my mom’s Victorian style house. I put
in a divider wall and separate doors to make the
shed dual purpose, a fancy looking two room
structure.

I didn’t want the shed to look out of place or
like it was sitting all alone. So, I surrounded it
by a lot of good sized shrubs. I did not have the
resources to purchase new trees so I cleared an
area that backed up to an old evergreen surrounded
by junipers. The shed fit in well and the junipers
gave it a comfortable, welcoming feel.

You can find many different layouts and designs
online; you can even find the one I built. You can
put your own personal touches on your designs and
customize them however you like. This is an
opportunity to build a structure exactly the way
you want it.

I suggest you use the information in
this article only as a starting point. Modify the
plans to suit your needs and create a new design
that is perfect for your yard.
Make sure you pick out a high grade finish to put
on your structure. Quality paint with a good stain
will ensure your building looks good for years to
come.
With some help from my best friend we had the new
Storage shed, Play space up in a couple weekends.
The new masterpiece is not only a nice new
attraction to the backyard; it was also a big hit
with mom and the kids.

I tried cutting corners and building a similar
storage shed about 3 years ago without much
success. The big difference this time was a step
by step set of plans.

Saltbox Storage Shed Plans

A shed with a very unique look that adds character to your property along with functionality is known as a saltbox shed. The stylish roof design gives you more storage space on a small foot print.

Storage Shed Plans

The front of the structure is two stories high and slopes back to a single story.

The roof is short and has a steep angle in the front. The back section is long and gradually sloping towards the back.

Some unusual angles need to be cut when building a salt box shed. It will be difficult trying to figure out how to build the shed on your own without any direction. Getting your hands on a good set of saltbox blueprints can prove to be priceless.

The number one mistake in building your shed project is miscalculating how much it will cost to build. Improper measuring and cutting mistakes can add a lot to the cost to your project.

A step by step set of detailed shed plans with a complete materials list is very important. This will keep you from making several trips to the local supply store. This type of unique shed needs to be constructed using exact drawings. One miscalculation and you could end up with one funny looking structure!

The Saltbox shed gets its name from New England colonial type buildings. These types of sheds are popular for adding charisma and a special look to your back yard.

The raised storage area enables you to increase your overall square footage while building your shed in a smaller space. The primary use for a saltbox shed is to store things like small tractors, riding mowers, jet skies, and other items that can be rolled in and out.

The double doors are perfect while keeping the feel for the timeless architecture. Building a classic shed like the saltbox can be a challenging and rewarding project. A great do it yourself project; just make sure you have a reliable set of blueprints

Simple Carport Plans

After moving into a smaller house, between me and my wife; we managed to clutter up our living space pretty quick.  Continuing to use the garage as a storage den for about a year, I decided it was time to draw up some simple carport plans.

Living in the country brings a lot of bird droppings. Having a carport would not only protect my restored 65 Ford 4×4 from things dropping from the sky, it would be a good looking addition to the property.

Drawing up the plans from scratch sounded like a good idea.  Now that it was already 2010, I knew some new building codes were going to have to be met. I built a small fence in 2009 and the building department issued me a small fine for my fence being to high.

Every year there is usually updated codes due  to new city ordinances, earth quakes and various other destructive natural forces. I ended up buying a set of detailed diy (do it yourself) plans. The carport seemed like it was an easy project and I wanted to make sure everything was up to code.

Having a perfect materials list will give you the insurance that you will get the right quantity as well as the right materials. More than a couple projects have been a banded half way through due to poor budgeting and improper planning. This usually happens because of not buying enough wood.

Building a quality outdoor carport will keep your new project protected from heavy storms. A firmly anchored design prevents your new structure from blowing away under extreme winds.  There is no walls to prevent the wind from picking up the carport and carrying it away so a sturdy foundation is a must.

In the end, although building  a carport seems like a simple project,  having a set of plans when building it is priceless.

Outdoor Storage-Tools Needed to Build a Shed

See yourself with the most important building tool of all. A good set of detailed plans is at the top of the list. When Reading this entire article will get an informed decision on the tools you will need when building a shed.

If you don’t have a detailed set of easy to follow plans there is a good chance your project will end up feeling like a bad dream. After you get your plans, you will see what kind of hardware and lumber that you will need, then you can gather up all the correct tools.

At the very minimum you will need an assortment of tools. You will need a circular saw, power drill, a good sturdy hammer, and a variety of small hand tools including pliers, wrenches and screwdrivers. You will want a framing square, level, and a good chalk line.

If you plan on using a permanent foundation for your shed, having a post hole digger will save you a lot of time when digging the holes. Also, this will help you make your holes the perfect size. Get a good shovel and something that you can easily mix the concrete in. A wheel barrel works great.

A good pair of work gloves is a smart investment and will pay for themselves in the long run. Putting a nice finish on your shed is very important. You will need paint brushes, or a paint sprayer.   You might have some pieces that were odd cuts. If this happens, a reciprocating saw works great.

With proper planning you do not have to worry about odd cuts.  The great thing about a well drawn out detailed set of plans is that it will list all the cut sizes. For a small price, you can take the list to a lumber yard and they will cut the pieces for you. This will save you a lot of time.

The advantages of pre cut wood are priceless; you will not only save hours of work, there will be no need to buy as many power tools.  Hence, the best tool of all is a good set of step by step plans!

See yourself learning how to build a fence. Constructing a fence sounds easy but some pre-planning is a must. Consider a few things before you even start digging a hole.

Directions on How to Build a Fence

When putting up a new fence sometimes you will need a building permit. Also, if you belong to a home owners club you might want to get the green light from them as well.

Think about the amount of materials you will need to complete the project. You do not want to get halfway through the job and discover you’re out of materials or money.

My father in law and I took a ride through the neighborhood and got quite a few ideas about the type of fence we wanted to build. After only 5 minutes of driving I spotted one I liked.  The owner happened to be checking his mail so I pulled up and proceeded to ask him about his fence.

He said he had built it from a do it yourself detailed set of plans. He then said he would be right back. Low and behold he returned with the exact set of plans he used to build his fence.  Not knowing what was next, he handed me the set of plans, and told me to bring them back when I was done.

So with plans in hand, we drove away. The next day we started the project. The first thing you need to do is make sure you know where the frost line is. When you set your posts below the frost line, you will ensure your post will not get up heaved out of the ground.

Making sure all the post line up evenly is an important part of the project. If not you will end up with a terrible looking fence.

Start with the end post. Chalk string is used for striking straight lines on the ground; and is especially used for this. You can find it at any building supply store. Take your chalk string and stretch it from one post to the other; making sure your string is taunt and on the bottom of the post (lying on the ground) when measuring. Pull the string up off the ground at the midpoint between the two posts, now let it go. It will snap a chalk line on the ground. Now you have an even line!

You now have a straight line as a reference point. Now dig your holes and insert a fence post in the ground every 6 to 8 feet. It is very important that you space the posts equally.

Make sure your post are level, pointing 90 degrees straight up and down. Have them braced while the cement sets up. There are many different ways to secure your fence to the post. Use high grade screws in place of nails, this way your fence is more secure.

A good stain will have a long lasting effect on your fence. Dipping your boards in stain before you build your fence is an option; or you can just wait and spray it on after the fence is built.

It is vital that you get a good set of detailed plans when building your fence. This will make sure the project looks professional and will stand up to years of use.

(click here for step by step instructions on how to build a fence)

Click Here to Discover How you Can Build Custom Fences With Step By Step Instructions

Build A Shed Roof

When it’s time to build your shed roof you need to take some things into consideration. The first thing to think about is extreme load conditions. Is your shed going to be subjected to major amounts of snow? The main goal is to build a structure that will last for years to come as well as keep all your belongings protected.

When you acquire a set of shed plans, make sure that your local building codes conform to the way you build your roof.  After that, you can go to your local lumber yard and get all the truces prefabricated for you.

By the time the roof truces get delivered all you have to do is take a pencil and place a mark on the top plate of each wall every 24” on center (OC).  Now all you have to do is nail it into place by setting each roof truss on its mark. Continue this patternt for the remainder of the trusses.

To support the roof loads, the majority of the roof designs I have seen call for 5/8” decking to tie the trusses together. Once you install the decking you can cover it up by laying down roofing paper and shingles.

Something really important to remember when laying your roof deck is the wind. A strong gust of wind could easily carry a piece of decking material off your roof. This could be dangerous, possibly causing harm to someone below if not you.  It’s best to wait for a calm day.

An extra steep roof pitch is recommended when living in an area with heavy snow fall. This allows the snow to easily slide off the roof.  Even the Sturdiest of buildings have been known to collapse under thousands of pounds of snow accumulation. Roof pitch can be an important factor as you see.

The longevity and appearance of your roof take on a life of their own. It is a very good idea to buy a 20 year shingle. Make sure you have the same shingles on your shed roof as you do on your house, and make sure the colors match up so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.

You might need to adhere to some home owner association rules and regulations, so the color of the roof might be an issue.  You don’t want to re do all the hard work you did. One time I had to redo my whole color scheme! So make sure you get the ok first.

Next, Click Here! to Discover How to construct perfect Shed Roofs and many other Woodworking Projects.

Install Solar Power

We have run into a severe energy crisis these days. This has more and more people installing solar power. Not only does alternative energy save power for the rest of the planet, it greatly helps local governments save energy.

Using solar power is not only an asset to the environment and mankind, you save tons of money in the long run.

In the crowd of alternative energy solutions, the power wind approach and the solar power approach are the two methods that are the easiest to use. The only problem with the wind approach is to be efficient you need a wind speed of at least 11mph along with a very large area.

On the other hand, all you need for solar power is a whole lot of sun. The Total Solar heating system has a few different elements.

Solar Power Cooker – The most widely used solar power system used in homes today. Let’s take a look at is advantages.

• Excellent cooking – Cooking food with a solar cooker is very healthy. Prepared in a small cooking box in no time at all.
• Different methods of cooking – You can bake, boil, and roast using the same unit.
• No carbon emissions are emitted or does it leave any excess scum.
• Fuel – Sunlight is the only type of fuel you will ever need.

Solar Converter – This generator runs all your appliances that use solar energy. Photovoltaic cells are used to convert electrical energy into solar energy. You may also hear a solar generator called a solar lighting system. A number of cells store energy for later use.  Adding a solar power generator to your home is an excellent power saving and cost efficient way of running your house. Just think about running your appliances and not having to pay any bills

Solar Heating System – also known as a solar thermal system. This system takes care of all your home temperature needs. You can keep a steady temp without worrying about the cost. These units are very popular and designed to please the eye.

This type of heating system should not only fit your budget, but give you a sense of accomplishment as well.

Firewood Shed Plans – The Best Solution for Storing Firewood

Having a house with a fireplace is great if you have a place to store your wood. A good set of Firewood Shed Plans is what I needed when we first moved into our home.

We were told where to get a good deal on wood, we didn’t have a place to store it, so needless to say; the fireplace didn’t get used for the first year.

My next door neighbor mentioned to me that he had a set of shed plans that he used to build his firewood storage. He also said that he had a good friend who had piles of seasoned wood.

After a couple months of procrastination, I knew the rainy cold weather was coming soon, so I decided to give my neighbor a call. He came over that afternoon with the set of plans he used to build his shed.

Next, I put a list together of all the materials that we were going to need. First I stopped into the hardware store and priced everything; then took that same list, dropped by the lumber yard and saved %15 on all the items. My neighbor painted his shed barn red, so I picked up some primer gray and some white paint for the trim.

Storing Firewood

I did not want my firewood storage shed to look exactly like his, which made me think of some old tricks my high school drafting teacher taught me. I started off by laying down a cinder block floor, and covered it with a thick plastic tarp. This way the moisture was sure to be eliminated from coming in.

I modified my shed by building a steeper grade roof; also I added one swinging door rather than the two doors. This gave the shed a unique look.

The project ended up being easier and also a lot less expensive than I thought. Having the detailed step by step set of plans made the construction of the firewood shed a breeze. My niece and nephew were staying with me that weekend and they got a lesson in painting.

Look out for the best prices on lumber and materials. We saved a few hundred extra dollars by doing a little shopping around.

Not only will your wood be dry when winter comes around, it will also be clean. Building a storage shed for your firewood can be a fun experience.  We had the shed up and painted that weekend.

Hello! Welcome to Building Outdoor Storage

Yes, I realize that is an odd name for a website
but there is a reason for choosing this particular
combination of words.

You see, when people look for shed building plans
and wood working project there is a pretty good chance
you will log on to your computer and type in: Building
Outdoor Storage… or maybe Wood Working Projects
in order to find a website to handle your needs.

And, I wanted you to find my website because unlike
other sites that may pop up, I do not own my Building or wood
working product, I am actually an impartial consumer who was
once in your shoes and had a bad experience looking for
building design blueprints and instructions, that it motivated
me enough to create this site to protect you.

It was kind of my civic duty to do so!

Now, I am not going to bash any building design sites out there,, I’m sure
you can find multiple sites out there have. But, I will make some
solid suggestions of some very good products that you
can trust to take care of you.

In addition to this, I want to educate future patrons on
building design and wood working projects and give you the
knowledge to make an informed decision on websites out there.

So, if your looking for different shed designs, or just want to check
out a various wood working projects, this site is for you.

Before i started on this epic quest to find qualified shed plans
and wood working projects, I didn’t know fine dining from my elbow.
I did not know the difference between a salt box shed or
a garden shed… Maybe you don’t either?

No worries!  I will cover all of this at
Building Outdoor Storage

We will take a look at many different styles of Sheds and various
woodworking projects.  From your basic carport to building a
custom fence.

I will show you how to find whatever wood working project
your craving desires; you name it, what ever categories
of woodworking projects your looking for I will help you find them.

Most of all this site will help you find authentic websites that are
trustworthy and the owners who are honest and professional. The last
thing you need to do is have some backwoods website owner
messing around with your designs.

Also, the prices websites charge for building information
can be all over the board. You can get ripped off very easy
when looking for reliable plans and blueprints on the internet.

And, one big word of warning, The Better Business Bureau
cannot be relied on to vouch for a company. A lot of people are
not aware that the Better Business Bureau is not any type of
governing body like their name implies and they are actually
paid by the business they represent.

…Sounds like a conflict of interest to me!