Saturday, April 12, 2008

How To Choose A Great Garden Shed

you love to work in your garden, but need a place to store those tools and pot those plants? With a garden shed, you don't have to go back and forth to the basement or garage. You are also more likely to take better care of your tools. Whatever your reasons for wanting a garden shed, here are some tips for choosing the best one for you:
1) Materials
Choosing your shed material is important and can be affected by the area you live in. Garden sheds can be built using different materials like wood, metal and pvc.
Wooden sheds have a natural look that can blend in well with garden environments. However they need regular maintenance like periodically re-staining or varnishing the wood. Despite the strength of wood, over time it can rot, split, warp or become susceptible to mold and mildew, and can be susceptible to termites - so wood sheds should be treated for protection.
Another option is metal sheds. These usually come in pre-fab sheets and are more durable and cheaper than wood. They don't look as natural as wood and can make the yard look a little dull.
Plastic shed kits utilizing heavy molded plastics such as PVC and polyethylene are less expensive than sheet metal sheds. Plastic sheds are not susceptible to termite and wood-boring insect damage, and are virtually maintenance-free. They can also come in many colors and styles to suit your existing architecture. Plastic sheds are extremely durable and very low maintenance.
2)Function
The most important thing to consider with any garden shed is what it will be used for. Will you use it for potting seedlings? Or just as storage? Would you rather use your shed as a workshop or a potting area? If you are thinking of using it as some kind of potting area, you might want to consider what is known as a potting shed. These are little structures that are the perfect size for potting up hundreds of fragile seedlings.
Think about what materials or functions you will need from your shed. Will you need large bins to hold compost, potting soil, mulch, and other bulky garden materials? Shelves that store pots and indoor potting benches give you an easy place to re-pot your transplants even when it's raining outside. A small, outdoor storage shed or potting shed can be a big advantage.
Make sure you have enough space to work in. If you have to remove a lawn mower, garden cart, and other tools before you can work at your potting bench or screen your compost, your garden shed will not be as useful as you had hoped. Some gardeners prefer a built-in potting bench, while others prefer a wheeled bench so they can work outdoors in good weather and indoors when it rains.
3)Design
You generally have 3 choices when it comes to constructing the shed. You can have it delivered pre-assembled, get a pre-fab kit where partial assembly is required, or build it yourself. It all depends on your budget and your skills.
The simplest, least expensive sheds are available in kit form. The variety of sizes, shapes, styles and designs is literally endless, ranging from a simple, small structure for keeping your gardening tools dry, to a back yard barn large enough to house a large lawn tractor, all the family's bicycles, boating gear, and still leave enough room for other tools.
If you are tight on space the garden hutch is great for small spaces for outdoor storage. If you are only looking for a space to store tools an outdoor cupboard, either in kit form or out of plywood or fibre cement sheeting, may be all that's necessary.
If you want to go the whole distance, extra details such as barn-style doors, cedar shingles, shutters, windows and window boxes add style and charm.
Many plastic sheds are modular to allow for easy extensions, peg-boards, shelving, attic-storage, windows, skylights, and other accessories to be added later.
Make sure any windows and doors you choose are lockable. Also check that any doors or windows are positioned to suit the site where you want to put the shed.
As you can see there is a lot to consider when choosing a garden shed. If you follow these simple steps, that choice should become a lot easier, and more importantly you should have a garden shed which you enjoy for many years to come. Feel free to visit my website for more information on garden sheds.
Jim Carnegie is passionate about all things to do with sheds and storage. He is a keen gardener and over the years has constructed many garden sheds. You can visit his site Sheds and Storage.
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Organising And Cleaning Garden Sheds

Garden sheds come in all shapes and sizes and vary in price, but there is one thing they can have in common and that is clutter. The garden shed tends to be home for all the gardening tools and everything else that can not find a home in the house. So if you find yourself taking half-an-hour to locate something you need, it is probably time to take 'the bull-by-the-horns' and organise your garden shed.
Plan
Organising a garden shed can seem like an overwhelming job, but if it's broken down into smaller tasks it can be achieved without you feeling discouraged. The first step is to make a plan, such as: the completion date, what's going to stay in your garden shed, what needs to be thrown, and what type of storage equipment you need. Last but least plan the treat you're going to give yourself after each task is completed!
Dealing with clutter in your garden shed
Tackling clutter in your garden shed can sometimes be difficult to deal with because of the 'just-in-case' scenario. A few guidelines may help you decide if you need to keep it or pitch it: if you've no idea what it is, if you haven't used it for over a year, if it's broken and can not be fixed, or if it's broken and you'll probably never get round to fixing it! It can help to deal with one area of your garden shed at a time, for example, starting on the left-hand side and working round. Once you've de-cluttered your garden shed the next step is to sort your stuff into your categories such as: gardening tools and equipments, hardware and tools, outdoor sports equipment, decorating paraphernalia, power tools, and outdoor seasonal decorations.
Cleaning your garden shed
Now that you have everything in neat piles, you'll probably need to give your garden shed a clean to remove the resident spider/s and spider webs, oil-stains, dried putty, paint, and general dust and dirt. Here are a few tips:
Spider webs - use a stick with some duct tape wrapped around with the sticky side facing outwards. A large broom or a vacuum cleaner is also effective. Oil stain - remove as much liquid oil as possible with paper towels. Place a cloth saturated with hydrogen peroxide on the stain, wipe the area dry and wash your garden shed floor with a wood cleaner. Hard putty - brush on paraffin oil. This dissolves the linseed oil in the putty and softens it for removal. Oiled-based paint or varnish stains - carefully rub the affected area with a cloth dampened in a formulated paint remover. Dirty surfaces - spray cleaner directly onto the surface and wipe clean. For caked on dirt, spray on the cleaner and allow it to soak for several minutes, before wiping clean. Rinse thoroughly with water and wipe clean.
Storage ideas
To utilise every inch in your garden shed so you can maximise your storage and work space there are several options available to keep your categorised stuff together:
Hanging hooks - they are excellent garden shed organisers for keeping your garden tools in one place. Shelving - keeps your equipment tidy and in one place. Containers - ideal for keeping your bits 'n' bobs in. Don't forget to label them! Pegboards - makes a handy area for hanging small tools, paintbrushes, and extension cords in your garden shed. Tool box - try to purchase one that will grow with your collection, especially if you enjoy DIY or car maintenance.
Conclusion
Garden sheds can hold a huge amount of 'stuff,' and a clean and organised one can enhance the enjoyment of owning a garden shed.
Norman Turner wrote 'Organising and Cleaning Your Shed' and recommends you visit GardeningThoughts.co.uk for more information on garden sheds.
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I Need More Space! Time For an Outdoor Storage Shed

No matter what I try, I just accumulate way too much junk. I have a huge garage, yet it's full of stuff. There's no room for anything anymore. I can't imagine what it would be like living in a tiny apartment with even less space. To solve my problem I'm considering one of those pre-built outdoor storage sheds that I see in the parking lots of Home Depot and Menards.
What I've Learned
Outdoor storage sheds are storage areas used for keeping items often left outside the house when not in use such as bicycles, garden tools, and lawn equipment. They provide a significant amount of space for storage and organization, leaving the garden or backyard free from clutter. If you'll be storing large pieces of equipment, for instance, you may want double doors to provide easy access. If you might want to use your garden shed as a workshop, add windows for light and ventilation. It's possible to get the exterior to match your home, either by painting it or putting on vinyl siding.
Don't forget to think of the shelving you would need and decide whether you would have to resort to stand-alone shelves or whether you could create built-in shelving in the shed you are considering purchasing. Many sheds have walls that are reinforced with a solid metal structure giving the shed a lot of strength and making it easy to hang shelves or garden tools. Some sheds have double doors wide enough for equipment and high enough for tall people to easily walk through.
You'll want to locate your shed on level ground with lots of good drainage. Make sure the ground slopes away from the site at least 10 feet in all directions. If necessary, build up the soil in the center of the site and slope away for the high point to provide drainage.
Lock the shed. Whether you are worried about thieves or children playing in a dangerous area, or both, get a good lock for the door so you don't have to worry about it.
For more information on storage sheds and garden sheds including pictures of shed types we've considered please see our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristen_Easton

Friday, April 11, 2008

Garden Sheds

Garden sheds, as their name suggests, are buildings constructed in gardens to stow various gardening tools and to do simple gardening jobs. Garden sheds need to look good themselves, or they will take away from the appearance of the garden in which they are built.
There are two kinds of gardening sheds. Apex-roof garden sheds have the traditional V-shape pointed roof, while pent-roof garden sheds have an inverted U-shape roof that slopes towards the sides. Apex-roof garden sheds have their doors at one of the ends, while pent-roof garden sheds usually have their doors at one of the side walls. Garden sheds made of metal have flat roofs.
Garden sheds are primarily used to store gardening equipment. Fertilizer packets, seeds, gardening hoes, and trimming scissors are the things that one may find in a garden shed. Garden sheds conceal material that is not eye-appeasing but is needed for garden work. Also, the garden shed can be used to do messy gardening jobs like removing rot of plants and grafting and trimming shrubs by uprooting the plant and transferring it into the shed for its treatment. However dirty the garden shed may inside, it is important that it looks pleasant on the outside since it is a part of the garden.
Wood is the most favored material for building garden sheds. Softwood is cheaper, but it is more prone to rotting when exposed to water. Cedar wood is more expensive and is more resistant to rotting. Wood can be painted in colors that may blend it with the garden. If wood is to be used, it must be recurrently treated with preservatives to protect it from pests and insects.
Poly vinyl garden sheds are a good option since they do not have any of the limitations wood has, but they are not that good in the aesthetic sense. Poly vinyl is a durable and cheap material that is easy to build. Do-it-yourself kits sell mostly sheds made of poly vinyl carbonate.
Garden sheds are also available in metals like steel and aluminum. It is important that these metals be treated for corrosion during manufacture.
Sheds provides detailed information about sheds, how to build a shed, metal sheds and more. Sheds is affiliated with Modular Home Plans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson

Garden Sheds Are Great For Storage

Garden sheds can make an excellent storage facility for a person who simply has no extra room inside his or her house. You can buy cheap, plastic-sided ones from major garden supply retailers if you don't already have one. It's relatively easy to set up, looks nice, and can withstand moderate amounts of rain, heat, snow, etc.
You should remember that there are many models of garden sheds, as well as lots of different manufacturers. Some are better than others. Prior to purchasing one, review the information on the box, and look at the price. Although it isn't always this way, generally I have found that the old adage "it's worth what you paid for it" is usually true.
The only other alternative to pre-built garden sheds is the do it yourself method. If you are new to construction, I wouldn't recommend this hammer and nail option. If you are a person who has experience with construction work, it may work for you. But, investing in a new pre-built garden shed eliminates error and frees up your time. I highly suggest it.
There are so many ways you can utilize these little structures. Clearly they are designed for serving as storage sheds for lawn garden reasons. They are perfect for storing and protecting all your lawn implements, your snow blower, and your sports equipment since they keep out the rain and snow. Some configurations of garden sun houses sheds lend themselves to use as greenhouses for the plantings you plan to put in the ground when springtime comes.
There are other ways to use these structures that may be less obvious. One of the options that you may consider is a child's playhouse, after all what kid doesn't want to have their own clubhouse in their own yard? While it may be a little bit on the expensive side for a clubhouse, the upside is that you can rest assured that the structure is safe and soundly constructed. This is so much better and more reliable than those wobbly, unstable clubhouses that we all built in the backyard tree when we were kids.
A second potential use is basic storage. Are you preparing for a garage sale? Are you planning to move and have no where to put all those boxes? A garden shed will meet your needs: it keeps things safe, dry, and out of sight. You can even lock the door for extra peace of mind. Basically, the uses of garden sheds are limited only by your own imagination.
Need storage space outdoors? Garden sheds are the answer. They are attractive, durable, easy to assemble, and are available at any major garden supply store. There are many different brands and makes, and not all sheds are created equal. They are typically designed to be storage sheds for lawn garden purposes. They are perfect for storing and protecting all your yard implements and gardening tools year-round. Some configurations of garden sun houses sheds even lend themselves to becoming greenhouses or children's playhouses in the warmer months! There are a limitless number of ways to use your garden shed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adriana_Copaceanu

Storage Sheds

Storage sheds are buildings that are used primarily to store unused household articles that may be used sometime in future. They may contain various hardware articles, vessels, toys, sports goods, or junk.
As storage sheds are used chiefly as storehouses, they are devoid of any furniture, expect maybe some wall cupboards and racks or simply shelves attached to their walls. These sheds have small windows and double hinged-doors that are designed to be wide enough to facilitate moving equipment in and out of them. Storage sheds do not contain much of lighting and ventilation. It is very important to have pest control done in storage sheds because they can be a breeding ground for insects and rodents.
It is also very important to decide the proper material while building a storage shed. Choice of material depends on what the shed will be used to store. Wood must be of good quality like cedar; otherwise it may house cockroaches and other insects. Wood also rots after prolonged exposure to moisture. Despite all of this, wood can provide an added aesthetic appeal to the shed. Poly vinyl carbonate is a good material to construct storage sheds because it resists corrosion, is unaffected by heat and insects, and is also cheap and durable. An industrial storage shed must be ideally made of a metal like steel or aluminum.
The size of storage sheds depends on the amount of articles that need to be stored in them. A normal sized shed with a floor area of 10 feet by 10 feet can easily house a garden tractor, but if the space within the storage shed is not enough, then there are other add-ons that can provide more space. The three main add-on sheds are corner sheds, horizontal sheds, and vertical sheds. Corner sheds can fit in a corner and are about 3 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet. Vertical and horizontal sheds fit into the main shed and they may be 5 feet by 3 feet by 4 feet. There can be more space-oriented additions to a storage shed like constructing a loft or using the space under the windows.
Storage sheds usually contain the junk of the house or unneeded articles that one doesn't feel like discarding yet. Sheds should be elegantly designed; otherwise, they may mar the entire appearance of the house.
Sheds provides detailed information about sheds, how to build a shed, metal sheds and more. Sheds is affiliated with Modular Home Plans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson

Sheds - The Ultimate Must For Your Garden

Gardeners know how important it is to have garden sheds to help with storage of all the wonderful things needed to keep a beautiful garden. You will find many trendy and spacious garden sheds available at your local store or even on the Internet. These buildings are very useful year round for gardeners and plant enthusiasts.
One of the most common complaints that you will hear from gardeners is not having enough room for all the various pots, containers, potting soil mixes, fertilizer, till, shovels, hoes and rakes. Gardening can become a delightful hobby but it requires a lot of gadgets and items to be as successful as many hobbyist like to take it. You could set aside a room in your home for nothing but your garden gadgets but that would not be very practical. Anytime of the year is wonderful for adding garden sheds to your landscape to store all the items you need for this great hobby.
There are people that would love to have a greenhouse to grow plants and have a more controlled environment. Traditionally buildings are all clear and follow specific requirements. New hobbyists are turning garden sheds into non-traditional greenhouses with the use of windows, sky roofs and climate control features. The beauty of using sheds is not being limited or restricted to one specific type of building structure or building features.
You can customize the buildings to fit into several areas around your home or business. Buildings are no longer built strictly for storage purposes only. Your imagination and creativity is the only limit when it comes to having the type of sheds that you will enjoy the most.
There are many lovely garden sheds that have various styles and materials. For those wanting to customize or even build their own, you can find different plans and kits on the Internet, at local garden stores or even at a builder’s supply store. When selecting the right building for you think about how many and what size items the structure will house. You can always expand a building but it would ideal to have one that will hold everything for you without remodeling or making additions after you have used it a season or two.
Gardeners are finding all kinds of ways to customize and use garden sheds. You are not restricted to the traditional wooden buildings that were popular several years ago. Today hobbyists are using garden sheds not only for storage but also as customized, contemporary greenhouses. There are many plans and kits to select from to add these buildings to your property.
BuyaShed specialize in sheds garages, carports, farm sheds, workshops, garden sheds and much more and we deliver FREE to 100 local depots Australia wide.
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