Steps In Building A Shed Essay, Research Paper

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What ever the look or shape of your property it can probably be improved in some way by building a shed. Wether its purely for decoration or a specific function there are many reasons for building a shed. If you construct the shed yourself it can save you money because you don’t have to pay for labor. Another benefit is that you get to add your own character to it and have it just the way you want it. You don’t have to settle for a prefabricated average shed. you get the chance to tailor it to your needs and preferences. Not only can you save money by building it your self, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you made it .

The first step in building a shed is deciding its intended purpose. Its purpose will probably determine the size, shape and cost of the shed. If its for improving the image of your landscape it will probably be a medium size shed but with lots of detail, which will increase the cost of construction. You might want to add windows to make the shed more appealing. A nice paint finished exterior gives you an opportunity to make the color match its surroundings such as the color of your house. If the shed is for tool storage and working area its going to need to be large enough to accommodate both you and you’re equipment. The increase in size means an increase in cost. Since it’s a storage, or work shed there is no real need to make it all that elaborate. Which will save a lot of money. If you will be spending a lot of time out in the shed it would be a good idea to make it a comfortable environment to work in. Adding insulation in the walls will keep out the cold and maintain cool in the heat. Since there will probably be power tools that need electricity to run the shed should have some sort of electric source. You can simply run an extension cord from your house to the shed as a cheap alternative. If you are looking for something more professional and permanent, electric outlets can be installed inside the shed. most people are not electricians this should not be attempted by any novice do-it your selfer. Shelves are a good idea to increase interior storage space and incorporate the whole shed into usable space.

Now that you know the size and purpose of your shed you will need to pick a suitable location. The structure needs to be placed accordingly to its main use. If its something simple as a storage area for fire wood it would be wiser to place it near your house so that you don’t have to walk that far with your arms full. If its going to be a major focal point of your yard , it should probably be some place were it can be seen and admired .You need to take into consideration some things that you may have not even thought of .If the structure is of large or of mammoth size, it might block a view or even block the sun from lighting up a your house by casting a shadow in front of a window. Its also important to make sure that the location can support the structure. It shouldn’t be built on a steep hill or soft ground. If the ground is soft it may have poor drainage or an erosion problem. If water is building up it can be solved by installing drainage pipes in the ground, which moves the water away from the area. If there is only a minimum amount of water build up it can be solved simply by adding soil to fill in the low areas were the water is. If erosion is occurring it can be solved using a couple of methods. One method is installing baffles, such as buried railroad ties. The railroad ties stop the soil from falling down a hill. Another method is to build a little wall which serves the same purpose as the baffles and blocks soil from eroding away. You also need to consider your property line. It wouldn’t be wise to spend all of that time and money on something that has to be torn down because you built it on someone elsies land. The property line can rarely be visible. This means you will probably have to call in a surveyor if you are uncertain about your boundaries. The dimensions determined by the surveyors are marked on a map that is given to you along with the title of you house if you own your home. If you do not have map it is kept on file at a local court house or record office.

The basic tools needed to construct a shed are pretty basic. You will need a hammer, level, framing square, hand saw, circular saw, measuring tape, pencil, screw driver, drill, jig saw, shovel and a chalk line. Of course there are other tools you can use to construct a shed. These are just the basics you can get by on. The most important tools used are the hammer, measuring tape, and saws. You will probably want to get familiar with these tools so you don’t have too much trouble with them when its time to work. It is also important that you are comfortable using your tools so that you don’t get injured. If you are uncertain about using a tool you should ask some body who knows how to use it to show you. You can also ask a local home improvement store for advice on how to go about something.