The Benefits Of Having A Wooden Garden Shed

Writen by David Smithson

Before building a new structure on your property, check building codes in your area. You don't want to erect your new shed only to have to tear it down. You may need to apply for a permit before building a shed.

Do-it-yourselfers will find plenty of plans for all shapes and sizes of sheds online, usually for free. If you can't find your ideal shed there, look in the home improvement section of your local library or ask a pro at a hardware store. Depending on size and complexity of features, you may be able to get your garden shed up within a day or two if a couple friends can lend a hand.

Not a handyperson or think this is just a little out of your league? You can order and have one delivered within a week or two. The convenience will cost you more money but you will save on sweat.

If you need just a small bit of space to hide your tools or have just a few square feet you can allocate to a shed, look for a tall building that is either deep and narrow or shallow and wide. The difference between a shed that is 6 feet deep, 3 feet wide and 8 feet tall and the same shed that is 10 feet tall is 36 square feet of storage. That's the same as 4 lawnmowers. You can always utilize the overhead space with organizational elements.

Ride-on lawnmowers, snow plows and golf carts won't fit through a standard sized door so you'll have to choose a garden shed with oversized openings. These doors usually open on hinges that, when opened, can take up valuable real estate. Consider a roll-up door similar to a garage door or sliding or pocket doors. These features are available on various wooden shed models. You can also replace the doors if you find an unbeatable deal on a hinged-door model. Don't forget a ramp if your shed floor is not nearly flush with the ground.

Organization can make or break a garden shed's effectiveness. Do you have a lot of manual tools? Drill holes in the handle of your tools and use hanging hooks to store them out of the way. Garden and drip hoses, extension cords and ropes can also be hung from hooks.

Install shelves for more storage. Utilize wasted space underneath the shelves by screwing baby food jar lids to the shelf bottom and fill jars with screws, seeds and other small bits. Just twist the jar onto the lid for storage. If you have an overhead shelf that is wooden, you can use this same method with larger jars, like those for pickles and mayonnaise. If your shelves are metal, pick up some magnets and super-glue them to lids or jars for quick attachment of storage compartments.

David Smithson writes for Jacksons Garden Supplies, a UK based company specialising in wooden garden sheds, garden summer houses & concrete garages. For more information visit Jacksons Garden Supplies.