What a Winter
This has been quite a winter for a shed house! When you are cooped up inside with two feet of snow all around as I have been having a place to escape to is invaluable. What better way to get away than a place in your own back yard! Build a fire in the wood stove grab a good book and relax.
With spring on its way I’ll toss out this tip to prospective shed house builders. Think of passive heating. On a cool spring day you may not need a fire to keep your space warm. Install large south facing windows that will let in lots of light and capture that passive solar heat. Have curtains you can close after dark for a little extra insulation.
Enjoy the coming spring!
Wood Shed – Build One Easily
My latest article Wood Shed - Build One Easily has been published over at ezinearticles.com.
“Wood sheds are usually simple structures. They don’t even need to have four sides. The main idea is to keep rain and snow off the wood while at the same time allowing air to flow freely so that the wood can dry.”
Enjoy!
Shed house as a winter getaway!
Fall is here here and winter is barreling down the time for a shed house is here. With a small fireplace or woodstove installed what could be more enjoyable than a cup of hot coffee and a good book in your own vacation cottage in your back yard.
This I am sure sounds wonderful but may seem out of reach. It doesn’t have to be. A very simple structure, a shed for instance, can be finished just like a house. If you build your own shed house you can design in any features you want. A little insulation and some gas logs or a real wood burning fireplace make for a cozy winter getaway.
Take some time to think about it. With the economy growing ever more uncertain there is no better place to put your money than in your own property. Gain enjoyment and functionality now and value forever.
Wood Shed Plans – Latest Article Published
My latest article “Wood Shed Plans” is up over at ezinearticles.com.
“Build a wood shed to cure and store your firewood. This will help your wood breathe and dry more efficiently. Once your wood is dry a wood shed will protect it from the elements and keep it dry. Your wood will be ready to use whether it is snowing, rainy or a clear day. Having firewood that is dry and ready to burn when you need it is invaluable.”
I hope you find it informative and enjoy it.
Meeting your needs with a shed house
I have discussed the various reasons for a shed house before but today I want to encourage everyone who is interested in building a shed house to really think it through. Plans and planning are key. Make sure you know your needs and plan to fulfill them with your new shed house. A few examples: guest house, office, sewing room, get away for reading or other reasons. Depending on your use you can plan different sizes and levels of functionality. A reading room simply needs to be a quiet space that is pleasant to be in, plan for lots of light. A sewing room has to have enough power for a sewing machine and any other appliances one might need when sewing. A full guest suite will require greater functionality including a bathroom, closet space, and perhaps even a kitchenette.
Whatever your intensions plan ahead to meet those needs. Your shed house will be much more useful whatever its purpose if you tailor it to its predetermined use. Design or buy plans ahead of time, this will save time and money during the building process. Enjoy!
New Shed House Article
My latest article “Build a Shed House“ is up over at ezinearticles.com.
“Building a shed house is a very intriguing concept to me. I have always liked the idea of small spaces built for specific uses. The idea of a shed house to me seems quite unique. Now when I say build a shed house, I don’t mean build an eight-by-ten storage shed and live in it. My vision is a small outbuilding built with the expressed purpose of being livable or usable for some purpose that requires finishing. Think guest suite, detached office, sewing room… the list could go on and on.” Read More…
I hope you enjoy it.
Heat your shed house with wood
If you are planning on building a shed house then save on your heating bill and use wood. I recommend having some small source of heat such as an electric baseboard for when the space is not in use. When you or your guests are using your shed house nothing is more enjoyable than a real fire. If you use real wood in a wood stove with a glass front it will not only be efficient but will add tons of character. Here are some tips for storing and burning firewood.
Using a tarp to store firewood under is always a bad idea. Leaving your firewood uncovered doesn’t work very well either. When exposed to the elements, firewood will get rained and snowed on and not burn as well. Tarps hold moisture in and keep the firewood from curing. It acts kind of like a greenhouse; they are quite humid. The tarp traps moisture and keeps the water that is in the wood from evaporating.
Build a woodshed to store your firewood and help it cure faster. A covered but open space will help your wood breathe as well as dry more efficiently. Once your wood is dry, a woodshed will protect it from the elements. Your wood will be ready to use whether it is snowing, rainy or a clear day. Having firewood that is ready to burn when you need it is always best.
When building a woodshed, be sure to plan ahead. Place your woodshed in an easily accessible location. You should be able to both fill it and get wood from it without any trouble when it’s time to burn. Another good idea is to build an overhang under which you can chop kindling or regular wood. Finally, be sure you build a woodshed that is large enough to hold the wood you will need for at least one season.
While it is possible to build a woodshed on your own, as they are usually simple structures, I recommend using a good set of directions. If you have no building experience these will be a big help. If you do know what you are doing it will save you time and headache. You will be able to simply follow the plan and build; no thinking and figuring every step of the way. If you have a materials list before you start it will save you several trips to the store which will result in a lot of time saved. Build a woodshed that suits your needs and it will serve you well for years to come.
Firewood Storage in a Shed is Best
My latest article over at ezinearticles.com is up. “Firewood Storage in a Shed is Best” is a detailed article on finding, storing and using firewood for enjoyment and home heat. It touches on many aspects of the firewood lifecycle. There is much more to firewood than just burning it. Get the right firewood, age it properly and keep it stored right. Follow the steps I lay out and you will have a much better experience with firewood for pleasure or heat.
Read Here:
“Firewood Storage in a Shed is Best“
Plans to build a shed and the code.
I spent some time tonight looking at different DIY forums. I came across a string about a fellow in Florida who was having quite a time with the local code.
http://www.diychatroom.com/f2/disgusted-fl-shed-51819/
Since they are prone to having a hurricane or two down there the localities are very strict on what you can and cannot do. When building a shed always check your local codes and even talk to the inspectors if you think there might be an issue of any kind. This will save you headache in the long run and insure you have a smooth project. There is nothing worse than getting some aspect of your project finished only to find out that it has to be changed in some way. Avoid this and check ahead of time!
Shed Building 101
Building your shed can be a very rewarding process. If you enjoy building things you will get a great sense of accomplishment out of your new building. For those of you with little building experience, taking on a shed building project is a very good idea. Generally speaking, since a shed is a very simple structure it makes a great place to cut your teeth.
Where should you start? Plan, plan, plan! Don’t just go to the store and pick up some nails and a few boards and start putting things together. You will have a frustrating time and will not enjoy your project. Here are the steps you should take.
- Design or buy a set of plans
- Generate a materials list
- Shop around, take your materials list to several suppliers and get the best price. Often they will compete for your business, especially with the economy like it is.
- Pick and prepare your location. Depending on the function of your shed you will want it placed differently. Make sure that you will have easy access and that it doesn’t look out of place. Often you won’t need a foundation. If properly built, your shed can be leveled on several blocks and simply be free standing. Check your local building codes.
- Get your materials or have them delivered.
- Follow your plan and build.
- Use and enjoy your shed for many years to come.
This is a basic overview of the steps you should take when building a shed or outbuilding of any kind. I will pick some different aspects of this process and post about them as time goes on.