Choosing a Garden Storage Shed: A Guide
To many garden tools in the garage? No place for the car? Then a garden storage shed might be the ideal solution to help organize your gardening tools. A garden storage shed can be a lovely addition to your backyard, adding interest as an architectural feature or as a nice backdrop to set off your garden or showcase for your climbing plants, or it can be someting very simple and small that tucks up against the house and draws very little attention. A lot of people use garden storage shed for a wide variety purposes, not just as a garden storage shed to keep tools and lawn equipment neat, organized and out of the weather. A garden tool shed also provides some safety for your garden and lawn tools from theives and can keep your children outof anything that they shouldn't get into like fertilizers and the like. If you are looking for a new garden storage shed or to replace the one you have then there are a few important things you need to consider before you head out, cash in hand, to buy a garden storage shed, be it at the local garden shop or over the internet. You can and should feel safe buying on-line, when you find a garden tool shed that meets your needs check the site out and see 1.how long they have been around, their securtiy rating (ie. McAfee) how many ways can you pay, contact/supprt info (1-800) and their return or dispute policies. If buying at a store you should still check out the store return policy, delivery charges and warrinties. That said on to the fun part.......window shopping!
Things To Consider Before You Buy a New Garden Storage Shed:
Why do you need or want a garden storage shed?
Most people want to free up the garage and have a dedicated place to keep all the garden/lawn/pool equipment. A gardening shed can be used for more than just garden tools. If you have a pool it is an ideal place to put the filter and pool equipment, you could even use it as a changing room. Winter storage for B-B-Qs and chair cushions also might be required. If you don't have a ton of gardening tools then a small cupbord type garden shed might be a better idea.
How much storage space do you need?
Check out the size of the garden storage shed you will need. Gather together and layout ALL of the garden tools and anything else you plan on storing in the garden storage shed and get a rough idea of the square footage required. Remember to allow for room to move and acces your garden tools plus are you planning to add more tools over the years to come? If you plan on working inside the garden shed ie. to do potting and starting seeds than consider room for a table or work bench. Sheds come in a wide variety of sizes and to serve any purpose imaginable. The most common sizes are: 10'x 12', 10' x 8', 8' x 6', 7' x 2', 3' x 7', and everything inbetween. If you build a garden strorage shed from scratch then you can customize the size to fit your needs. Consider the height of the storage shed, storing tall items like umberalls or hedge trimmers will need a bit more hed room.
What are you city by-laws for Garden Storage Sheds?
Make a quick call to your local city hall and see if they have any regulation about garden storage sheds. Many towns and cities have rules about height and distance from property lines. Permanment structures and moveable structures may have different rules. Will a building permit be needed? Check this out before you buy anything and
save yourself headaches later.
What type of flooring does th egarden storage shed have?
Some shed kits come with integrated floors of plywood, the more durable sheds actually have no floor at all but must be built/assembled with a concrete slabs base, so consider that when looking for a garden storage shed.
Adding extras to the garden storage shed?
I'm sure that you will add extra shelves and hooks to your shed, maybe even windows, or a ramp for an easier time with the lawn mower. A lot of garden tool and storage sheds come with some shelving and many companies have "extras" that you can buy seperatly, like over head racks, garden tool rakcs etc. Some, but not all, have ventilation, high tempuratures can occur with out moving air and this can be a problem depending what you store in the storage shed (gasoline, pool chemicals, propane tanks). Adding a power bar inside and an outdoor electrical box (weather proof, specail for out door use) will make using electrical hand tools easier.
Will you buy a pre-assembled garden shed, or design one yourself from bought plans or from scratch?
Many retailers sell just the plans for building your own sheds that will require you to purchase all of the materials separately, and then assemble. Another choice is buying a kit that includes both the plans and the materials, or for the simplest of all choices, you have the option of purchasing a garden shed that's already preassembled, or for the smaller type, completely put together for you.
WOOD - METAL - VINYL??
Wooden Garden Storage Sheds:
The most traditional type of garden storage shed is constructed out of wood. Wooden garden storage sheds are both timeless and blend in well with any type landscaping design you might have or are working towards. They can resemble anything you wish from tiny houses, cabins or even be on the whimsical side. Wooden garden sheds can be painted a rainbow of colours and covered in shingels or rough boards. However garden sheds constructed from wood can be on the more costly side but don't let that get you down. If a wooden garden shed is what you want then look into reclaimed wood and keep an eye out for sales at the local hardware store.
Metal Garden Storage Sheds:
Metal storage sheds offer durability and low to maintenance-free care. Most are made from either aluminum or galvanized steel, which is pre-painted in an enamel finish to stand up to the weather. Metal storage sheds are usually the least expensive and most are suitable for basic storage needs when it comes to tools and lawn equipment. Metal storage sheds are not the most pleasing to look at but over the last few years manufactures have improved the looks a lot. You can always fancy them up with vines and a bit of lattice if you are not happy with the over all affect.
Vinyl Garden Storage Sheds:
Vinyl storage sheds can be very sturdy with double wall panels that resist dents and withstand all types of weather. Vinyl storage sheds can come with steel doors that you can paint to match or complement the rest of the shed. Vinyl storage sheds come in a very wide price range they also come from large sheds to smaller cabnet like storage lockers better suited for galleriers and or patios.
Accessoriesing Your Garden Storage Shed:
The accessories you choose for your shed will of course depend on what your gardening storage needs are. If you have mostly hand tools then garden tool racks, wire basckets and hooks for water hoses and electricla cords will be needed. A few sturdy shelves for extra pots etc won't come amiss either.
Lofts: Lofts or over head storage are an great way to make use of the wasted space above your head inside the storage shed. Idea for seasonal items, bird baths, cushions, christmas decoration etc. or things that are only used for a short time durnig the growing season.
Shelving: Shelves are essential for keeping your small gardening things organized inside the shed, and frequently used items handy. Some sheds come with matching shelves designed specifically for that type of garden storage shed however you will want to add more and some will need to be built and installed separately.
Windows: Windows and skylights add natural light and help reduce the need for adding lighting. For even more visual appeal, both window boxes for flowers and window shutters can easily be added to wooden garden sheds and some metal and vinyl garden tool sheds.
Work Benches: A work bench is a must have for any garden or storage shed if you also plan on using the space as a workshop. A work bench can be bought preassembled, or crafted yourself from cut pieces of wood, and then painted or stained to your liking.
Garden Tool Racks and You.
Who knew garden tool racks came in so many shapes and sizes! When I look into my garage, for lack of a better word, and see the way I treat my tools it's a wonder I have any left. Between the leaf rack with it's bent bits and the garden pruners that hang on a lose nail, I have come to the conclusion that my garden toolsdeserve better treatment. I'm have a sneaky sense I'm not the only.
Chances are Hubby will build one. However we still have to come up with a design of some kind. So I have started to make a wish list of sort as to what is imporant in a good garden tool rack.
I think one of the first thing would be sturdness. The garden rack is going to take abuse and you aslo don't want it to tip over or fall off the wall. Good constrution and secure fastners are needed for safty. Ease of use, you don't want to have to figth with the grave digger or the spade getting them out. The size matters, it has to have enough racking to hold all your tool and if it can be expanded or rearrange to accomadate new addition all the better.
There are lots of other things to think about like; material -- wood-metal-plastic, each have there good point and bad point. I think wood is better if your making one yourself, you can even make a garden tool rack out of re-claimed wood. Location is another thing, what do you do if you live in a flat or apartment and don't have a garage or shed to put the garden tool rack in. For a flat or apartment you would need something that you could put on the gallery and take with you if you moved, like the umbrella stand type. Mustn't forget the small things, trowel, gloves pruner. Does the garden tool rack have space for them. For in the shed or garage there are choice to.
So before building or buing think about what you need, want and about the garden tool racks fuction. This way you will have a something that will protect your garden tools for a long time and not drive you nuts.
Chances are Hubby will build one. However we still have to come up with a design of some kind. So I have started to make a wish list of sort as to what is imporant in a good garden tool rack.
I think one of the first thing would be sturdness. The garden rack is going to take abuse and you aslo don't want it to tip over or fall off the wall. Good constrution and secure fastners are needed for safty. Ease of use, you don't want to have to figth with the grave digger or the spade getting them out. The size matters, it has to have enough racking to hold all your tool and if it can be expanded or rearrange to accomadate new addition all the better.
There are lots of other things to think about like; material -- wood-metal-plastic, each have there good point and bad point. I think wood is better if your making one yourself, you can even make a garden tool rack out of re-claimed wood. Location is another thing, what do you do if you live in a flat or apartment and don't have a garage or shed to put the garden tool rack in. For a flat or apartment you would need something that you could put on the gallery and take with you if you moved, like the umbrella stand type. Mustn't forget the small things, trowel, gloves pruner. Does the garden tool rack have space for them. For in the shed or garage there are choice to.
So before building or buing think about what you need, want and about the garden tool racks fuction. This way you will have a something that will protect your garden tools for a long time and not drive you nuts.