Building your own shed is an intelligent decision because it can save you time and money, and also helps ensure your finished shed is built to last. Building a shed from scratch, whether its 10x12, 12x16 or any other size, allows you personal control over every aspect of the project. You will purchase your own materials (this can save you money as well!), making sure theyre up to spec. How hard is it to look at rotting wood and decide not to buy it? With a large shed company, this choice isnt quite so straightforward! Personal control over your shed, provided you are well guided by quality shed designs (which should come with a complete materials list; avoid offers that dont), should help the finished shed last for years and generations to come.
Second, Ill briefly address the size of your shed. You may be limited by your surroundings or zoning restrictions, so your sheds size might not be an issue. However, if you can decide how large to build your shed, always aim high. Think of other rooms in the house that are used for storage: are they full of empty space? Do you wish the room was larger? A shed can fill up very quickly, so as a general rule of thumb, always aim high when it comes to building a storage shed.
As you can see, the number of factors that influence the construction of your shed can pile up quickly. Each person has different parameters in mind, so you need some choice when it comes to choosing shed designs. Dont waste your time and money on bogus offers, learn from those who have gone before you to speed your purchase decision.
So first: should you just download free online shed plans? Unfortunately, what few shed deigns are available for free download are generally worth what you paid for them. Any prospective candidate should come with a complete materials list, as well as a substantial guide to properly assembling your shed. Eloquent shed designs are great, but theyre worthless if you cant understand the directions, which are often very unclear. Free shed plans can be very low quality, so its worth your time to invest in something better.
So next, should you buy shed plans from a website? Maybe. The problem with downloading shed plans is that its too hit-or-miss. The plan you buy, often for $12-15 may be what youre looking for, or it might not. Theres no way to get your money back if youre not satisfied, so this approach seems a little too risky for my taste.
