Shed Styles and What They Can Do For You

When most people think of garden sheds, they tend to think of simple structures with four walls and a roof and nothing more. The truth is that garden sheds come in many different styles, which is why we would like to provide information about some of the most common ones.

• Quaker shed- Is sloped on one side, with the eaves normally being higher in the front, allowing for placement against a fence or the exterior wall of your home. Pent sheds are ideal for use as potting sheds or paint lockers.

• Dutch barn and mini-barn-These sheds are named because they somewhat resemble a larger barn, and tend to have double doors that also open halfway. They are also characterized by their gambrel roofs, which allow for added storage space in the loft of the building. These storage sheds make perfect workshops or homes for small animals.

• Dormer- Are characterized by their dormers in the roof that are typically placed between two windows on the lower level. Cape Cod sheds look like miniature versions of similar-styled houses, and make excellent workshops.

• Hywall-These sheds have a relatively high profile that is characterized by a roof that is  higher than usual on the sides. These sheds are ideal for storing garden tools and lawn equipment.

• Garden Elite-Designed to look like rustic cabins or small houses, these cottage-style sheds may even contain many of the same features a home does such as window boxes or transoms
  
  
  . These sheds are great for use as a home office, guest quarters or entertaining space.

These are just a few of the different styles of garden shed that are available. To see some of the latest ones, contact us.

What A Shed Shouldn't Be Made Of

You’re planning a garden for this spring, planning a pool or planning to get extra storage. You’re looking around at what’s available, and you settle on a shed for your gardening and pool tools or extraneous stuff. Your neighbors or those homes you pass on the way to work have one. You like the different styles and colors. However, you want something constructed of good solid materials that will last. You decide the only way to go is Amish built structures. Good decision. Here’s why.

Commercially Produced Goods

Most people aren’t aware that their furniture is constructed of materials like particle board that aren’t solid. Flammable materials cover the frames of the furniture. Gases arise from all of this due to efforts to make the material inflammable. Formaldehyde is often a feature in commercially produced furnishings. Garden sheds are made of resins, plastics, steel or wood, which are much safer to be around. This is where you come into the picture. You chose Amish goods, because you’ve heard how well-made and lovely Amish goods are.

The Amish Way

The Amish don’t use mankind’s inventions like cars, electricity or machinery. They make their own plainly colored clothing, grow their own food, make their own bread and drive buggies pulled by horses. The beauty of the Amish way is that they live simply. When they build something, they do it with their own hands, with their own hammers and with diesel powered generators running their power tools. The Amish don’t deal directly with those outside their community, in order that their values remain pure instead of becoming tarnished by mankind’s bad habits. They deal with wholesalers who then move Amish wares to retailers.

Amish Built Structures

Amish sheds are constructed of wood and have the option to have a wood or vinyl exterior. The buildings come in styles such as Mini-Barn, Quaker, A-Frame and more. The beauty of Amish outbuildings is that they can be customized to suit your needs. Want a small version of your house, complete with gables, siding and flower boxes on the windows? You got it. Could you use a log cabin in which to store your tools and other stuff? We can do that. You might not own a horse, but a barn behind your house would certainly be a conversation-starter. No problem. Customize an existing shed or design your own. Either way, you’ll get a building of excellent quality, beauty and longevity.

The beauty of Amish work is that its heirloom quality construction means it is frequently passed on to future generations. Backyard sheds may not be as ornately carved or polished as Amish furniture is, but the buildings will be contact us for more information.

Constructed and finished as wonderfully as their other items. When you decide what type of shed will best suit your needs, 

Dream Big: Why Adding A Double Garage Improves Your Life

Brand new homes are built with storage in mind. They are equipped with incredible closets, shelves and storage areas.  Unfortunately older homes just weren't designed with storing "stuff" in mind. This means that when you are thinking of selling your older home you may have to make a few adjustments in terms of available storage space in order to stay competitive with the newer homes on the market.

While it's pretty hard to add-on a closet to a home, adding on a double garage is not nearly as complicated or as expensive as you think, and it really adds value to your home when it comes time to sell it.

Of course, why wait to make your home better until you won't actually be living in it anymore? Functional upgrades like adding a garage are the kind of renovation you can enjoy now and still profit from years down the road.

To make your new garage appealing to buyers and maximize its usefulness now, build in storage accessories. Simple items like shelves, hooks, cupboards and bins make your garage instantly useful and help you stay organized while keeping the clutter out of your home.

According to the Realty Times article "How Much Resale Value For A Garage" by PJ Wade, you can dream pretty big when it comes to uses for a new garage,

"If your municipality allows accommodation to be added to a garage, the additional space and any related income may be the deciding factor for some buyers. If an occupancy permit is out of the question, the garage can still double as an art studio, workshop, or man cave, and differentiate your property from the neighbors. Will your zoning allow the space to be used for a home-based business?"

When you're ready to expand your home with a beautiful garage that can add new storage options or be used for recreational hobbies, please contact us to learn more about how we can customize a garage just for your family.

Battle of Garage Doors: Single vs .Double

Whether you have a double garage or ever thought about adding one, you've inevitably faced the question. Is it better to have two single doors or one large door on a double garage? There are a few practical advantages to choosing two smaller doors. 

First, what are your options if the door breaks? If you are relying on one large 16-18 foot garage door and it experiences mechanical failure, your options are limited. It's entirely possible and quite likely that both of your vehicles are stuck inside the garage. It's almost impossible for this problem to occur with two single doors. In the case of mechanical failure, you will at least have the ability to open one garage door to access a vehicle. 

Second, if you live where in an area where the temperatures drop in the wintertime, opening a large double door immediately lets in a huge blast of cold air. Pure size and common sense tell you that a single door will reduce the amount of cold air that invades your garage.

Finally, many people simply appreciate the look of two single doors. They provide a nice balance between garage door and the rest of the structure. A large single door attracts a vast amount of attention and overtakes the design of a structure. Many people dislike the look of a plain oversized door believing it to be an eyesore. 

If you're considering building a double wide garage, contact us. Our experienced staff can discuss your specific needs and style preference to find a garage that perfectly fits your lifestyle. Visit our photo gallery to see and abundance of options for double wide garages. 

Would A Double Garage Make Your House More Livable?

In your day-to-day life, it is important to be able to use and enjoy the space in your home. Even small homes can be very comfortable to live in if the space is organized well and clutter is minimized.

Sometimes, making small adjustments to the space you have can make a big difference. Unconventional uses for common spaces can really help you make the most out of your space. For instance, you can convert an unused bedroom to a craft room, homework study, or a playroom. You can turn a kitchen drawer into a kids toy spot so little ones have something fun to do while you're busy cooking or cleaning. 

If you find you are using living space in your home for storage, you can consider adding a double garage for extra storage so you can reclaim the room you have in your house for space to play, read, sew or study.

According to the NewsOK article "Designing Your Home With Storage In Mind" by Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson, the Renovation Design Group said,

"Lack of storage is one of the most common complaints we hear in our architectural firm. The homeowners that come to us know their house isn’t working for them anymore. For one reason or another, they have decided it is time to remodel. Almost always, regardless of the motivations behind the remodel, clients explain to us that as part of the new design they want added storage."

It's never too late to analyze ways to make your home work better for you. Each home is different and each person's priorities are unique, so the solutions that will work for you may be different from anyone else, but never give up finding ways to enjoy the space you have in your home. For more ideas on how to make a new garage work for you, please contact us.

The Pros And Cons Of Prefabricated Garages

Your property is glorious. Landscaped down to the T, and you love it. But you could love it more. You stand there, gazing out at the vast rolling neatly trimmed grass and think to yourself, "I need a garage."

Many people think this, and then they find that they don't exactly have the time to build one. If this is the case, why not consider purchasing a prefabricated garage? As with anything, there are benefits and drawbacks unique to the process.

Pros:

• Large Variety - Readymade garages and sheds come in a host a different sizes, styles, and patterns. You can find almost anything that will suit you as well as match your home and property.

• Cost - As you can imagine, readymade garages are less costly than those built from scratch. Because you have the power over the design, material, and the finish, you can make decisions based on your budget.

• Ease Of Construction - Prefab garages arrive to your property in a kit. With a little help from a good friend you can easily follow the instructions and assemble your garage in a few hours.

Cons:

• Customization Options - While the option is there, choosing customization options will begin to raise the price of the basic pre-fabricated kit. If cost is your main reason for going prefab, this will be something to consider.

• Appearance - Finally, while prefab garages come in many different styles and appearances, they won't be quite as customizable as one that is stick-built.

Can you tell which one is prefab and which one is stick built?!

Always keep these things in mind when considering adding a prefabricated garage to your property. If you would like to know more about this topic, feel free to visit our website. Additionally, if you want to ask us a question directly we welcome you to contact us.

The Best Shed... Metal, Plastic or Wood?

If you are feeling a bit cautious about storage garages for sale, maybe you should be. 

What do you do when you run out of storage in your own home? As with any body that has more stuff than room, your options for getting more storage space are limited to adding on to your current house, which is an expense that most of us can't afford, renting a storage unit, which means that only being able to access your stuff whenever they are open and finally a storage shed which you can place on your own property. You're thinking about a storage shed and don't know where to start. There are so many choices out there and so many manufacturers but what is the right storage shed for your needs?

Now for some, adding on to their own homes means that they can build it up any way they want, it might not be just for storage. Extra rooms, a play area, a new bedroom or TV room. Building an addition to your house means planning, paying for permits, getting permission from a HOA (if there is one) and time. Renting a storage space means trusting someone else to look after your own stuff, as well as, having to take time from your busy schedule to run over to the storage facility, hoping that the item or items you're looking for are still there. Building or placing your own storage shed gives you the best of both worlds. You can access your storage anytime you want, build it any way you like and you can choose any style available. Storage sheds afford the home owner several options that they can exercise.

Metal Sheds

These are made from thin sheet metal panels, generally galvanized steel, aluminum or corrugated iron. Attached to a metal frame, metal sheds are good for long-term installations. Useful when fire, rot and pests are a concern. Metal can rust and corrode if you are using non galvanized steel. If you are planning on installing a metal shed, care should be taken when using a concrete floor. Concrete flooring is corrosive and can cause damage to panels that touch it. To over come this, use treated lumber on top of a concrete pad to keep the damage to a minimum.

Plastic Sheds

These are made from PVC and are less expensive than metal sheds. Easily constructed with plastic molded sides and roofs attached to a metal frame, the sheds are less susceptible to dent, weather rot and pests, requiring little to no maintenance and don't have to be maintained with a preservative to keep the rot out. Plastic sheds are also easy to expand, adding lights, sky lights, windows, extra storage and other accessories as you need. You need to also add in a floor such as concrete or wood and it needs to be purchased separately.

Wooden sheds

Wood sheds are a more natural, aesthetically pleasing shed. Stronger and more durable than vinyl or metal sheds, wood sheds need more maintenance than wood or vinyl. Rot, mildew, mold, split wood and other issues can cause problems with the wood shed if it is not treated and maintained consistently. Because wood is such an easy product to work with, adding accessories such as windows, trim, and extra storage is a little easier with wood sheds than metal or vinyl because you can use readily available tools and materials and wood is a renewable resource.

What it comes down to is this. What are your needs for storage? Do you require a large amount? Does it need to have a car port attached or do you just want to store a few things away for the holidays or special times of year? May be you just add a small unit to your yard so you can park your lawnmower and put gardening tools away. Some sheds require building permits because of their size, make sure that you have all the permits and permissions necessary to build a storage shed on your property.

To talk more about this, or anything else, as always, give us a call!  Call Us.