Why Amish Construction Just Makes Sense For Sheds

When you decide to improve your home with a shed to increase your storage or add to the enjoyment of your favorite hobbies, you are investing in your quality of life.

You have plenty of options when it comes to sheds. You can certainly find a pre-built modular style shed, or you can buy an Amish shed, built by hand, with materials that are made to last. With an Amish built shed you can expect heirloom quality, using traditional construction methods that  have stood the test of time.

If you are considering an Amish shed, there are a few things you will want to look for before finalizing a shed purchase.

• Do they offer a written guarantee? A company that builds quality sheds should stand behind their work.
• Will they allow you to come see the construction process firsthand?  Even if you don't actually want to see your shed being built, it's nice to know the option exists, because it shows the company you are buying a shed from has nothing to hide.
• How long have they been in business? You should try to find a company that has been in business for at least 20 years. A long history in business means that satisfied customers have been referring friends and family members which is helping grow the business.

Stoltzfus Structures employees between 30 and 40 Amish carpenters to make our sheds the way they have been made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for centuries. Please contact us to find out why our sheds are the best in the business.

Transform Your Shed: 4 Updates You Never Thought Of

As a rule sheds are used for backyard storage, But what if your shed could do so much more? Here are four ways you haven't thought of yet... or at least we hope not! 

1. Grow a Green Roof! 

That's right, a green roof. Those waterproof shingles can come in handy. First, be sure that your shed can hold the load of some extra soil on top. After that you are going to want to put down an additional waterproof layer for extra security and build a frame, so you have a place to hold your soil. Next, add in some potting soil and start planting! Here's a reference that walks you through the process. Some recommend using alpines and other hardy plants that don't need much water.Succulents would be another great option, if you don't live in an area that gets rain everyday! Photo Credit:

2. Add a Murphy Table Outside- Picture This on Your Shed.

Murphy beds, tables and benches have become very popular lately. If you haven't seen/heard of them, a Murphy bed/bench/table is a structure that is attached to a wall that can either extend down, as bed/bench/table, or fold up to save space. We thought this would work especially well in a garden setting. If your shed is already filled, but you would like a little bit of space to pot in the garden, this quick project will give you the best of both worlds! Attach the frame to an exterior wall of your shed when it is down you can use it to pot. When you have it up it's out of the way! Take a look here for instructions and the supplies you need.  And use your imagination. The ones on their site are not in your garden. Adjust the width, accordingly. Photo Credit: Pinterest

Pro-tip: Take it one step further by painting it when it is in the upright position. That way you'll have the extra value of some artwork in your backyard!

3. Find Yourself a Tip-Out Bin

This is a quickie, but a goodie. Find a tip-out bin to keep your potting soil in for easy access. Keep it right inside of the door to keep away the elements and the unwanted bugs!

4. The Green House Effect

With the reminder of Earth Day still on our minds let's keep planting! Create an easy green house on the side of your shed. Pick up some lumber, 2 hinges and a couple of old windows at your local vintage store. Grab your circle saw and get to work. Build out your back frame, first. If you would like more than one level be sure to angle your side pieces at a downward pitch to accommodate for levels within the green house. After the frame has been built out then attach your hinges along with your windows and you're good to go! You can start growing just as spring is ramping up! Want a visual? Check out this blog post that explains it very well! 

So, now that you see all the neat ways to make your shed work for you it's probably time to get one, or if you already have one, to get a new one. Check out all of our newest sheds and the Stoltzfus Classics you love here! Have questions on your shed, or want to trade your old one in? Give us a call! 

An Organized Garage: 3 Simple Steps

Your garage gets cluttered sometimes. With the warm weather coming, here's an easy guide for a quick clean to increase the space and decrease the clutter!

First things, first...set aside 2 hours (this may take more or less time depending on how much clutter you have). It generally won't take any longer than that, but in case you are a slow mover we didn't want you to be disappointed! Second: back your car/cars out, so we can get started!

1. Get Seasonal Items Outside

If you store any large seasonal items like a grill, deck furniture, umbrellas or lawn gnomes, etc. in your garage get them out where they belong. It is getting warm and you're going to want to have easy access when you're wife wants you to fire up the grill! 

*PRO-TIP: Be sure to take a hose and clean these items off before you use them. They can gather up a good deal of dirt over the winter months. 

2. Shape Up or Ship Out

Once you have the seasonal stuff out of the way, take a look to see if there are any other items you have that may have seen better days. For instance, get rid of rusty yard tools that don't work, sports gear that hasn't been used in years or even broken pots. The long and short of it: clean out junk!  If it's still useful place it in the back for your truck for donation and if not... you know what to do!

3. Clean House... Or Garage

Now that everything is out of the way we can get to the easy part. If you're in colder climates salt from the winter gathers along with pine needles and other various kinds of floor debris. So, take a broom and sweep up that floor! You are going to be amazed at how much of a difference a clean garage floor makes. Plus, you have so much more space to work with! 

Warning: Only do this once a year. Your wife might get the wrong impression!

Don't have a garage to clean out? We can help you with that and you can skip these three steps. Check out our latest garages!

28x24 2 Story Carriage Style Garage

Garden Sheds Add Organization To Your Favorite Hobbies

Your hobbies make your life enjoyable. They add purpose and beauty to your day, and they give you something to pour your passion into, unfortunately if you're not careful, the tools and equipment you need to pursue your favorite hobby can overflow into your living spaces, making your house feel cluttered, disorganized and frustrating. Adding a little extra storage space to your home with a garden shed is an affordable, addition to your home that will improve your quality of life, without impacting the structure of your house.

Organization is key when it comes to pursuing your hobby without giving in to an avalanche of miscellaneous supplies in your home. One, great way to keep the chaos in check is to build a beautiful garden shed. Garden sheds are, of course, the perfect place to store all of your gardening tools and supplies, but they don't have to be limited to just gardening equipment. You could store your ice fishing equipment, hunting supplies, camping gear, crafting materials or any other hobby supply in an affordable and modern garden shed. You can fill your shed with shelving, hooks, and all kinds of modifications to make it the perfect space to store items.

If your idea of a garden shed is a neglected hut in the back yard, then you are in for a big surprise. Garden sheds are a great place to store items you love and need, but that you don't need access to every day. Plus you might be surprised how many adorable ways there are to showcase your garden shed. It can quickly become the most attractive part of your home. A quick search for "garden shed" on Pinterest will bring up a lot of photos that will stir up your creativity and inspire you. One simple project that can add beauty and charm to your garden shed is to create window boxes for your shed to grow flowers in.

Boat Shed, Maryland

For more information on quality garden shed construction that will beautify and add value to your home, please contact us. Our sheds are Amish built and have a three year warranty!

Storage Shed Decisions: Always Start with Size

If you're thinking of putting a storage shed in your back yard, you might be amazed to know how many options you have. If you've just seen the generic sheds outside big box stores you might not realize how customized and beautiful your shed can be. The options are so plentiful, they could start to feel a little overwhelming, but if you take your time and make one decision at a time you will soon have a shed that perfectly meets your needs and matches your sense of style.

First you will want to consider the size of your shed. You can have a shed built on site, which means that you can choose from a small shed around 6 x 8 feet to a very large shed around 14 x 40 feet and there are size options for everything in between.

You will want a shed large enough to store everything you had in mind, plus a little extra space for any new lawn or sport items you might add to your collection in the coming years.

However, you do not want a storage shed so large that it overshadows your yard. After all, your personal recreation space is very important, and part of the reason for getting a storage shed was to have a place to store all the stuff that was cluttering up your yard and keeping you from enjoying it in the first place.

To see our options for quality sheds with an incredibly warranty, please contact us. We will help walk you through every decision.

You Won't Ever Believe What "Amish Built" Really Means!

It means we build great sheds that last... and we get up early to get them out.  

We use a variety of time-honored methods in constructing new buildings. For example, use a timber-frame technique in which beams are assembled using wooden pegs, or mortise and tenon joints, which have been used successfully by woodworkers for centuries. These methods result in very durable, long-lasting structures that are designed to last for decades.

Another advantage to using more traditional methods of building is the elimination of planned obsolescence. Planned obsolescence involves the development of products in such a way that they deteriorate or become obsolete over time. This process ensures consumers purchase new goods much sooner than they would have otherwise. 

We don't think creating a product only to become obsolete is a good way to do business. So, we make sure to only use the highest quality products and knowledgeable craftsmen to build your shed, garage, or chicken coop to last. 

We have had customers that have had a shed they built with us for over 20 years! We have even had structures withhold hurricanes! That's the kind of quality we like to stand by. 

We Get Up Early

We are up early to get to work. You can come by our office at 7:30 and the guys will already be working on the structures we are building for the next shipment. We've been constructing structures for 40 years, now! We wan to be sure that our structures stay intact for future generations. Rest assured, your structure has been constructed to the highest possible standards.

As you can see, there are plenty of advantages to Amish built sheds. To see some of the latest styles we have available, contact us.

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.