by Robert Matthews

Created on: March 09, 2010   Last Updated: March 11, 2010

Regarding the amateur builder, it is crucial that you have everything in place before you you start your project. Obviously, the best way to accomplish that is to have an action plan. If you have decided that you need to assemble a shed, you need to employ a set of plans.  In order to develop your action plan, you will need to first answer seven questions.

1.What do you truly want to use the shed for?

To start out with, you may, perhaps, be thinking that it is only going to be used to store just the gardening gear. Think hard about this. Is it going to wind up becoming a household storage shed?  In other words, are the kids planning to need to store their sports equipment in there?  Or is the wife likely to discover a spanking new spot for the Xmas decorations?  So put together a hard and fast rule of what the storage shed is going to be used for.

2.How big do you need it to be?

Now you know precisely what it is going to be used for, that may give you the dimensions which you are likely to need. Do not forget to prepare for your future. If it really is limited to garden outdoor items, you'll most likely be adding to your collection during the years to come, and you really do not want to have to construct an additional garden shed.

3.Where are you planning to build your new shed?

You must establish where are you going to put it. It has to be in a place that's accessible without having to tramp through your flowers. You might really want it tucked away so it does not interfere with your landscaping. Once more, think ahead; you really don't want to need to relocate it. Then again, some sheds are so aesthetically pleasing they are a visual focal point in the garden.

Now, is the location you have allotted for your garden shed adequate for it? If it isn't, then you'll have to make a compromise, either in the space or the size of the shed.

4.Does it need to be insulated, waterproof, or open?

If you're in a four season climate then you have to determine what seasons you need to have the shed to be able to withstand.

5. Do you require a building permit?

Know what your municipal by-laws are for constructing a shed. It wouldn’t be enjoyable to get your project completed and then have city officials arrive and order you to take it down. Commonly, you won’t need to have a building permit if you stay inside a particular length and width, but if you have made the decision to go bigger than what’s allowed, you will have to try to get building plans for approval.

6. Now, here is one of the most crucial questions: what is your price range for this project?

All that you have decided until now is dependent on your spending budget. It's pretty hard to set a spending budget if you haven’t determined the expense of lumber and hardware. It's your spending budget that’s going to assist you when it comes time to get your storage shed plans.

7.Where to look to get you get your blueprints for building a shed?

You may have lots of answers now. You know the objective, the size, the spending budget, and now to answer the final question. For this you'll have to look at what resources are available to you-your neighborhood home hardware and building center, home planners, and naturally web sites.

You have an idea now where to build your shed and how large you want it.  What you need now are plans.  

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