By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Don_Koenig]Don Koenig
We live in an increasingly complex world and often it seems that it is to our advantage to make things as simple as possible. So I begin with this basic question: When making plans for shed building in your backyard, is it best to use a pre-fabricated shed building or building the shed from scratch? Like everything else in life, the truthful answer is that it depends on your goals, confidence and experience.
Making Plans
I assume that because you are reading this you are planning to build a shed but you are still in the process of making your decision. Look, if you are an experienced carpenter or handyman you would have already made that decision, putting all of your experience to use. As a novice or a home hobbyist woodworker, you must decide several things before you begin your project. Building from a set of blueprints, providing they are the right kind of plans, offers far more flexibility in both design and space possibilities but is only slightly more complex to assemble. Of course, if you have the wrong plans then the project is doomed to being a full-blown disaster.
When I talk about the right plans I mean getting them from a source that offers a full line of designs and sizes to meet any space requirement. Those plans should also have a detailed, step-by-step set of instructions that assume that you know absolutely nothing about how to approach the task. Finally, your plans must have a full material list, down to the last nail and screw so there is no guesswork in purchasing materials needed. If you use a source like that then building from scratch is the way to go.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Of course, pre-fabricated storage sheds offer some options and have many potential advantages:
- There is a wide choice of materials available...
- Many pre-fab sheds are fully insulated and that provides an advantage if you plan on heating the shed...
- Interlocking pre-fab shed designs offer you the advantage of align and snap construction making the job more like solving a jig-saw puzzle than constructing a building...
It is important to remember that whether or not you use a pre-fabricated shed, you still have to build a sturdy foundation to hold your shed in place during high winds and storms. You must also get a permit to build the shed in most jurisdictions and pass building inspections along the way. There is no advantage either way.
Finally, when you build from scratch you have more flexibility as to where to place things like windows and doors. You also have more choices in exterior finishes like paint or stain on wood siding, shingles for the roof, and the quality of the materials you buy overall.
In truth, the final decision whether or not a pre-fabricated shed is a practical plan for building a shed as opposed to building that shed from scratch is totally dependent on how you choose to approach your project. I believe, however, that the decision may turn on how much pride you will have after the successful completion of a shed built from raw materials.
Don Koenig has been a professional carpenter and woodworker for over 25 years. He offers tips and ideas for building sheds an other woodworking projects at [http://www.designsforsheds.com]Designs for Sheds. Right now he is offering a free gift of a 24 page basic shed plan for a [http://www.designsforsheds.com/plans-for-shed-building/]12 x 8 Shed. Why not visit his site and see what all the fuss is about.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Using-a-Shed-Kit-a-Good-Idea-As-One-Makes-Plans-for-Shed-Building?&id=6674100] Is Using a Shed Kit a Good Idea As One Makes Plans for Shed Building?