You have made a decision to build a garden storage shed in your backyard. You know youll need plans that you can submit to your local building department in order to obtain a permit. You might even need a set of plans you can submit to your Home Owners Association for approval if you live in a planned community. To top that off, you are somewhat of a novice when it comes to carpentry and woodworking but, in these economic times, it seems appropriate to tackle the job on your own as a do-it-yourself construction project.
What to Look For in a Set of Plans
There are three important things to look for in a set of building plans no matter what your skill level might be:
1. The design itself...
2. The level of detail in the diagrams and blueprints...
3. The specifications and supporting directions...
The design itself must satisfy two basic criteria. First, is the exterior design aesthetically pleasing or will the design prove to be a complete eyesore in your neighborhood. It is important to consider how the design fits into your existing home design, your landscaping and the aesthetics of the neighborhood. Choosing a design that matches these aesthetic criteria means you may have to sift through many, many choices. In this sense, it pays to have the widest possible choice available to you.
The second factor that you must consider in the design itself is the size of the shed. This turns on how you intend to use the shed in the first place. Will the shed be limited to a single use, say garden tools and equipment or will it be used for storing other things like holiday decorations and firewood? Planning for size is important. Dont forget to build in about 25% to 30% more space than you think youll need for expansion. Believe me, youll need it.
The blueprints must contain almost a primer on construction of a shed. Details are important here. You want to choose a set of plans that assume nothing. If you think about it, if you have some skills, the detailed drawings are far less important than if you have no skills at all to speak of and can be skimmed or even skipped entirely. But if you have few skills, you are a true novice, then you can rely on the details as an important guide.
Of course, you want to have plans that include step-by-step instructions about how to put your project together. Again, the idea is to assume nothing and make these instructions as detailed as possible allowing those with some level of skills to scan or skip those instructions completely. In addition, a full material list along with advice about how to cut waste to a minimum is a welcome feature.
Not all programs have these features available to you. When you are making plans for shed building it is wise to look for a source that can fill each of these three needs. Youll be happy you did so in the long-run.
Don Koenig is a professional carpenter and has built houses, stores and sheds for over 25 years. He shares his knowledge with you at [http://www.designsforsheds.com]Designs for Sheds where he is offering a free set of plans for a [http://www.designsforsheds.com/plans-for-shed-building/]basic 12 x 8 shed as a gift to you. Why not stop by and see what the fuss is all about.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Plans-for-Shed-Building:-What-To-Look-For-In-a-Set-of-Plans?&id=6669230] Plans for Shed Building: What To Look For In a Set of Plans?
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