Saltbox Shed Blueprints

Imagine for a moment what your property might look like without all the "stuff" that is lying around and cluttering it up. A Saltbox shed could be exactly what you need to "clean up your act!" Saltbox sheds get their name from structures prevalent in the New England area during America's colonial years. They are very unique structures that can add style and functionality to your backyard. These sheds can be a challenge to build, but are within the capabilities of most do-it-yourselfers. The fail safe way to approach such a project is to use a good set of saltbox shed blueprints.

Saltbox sheds are characterized by a distinctive roof design that provides increased storage capability on a small footprint. These sheds are very versatile, especially when equipped with double doors in the front. They can even be used for storing large outdoor equipment items such as boats, four wheelers, snow mobiles, and lawn tractors.

Actually, the front of the building is two stories which then slopes back to a single story. The roof is short in front as well as steeply angled, and long and gently sloping in the back. The overall square footage of the shed is enhanced by the elevated storage area up front, which allows you to build in a smaller space.

The nature of the unique roof requires some unusual and complex cuts that will be difficult to figure out by yourself. Keep in mind that the primary factor that will add cost to virtually any building project is inaccurate measuring and cutting. The secret to your success--a good set of saltbox shed blueprints.

A professionally done set of saltbox shed blueprints will prove invaluable and will ensure that you get the cuts done correctly and with minimum fuss. They will also save you trips to the hardware store and lumber yard because they come with a complete materials list.

Autor: Jason Castle

Don't end up with a mess! This type of shed should only be built by following detailed saltbox shed blueprints. Otherwise, there is a good chance you will end up with an unsightly structure that will have the neighbors and your wife complaining. For a set of great plans go to http://www.outdoorshedplans.info.

Added: January 25, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Murphy Bed Plans - The 3 Main Benefits of Building Your Own Murphy Bed

Murphy bed plans are the very first thing you need to built the wall unit you want.There are many benefits in building your own murphy bed. You first of all make the most of your space if you live in a small apartment or condo, your are adding a great asset to your decor and by doing so you are saving an important amount of money.

Making Space

If your live in a small condominium apartment or a studio,you know how space fill up quickly.Living in a large city these days is very expensive and renting a small apartment is something you may have to do to make it work.The acquisition of a murphy bed gives you back that extra living space that you need so much in a small studio or condo.A bed you can fold allows you to quickly convert the living room to a bedroom for you of for guests, when having a second bedroom is not possible.That way your guests don't have to sleep on a floor mat and can enjoy the comfort of a real bed.

Enjoy the beauty of a wall unit

Wall units beds can be made in a huge variety of designs and materials.Wood being the most popular one, there are several kind of wood you can use to match the furniture you already own.Besides providing a great amount of storage space for your personal items such as television, sound system and books,the wall unit combo is the the most practical piece of furniture any small apartment owner should have.There are no better way to maximise limited living spaces.

Building instead of buying

If you go out and shop around for a murphy bed,you will soon find out that it is quite expensive. On the other hand, building your own with murphy bed plans is an option that gives you the freedom of choosing your own material and to really customised your bed to fit your space.They are not that complicated to build and you can find a kit including all the necessary hardware.The whole project will cost you about one third of the retail price of one already made.

Autor: Tim A. Davis

Building your own murphy bed is a great project but make sure that first you get your hands on a good set of murphy bed plans to find the design you really like before you begin. Go ahead and visit my page at http://www.squidoo.com/simple-and-easy-woodworking-projects to get your plans and to find out more about thousand of other DIY other projects you can do yourself besides murphy beds.

Added: January 23, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Building a Shed Ramp - Easier Than You Might Think!

If you have an elevated shed, you've probably found that you need a shed ramp. If you have a riding lawn mower, this is a definite necessity. However, the ones at the store can be expensive. Plus, the metal ones can be slippery when wet. Making your own is much cheaper, as well as a lot easier than you might think!

For building a shed ramp, you first need to figure out how much wood you need. To calculate how long the ramp should be, measure how high off the ground your shed is. You want the ramp to incline upwards at a rate of no more than three inches per foot. So if your shed is six inches off the ground, you need a two foot long ramp.

A ramp any steeper than this will cause you a lot of problems. First, the ramp will become slippery when wet or icy. If your ramp is too steep, your lawn mower is just going to slide back down it. Second, a steeper ramp will grind against the blades of your mower. This will damage both the lawn mower and your ramp.

The next step you need to take is to figure out how wide you want your ramp to be. It needs to be about 1 foot wider than your mower to give you a little room on each side. Once you know how wide and long of a ramp you need, you can get the wood for the frame.

For the frame, you'll want at least 4" x 4" pressure treated lumber. Set these at most 12 inches apart, so the ramp can support your weight and a 400 pound lawn mower. Over the frame, you'll place " pressure treated plywood for the surface. It's helpful to stick a layer of nonslip rubber matting over this to prevent accidents.

Building a shed ramp is simple. Lay out the 4" X 4"s 12 inches apart in the length you need the ramp to be. You may need to cut the ends off in order to match the level of the ground. Attach the plywood securely, making sure the screws are level with the plywood. Cover the surface of the ramp with the nonslip rubber. Secure the ramp to the shed and check the level to make sure it's not too steep.

Autor: Todd Albright

If you're interested in plans for shed ramps, as well as plans for just about any woodworking project you can think of, please visit Best Shed Plans. Not only can you learn how to build a ramp, you can learn how to make just about anything, from sheds to dog houses to jewelry boxes. It's a resource every handyman or woman should have.

Added: January 21, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/