About Your Order
How long will it take to receive my plans?
We state on our Web site that e-mail plans will be sent within 3
business days. We usually send our plans within 24
hours. If you do not receive your e-mail plans within 3 business days of submitting your
online payment, PLEASE LET US KNOW, something has gone wrong.
Note: For personal checks, we allow 2 weeks to elapse for the check to clear before sending your order.
Why have I have not received my e-mail plans?
Your e-mail address may have been entered incorrectly. Spam blocking software on
your computer or e-mail service may have stopped our plans from reaching you.
If your order is returned to us as undeliverable, we will void any credit transaction
and wait for you to contact us.
I would like to order a set of plans but the order button does not let me order.
1. Try again later. Occasionally, the Web is congested and unable to connect properly.
2. Try another brand of browser. We have experienced difficulties with Firefox and Netscape browsers.
Microsoft Internet Explorer seems to work best.
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About Our Sheds
What is the approximate cost of materials for your storage sheds?
We have calculated the cost of materials of our plans on several occasions, but find the price changes
substantially with the season, the area of the country you are located in, and the grade of lumber you choose to use.
The price of materials for our sheds is similar to and frequently less than the cost of the
less substantially built shed kits available at your local lumber yard.
I am interested in your shed plans, but wondered if they meet our local building codes?
We design structures intended to meet or exceed national building codes.
National building codes serve only as a guideline, since each community is responsible for establishing its own requirements.
You will have to check with your local authority to see if any modifications may be required for our plans to comply with local codes.
When exceptions to local codes do arise, minor changes are usually all that is required.
Small temporary structures (sheds) are often exempt from meeting local building codes.
However, your neighborhood association may have size and appearance requirements you must comply with.
I am located outside of the U.S., and am concerned that some materials may not be available here. Can you help?
Our sheds are constructed using: 1x2's, 1x4's, 1x12's, 2x4's, 4x4's, 1x8 car siding, plywood sheathing,
and shingles. The following hardware is also required: hinges, hasp, slide bolt, nails and screws.
You can use the nearest local equivalent for these items, but be aware that material substitutions
may alter the dimensions listed on the plans.
Your gambrel roof looks complicated with hard to build roof trusses. Is there an easy way to construct the trusses?
Our plans use a rafter assembly jig to make assembling the trusses extremely easy.
Do you provide templates for the rafters?
No, but our plans do include detailed dimensioned drawings of the rafters and the rafter assembly jig to build the roof trusses.
Templates are not practical in e-mail plans. The rafter sections are larger than most home printers can handle.
Furthermore, printed templates may be distorted by the printing device, and paper is not dimensionally stable.
Do you provide any instructions on foundations with your plans?
Our plans do not provide any instructions on what kind of support or foundations would be required for our sheds.
Soil conditions vary widely thought the country, therefore we are unable recommend anything that is suitable for use everywhere.
Do your plans include a floor?
Like many other shed designers we use a wood platform on skids instead of a foundation. This provides several advantages.
First it provides an elevated wood floor which provides a firm dry surface for all of your stored Items.
Second it a forms a rigid base which securely ties the structure together.
Third sheds less than 120 sq feet with this base usually qualify as temporary structures which are exempt from local building regulations.
Note: Some shed designers take advantage of this to save money by creating structures using undersized or inadequate framing and materials that would never be allowed under regulations.
We use essentially the same robust methods and structures used in home construction.
Can you tell me what type of foundation is required for the storage barns?
Our sheds use a wood platform on 4x4 skids which support a standard wood frame spaced on 24 inch centers.
The completed shed will be very heavy and require a strong level surface to support its' weight.
Since soil conditions vary widely thought the country we cannot recommend what will be required in your area.
A six inch thick tamped gravel bed or concrete slab are probably the safest base to use in all areas.
Patio Stones, Cinder Blocks, Super Spikes, and Concrete Footings can also be used, but they may require more skill to be applied successfully.
We recommend that you consult with a professional who understands your local conditions before starting construction.
If you are going to pour a concrete slab for your shed we suggest you consider using a real foundation.
By eliminating the skids and floor shown in our plans you end up with a structure suitable for use on a standard foundation.
While this is probably the best solution, there is one major drawback.
It will almost certainly qualify your shed as a permanent structure requiring building permits and perhaps limiting where you can place it.
A strong support or foundation is key to building a sound and long lasting shed.
Check with your local building authority or building contractor to find out what type of support or foundations will be required in your area and soil conditions.
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Shed Modifications
I am considering purchasing your shed plans and modifying them. Do you think this will be very difficult?
We encourage modifications, since the freedom to customize your shed is one of
the major advantages of purchasing plans over commercial kits or structures.
Our designs should be easy to modify. Siding and flooring material substitutions are common changes that our customers make.
Your local lumber yard or contractor is your best source of help and information on any modifications that you may be planning.
Can I substitute plywood flooring for the board flooring in your plans?
Yes, 3/4" plywood is suitable for flooring material in our sheds. In our 8 ft wide sheds, regular plywood works well because all of the floor seams can be supported by the floor skids.
Tongue and groove plywood is a better choice for our larger sheds, since many of the floor seams will not be supported.
Be aware that tongue and groove seams require a small overlap at the seams and may require a side filler strip to compensate for this overlap.
Your storage shed plans use car siding. What is car siding, and where can I get it.
Car siding is a tongue and groove board which is 3/4" thick and is available in 6" and 8"
widths. It can usually be purchased in even lengths from 6 ft to 16 ft.
The 6" width is milled to appear as a single board when installed and is more suitable for structures larger than our sheds.
We use the 8" width in our plans, which is milled to appear as two narrow boards when installed (see the drawing below).
We feel that the narrow board pattern is more in scale with our sheds, but it is strictly a matter
of personal taste. You should be able to find car siding at your local lumber yard. If they do not have
it in stock, they probably can order it for you.
Note: It has come to our attention that not all suppliers will recognize the term car siding, take a copy of picture below to show them.
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1x8 Car Siding ( 7 1/8" wide with tongue and groove sides) |
Can I substitute plywood siding for the car siding?
You can side your shed with plywood siding which mimics the look of vertical car siding (see the examples below).
This siding is usually available in both wide and narrow (3" to 4" )simulated board widths.
While it is a matter of personal taste, we feel that the narrow board pattern is more in scale with the size of our sheds. The main drawback with plywood siding is that it only comes in 8 ft. lengths, so
sheds over 8 ft tall will have horizontal seams in the areas taller than 8 ft..
(Car siding is available in lengths up to 16 ft, eliminating this problem.)
Because of the seam overlap, the seams of the 48" wide sheets will not fall on the center lines of standard stud spacing.
You must take this into account when using this siding.
Some manufactures have recognized this and are producing a wider product which eliminates the problem.
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19/32" x 48" x 96" Plywood Siding (with tongue and groove sides) |
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19/32" x 48 3/8" x 96" Plywood Siding (with shiplap sides) |
I want to use plywood siding on a larger shed. Can you suggest a method of hiding the seams?
1. Cut the siding at 45 degree angles where the two sections meet. Seal the cut edges with paint
or water proof sealer before installing them with the seams draining down toward the outside of
the shed.
2. Use dado cuts to create a shiplap joint where the two sections meet. Seal and install as above.
3. Hide the seam with trim. Be sure to caulk the top edge of the trim board to prevent water from
entering the joint.
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About Our Dog Houses
How do I determine the right size dog house for my dog?
Your dog (or dogs) should be able to comfortably lie down in the dog house. Our Web Site gives the interior
dimensions of each dog house floor, so you can select the correct size. Measure around your dog (ignoring the tail)
when it is lying down and then choose the appropriate size dog house.
If you have a puppy, measure an adult dog if you can, or find the adult size from a book.
Remember the smallest size dog house with the smallest door that will fit your pet will be the warmest in the winter.
If I customize my dog house, what size should the door opening be for the best fit?
Fit the door opening to the size of an adult dog. For puppies, check the size of the parents.
Measure the width of the dog's shoulders and the height of the shoulders, when the dog is standing (to the nearest half inch).
Then add one inch to each of these measurements and adjust the door opening accordingly.
The height is measured from the floor of the dog house to the bottom of the finished door opening, and the width is measured from the finished inside edges of the opening.
How can I maximize my dogs' comfort in cold weather?
In cold weather put your dog house in an area that protects the doorway from winter winds.
If your dog will not remove it, place a curtain or other wind barrier in the doorway.
Allow your dog to adapt to colder outside living conditions, by keeping it outside before the weather turns cold
Sudden changes from a warm to a cold environment can be extremely stressful.
Provide extra food in cold weather so your dog can generate the extra body heat required in cold weather.
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