subject: Should You Buy A Professional Building Plan Or Design Your Own Shed Plan? [print this page] As most homeowners know only too well, we all tend to accumulate a great deal of "stuff" over the years that usually end up cluttering the garage, the basement and some sometimes even overflow into utility rooms. In most cases the easy and simple answer to this problem is to build or buy a storage shed. And that means a shed that is large enough to accommodate everything that needs to be stored - including garden tools and equipment such as rakes, shovels and mowers.
The first decision you will need to make when deciding to acquire a storage shed, is whether to build it yourself, buy a pre-cut kit, or order a ready-made shed that will either be delivered to your door in one piece on the back of a truck, or delivered in sections and assembled by professionals.
If you decide to go for the last two options (buying a pre-cut kit or completed shed) you will not need a shed building plan as companies offering prefabricated or completely assembled sheds have a set number of pre-designed plans and styles to choose from. But if you decide to go for the first option and build your shed yourself (and save a great deal of money that will run into thousands of dollars in savings) then you are going to need a shed building plan.
Here, again, you are faced with two choices:
1.Design your own plan.
2.Buy a professionally drawn shed building plan from one of the many companies online who specialize in shed designs.
The second option of buying an existing plan has obvious benefits. Not only will you have a variety of plans to choose from, but you will also benefit from that company's vast experience in shed design.
Professional shed blueprints also usually include a materials list which will make your task so much easier when it comes to ordering and costing the materials needed for the project. The materials list in itself will save you a lot of time and frustration (running backwards and forwards to your local hardware store) as well as saving wastage and money by over-ordering materials.
Pre-designed plans also usually include an invaluable step-by-step instruction guide that will take you through every step of the building process in easy to understand instructions.
If you are a die-hard do-it-your-selfer you may decide to rather draw up your shed plans yourself. This approach may take longer and involve far more thought and advance planning, but it could also be the best way to ensure that the shed you eventually end up building meets all your requirements, reflects you taste, and blends in perfectly with your house and garden.
