Posts

As a new year begins, often we try to implement new and better habits. That can be applied to many areas of our life, including how we care for our property. In this blog post, we’ll share some top tips about outdoor structure ownership. 

Choose a good location. Find level ground for your shed. This is literally the foundation of proper maintenance. 
Paint your unfinished wooden shed. It’s a best practice to paint your shed within 60 days if installation. This protective covering helps your shed last longer. 
Lubricate your handles. Be sure your knobs and handles are in working order by lubricating them from time to time. 
Watch vegetation. Keep the area around your outdoor storage structure trimmed. This does many things, including keeping critters away. 
Properly ventilate your shed. No matter what type of structure you have – wood or metal – proper air circulation is important. 
Winterize your shed. The cold weather and other elements that come along with winter can wreak havoc on your shed. Be sure it’s ready for the cold and wet season. 
Keep your shed clean and organized. Over time, the items you store will seemingly multiply. As your shed fills up, you may need to install shelves, peg boards, hooks, and other organizational elements. A clean and organized shed is safer and easier to manage. 
Check for rot. Over time, moisture can damage your wooden storage structure. Look for rotted parts and replace or repair. 
Check for leaks. Moisture inside a shed is not good. Check your roof and other areas for leaks and fix immediately—before they spread. 
Repaint your shed. Going along with our earlier tip, we suggested repainting your shed every three to four years. Depending on where you live, this could be needed more often. 

 

It’s important to protect your investment in outdoor storage structures – as well as to continue to protect everything inside of it. 

 

Happy New Year! 

We work hard, and there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, whether at the office or around the house. But despite how busy our lives are, we can’t forget to take time for ourselves. Time to unwind and escape that hustle and bustle—or even a noisy TV in the living room.

We’ve all heard the term “man cave”—but what about a relaxing, backyard respite for women? With a little paint, some light construction/installation, and some décor, you can turn an old shed into a women’s retreat.

The ideas are seemingly endless to how you can transform a garden shed into a she-shed! Whether you’re looking for a sewing or craft nook, a studio, a reading lounge, an exercise room, or an open and airy meditation area, with a little work, you can carve out a space just for you. And we can’t forget that women share many of the same interests as men, so if your woman’s retreat ends ups looking like a typical man-cave, that’s OK with us!

The first step is cleaning out your existing shed so you can really get a handle on how much space you have—plus it’s easier to visualize the possibilities when you’re looking at an empty space. From there, draw up your plan—you can find ideas (even blueprints) online: many design websites feature she-shed makeovers—but don’t let the ideas sway you. Your shed should be uniquely you!

You will have so much fun watching your vision for a women’s retreat come to life—picking out colors, choosing décor, and installing shelves (maybe even a wine rack?) and getting furniture. But the best part will be sitting back and enjoying the space you’ve created!

Remember, alone-time is not just something that’s nice to have; solitude actually makes us happier and healthier! 

The garage was often the default place where a man would escape for much-needed alone time, whether to tinker with a project, play cards with friends, or even watch a football game. Then came along the notion of a man cave—yes, these can still be in the garage, but they’ve also became part of basement remodels or making use of a child’s bedroom when they move away to college (Come on, Dad! Why?!).

Today, you can find these rugged respites in the back yard too, thanks to the notion of turning a garden shed into a man cave. If your outdoor structure isn’t getting the use you thought it would, consider transforming it into a space you can call your own!

You have so many possibilities for your outdoor man cave: workout room a den-like space, a mini-office, a hobby shop, an art studio, or a decked-out, sports-watching haven. While your plan will be specific to your wants and needs, here are a few basic steps for building your man cave:

  1. Empty the shed of all its contents; donate, sell, or toss. Then clean the shed.
  2. Based on your empty space, now you can measure and draw up your plan.
  3. Before you get too far into the construction portion, you’ll want to start with installing electricity (because you’ll likely need it – even if not for a beer fridge or workstation, but for simple lighting or heat/AC!)
  4. When a shed is a shed, your rakes and such don’t need to stay warm; but since it’s a man cave now, you’ll need to insulate, seal, and drywall.
  5. Paint and decorate!

Enjoy your new space!

Playtime is important to our children’s development, especially imaginative play. When your children need more space to play than your home offers, here’s a solution: turn your old garden shed into a playhouse! (Or, if you don’t have one, you could always consider adding a new outdoor structure to your property!)

The ideas are as endless as you and your child’s/children’s imagination. First, think about their interests. Maybe you’ll go with a castle theme? A princess motif? Or a literal house, with a play kitchen or store! Or, perhaps, you’ll go with simply a specific color scheme so that your outdoor playhouse is not locked into one ideas—remember, kids’ interests can change over time and, especially, as they grow.

Aside from choosing a color for the interior and exterior, your kid-friendly atmosphere can be enhanced by wall coverings, window dressings, flooring, and furnishing. But, first things first: as you plan for your new outdoor play structure, be sure to heed age-appropriate safety measures, such as covered outlets. Also, be sure the space is insulated so kids can stay warm, even in colder months.

Here are a few ideas of features to consider as you plan:

  • Book shelves and reading area
  • Plenty of open floor space to empty out containers of blocks, dolls, cars, or other toys
  • Table for drawing, working, or board games
  • Shelving and cubbies for storage
  • Hooks for coats, aprons, sweaters, etc.
  • Bean bags or other cozy seating for reading or relaxing
  • Chalkboard, easels, and/or markerboard for inspiration
  • Exterior features such as a sandbox or little stage for those shows kids love to put on

And don’t forget lighting, access to power, and outdoor décor features. A quick search engine query can help you find floor plans and instructions, such as this blog post from The Home Depot.

Adding a backyard playhouse to your property by converting an old shed will give hours of pleasure to your children—and help with their development. 

We work hard, and there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, whether at the office or around the house. But despite how busy our lives are, we can’t forget to take time for ourselves. Time to unwind and escape that hustle and bustle—or even a noisy TV in the living room.

We’ve all heard the term “man cave”—but what about a relaxing, backyard respite for women? With a little paint, some light construction/installation, and some décor, you can turn an old shed into a women’s retreat.

The ideas are seemingly endless to how you can transform a garden shed into a she-shed! Whether you’re looking for a sewing or craft nook, a studio, a reading lounge, an exercise room, or an open and airy meditation area, with a little work, you can carve out a space just for you. And we can’t forget that women share many of the same interests as men, so if your woman’s retreat ends ups looking like a typical man-cave, that’s OK with us!

The first step is cleaning out your existing shed so you can really get a handle on how much space you have—plus it’s easier to visualize the possibilities when you’re looking at an empty space. From there, draw up your plan—you can find ideas (even blueprints) online: many design websites feature she-shed makeovers—but don’t let the ideas sway you. Your shed should be uniquely you!

You will have so much fun watching your vision for a women’s retreat come to life—picking out colors, choosing décor, and installing shelves (maybe even a wine rack?) and getting furniture. But the best part will be sitting back and enjoying the space you’ve created!

Remember, alone-time is not just something that’s nice to have; solitude actually makes us happier and healthier! 

Garages are a versatile amenity to have attached to your home. They provide a safe place to park your vehicles—and to keep them out of the rain and snow. They also can give you a storage area for equipment, tools, and household items. Finally, they can serve as a workshop, as a play room, and as a hang-out spot. With all these options, it’s easy to see how garage doors can get an incredible about of use. Up. Down. Open. Close.

Here are some considerations for your garage door maintenance.

  • Check the hardware: tighten your nuts and bolts.
  • Lubricate the chains/screws/rollers/hinges: The lubrication helps smoothen the door’s operation—and keeps things quieter.
  • Clean the door and all components, and wipe dry when you’re done.
  • Check the weather stripping for damage. And if you don’t have a seal on your door, consider installing one; it will save energy and help protect your garage and items.
  • Test your door’s balance; for your garage door to function properly and last longer, it should be properly balanced.
  • Test any automatic safety systems (such as an emergency reversal or stop system)

Don’t forget the outside! While ensuring the garage door is in working order keeps everyone safe, also keep in mind aesthetics. Depending on the size of your garage, its door can take up a big part of your home’s exterior. 

As the seasons change, so do our household to-do lists. Fall brings the harvest, fun holidays and family gatherings, all things pumpkin and apple, and, of course, the changing of the leaves in many areas of the country. Those leaves, however, contribute to most of the autumn chores. Here are some tips for outside fall clean-up:

Mow Your Grass: Before you put the lawnmower away for the season, trim it one more time. This Old House recommends going down to one and a quarter inches for the last cut of the year. Shorter grass prevents disease.

Fertilize Your Lawn: Fall is a good time to replenish your soil with nutrients it might have lost over the warmer summer months.

Pick Up Leaves: Raking and cleaning up your leaves prevents wet foliage from suffocating your lawn. That can lead to disease, and we want healthy grass! Use a tarp for easier gathering, and then bag them up and dispose of them how your local community prefers. Or you can also add them to a compost pile if you have one.

Check and Clean Gutters: Just as you remove leaves and debris from your lawn, do the same for your gutter system; this will prevent any damage-causing build-up in the winter.

Clean and Store Patio Furniture: Fall clean-up isn’t limited to yardwork. Clean off any outdoor furniture, and then get it ready for the cold weather by storing it away or covering it. 

You go in and out of your doors countless times, and you likely peer out the window just as often. But how often do you think about taking care of your entry ways and windows? Here are a few tips to keep them in tip-top shape.

Windows

Over time your windows’ frames can collect dust and debris, the panes can become streaked, and hardware can experience wear and tear. Give them some TLC once a year (or more).

  • Wash your frames with water and a mild soap. Dry when complete.
  • Wash your screens with water, mild soap and a soft brush. Rinse and dry.
  • Wipe your panes clean with a glass cleaner.
  • Lubricate the hardware once per year to keep in working order.
  • Check the condition of your windows, including checking for rot, condensation, faulty seals, peeling paint, and damage to any weather stripping.

Doors

  • We open and close our doors. A lot. Here are some things to consider as you care for your exterior entries to keep them looking and functioning well.
  • Clean your doors with a gentle soap. (Avoid abrasive cleaners!) Use as little water as possible.
  • Look for cracks in the frame or door windows. Also, look out for damage to weather stripping.
  • Check the paint finish for signs of wear, such as chips, cracks, or faded spots. 

You’ve probably often seen piles of wooden pallets in the back of warehouses, large stores, factories and other large businesses. But, in recent years, reclaimed wood has exploded in popularity. DIY websites, craft shows, and decorating magazines are time and time again giving us ideas on what we can do with this shipping pallets.

One idea is to use pallets to upgrade or update your storage structure. We’ve even seen people build sheds completely with these wooden materials—but for this post, we’ll focus on sharing ideas for using them for your existing shed.

Shelving Units Made from Pallets

Break apart pallets to create shelves; you will likely need other wood for the walls of your shelving unit. This example from NaturalBuildingBlog, found via Pinterest, will help you visual how to make shelving unites

A Rack Made from a Pallet

If you have smaller garden tools, craft supplies, or other small items that could be nicely organized by hanging them, you might wish to hang a pallet outfitted with hooks (or two!) on the wall. Here’s an example from Woohome, found on Pinterest.

Pallet for Wood Storage

If you have a woodstove, fireplace, or firepit on premise, here’s a pallet project idea: Build a wood storage unit for inside your shed, or to put up alongside the unit. Katie Brown shared an example on Pinterest, which you can view here.

New Siding Made from Pallets

Side your interior walls with the wood from your pallets, then stain or paint to your liking; this can give a warm feel to the inside of your shed.

The ideas are seemingly endless when it comes to repurposing pallets to update your storage shed.  

Outdoor structures are so diverse! On our blog, in the past, we’ve featured a few creative uses for outdoor structures, including home offices, potting rooms, and chicken coops. This month, we introduce another idea: the home gym. It’s a like a permanent gym membership!

Maybe your house doesn’t have enough space for your equipment, or perhaps you just want a sanctuary separate from your living quarters that allows you to get out of the house—even if it’s just a few yards away.

The investment of this on-site outdoor gym will vary. For instance, you might already have an outdoor structure on the property that you can transform into a workout space. Or, perhaps, you already own a few pieces of exercise equipment. The size of the shed may vary, too—but make sure you get one spacious enough for the type of workouts you typically do. Either way, this is a project that can pay off if you’re committed to your fitness routine as gym memberships can be pricey!

You also have many options for designing your outdoor shed—you can certainly leave things bare bones, or you can completely finish the shed by adding siding, flooring, windows, storage, and then painting and decorating.

If living a healthier lifestyle—mind and body—is important to you, but you don’t necessarily want machines, you can still create a retreat where you can do yoga, meditate, or aerobics.

Other considerations: While electricity is not a necessity, you may wish to run power to your outdoor gym for several reasons including air conditioning to keep you cool or to hook up a device to view workout videos (a TV/DVD player, computer, or internet-ready TV—in which case you may also need wi-fi access).

Setting up an outdoor gym in a shed or other outdoor structure can be an exciting project, and there’s an option to fit varying budgets. Most of all, this type of retreat will encourage healthy habits right at home!