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You mean you can build a personal observatory in your own backyard? You’ve heard about how people are using their sheds for all sorts of things –home offices, playhouses, personal living spaces –but one you haven’t heard of is the personal observatory. It’s a shed that lets you gaze at the stars from the comfort of your own shed. Do you have something of a sweet tooth for looking up at the stars at night? Always wanted to put that telescope of yours to good use? Then investing in a backyard storage shed/observatory might be the right idea for you. How do you get a personal observatory shed? Some people have gone so far as to build their own personal observatory. That being said, you probably don’t want your backyard storage shed to look like something you bought out of the parking lot. This is great for people who think that their personal observatory is worth the cost of an entire shed. But that doesn’t mean that everyone who might want to gaze at the stars while in their shed needs to build one. There’s no reason that your shed can’t be your storage shed during the day, and your observatory at night. There are plenty of ways to build a quality storage shed that moonlights as an observatory. Moonlighting as an observatory (pun intended) So you want to turn your shed into an observatory but you don’t want to loose the purpose that you are already using it for. There’s an easy fix to this. Add a sunroof I know a guy who owns property in Tahoe. He’s a heating engineer and makes good money. But the way he choose to make use of his property in Tahoe was to use the extra space that him and his wife no longer need and turn it into a rental property. In one of his properties, he has a sky roof above the shower so that you can look outside during the day or night while you shower off. It’s also great because it adds a little more room to the shower so taller people can stand in it without feeling like they are in a Hobbit Hole. Adding a sunroof to your place isn’t too difficult, and it could make for a great observatory without having to go out and shell out cash for an entire extra shed. You could probably install a sunroof that can open so that when it’s time to look at the stars through a telescope so you don’t have any glass in the way. What do you think? Any other ways to have a quality roof good for stargazing?

A lot is being said about how sheds can help people get the personal time they need. But what if getting alone time isn’t your problem? For couples looking for a little more-one-on-one time, sheds can be helpful for your needs, too. Sheds and couple time Having a shed can be a great project for a couple to bond over. A lot goes into picking out a shed for mutual use. It can be a fun experience to build one that you and your loved one will share and use together. There are all kinds of ways that having a shed can bring couples closer together. Picking out a shed There’s no reason why picking out a shed shouldn’t be fun. You and your significant other should see this as an opportunity to bond. Is he more big picture, while you are better at the details? Maybe vice-versa? Split up the duties between on another. Let him find out what shed maker is the right one of you (for those of you looking for sheds for sale in Texas, Ulrich Barns is your premium shed builder), while you can search through the color scheme, or figure out the right space for it in your backyard. Discuss what kind of shed you want Too often people buy sheds with the intention of making their life easier, only to let it depreciate into a place where they randomly store excess objects. While a backyard storage shed is a great place to keep things you want to hold onto but don’t have room for in your house, storage is not the only reason to have a shed. When picking out your shed, discuss with your partner what your priorities are, how you want to keep it organized, and what you ultimately want to use it for. A personal getaway If you and your partner struggle to get much needed alone time, create a personal escape shed. This shed might have wide open windows, be furnished with comfortable chairs and decorated with the two of you in mind. You can include board games for the two of you to play, or books to read. The small, garden shed Maybe you both share gardening as a hobby? One way that a couple I’m friends with bonds is through gardening. They are lucky enough to have nice soil on their land, and they use their shed which they picked out together as a place to store all their gardening tools. This could be a great option for you and your loved one if gardening is a particular passion of yours. Just remember to keep it organized from the start, and you’ll find a lot of joy in owning a small garden shed. Get creative Have more hobbies than gardening? That’s great, too! Your personal shed can be a great way to explore any hobby –there are few activities that a customized shed built by Ulrich Barns can’t accommodate. Looking for a shed for sale? Contact Ulrich Lifestyle or look them up online to get started on building more space for you and your loved one.

Ever dreamed of a backyard shed? Maybe you’ve imagined all the things you could do with it –but what you may not have thought about is all the ways that having a backyard storage shed can actually make your life easier. As you set out on your expedition to find your own storage shed, keep these five things in mind: Backyard Storage Sheds – Storing your bike Silicon Valley: home to the major internet businesses of the world. But it’s also home to some of the worst traffic. One way people in high tech are avoiding the tolls, traffic and wear-and-tear on their cars that commuting to work can cause is by opting out for a more eco-friendly route. Bike paths are quite common in Silicon Valley. Step off the ace train in Great America station and chances are you’ll see a long line of bicyclists speeding along the way towards Dell, Malwarebytes, Google, Intuit or one of the other major companies nearby. With bicycle commuting on the rise, many people are looking for newer and better ways to store their bicycles. The garage may seem like a good idea for storing your bike, but maybe you’re short on space? Having a personal bike storage shed is a great alternative And if you are one of the many people who invests in much more expensive bikes, you’ll want to get a shed that has a lock on it. That way you can sleep soundly at night knowing that your bike won’t find its way into the hands of another owner. Gardening People are starting to realize the helpful benefits of gardening. It’s no longer a hobby for the apron wearing grandma (though grandmas who garden are the coolest of all). Millennials looking for distractions from their hours and hours of screentime are starting to pick up gardening as a hobby. Having a small garden shed can really help get your gardening under control. Store glass jars in your small garden shed. Keep sees in these jars to keep them healthy and lasting longer. Keeping things organized will also increase the amount of time you have to spend on gardening, once you eliminate all the time you would otherwise spend on searching for your gardening tools. Craft/hobby Shed Not enough space in your home? Having a shed for your arts, crafts and hobbies can be a great alternative to your living room table. Sometimes we just can’t afford to make a mess out of the only table we have, or out of our limited floor space. Having your own hobby shed can also be a great way to disconnect from your day-to-day concerns. Build airplanes with your kids, scrapbook –the options are endless. The Sports Shed Work out at the gym? Avid kickboxing fan? Maybe you love to climb? Keep all of your gear stored safely away inside your shed. Keep things tidy with shelves and hangers on the walls. Whatever you do, the best way that you can take advantage of a sports shed is just to have one! Make working out easier by keeping things out of your cluttered closet! What are some ways that having a shed has made your life easier?

Back in 1173 A.D. some ambitions guys in Italy set out to build a tower that was better than anything that anyone had ever built. It would be 183 feet tall, built with lots of fancy columns and arches. Unfortunately, they made a critical miscalculation. They didn’t construct the base of the tower properly. That mistake caused a lot of headaches. Everything looked fine for for the first five years, until they had the 3rd floor completed. Then the tower started to lean. When you’re making a tower, the last thing you want it to do is to start leaning over. You may have heard of this tower — the Leaning Tower of Pisa. As those guys in Italy would attest, starting out with the proper base is really important when designing a building. You can do everything else right but if you mess up that part, you’re in big trouble! So what makes a great shed floor system? A shed floor can be broken down into 3 main parts: Blocking, Frame, and Decking. If you’re not sure what those terms mean, don’t worry, I’ll explain them in a bit. Lets start from the bottom up. Blocking Blocking is the cinder blocks we install under your building when we deliver it. Blocking serves two primary purposes. The first purpose is to level your building. Most yards have a little bit of slope to them, so leveling your building makes it look good in your backyard. The windows and doors also function best when the building is properly leveled. The second purpose of blocking is to provide a buffer between the wooden floor system and the ground. Even though our floors are treated to resist rotting, keeping them up on concrete blocks gives you that extra measure of protection. Frame The frame is the section that rests on the cinder blocks and supports the plywood decking. We always use treated wood to dramatically decrease the likelihood of rot or termites weakening the floor. Most shed companies install their floor frames with the supports 14 ½ inches apart. We give our customers the option of upgrading to a super heavy duty floor frame. This frame has the supports only 10 ½ inches apart. This is an especially great choice when purchasing a larger shed or cabin shell. Decking The decking is the part you walk on when you step inside your shed. It needs to be sufficiently thick to support any of the items you’re placing in your shed. We have had very good success with using ⅝ inch thick plywood decking, paired with our super heavy duty floor frame. The grade of plywood is also important. We like to use B/C grade plywood because it has a smooth sanded surface, free of knotholes. The smooth surface not only looks good, but also makes it much easier to clean. Now you know what to look for in a good floor system. Armed with this knowledge, you’re one step ahead of those guys in Italy. No backyard Tower of Pisa for you!

3:00 a.m. You wake up to the sound of your neighbor’s dog barking. Irritated at both your neighbor and his dog, you roll over and try to get back to sleep. Finally, after fifteen minutes, the barking stops and you drift off into a peaceful sleep. The next morning, as you’re getting ready for work, you glance into your backyard. Somebody left your shed doors open. Grabbing a bathrobe, you walk out to close the shed doors while munching a piece of toast. As you get closer, you notice that something doesn’t seem right. One of the double doors is hanging down at a crazy angle. Looking past the door, you see the inside of the shed is a crazy mess of rakes, shovels, and christmas decorations. You have been burglarized. How did this happen? The double doors are still locked, you notice, but the hinges have been completely removed. You can now see the screw holes where the hinges used to be. First disbelief, then anger as you realize that all anyone needed to conveniently access your stuff was a power drill. The lock means nothing if the screws are exposed for easy removal. You Can Prevent This Scenario With hinges it comes down to two things: thickness and design. Several years ago when we set out to find the perfect hinge, we discovered it didn’t exist. So we sourced a custom hinge to meet our criteria. Thickness A hinge that is made of flimsy steel can be destroyed with a crowbar. Always look for hinges that aren’t made of thin straps of steel, but are nice and thick. Our hinges are made of ⅛ inch thick steel. Besides keeping your stuff safe, a thick hinge can also prevent bending and warping. Design This is super important. Even a heavy duty hinge, if it is poorly designed, can easily be removed. Look for a hinge that bolts all the way through the door, rather than just screwing into the outside layer of siding. The biggest key is to avoid exposed screwheads. The best option is carriage bolts. Carriage bolts have a smooth round head that makes them virtually impossible to remove from the outside. Notice the carriage bolts on our hinge assembly below: One More Thing Don’t forget the latch. Whether your shed has a latch you can lock with a key, or has the type you can padlock, make sure it it has screws on the inside, securing the latch from any outside attempts at removal. Here at Ulrich, our latch is secured from the inside so you can’t remove the latch plate from the outside. When a thief is cruising your neighborhood, he’s looking for quick and easy access to your stuff. Getting theft resistant hinges not only protects you in case he attempts to break in, but makes it much less likely that he will try.

A Boy Named Abraham In the early 1800s there was a skinny boy by the name of Abraham who lived with his parents in Perry Creek County, Indiana. Since they didn’t have much money, Abraham’s father spent most of his time hunting while the rest of the family worked hard at farming. Abraham would later describe those days as a fight “with trees and logs and grubs”. Abraham’s last name, by the way, was Lincoln. Backwoods Philosophy Lincoln is famous for saying, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” A great tool makes a tough job much easier. Your storage shed is a tool with a job to do. Your shed’s job may be to store stuff, or it may serve as a workshop. For many people, it’s a combination of both. Here are some great ways you can sharpen your axe, I mean shed, to get the most use out of your backyard building. Use Your Space Efficiently The number one key to getting more use out of your shed is to use the space efficiently. If your neighbours would let you look inside their sheds, you would probably find that most of their stuff is in the bottom half of their shed, on the floor. The upper portion is usually fairly empty. That’s what I call a dull axe. An easy way to make your shed much more useful is to line it with shelving. Shelving does several things. First of all, it lets you use your vertical space much more efficiently, meaning your shed can hold a lot more stuff. Space that would otherwise be wasted is now usefully employed. Secondly, shelving makes so you can see and access what you have much more easily. If you are going to bother storing something, why not make so you can get to it easily? Here at Ulrich, we have several options for you. 16″ Double Shelves These double shelves are 16″ inches deep, and come standard as a set. The first shelf is about 18 inches off the floor, and the second shelf is 36 inches from the floor. Built with 2×4 framing and covered with ⅝ inch plywood on top, these shelves can support almost anything you want to place on them. Great for gas cans, tool boxes, and garden supplies. 24″ Workbench This workbench is a great choice if you need a wider space. A full 2 feet deep, this rugged workbench provides lots of easily accessible space. You can use it to get your work project up to a convenient height, or as a sturdy shelf. Great for bags of potting soil, dog food, and large totes. Organize From the Start When you get your new shed, you might be tempted to throw everything in and hope that you’ll get around to organizing it later. However, you will enjoy using your shed a lot more if you organize it as you put things in. With shelving already installed, organizing your stuff will be a lot more fun and easy. #storagesheds

When it comes to where you buy your new shed, you have a lot of options.  Don’t get stuck spending a boat-load of money for a canoe’s-worth of storage shed! Knowing what questions to ask can make the difference between a decision you love and a decision you loathe.  Before you hop in your truck to visit Lowe’s or a local shed builder, arm yourself with these 5 basic questions. A shed builder at work bending trim for a vinyl-sided shed. The difference is in the details. Remember, your choice of a shed builder will follow you well beyond the delivery of your new shed into your yard.  Getting acquainted with your options can save a lot of regret later. As you look around and talk to people, here are some questions to consider. How long have you been in the business?  Building a top-quality shed takes experience and technical expertise.  Builders who have been in the area for years understand the needs of the local community, as well as local building code requirements. What kind of service do you offer, both before and after purchase?  Do they work with you to design your storage shed so that your investment gives you the most satisfactory service possible?  Will they toss your building off the back of a trailer and leave you to fend for yourself, or will they work carefully with you to place it where it serves you best on a site that has been adequately prepared? What warranty do you offer?  Storage unit manufacturers use a wide variety of materials and workmanship.  Some sheds begin to fall apart, literally, in only a few years.  Ask about the quality and manufacturer’s warranty of materials such as shingles and siding.  Be sure to read the fine print on the builder’s warranty exterior, roof, and structure. Do you offer repair service?  Like your house, sheds eventually need maintenance and repairs.  Do they have qualified service technicians to keep your shed weather-tight and looking good? Do you move buildings in the future? Surprisingly, we frequently get calls asking if we could move a building, either to put it in a better place in the yard, or because people no longer need their shed. Or, you can build your own shed.  We’ve been snooping around online, and found these free shed plans that will let you build your own storage shed. Don’t be afraid to become a private investigator.  Sales people who are really interested in the customer’s complete satisfaction are always glad for the opportunity to answer these kinds of inquiries. You may be wondering how we answer those questions. Thanks for asking! We’d love to tell you. How long have we been in the business?  Over 40 years. Byler Barns (now Ulrich) was started in 1972. What kind of service do they offer, both before and after purchase?  Our specialty is custom design. We have trained design consultants at every sales lot. We love to work with you until you are satisfied! What warranty do they offer?  We have a great warranty. Ask for details. Do they offer repair service?  We have a dedicated service tech. He’s only a call away. And, he’s very good at what he does. Do they move buildings in the future? We move portable storage buildings for people all the time. We’d love to be your storage shed builder! Come ask us these questions, and many more. Thanks for checking us out. Wherever you are located, we wish you good luck in finding a quality shed from a quality shed builder. Looking for storage building inspirations? Stroll through our photo gallery! #GettingStarted #Quality #ShedCompanies

You are tired of clutter. You just want a storage shed to get your stuff organized and under a roof–a pollution solution. But there are so many options for buying sheds that you are tempted to store your stuff in the landfill instead. It doesn’t have to be this way! Where should you start? In our years of building sheds, we have found that there are 6 questions you need to answer in order to create a storage shed that is a perfect fit for you and your storage needs. We are committed to teaching you everything we know about storage buildings so that you can make an informed decision about what will suit your needs now and in the future. These 6 questions will get you started to the perfect backyard storage shed. 1. Who should I get to build my shed?  Your choice of a builder of storage sheds goes well beyond the delivery of your new shed into your yard.  As you look around and talk to people, consider their reputation over the years for quality products and follow-up service.  For more information, see “Who Should I Get To Build My Shed?” 2. How large should my shed be?  After choosing a shed builder, the size of your storage building is your most important initial decision.  There are essentially three things to take into consideration when choosing your size: Storage Space, Yard Space, and Permit Requirements.  Storage buildings come small (6×6) or large (28×40), so you have plenty of options.  A quick idea is to simply lay out your largest items (think mowers) on the ground where you want your shed, and then measure the dimensions you need to be able to store them.  Unless you want to crawl over them to get to the other side, be sure to leave room to move around your largest roadblocks. For more info, read “What Size Shed Do I Need?” Think through what you want to store in your shed. Floor space is a crucial question to answer. 3.  What style shed should I buy?  The look of your building is only part of the question here, as the style you choose also affects how much storage space you have.  Higher walls give more space for storage and shelving, but lower walls are more economical.  “Barn style” roofs are more classic, while the “cottage style” roofs offer many options for customizations such as dormers and overhangs.  While you still have your mower and other items laid out, think about where you want your doors and windows.  Again, be sure that you can maneuver around your largest items once the walls are up (and that you can see to walk around when the doors are shut). For more info, download our Shed Buying Guide, which gives you a pretty comprehensive overview of what you need to consider. For more brief articles, read … → Gambrel Roof Shed vs. Gable Roof Shed: the Best Shed Design for You → 12×16 Shed | A Guide to Buying or Building a 12×16 Shed → 12×20 Shed | A Guide to Buying or Building a 12×20 Shed This is a Carriage House, one of many styles we offer. 4.  What materials should I use?  Many materials are standard on all buildings, so you don’t need to make choices there.  At Ulrich Lifestyle, our standard materials include pressure-treated runners and floor joists, Silvertech SmartPanel siding, LP TechShield radiant barrier roof sheathing (which keeps the building cool in the summer), and 30-year architectural shingles.  But you may want the option of vinyl siding or a metal roof.  Of course, many other options for building materials are available for custom-designed storage buildings. Here are some articles that will help you learn more about materials: → LP SmartSide vs. T1-11 Siding for Sheds → Wood vs. Vinyl Sheds — A Comparison of Shed Sidings → PROS and CONS of Metal Roofing for Sheds, Gazebos, and Barns 5.  Where do I put my shed?  You don’t want to create enemies with your new shed, so remember to leave enough room between your shed and your neighbor’s yard.  This is called setback; be sure that you show interest in your local setback requirements before your inspector does.  This is one case where forgiveness may not be easier than permission.  Also, be sure that the shed delivery guys have access to get your building from the street to where you want it–we’ve never found a front door wide enough to get a shed through the house to the back yard. See 7 Tips for a Great Shed Placement. 6.  How do I pay for my shed?  You have options.  At Ulrich Lifestyle, once you select a shed from one of our retail lots, or when we have your storage shed designed to your satisfaction, you will pay 20% down with cash or any major credit card.  You may want to check with your bank for financing; we offer in-house financing for buildings over $6000, as well.  If you prefer a no-risk plan, you may choose our rent-to-own option, which requires only a small deposit rather than 20% down.  Many people find this an attractive option if they have been using self-storage, or think they may move in the next year or two. Check out our payment options. Answering these 6 questions will give you a great start to getting a shed in your yard that will leave you without regrets on day 1 or day 1001.  For more information on how to design the perfect shed for your backyard, download our FREE Shed Buyers’ Guide. #GettingStarted

Shed size. It’s one of the crucial questions every shed buyer has to deal with: What size shed do I need? In a few simple steps, you can know what size shed will meet your needs perfectly.  There are three basic things you want to take into consideration. Storage space — what are your needs? Yard space — what are your limitations? Permits — what are your permit requirements? Storage space is the first one, and perhaps the most important. If you know what large items you will be storing for the life of this building, simply lay them out on the ground as they would be organized in the shed, and measure what you need. Just remember to allow room for the smaller items, as well as access and movement within the building! While this is not a problem for some of our clients, most people do have a finite amount of yard. However, having the building overpower the yard is not a common problem except with the very smallest of yards. The more common considerations have to do with whether or not it will fit “between those two trees and the swing set” or some other similar issue. Just make sure it will fit where you want it to go! This is the consideration that ends up making the size decision for many people. In the state of Virginia, a “building permit” is typically required for any building over 256 square feet (a 12X20 building is just under that benchmark). (Note: most localities still require you to verify the placement of the building with the zoning office prior to installation. This is usually called a “Zoning Permit,” and is not as involved or costly as a typical Building Permit.) If you don’t want to deal with a building permit, you may decide to keep it under that magic number of 256. (Hint: to find the square footage of a building, multiply length x width.) As you think about how big your shed should be, keep in mind that buyer’s remorse almost never happens from ordering a shed that’s too big. If you want to learn more about what size shed you need, here are 3 resources that may help you: To learn how to design your new shed, download our FREE Shed Buyers’ Guide (see offer on this page). We’ve made a brief video series to teach you how to design your own shed. Click here to see the first one. 12×16 sheds are one of the most popular sizes. To learn what will fit, and what styles to consider, “Your Guide to Buying or Building a 12×16 Storage Shed.” Thanks for visiting, and good luck with answering that question, “What size shed do I need?” #GettingStarted

We looked earlier at what makes a quality shed structure, which we called the skeleton of the shed. Radiant skin without a spine to back it up doesn’t do you much good.  On the other hand, the sturdiest bones in the east still look better and last longer wrapped in radiant skin.  That’s what we look at now . . . What makes quality sheds on the outside?  You need to know 3 basic things. Shed floor Answers will vary depending on your needs. If you are in the desert and know your floor will never get wet, pretty much anything will do. If there is any chance moisture will get on it, the shed needs a floor that is water-resistant. We have seen cheaper particle board floors (even painted) that begin to peel up in a year or two. Also, the thickness of the floor is important. 5/8″ plywood is the minimum, and if you will be storing heavy objects in the same place over the years, you should have 3/4″. A cheap shed floor will peel and splinter. Shed Siding and Paint Buildings usually come in vinyl or painted (learn more about this). For either of these, the thickness of the sheathing is worth noting, as 7/16″ siding is definitely stronger than 3/8″. Wood sided buildings are painted. (Some buildings come with only primer, and leave it to the homeowner to paint. It’s worth asking!) There are too many siding options out there to discuss well here, but one siding does deserve dishonorable mention: treated siding does not last long without reapplying stain or paint. Also, be aware that it can shrink after a few months of exposure to sun, leaving gaps at the splices–hardly the weather-proofing you want! Paint quality varies dramatically, as does application. Look closely at the building to see whether it has a good, thick coat of paint that covers up all the edges, nails, and irregularities. Rolling and brushing paint generally creates a much thicker coverage. Many storage sheds are spray painted with a thin coat that not only looks bad, but also weathers poorly. Top quality paint and a top quality paint job make all the difference in the look and last of a building. We use Sherwin-Williams Duration, and hand-paint every painted shed. Shed Roofing Different builders will argue whether or not tar paper is really necessary. It is standard for house construction, however, and we consider it standard on all our buildings. Furthermore, shingle manufacturers will not honor their warranty if the roof does not have tar paper. (We use a synthetic tar paper, which has a high performance rating.) Shingles come in two basic styles, “architectural” and “3-tab.” The architectural shingles look nicer and are thicker, and will usually last a good bit longer. Some builders do not include architectural shingles as standard, and instead have them as an upgrade. The 3-tab shingles are a dying breed, but are still used on low-end sheds. Metal roofs (when properly installed) are the longest lasting of all. Underneath the tar paper and shingles is the sheathing. It doesn’t make a difference structurally, but sheathing with a good radiant barrier (like LP TechShield) can make up to 30 degrees difference in your summer sweat-factor. As detailed as this may seem, this is really only an overview of things to look for if you are on a hunt for quality sheds. However, many of these questions hardly even have to be asked if you choose a reputable shed builder, as they have already done this research (and much more) on your behalf. We hope you are successful in finding a shed that will be healthy for many years to come.  If you are ready to think about designing a shed with sturdy bones and radiant skin, download our FREE Shed Buying Guide. #Quality

Shed Delivery Basics A lot of people really don’t know what to expect when a shed gets delivered, or what they should do to prepare for a shed delivery.  We know that it’s as important to you as it is to us that your shed delivery goes smoothly, so we’ve prepared a checklist for you. We are assuming that you’ve already figured out what kind of foundation you will have–blocks, gravel, post-and-beam, or concrete.  And we assume that you know basically where you want to place your building. Here’s the simplest way to start.  Print this article out, or pull it up on your phone, and go outside.  Start where the building will be coming in–maybe over the lawn, maybe up your drive way.  Let’s walk through a number of steps together. Building still on the trailer, just before installation. Now that you are out at the street, think about how it would be to get a semi-trailer driving or backing into place.  Buildings vary, but that’s about the height you will need–13 ft 6 in.  (“But my building isn’t that tall!”  Yes–but it’s coming on a trailer.) Would there be room for a semi-trailer to get onto your property and back to the shed site without driving onto your neighbor’s?  If not, be sure to ask permission from your neighbors.  You may live beside them for years to come–this is not a case where forgiveness is easier than permission! “Drive the trailer” to your shed site, looking all around you.  Are there tree branches that will be scraping the sides?  If your building is 14 ft. wide, then you need a minimum of 15 ft of width to get it through.  Are there low-hanging branches?  (Don’t think of this from your perspective on the ground.  Think from the perspective of sitting on top of your building as it rolls in on a trailer.  You shouldn’t need to duck to get through!)  Trim any branches that will get in the way. As you go from the street to the shed site, keep looking up.  What about wires?  If wires are in the way, consider how you will deal with them.  If you’re not sure, call your shed company and ask them for suggestions. If there is a fence blocking your way, it will block your building as well.  Take out whatever sections are needed to get the building through.  If you have a gate, make sure the gate is at least a foot wider than the building, and a minimum of (the width of the trailer). Know where the underground dog fences are.  One of our delivery drivers warns, “I’ve dug up dog fences many many times.”  If the dog fence is on the surface or is not deep enough, and the trailer drives over it, it can break. Once you arrive at the building site (having avoided trees, wires, and dog fences), take a final look at the site. Your building site needs to be a dry place without low-standing water.  After a good rain, no water should stand there.  This benefits you in two ways.  First, it helps keep your building dry and less prone to rotting. Most buildings, to be sure, are built with a pressure-treated floor structure.  But treated wood can rot, eventually–particularly if it is kept wet.  Second, if the ground is wet, your shed can shift and settle unevenly.  Sometimes sheds have to be moved to a dry site (after having been re-leveled 2-3 times!), and you can save yourself that expense if you think of it beforehand. Tall grass and weeds (not to mention poison ivy!) can really be a problem. The delivery job will be much more difficult if there is a small jungle to clear in order to set the blocks and the building.  So, trim the grass at least as low as as a lawn mower would cut it.  And get rid of poison ivy! Know setbacks.  The shed delivery guys are nice guys–they will set your shed exactly where you tell them. After that, it’s your responsibility. We know of situations where after the building was set, the HOA told the homeowner that the building had to be moved back from the property line, and they had to pay to get the building moved all of 5 feet.  Five feet away from the property line is fairly standard, but be sure to check it out with your local HOA or city/county offices.  (If you aren’t concerned about setbacks, consider whether you want to mow around your building.  If so, be sure to leave enough room.) Some people are afraid that grass will grow under the building, and want to put landscape fabric down underneath the shed.  Grass doesn’t grow where there’s no sun, so there’s not much worry there (unless the building is way out of level, leaving a large gap between the building and ground).  If you decide you want to have landscape fabric anyway, wait until the blocks are set in the ground by the delivery crew. Finally, double-check to be sure it’s not sitting on top of utilities.  If they county has to come out and tear up a sewer line, and the building is sitting on top of it, guess who pays to get the building moved? There are lots of details to see after, and we want your shed delivery to be as smooth as possible.  We’re here to help, so give us a call if you have questions. #Delivery #SitePreparation

Back in 1173, an Italian architect from Pisa named Frank Lloyd Wright (name changed to protect identity) got up one morning, dusted off his drafting table, and set to work on a new project. The history books neglect to mention this, but he may have been suffering from a slight hangover (that part of Italy is famous for its wines), because he designed a tower 180 feet high and weighing an estimated 14,500 tons — with a foundation only 3 meters deep. It was a remarkable lack of foresight. In fact, tourists have been remarking at the sight of it ever since the tower began to shift in 1178–only 5 years after construction started. You are fortunate for two reasons. First, portable storage sheds are only about 10 feet high, and many weigh less than a ton (1/14,500th of the infamous Tower). Second, and consequently, they need less of a foundation. But it’s a great lesson for us all. The foundation matters. You don’t want to have your shed sitting on the ground, or it will rot from the moisture. And you do want it stable, so that it doesn’t lean (sound familiar?), and so that the doors and windows work properly. With that introduction, let’s look at your options for a shed foundation. Blocks This is the easiest and most common way of building a shed foundation. At Ulrich Lifestyle we use cement blocks for the majority of our shed sets and have found them to be very satisfactory. Shea (delivery driver) tells of having moved one of our sheds that was 30 years old, well-maintained, in beautiful condition, and still sitting level on its cement blocks. For block sets it is best if the shed site is not more than 2 feet out of level. Cement blocks are built in piers (think mini-towers–but they don’t lean) 3-5 feet apart. If the sheds are built like they should be, the structure of the shed easily spans the piers–unless you’re parking the car in it, in which case you’ll want to consider a gravel pad. Gravel pads are useful if you are parking heavy equipment (like a car or tractor) inside your shed or garage. A gravel pad is one way of leveling out ground that is more than 2 feet out of level. Another advantage of gravel pads is that unlike block piers, the shed skids (supports under the floor) are in continuous contact with the gravel pad. Parking your tractor in the same place for 10 years will not result in a drooping floor. And you may be able to build your own gravel pad. The disadvantage of gravel pads is that they are more expensive and take more time. Concrete Pad Concrete pads function almost identically to gravel pads, except for a few obvious differences: they are more expensive, and they are more permanent. But as with gravel pads, they have the advantage of full load contact–allowing the shed floor supports to be in continuous contact with the foundation, rather than spanning as with blocks or concrete piers. This option is only necessary if you are storing heavy equipment in your shed. One other reason to consider a concrete pad is if you have an extra-heavy building, such as a 1.5- or a 2-story building. This may surprise you, but if you decide to build a concrete pad, you should construct it to the length and width of the shed skids, not to the nominal size of the building itself (eg. 10×12 or 12×20). If the pad is too large, it will catch water run-off from the roof, allowing it to puddle on the slab. This leaves the building skids sitting in water, which promotes rotting. Post and Beam (cover photo) These aren’t common–we only set buildings on them occasionally. A Post and Beam structure is used when the slope is way out of level; it’s cheaper than excavating, and may be done by a homeowner. It’s built of pressure-treated lumber, in which posts are buried in the ground, and beams span from posts to post. The shed is set on the beams. Be sure to use a set of engineered drawings, however, since . . . well, let’s just remember the lesson from the Leaning Tower. You wouldn’t want to have a tourist attraction called the Collapsed Shed of YourTown. Be careful about another factor: the Post and Beam structure must be close to the ground on one side, or the trailer (which is not capable of catapulting a shed up into the air) will not be able to set the shed down on it. The maximum height at the end where the trailer backs up to place the shed cannot be higher than 32 inches. Concrete Piers As with post and beam, concrete piers are fairly rare. You may recognize how concrete piers look from seeing the design of many bridges, which span from one set of round concrete piers to another. Concrete piers for sheds may be necessary if the shed site has considerable slope. Unlike setting a shed on blocks, which are also built in piers, concrete piers go fairly deep into the ground, and are a permanent foundation. Concrete piers are built by digging holes, inserting tubes (called Sonotubes), and pouring them full of concrete. Should you decide to go with concrete piers, Ulrich Lifestyle has a set of engineered drawings that will show your contractor how to build them. Your Shed Foundation As you can see, you have a lot of options for your shed foundation. The majority of our portable sheds, however, go onto blocks; gravel pads are another fairly popular option. You will need to choose what will work well for you and your shed. Using this information, you should be able to construct a shed foundation that won’t become the next local tourist “detraction” getting you strange looks from strangers. Your turn! What advice or experience with a storage shed do you have? Give others a helping hand by leaving a comment below. Tell us what worked (or didn’t work!) for your shed foundation. #SitePreparation