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Gerald Gilks will tell you there’s a big difference between toy trains and model railroading. Toy trains are for kids, while model railroads are miniature reproductions of actual locomotives and specific geographic locations. Eighty-nine year old Gerald is pretty serious about his model train hobby. Serious enough, in fact, to buy an Ulrich building specifically for his recreation of the Tweetsie Railroad. The Tweetsie is the oldest railroad to wind its way through the Appalachian mountains. When Gerald went shopping for his hobby shed, he liked what he found at Ulrich — the hardware, the structural framing, and the price. After the 12×14 ft Heritage shed was delivered he installed sheetrock, as well as a heating and cooling unit. His model railroad is quite complex, featuring replica bridges, tight curves, and changing grades to reflect the original 30+ mile section of track. Gerald uses a special electrical system that allows him to control up to four different trains, both speed and direction. It’s already pretty interesting, but it’s going to be impressive when he finishes the landscaping in his hobby shed. Gerald enjoys showing his work-in-progress to kids and curious adults. He jokes that he hopes he lives long enough to be able to complete the project. #GeraldGilks

Not many people have a boat in their backyard. They may have a boat parked on a trailer, or they may have a lakeside property with a boat tied to the dock. Larry and Rosie Witt, however, have a 31 ft cruiser permanently installed in their backyard — no water required. The boat, named the Lena Rose, has a dock with space for some deck chairs and a ramp that leads down to the beach cabin. The beach cabin is a 12 x 24 ft Ulrich cabin shell, finished out into a nautical / beach themed suite. When the Witts first started looking at our buildings, they were looking for a storage building. But when they found the cabin, they fell in love with it. So, instead of purchasing a storage shed, they bought a cabin shell and outfitted it with a large TV and comfortable seating, perfect for a little backyard getaway. The cabin shell is now temporarily in use as guest quarters while one of Larry’s daughters and her husband transition between properties. With room for a bed and a kitchenette, the space is proving to be quite flexible. The Witts have thoroughly enjoyed working with Ulrich, returning after their cabin purchase to buy a smaller storage shed as well. #LarryandRosieWitt

Sherry Lyall was driving through Illinois with her friend on a road trip when they discovered a quilt trail close by. Sherry hadn’t experienced a quilt trail before, so they decided to drive the quilt trail, and enjoyed spotting a variety barn quilts on old barns and newer sheds. A barn quilt is a piece of art displayed on the side of a barn, resembling a quilt square. Arranged in succession, these works of art are called a quilt trail, which tourists can enjoy as they follow a predetermined route. An avid quilter herself, Sherry thought it would be fun to install a barn quilt on her own Ulrich shed. Working with her sister, they selected the design and set about painting her quilt square. Sherry also loves gardening. She’s got big plans for turning her suburban backyard into an inviting and relaxing space with multiple flower beds and a bigger patio. A few years ago, after she moved into her current home, she needed a place to keep her gardening tools and Christmas decorations. She liked the quality, features, and value of our sheds, and settled on an 8×10 ft Heritage Shed from Ulrich. She especially liked that she could match the color of the shed with the color of her house. Now that her barn quilt is complete, she’s got a fun, attractive piece of art that both expresses her passion and will help her backyard really pop when she finishes the landscaping. #SherryLyall

Many years ago, our family lived in a small cottage with a crawl space underneath. While the foundation was made of block, there was an access opening that provided entry for routine maintenance like plumbing or electrical repairs. Somehow, the door to that opening was left open for a short period of time. (Probably, a child exploring or a hubby doing some kind of work. But you know what they say about closing gates behind you, right?) So, after seeing the neighbor’s cat hanging around our back porch one afternoon, I asked hubby to close up the opening, which he did. What happened after that, I never will forget . Unknown to us, the cat had kittens under our home. When we closed the access door, the mama cat couldn’t return to nurse her kittens who then, sadly, died. That resulted in fleas leaving the kittens’ bodies and migrating up through the hardwood floors into our house. That’s right. We had no pets of our own yet our home was infested with fleas. I’m sure if you’ve never had an animal take up residence under your shed, deck, or home, you’ve probably heard of someone who has. Those cool dark places are quiet, dry, and for the most part, free from threat. Why wouldn’t a cat (or skunk!) choose to have her babies there. Truth is, this problem is so prevalent professional wildlife removal companies exist to, well, remove the unwanted animals. But removal alone doesn’t solve your problem. Why? Because unless you make the space uninviting or close up the access, another furry friend will move right in. The most common animals found living under sheds, gazebos, or decks include groundhogs, possums, skunks, feral cats, raccoons, and rodents. What do they do there, besides have babies? Sleep, go to the bathroom, hoard food, and die. All of which causes unwanted insect pests (like flies and fleas) and odors. What doesn’t work. Most homeowners want an easy fix. They will try anything that sounds plausible to deter or get rid of their unwanted guests. Unfortunately, most of these things do not work. My mother-in-law has a terrible time with snakes under her shed. What does she do? She sprinkles mothballs around the perimeter of the building to repel the snakes. Does it work? “Mothballs do not work,” said Bryan Nelson, owner of Advantage Wildlife Solutions. “Snakes are attracted to prey,” he continued. “If you remove the rodent issue, you will remove the snake attraction.” Some folks recommend making the space unattractive to animals by introducing light or water. To add light, they say to remove vegetation from around your building so that sunlight can enter. “To get enough light under a storage shed to deter animals from living there,” said Nelson, “you would have to raise the building several feet off the ground. However, doing so would make it impractical, especially if you want to drive lawn equipment into it.” And purposefully wetting the ground under your building might encourage the resident critter to leave but keeping it damp or wet permanently is a bad idea. Damp soil encourages the growth of mold and the breeding of mosquitoes, neither of which you want in your backyard. Another method which homeowners think is attractive is to skirt the opening with lattice. While this might keep the neighbor’s cat out, a groundhog will chew right through it. If you think backing the lattice with hardware cloth would work, that alone will not keep other animals from burrowing underneath. So, if all these popular methods don’t work, what is the homeowner to do? Fortunately, there are a few things that do work. Help! I have animals living under my shed. What do I do? Before closing up any space, make certain there are no residents to get trapped. Remember my kitten story? The best way to make certain is to go in yourself or hire someone. Once you are sure all residents have been evicted, the most effective method, according to Nelson, is a physical exclusion, or barrier. Nelson recommends and uses Dig Defence. This product is a panel of spikes that, when driven into the ground, prevents animals from digging underneath. Above the ground, another barrier like hardware cloth or patio blocks is installed. If you’re going to hire someone to do the work for you, Nelson said the expense of Dig Defence is no more costly than the labor cost of creating another type of barrier. However, a DIY-er can construct an adequate barrier in an afternoon. How to construct your own shed barrier to keep animals out. Another method that works is to create a blockade using heavy-gauge hardware cloth. To do this: First, dig a trench 2-3 inches deep and 12 inches wide around the perimeter of the building. Measure from the bottom of the shed to the bottom of the ditch and add 1 inch. Add this measurement to 12. (For example, if your shed is 8 inches from the ground, plus 1, your measurement is 21.) Cut the hardware cloth to this measurement and bend at a 90-degree angle at the 12-inch mark. Lay the 12-inch side of the L shape on the ground in the bottom of the ditch. Staple the other side to the bottom of the shed. Using wire rings, fix the seams of the hardware cloth together where you pieced it. This prevents small animals from squeezing through the sections. Use landscape spikes to fix the edge of the screening to the ground in the bottom of the trench. This prevents burrowing animals from digging underneath it. Cover the wire in the bottom of the trench with the dirt you dug out. A few variations. If you are unable to dig a trench, you can lay the wire on the top of the ground and cover with paving blocks. To hide the screening, you can cover it with lattice, patio blocks, or planters. After my husband discovered the source of our flea problem and removed it, we had to move out of our home for several days while it was treated with pesticides. Since we had a baby, we also removed his bedding, toys, and clothes. The experience is not one I would want to repeat. And, while having an animal living under our outdoor storage building may not have as negative an impact on our quality of living—oh wait, it could be a skunk!

One of the key ingredients for the very best painted sheds is … well, the paint job! In your search for the best quality painted shed you may visit several sales lots or even home improvement stores to find that perfect fit. Here’s the question you may want to consider as you compare your options: “Will this shed still look good 2 years from now?” Most sheds look great when they’re brand new, but give them a year in the sunshine and all that can change quickly. Obviously, paint gives your shed its color. But it also doubles as a layer of protection from the elements for your shed’s exterior. The better the paint job the longer the life of your shed’s exterior! So what exactly does a great paint job look like? What will keep your painted shed looking good 2 years from now? 1. A Thick Coat of Paint Makes a Quality Painted Shed The Problem With Painted Sheds Most shed companies paint their sheds using a paint sprayer. This makes a lot of sense economically for the builder since a shed can be painted in a very short time. However, economical does not equal quality in this case. Sprayed paint is applied at a very high pressure and in a rapid overlapping motion to avoid build-up. Sprayed paint tends to be thicker on flat areas and very thin in grooves, on outside corners, in any nail indentations. Grooves in the siding tend to have jagged looking edges when spray painted. In fact, siding that is spray painted often has the wood grain visibly showing on the edges of the gooves. Nail holes all but disappear when painted with a roller. When sheds are spray painted, nail holes are still clearly visible and a bit of an eye-sore. The Solution for the Best Painted Sheds There’s just no short-cut. The thickest and most evenly applied coats are achieved by using a good old fashioned paint roller for the siding, and a brush or roller for the trim. True, this takes some time. But by using a paint roller you can apply the thickest coat possible, while also achieving an even and uniform finish on your painted shed. Honestly, this is a major key to transforming “painted sheds” into a “best painted sheds.” When using a paint roller you can work in more paint in areas that need more without overloading other areas. Thus, you can be confident that the entire surface area will be covered evenly. This method will also take care of any issues you might have with corners and edges having a rough or washed out appearance resulting from a thin coat. 2. Sheen–A Brighter Shed Paint You drive around and look at sheds on different lots. They don’t all look the same! What makes the painted sheds on “Sales Lot A” look better than the same painted sheds on “Sales Lot B”? There are a number of factors including material quality, design, construction, and so on. But one big factor is the appearance of the paint job! In fact, look at two sheds side by side–both the same color. One is the standard “Barn Red.” The other is also “Barn Red” but it has a brighter look and it even has a bit of a sparkle. It may be because the latter has a Satin sheen and therefore is more eye-catching than the more dull appearing Flat sheen. For years if you wanted a shed stain you were stuck with a Flat sheen. Only fairly recently has the Satin sheen become readily available. So a Satin sheen looks better than Flat. But it has another advantage. The Satin sheen will actually offer slightly better protection from the weather than Flat. And that’s on top of a much improved look! 3. Quality Paint Your paint job won’t be any better than the paint itself. Lots of stains that are used on sheds these days may last 3-10 years, depending on the quality of the paint and the weather conditions. Would it be great if there were something better out there? Well … there is! We use Sherwin-Williams® on all our painted sheds. This high-quality paint comes from Sherwin-Williams with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Realistically, that means it will last maybe 20 years. This is truly a top-quality paint. Best Painted Sheds–Look Sharp, Buy Smart Finally, here’s a shed-buying tip. If you want a shed with the best paint job, don’t buy it unless it looks spectacular when brand new! If it looks only marginally great when brand new and you need to tell yourself “It’s only a shed,” you will be disappointed in a year or so when you begin to see imperfections resulting from a poor paint job. A coat of paint with a Satin sheen when applied as thickly as possible using a roller is the best way to keep your building looking new for years to come. It will look great and it will be noticeable from quite a distance! Written by Trell Miller Trell Miller is the local Painter-In-Residence at Ulrich Lifestyle. He has been a professional painter for well over a decade, and takes great delight in the meticulous work of making painted sheds look absolutely great. He believes in the value of hand-painting, and will happily tell you why hand-painting is far superior to spray painting, even though hand-painted sheds are on the endangered species list. Trell enjoys being the father of Jamarian and husband of Cynthia. Related Articles Why We Love Painted Sheds (and you should, too!) Wood vs. Vinyl Sheds — A Comparison of Shed Sidings What Makes a Quality Shed? Part 2 of 2 #GettingStarted #ShedCompanies #Options

When you have a Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary Edition motorcycle, you don’t want to leave it out in the rain. Kenneth Shipley used to protect his deluxe motorcycle with just a cover, but he wanted to be able to park it inside an actual motorcycle garage. He visited our retail location and settled on an 8×10 Ulrich Heritage Shed. Kenneth says it’s the perfect size for storing a motorcycle. “I couldn’t beat it, and I couldn’t beat the price,” he says. Kenneth enjoys bragging to his neighbors about his new Harley garage. Many of them have storage sheds as well, and Kenneth likes to point out the superior features of his Ulrich shed, including the heavy duty hinges and the floor structure. In one such conversation, Kenneth’s neighbor urged him to bring his 1000 lb Harley into his neighbor’s shed. When the floor decking on his neighbor’s shed begin to pull apart, Kenneth backed his motorcycle out in a hurry. His neighbor now plans to sell his current shed so that he can purchase an Ulrich shed as well. In addition to his motorcycle garage, Kenneth will soon be taking delivery of his second Ulrich shed. This one will be for general storage. #KennethShipley

John and Sherry are aspiring homesteaders with a small goat herd. Their goal is to be highly self-sufficient by the time John retires. The couple began raising goats because they are one of the easiest farm animals to care for. After one of the young kids escaped the pen and consequently died, John and Sherry decided it was time to invest in a goat barn where they could provide great care for the newborn kids. They worked with an Ulrich sales consultant at our store to customize the building to their needs. They wanted a building that would give their property a farm-like look and would be tough enough to withstand their goat’s antics. They settled on a red 10×16 Texan Barn. Custom features included a four-foot single door at the back of the barn, transom light windows, and additional loft space above. John then added wiring for a cooling fan and installed security cameras to allow the couple to monitor the main herd at all times from their phones. Our credit based financing option was a great fit for John and Sherry, and they loved the no-pressure sales experience of purchasing their goat barn. John also really appreciated our delivery driver’s attitude, despite the challenging fit. “He did everything it took to get it exactly where I wanted it,” says John. #JohnandSherry

Danny Messick wanted a shed that didn’t look like a “storage shed.” Since he moved into his home five years ago, he’s transformed his backyard into a little slice of paradise. After his mom moved in with them, Danny’s garage nearly burst at the seams. He needed more storage space. Rather than hiding his new Ulrich shed in a far corner, however, Danny decided to make it a prominent feature in his backyard landscape. He worked with one of our Internet Sales Consultants and selected a Texan Barn. Danny wanted to add a shed porch after his barn was built, so the Ulrich crew left a specific area of the roof without shingles so that he could easily tie in the porch himself. After he built the shed porch, Danny added landscaping around the porch to complete the look. Inside his shed he installed electrical wiring and lighting, a workbench, and a permanent air compressor. “From the patio we can sit there — it actually looks like a little house out here instead of a storage barn,” he says. Danny has enjoyed working with Ulrich, and is thinking about buying another shed for his mom. “I would recommend Ulrich to a friend or anyone who asks,” he says. #DannyMessick

Susan Dykes has enjoyed crafts since she was a little girl, helping her grandmother with sewing projects. For a number of years, she’s wanted a space she can dedicate to her hobby. Initially she had been thinking of adding a room to her home. But as she and her husband Don considered their options, they decided that a backyard building would be the better choice. They enjoyed working with their Ulrich sales consultant. After he asked about the couple’s plans, he recommended our Retreat Cabin Shell. The Dykes settled on a 12×20 ft cabin with a porch. Because of the fence and some trees blocking access, the Ulrich crew built the cabin shell on-location. Inside, Don and a neighbor added insulation, plywood wall covering, and an A/C. A relative installed the electrical system. With three large windows and white interior paint, the she shed interior has a clean, bright ambiance. Susan added lots of storage for her craft supplies, as well as a work bench and a large work table in the center of the cabin. Susan enjoys crafting in the she shed with her sister, as well as with her granddaughters when she has the opportunity. When she’s by herself, Susan loves turning up the music and immersing herself in her projects. “When I’m out here, it’s like I’m in my own world,” she says. “It gives me a place that’s mine.” “Our experience with Ulrich has been wonderful,” says Susan. “I would recommend them to anybody.” Watch the video here. #SusanDykes

Brian needed a storage shed for a number of years in order to get his yard and gardening tools out of the garage. After a family member accidentally scratched his Corvette with a rake, Brian decided it was time to take action. He shopped various shed companies, looking for the best combination of features and value. One weekend, Brian went to our store and looked at different models in person. He liked both the aesthetics and the heavy-duty construction of our Elite series sheds. “It’s built like a quality house,” he says. Back at home, Brian went to ulrichbarns.com and selected at 10×16 Elite Gardener. He could then choose the colors and features that best matched his upscale property. Brian worked with an Ulrich sales consultant to finalize the options and sign the paperwork.  “Bill was very easy to work with,” says Brian. After the building was delivered, Brian installed cedar skirting around the base of the shed to prevent any critters from getting underneath the building. He installed a crushed granite driveway to the shed, making it easy to walk or drive up to the building.  Brian is very happy with his new shed. His Corvette can rest securely in the garage, while he has easy access to his garden and lawn equipment in his Ulrich shed. “I think overall my experience with Ulrich was exceptional,” says Brian. “They certainly met every expectation I had. They delivered on every promise they made.” #Brian

David and Donna Key have lived on their place for more than thirty years.  Needing space for their hobbies, they tore down an old storage building so they could replace it with a workshop and painting studio. As they shopped for a new building, they found Ulrich Barn Builders. Originally the Keys wanted a 12×20 cabin shell but realized it would not fit in their backyard. They chose a 12×16 Rancher Cabin Shell and are happy with the size. They both enjoy rocks, so they surrounded the cabin with a rock patio they laid themselves with rocks from the farm of Donna’s sister. The Keys added many potted plants and a bistro table with an umbrella for a Mediterranean look. David says, “I was very impressed with the workmanship and speed” of the crew who built the cabin shell on-site. “They didn’t cut corners, but they kept working, and in about two days it was done. They did a real nice job.” The cabin shell was painted with standard Ulrich colors, but it coordinated well with the Keys’ house. They added rock skirting and steps, electricity, and air conditioning so they could use the cabin in all seasons. Donna enjoys painting, writing, and reading. She loves that she can work on her hobbies with David nearby. Having worked in construction and the lumber business, David declares he’s got sawdust in his veins. He collects automotive memorabilia, tinkers with old cars, and works with wood. In the peace and quiet of their shared space, David and Donna deliberately lose track of time while immersed in their art and wood projects. In a busy world, their he/she shed has become their timeless sanctuary. #DavidandDonnaKey

Stephanie Hill wanted a place to retreat, her own quiet space for meditation. Instead of short vacations elsewhere, she now has a permanent vacation spot in her own backyard. “I built my shed around my pool, so I could look out at the water and relax,” Stephanie explained. She began her hunt for a she shed with another company, but became frustrated when they would not build it to her specifications.  When she found Ulrich Barn Builders, she had a happier experience. “Ulrich did everything I wanted and built it even better than I could have imagined.” They couldn’t access the backyard to have it delivered, so one worker came out and built the shed on-site. “It took about a week.  It was really interesting watching it being built, day by day. I was really impressed,” Stephanie said. “With the way our backyard is set up, we went with the 10×10 Elite Gardener. It’s a pretty shed, a girly-girl shed.” One of her hobbies is photography, and she started taking pictures of the shed before it was even assembled. She’s been taking pictures of it ever since. Seeing it as it was constructed and before it was finished out gave her the assurance it was solid and built to last. Ulrich’s added three extra-large windows, so Stephanie could enjoy the view of the pool. A little window in the loft lets in beautiful light in the evenings. To finish the shed interior, she added shiplap and colorful paint, sanding a few places to make it shabby chic. “Ulrich will handle whatever you want to do” to customize the building. “I love my shed. I come out here and relax with my little dog.” With a she shed this pretty, Stephanie will be on vacation indefinitely. #StephanieHill