Window Boxes For Your Outdoor Structure

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Many homeowners are tired of looking at an old and depressing shed on their property, but they don’t want to spend a lot of money to fix it up. Window boxes are an inexpensive way to spruce up your outdoor structure and make it the envy of the neighborhood.

 

Since many sheds are used as a playhouse, reading room, or exercise room, window boxes add that pop of life and color that incorporate the outdoor structure into the entire property. Many homeowners choose a color them to match their home and flowers to compliment their outdoor landscaping.

 

When adding a flower box to your outdoor structure, it is best that it is made of durable plastic, so it does not rot or crack in the elements. It is easy to find them is several sizes and colors. Grab some flower boxes and start planting your favorite flowers right away!

 

You can also construct a wooden window box. It might not be as durable, but they are easy and fun to make. They also mean more than buying one from the shop. If you are somewhat handy with a hammer, you can customize your window box to suit your outdoor structure. This article from Gardenista.com will have you on your way to building the perfect window box.

 

These Three Window Boxes Will Inspire You To Transform Your Outdoor Structure:

 

On a Potting Shed Even the tiniest spaces can be spruced up by a window box. This potting shed added lots of charm to this tiny workroom

On A She Shed She Sheds are the latest trend for women seeking a little time away from the hubby and kids. It is the female answer to a man cave and the perfect place for window boxes of any style. This article showcases a variety of ways in which window boxes can be used to add some charisma to an ordinary shed

 

On a Playhouse Even the simplest playhouses can be transformed by adding a simple window box. Adding a window box to your child’s playhouse is a great way to teach them about gardening. This window box is an adorable example

 

If you are ready to add a window box to your outdoor structure, SHARE this article with friends who might be interested! 

5 of the Coolest Shed Playhouses Ever

What child doesn't dream of having a playhouse away from the routine of everyday life? Turning an outdoor shed into an oasis for your child’s imagination is possible at any budget. Research shows that unsupervised and unstructured play results in emotionally sounds adults. A playhouse promotes physical activity, group play, and creativity.

 

These shed playhouses will have your kids, or maybe even yourself, green with envy.

 

5 Cool Playhouses that Were Once Sheds

 

Adorable Cottage This is such an amazing transformation! You have to check out the before and after pictures on this article. This run down backyard shed was changed into an adorable cottage for two little girls. The new shed has a fresh coat of paint, carpeting, and even a pretend kitchen. This shed will give these little girls hours of imaginative play that will build their future social skills in the world.

 

Storage, Climbing Wall, Playhouse Combo This family turned a simple backyard shed into everything a kid could ask for. The small outdoor shed remains available for storage, but an area was also created just for the kids. The climbing wall is a creative way to add additional physical activity to the play structure the shed is attached to.

 

Shed/Playhouse Combo with a Slide Building an extra floor onto an existing floor adds the additional space needs to for quality play time with friends. This slide is the perfect way to get the neighborhoods kids to want to play at your house. What is super about this shed transformation is that the family uses it to hang their children’s artwork.  Plus, this shed will encourage kids to keep moving will benefit their overall health and improve their immune systems.

 

Shed Turned Playhouse This family turned a completely dilapidated shed into a two-story playhouse with an animal theme and trap door. New windows, walls, and flooring made this shed a safe and fun place to create lasting memories. Watch this inspiring video.

 

#Shedspiration This tiny storage shed was transformed by some painting tape, colorful paint, decorations, seating and a blackboard. Even the littlest spaces can provide hours of fun! It is clear that this shed will be a place where kids can read, play, have fun in their unique space.

 

Are you ready to change your outdoor shed into a playhouse that will develop your kids’ social and emotional skills? If so, SHARE this article with anyone else who might be interested! 

New Year’s Resolutions: Top 10 Tips for Owning a Storage Structure

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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! 

Transformations: Turn That Old Shed into a Women’s Retreat (Or, a She-Shed)

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! 

Transformations: Turn That Old Shed into a Man Cave

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!

Transformations: Turn That Old Shed into Playhouse

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. 

Transformations: Turn That Old Shed into a Women’s Retreat (Or, a She-Shed)

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! 

3 Tips for a Great Paint Job: Painting Your Shed or Outdoor Structure

A new coat of paint can make your outdoor structure look as good as new! Whether you’re painting an unfinished shed for the first time, changing up the look of your existing backyard structure, or adding a fresh layer to help maintain and preserve your shed, there are a few things to consider as you prepare to get out those brushes and rollers.

Painting Your Shed Tip #1 – Choose the Right Paint

Walk into a paint store or the paint section of any home improvement or hardware store and you’ll be greeted with hundreds, if not thousands, of shades to choose from, up and down the rainbow, from the egg shell to midnight. Unless you’re re-painting in your previous shade, you’re likely to spend some time choosing a color. But don’t forget that selecting the proper TYPE of paint is important, too. For the best protection, we strongly recommend a high-quality exterior 100 percent acrylic latex paint, perhaps in a semi-gloss or satin finish.

Painting Your Shed Tip #2 – Prepare Your Surface (Or, Clean and Prime)

Before you begin to lay on the paint, you’ll want to ensure your wood surface is ready. A smooth and clean “canvas” will help prevent flaking, chipping and blistering in the future, and it also makes the painting process easier. Give your exterior walls a good cleaning, maybe bringing in a pressure washer if there are years of grit and grime. (Use caution with a pressure washer though; older, weathered wood may be damaged with too much pressure.) Sand down any rough edges, and repair or replace any broken pieces of wood. Caulk any open spaces.

After your shed is clean, you’ll then want to apply primer. This is an important step because the primer helps protect your wood, helps preserve the paint and, in general, contributes to a nicer finish.

Painting Your Shed Tip #3 – Pick the Proper Brushes

The type of brush you choose contributes to the quality of your end results. A higher quality paint brush is pricier, but consider that a better brush leads to a better application. Remember that you will need various size brushes, too. You’ll need smaller ones for around trim, windows, and other features. Rollers might be efficient for you, depending on the size of your shed and/or the height of painters!

These tips for a great paint job are just a few ideas—applying the proper number of coats, protecting areas you don’t want painted, and taking your time and being careful also will help your shed shine and your hard work last longer.

The Importance of a Good Foundation for Your Outdoor Structure

Your backyard shed, no matter how solid and sturdy, will usually require a proper foundation. Without one, it might not stay level, it will be more prone to moisture, and it could even sink into the ground.

You have several options for your shed’s foundation, including gravel, wood, concrete slab:

  • Gravel – gravel (or, crushed stone) pad shed foundations work well for small storage sheds.
  • Wood – pressure-treated wood frames are a durable, popular foundation option for sheds; the timber usually rests on cinder blocks or piers to keep the wood level and off the ground.
  • Concrete slab – a concrete slab foundation is best for larger sheds, and it’s the strongest of your options. If you plan to store tractors or heavy equipment, a concrete slab foundation is best.

Because a foundation is, for the most part, intended to be permanent, it’s important to plan properly and choose the best spot on your property to place the structure. Other things to consider about what type of foundation you choose—and where you choose to install—include drainage, wildlife, portability (as in, if you intend to move it at some point), and potential for future additions to your shed, such as plumbing or electrical.

A solid shed foundation is important for many practical reasons—protection of the structure and its contents as well as proper functioning of doors and windows. Choose the option that best suits your climate, your needs, and your budget. 

The Importance of Ventilation in Your Outdoor Structure

If you have an outdoor structure, such as a shed or other out-building, that you plan to spend time significant time in, proper ventilation is key to your safety and comfort.

Properly Ventilated Sheds for Safety

If you’re like a lot of people, your shed is probably part-storage, part workshop. It makes sense, then, that you could be working alongside cans of gasoline you have stored for your mower or power tools. Inhaling gas fumes can be dangerous, and proper ventilation keeps the fresh air circulating.

Aside from dangerous fumes, consider the mold and mildew that can grow inside sheds, especially in humid climates or during wet seasons; breathing in these spores can have harmful effects. Adequate ventilation can help prevent or reduce mildew and mold growth by controlling moisture.

Properly Ventilated Sheds for Comfort

Shed ventilation also helps contribute to a comfortable working environment by keeping air fresh, controlling temperatures, and letting any odors out. Aside from roof vents, don’t forget that doors and windows also add to your air control options! If you do plan to work in your shed often, consider installing a fan.

Properly Ventilated Sheds for Structural Integrity

Your home’s roof can be damaged by excessive moisture over time. The same goes for your shed. If your workshop or storage space gets too moist, your structure could weaken. Properly ventilating your storage shed will prolong its life—as well as protect its contents.

Many storage sheds come with vents, but depending on how you plan to use your shed, you may want to consider more. If you’re looking to add ventilation options to your shed, remember that Valley Structures offers a variety of garden vents and gable vents.