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Storage Sheds – Building, Designing, and Mastering

Storage Sheds – Building, Designing, and Mastering

Storage sheds serve as far more than a place to put your extra stuff. They make your yard look spectacular, give you building experience, give your kids or pets a place to hang out, and sometimes house unexpected (but welcome) visitors. Convert them into a man cave or a tiny cabin to get the most out of your shed without building an entirely different structure! DIY sheds are cheap, go up in about a day, and finding the materials is easy compared to more complex structures. The sheer diversity of shed plans is astounding, allowing you to customize your storage shed.

  So, how do you set about building your own storage shed? Why would you want to build it over other structures, what rules do you have to follow, and how do you choose your shed plan? This article goes over those things and more. Sit tight if you want to learn more about finding materials, building your shed, and using every nook and cranny of your storage shed to your advantage! This comprehensive guide goes over everything you could ever want to know—even if you’ve never built a home in your life! Without further ado, let’s begin.

  Why a Storage Shed?

Storage sheds offer a whole array of versatility when it comes to long-term usage. You might build it for storage, but down the road, you can convert it to a workshop, playpen, or even a man cave! Trust me on that last one, I’m an expert. The shed adds value to your house and looks great once you finish building. It helps you utilize space in your yard and saves you just a little time mowing.

  Their main advantage might be to keep your house and garage clean. You can put random knick knacks or seasonal stuff in the storage shed and keep your home looking great. No one likes a cluttered attic or garage, and keeping your stuff exposed in the yard just looks trashy.

  So, why choose a storage shed when there are many other kinds of buildings to pick? Well, first of all, anything labeled as a storage shed can be repurposed as a different type of building. Secondly, storage shed plans are the most popular type out there, so you actually have the largest amount of diversity as you build your shed. Large barns and second homes take many more resources and a long time to build. Sheds on the other hand take barely a day to build, unless you decide to make a cement foundation! Then it takes two days of work. That’s still nothing compared to a large construction project.

    Making Outdoor Buildings

I’ve briefly mentioned the legal to-dos for shed building in this article, but I want to touch on it in full detail here. Before you build any type of outdoor building or shed, check the legality of the shed plan. Building laws have many layers, and you need to check each one to ensure your hard work pays off in the end. Tearing down a storage shed is the last thing you want to do after you build it!

  For most areas, you want to obtain something called planning permission. Your building has to conform to a certain code in order to get that planning permission. Not every county has building codes enacted into law, but it helps a ton to plan ahead and build something that weathers the years easily. Here are some typical restrictions that apply to sheds:

Distance from Other Buildings

Must Build a Proper Foundation

Must Minimize Risk of Fire

Needs Proper Ventilation

Needs Resistance to Natural Disasters

Number of Exits and Their Location

Restrictions on Materials Used

Type of Roof Restrictions

Restrictions on Types of Walls

  Zoning laws also determine the type of buildings you are allowed to build, so check those ones in particular. If your plot of land is in the center of a city, that city might have designated the area for transportation or business, rather than personal storage or buildings. If you owned the property before your zone changed, you can grab a lawyer and use the old zone codes. Once you’re sure your shed plans match requirements, get your building permit and start your project.

    Guidelines of a Building a Great Shed

With those basics away, let’s look at which rules you should follow, no matter what the law requires! First and foremost, the foundation can make or break the worth of a shed…literally. Keep your shed well above the water table and then some. The area around the shed should slope away. If you build close to another building, make sure it is level with the building and then slopes outwards to prevent water from wearing away the foundation of the original building. Also make sure that the roof of a shed close to a building diverts all water away from the building (lean-to sheds are good for this).

  Obviously, you want to use materials that are safe. Don’t fill your shed with asbestos. If you use insulation, pick a fire retardant. Treat your wood properly so it doesn’t rot. Ensure your roof tiles or tarps are firmly attached so that they don’t blow away in a windstorm. If you live in somewhere hot or humid, provide proper ventilation—unless you want a bunch of mold. If you live in a colder climate, ventilation only matters if you are a smoker or plan on having people spend time in the shed. Sheds typically stay insulated against the cold unless conditions become extreme for extended time periods.

  To elaborate on a dwelling that you plan on using for social stuff or relaxation, you’ll want to take special safety precautions. You don’t need to keep a fire extinguisher nearby (although I encourage it), but you will want to provide multiple exits. Something as simple as an extra window gives the shed some nice, natural lighting and makes it that much safer.

  Now that you know this, some of the weird laws and regulations make more sense, right? The only thing to watch out for now is a Home Owners’ Association, if you’re unlucky enough to have one!

    Choosing Your Shed Plan

If you want to check out a whole slew of plans and styles, I made a dedicated post here. If you just want the summary, let’s go over how to quickly choose your shed plan now! Beyond the stipulations I outlined above, think about what sort of features you want for your shed. Will you need a large door to get machinery in and out? Do you need a garage door for a car? Or maybe you just need a simple door to keep things nice and secure? In any case, the door’s a great place to start, if only because it’s the first thing you interact with in a building!

  After you narrow down the designs based on that, think about the size and style of shed you want to build. If size is of no legal concern, consider building it as large as possible, without taking up the whole yard. Why? It greatly improves the value of your home, plus, you might have the funds down the line to upgrade your shed into something livable. Not bad for a weekend project, right?

  If the exterior is also a free-for-all, check out all the neat architectural styles out there. Instead of building a typical shed, you could have a colonial shed with a patio, or an impressive Tudor-style shed! These alternative designs look amazing and elevate it from a simple shed to a true addition to your home.

  Lastly, choose a shed design that matches your skill level. That doesn’t necessarily mean going with the most simple design if you have no building experience. Different designs contain varying amounts of instruction, so find the instructions that work for you! I recommend using this design collection, but you can find several other types of shed plans on Amazon, the rest of the net, bookstores, and so on. Specialized shed plans are just a bit difficult to get your hands on unless you buy from a collection.

    Finding Materials for Your Backyard Shed

The obvious location for backyard shed materials is a home improvement store. They have a huge range of pre-cut sizes of wood, every type of nail and hammer under the sun, and basically everything you would want for your shed. However, these stores have two big disadvantages. The first is that they overcharge for their wood. Granted, their nails and other utilities are competitively priced, but most of your money will be going into your actual building materials. Another disadvantage is the quality of this wood. Wood that goes through too much shipping and handling shows the wear and tear of its journey through small defects.

  To circumvent this, purchase all of your wood from local lumberyards. They have a wider variety of wood types, sizes, and everything they sell simply has a higher quality than what you would find in a store. The workers there know exactly how to handle these types of wood and can pass that knowledge on to you. Some even offer special services with custom cutting, letting you build a shed from any type of shed plan!

    Backyard Sheds and Yard Sheds

When it comes to outdoor sheds and backyard sheds, make sure you treat your building properly. This might seem strange to talk about so early, but if you mess up during the building process, it can be a pain to fix these things. Outdoor storage sheds should have an elevated foundation and floor, ensuring that water doesn’t creep in. Use a sealer to cover any nooks and crannies to insulate the shed further and keep out pests. Start with the roof and move down, taking care to do the corners properly.

  After that, make sure to prepare good materials for a roof. Any shingles or tiles should be firmly attached to the roof or a strong breeze would blow it away. Gutters help mitigate swamping in certain areas of the yard, so if one side of the shed will receive more water than the other, think about installing some of those. If you neglect your insulation, you’ll get a bunch of bugs and water in the room. I guess that’s fine, if you’re okay with mold on the walls and black widow spiders in the boxes. To each their own, right? However, I highly recommend doing things the proper way with backyard sheds!

  Wood Storage Sheds

When you make a storage building out of wood, picking the wood ends up just as difficult as finding your materials. If your shed plan doesn’t list a particular type of wood, use this guide to determine which type of wood works best for your storage shed. Always choose construction grade wood! I also talk about wood sheds in this post.

  Cedar Wood – This is very lightweight and resists both decay and insect infestation. It is dense enough to stand up on its own at the same time. Cedar wood has a distinct aroma that will stay in the shed for the duration of its life…so make sure you’re not allergic to it ahead of time!

  Cypress Wood – Cypress wood stands out thanks to its amazing resistance to water. Even if you submerge it in water for months, it shrugs off the water damage. Since these trees are native to the American south’s coastlines, they are built to withstand all the flooding that comes with living in a swamp.

  Elm Wood – A beautiful tree that offers a lot of shade, you rarely see this in yards nowadays thanks to a very proliferous disease running around the nation. Despite this, it works spectacularly well in construction projects and other things that require hardwood.

  Fir Wood – This is the most common type of building wood out there. You will run into several varieties that have unique attributes, so be careful which ones you pick. Spruce trees, Douglas Firs, Hemlock, and a few other types of trees will be labeled as whitewood alongside pine. This is generally a bad choice for outdoor building, since it rots fairly quickly. It at least works well for furniture.

  Of course, these hardly represent the full range of woods you can use. There are also manufactured types of woods that are cheaper and just as durable. Here are the types of engineered wood that you’re likely to run into:

  Cross-laminated Timber – By stacking sheets of wood on top of each other and gluing them, you can create an extremely strong type of paneling. It is good to use if your area is prone to fires, since it has a great heat resistance. This works so well that people are starting to build insanely tall wooden buildings with it! The only disadvantage is that it’s difficult to find.

  Glulam – By fusing various sizes of wood together with phenol glue (which is a tiny bit toxic), you can create very large and strong beams. You normally see it used in roof work—and keeping it up there instead of in your walls or floor boards helps a little bit with the air quality of your home!

  OSB – You’ve probably seen this type of wood before. It’s not as durable as plywood and doesn’t stand up to rain as well, but that doesn’t matter as much when it’s in a covered place where no one will see or stand on it.

  Plywood – Yep, it was only a matter of time until you saw this! Since this resists a lot of wear and tear, plywood works great for floor beams, floor boards, roof supports, and studs.

    Small Storage Sheds

By choosing to build a small storage shed, you drastically reduce the costs needed for your project. You can even buy them preassembled and have them shipped to your door, if time is the most expensive part of a shed for you. Simple shed kits provide all sorts of styles and you can make your own shed according to a plan in just a day…provided you have all your materials picked out and bought. The disadvantage of a small storage shed is, of course, the small amount of stuff it can store. However, sometimes you only have a small amount of space to use! Let’s talk about how to maximize this space.

  If you plan on hanging out in the shed, keep any decorations thin and make sure the room is brightly lit. The shed should have windows to make it look even larger. The better your view, the better you feel in the shed. Small furniture is hard to find in America, but some antique shops and places like IKEA offer you a few options.

  If you plan on using it for its actual purpose of storing stuff, make sure you know how much it can hold before you build. Don’t assume that you can fit everything in the yard in that small space without doing a little math. Try to include extra vertical shelves and use the tips I talk about in the Tool Sheds section to avoid catastrophe.

    Tool Sheds

For tool sheds, use hooks, shelves, and gambrel roofs to maximize the amount of space you use. Pent sheds plans or lean-to shed plans offer the most space for the least amount of money and building expertise. Since tool sheds never end up becoming domestic, feel free to fill the space with ways to store and organize things. You also have no need for windows or ventilation. Let’s get into the specifics of creating the perfect storage shed now!

  DIY Tool Storage

By building your own tool storage, you ensure that even your specialized tools have a home to return to. You no longer need to shuffle through your own storage shed to find that one ruler that slid to the back of the shelves. When building your own tool storage shed from scratch, your only concern is the size of the shed. You want it to store everything you need—both for the house and the yard. Yard tools tend to be bulky, while home tools tend to get lost in the cracks.

  Purchasing a tool shelf or using pin boards for the small tools helps mitigate the lost tool issue. However, the only thing that helps your large tools is foresight and good planning. I find a typical lean-to shed to be the perfect size for a tool storage shed, plus, it doesn’t cost a fortune. It goes up quickly and all of the work is easy, even when you build from scratch! You can read about making your own in this dedicated article, or you can follow along with the general shed building instructions I put further down!

    Utility Sheds

A utility shed is simply a shed where you can store your yard and building materials for a time you need them. A tall and thin shed does the trick, but a lean-to shed also served the job and lets you store larger things like bikes and lawn mowers. When your man cave, kitchen, or attic starts to overflow with what I call ‘one-trick-items,’ you throw them in the utility shed. These items are quite useful, but maybe only once a year, and for one thing only. They offer utility, but not often enough to warrant a place in the home.

  Anyways, make sure that your utility shed is nice and organized! If things go missing inside it, you might as well have never built it. Use pegboards to store all of your small tools. Put all of your large tools at the bottom of the shed and incorporate shelves that become gradually smaller the higher up they go. And, of course, keep a stepstool or a ladder handy so you get a good view of those upper shelves. With this method of organization, your utility shed gains a lot more…well, utility!

  Here are a few ideas on what you might want to store inside the utility shed that people often overlook. Saws, hammers, screwdrivers, and pliers are a given. Throw in masking tape, duct tape, a leveling tool, a tape measure, a triangle ruler, a protractor (which is a godsend during any building tasks), and enough markers to last a lifetime. You only really need one marker, but they tend to go missing. If you live in a very warm place, replace the markers with some large pencils so that the ink doesn’t burst and stain everything vanta black. A fire extinguisher, flashlights, ice scrapers, picks, work gloves, pressure gauge, and bike pump also serve some niche needs that might present themselves.

    Portable Storage Sheds

Sometimes, your backyard storage needs to be movable. You may only need it for a temporary event, or perhaps to protect your car from hail, or you might want to move it when you get the time to build a patio, or maybe you want to live on the go for a while and keep it in tow. There’s plenty of possibilities. Whatever the case, portable storage sheds help you make that happen. Portable storage sheds are universally small (they have to sit on the back of a truck, after all), and it’s not worth it to build a proper foundation for them. Portable sheds tend to cost more than permanent sheds, so if you just need a shelter for some of your stuff, I recommend…

  A canopy or a garage tent. These large tarps use a shed-like frame to create a small garage or storage space for your stuff. Sometimes labeled as greenhouse tents, they don’t serve as a secure location for storing goods, but they do protect your stuff from the weather and keep it all in one place. If you live in a good neighborhood, one of these is more than enough for your needs. Plus, they cost less than $400…compare that to the thousands you would spend on a portable shed!

  Cheap Sheds

If you want cheap storage sheds, you have to put in some extra work. Good storage sheds range in price from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the features you want. And, honestly, a $1,000 shed doesn’t cut it for most things. Of course, there are ways to cut down on these typical price tags without chopping the trees down yourself. This section guides you through building on a budget and helps people in every financial situation stow away a little money for things to put inside your shed!

  Finding Materials for your Storage Shed on a Budget

The best way to find materials for your shed on a budget is to check out discount and clearance sections of big box stores. You’ll find all kinds of materials marked down for little things like a scratch or some unappealing patterns in the wood. Since you’ll be building the shed from scratch, these types of problems will likely go unseen in your finished product. As long as your materials look structurally sound and the price looks good, go for it.

  Another great way to find cheap materials is to browse online trading sites like Craigslist. Many people give up on their projects or just find themselves with extra lumber. They really want to get it off their property. You can score a bunch of stuff just by trading some junk from your garage. Or, you could be lucky enough to get your materials for free! Always make sure these materials are properly treated and in a good condition before you start to build with them.

  The last way I recommend saving money—and the way to go for people who don’t like buying used stuff—is to go straight to a local lumber yard. This cuts out the shipping and upcharge that big stores give you, plus it saves you the potential damage the wood would receive as it changes hands. Lumber yards carry all kinds of sizes, wood types, and may even cut some custom stuff for you if you show them your shed plans. Ultimately, they charge far less than any other place for brand new and fresh materials. No matter your financial situation, consider this your best option!

  Pre-made Sheds

Sometimes, the most expensive part of a shed is the time it takes to procure materials and build one yourself. Of course, hiring contractors is out of the question if you want to save money…but how do you build a shed without spending time or extra cash making it happen? Quite simply, you don’t. You purchase a pre-made shed! Lots of online and retail outlets offer pre-made sheds that they ship right to your door and place in your backyard. Since everything is built, any extra money is more like a delivery fee than a contractor fee. The building gets finished the moment it touches your yard.

  The main downside to pre-made sheds is their small size. Obviously, a pre-made shed needs to fit on the road in order to get shipped around the nation. You might be able to find a very wide shed that looks more like a trailer, but that still hardly functions as a proper shed. They look a little more like storage closets. Another big disadvantage is their materials. They usually contain a lot of cheap wood and plastic to cut down on prices, which means more repairs in the long run.

  If you dole out some extra money, then you can find some high-quality pre-made sheds to save yourself some time. If you don’t care about saving time and simply want the most cost-efficient method, skip the pre-made sheds.

  Storage Shed Kits

From simple garden shed kits to huge two-story sheds, storage shed kits save you the time of finding materials and help you build your shed quickly and efficiently. They cost less than fancy pre-made sheds or contract work, plus they look great. A few companies even allow for customization! Building from a storage kit takes very little time and the instructions provided also speed things along for people new to building. This is by far the best option for people who want to cut down on the price and the time spent without lowering the quality or building everything from scratch.

  Furthermore, if you have a shed plan, it’s quite possible to get your own custom storage shed kit from local lumberyards. I’d be lying if I said all of them offered this service, but some of the more professional ones will gather your materials and cut some custom pieces of wood if you give them a list. That definitely saves you time and gets you exactly the sort of shed you want!

  When a storage shed kit arrives at your door, simply check the quality of the materials. Then, set aside a day to get everything done. Storage kits typically come with walls pre-assembled, so it’s just a matter of picking out a spot and nailing everything together. Siding and roof tiles usually come separately, so you can pick out what sort of decoration (if any) you want the shed to have. No one can really tell the difference between a shed built out of a kit or a shed built out of scratch, especially if you choose a nice design. Definitely go with storage shed kits if you want to save some time without breaking the bank!

    Storage Shed Ideas

Do you have an old storage shed laying around and have no idea what to do with it? Maybe you have plenty of room in your garage, or perhaps you moved into a brand new property that contains a shed. Clearing out the shed to make room for the new also opens up possibilities. In any case, these shed storage ideas help you figure out what to do with that space. After all, you can use a shed for far more than storage, especially the bigger ones!

  Man Cave Shed

Hey, look what site you’re on. Clearly, I have a bias towards building man caves. Man cave sheds give you space all your own, separate from the house, and let you customize the room in ways you can’t do inside a home. For example, setting up a surround sound system is far easier when your ceiling opens up into the rafters. It gives you way more space to maneuver up there! Building a second story doesn’t fill the home with sawdust, plus, you can create a loft to make the man cave that much more impressive! For more ways to convert a shed into a man cave, check out my post here.

  Garage Shed

When you find the perfect home…minus a garage…don’t despair! Use a simple storage shed plan to create a garage of your own. Most storage sheds take up very little space and a ton of plans exist to ensure you stay within building codes of your area. You can opt for a single car garage or go all-out with a two-story four car garage shed! If you do make your garage two stories, make sure to include excellent ventilation and insulation. The fumes from the cars below can collect on the upper floor if the cars are left running.

  Workshop Shed

Building a workshop inside a house is just asking for trouble. Sawdust, paint splatters, loud noise, and grease stains are just a few things that ruin the coziness of a home. On top of that, any damage done by an active workshop detracts from the value of your home. By building a storage shed to serve as a workshop, the opposite is true—your home goes up in value and feels much more peaceful. The benefits of hosting your workshop outside include letting you mess up the room with the filth of dirty work and customizing it to suit your needs—even if it goes against a few building codes or your wife’s wishes!

  Gardening Shed

By adding in windows or skylights, your shed quickly becomes the perfect gardening environment! The warmth of a shed during winter keeps your plants safe. You only need to cover them if temperatures get extreme for long periods of time. During the summer, it’s easier to control the sunlight your plants experience. They won’t wilt as frequently if you can easily cover the windows or move them into the shade. Watering becomes easier and your shed just looks better.

  You can continue to use portions of your shed for its original purpose—as a workshop, storage area, or otherwise. The plants filter out the air and keep it from getting to dusty or musky. It benefits you in the long run to have nice clear air to breathe as you use your shed. The only disadvantage of a gardening shed is that they get a little muggy at times. With a proper ventilation system and a few humidity and temperature monitors, you can negate that entirely.

  Barn

The biggest shed of them all, a barn actually fits the bill for a jumbo storage shed! To convert a shed into a barn, grab some extra lumber and divide the room as needed. Stalls or small rooms help keep it organized. While a storage shed deals with storing items, a barn deals with storing animals! Keep in mind that the health and happiness of the animals should be on your mind as you build the barn. Even one extra foot of space in the stable makes the difference between an aggressive stallion or a tame horse.

  Another integral part of building a barn is making it easy to clean. Keep the floors smooth by using large boards of wood or loose gravel. Taking things in and out of the barn should not be more of a chore than it is already! Typically, you want to make the door as large as possible to accommodate your animals. Huge machinery needs an equally huge entrance. For more information, check out my dedicated post on building barns.

    Making the Most Out of Your Storage Shed

Ultimately, your little storage shed helps you out with some big life problems. Whether you choose to house your cars or bikes with one or convert your shed into a man cave, these storage sheds provide some essential shelter and seclusion in a world that’s becoming busier by the moment. The effort you put into its function and appearance determines whether you created a mere shack or an essential addition to your property.

  Hopefully this post helped you learn everything you need to know about building storage sheds and using them. Cutting down on material costs, finding the perfect plan, gathering the proper tools, and figuring out how to construct everything proves tricky the first time for everyone. If you have any questions about building a storage shed, please let me know in the comments section. I can help you and everyone else who has the same question!

  Once you build your first shed, you store all of this knowledge. It comes back to you naturally with your next building project. My goal in writing this was to give you as much knowledge as possible. Next time, you’ll be able to improve all on your own! Good luck, and get building!

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Storage Building Kits

Storage Building Kits

Building storage sheds takes a lot of time, effort, and man power. Sometimes, working men just don’t have the time to spare to make all of that. Add on the cost of contractors to do it for you, and your backyard man cave shed starts looking like a pipe dream. Thankfully, there are lots of places that sell storage building kits to make your dream come true in an efficient and affordable manner.

  Today, let’s talk all about how to use DIY shed kits, select the perfect kit for you, and build your wood shed kit. There are plenty of things you need to worry about while building your own shed, but this article walks you through all of it! Let’s get started.

  Do You Need a Storage Building Kit?

Before we get into the dirty details about storage building kits and how it all relates to man caves, let’s step back and see if you even need a storage building kit. Without a doubt, if you reached this page, you need a storage shed. Whether you make a large one to house a man cave or a small one to house the stuff that can’t make it into the cave, a shed is an excellent thing to build, and a kit is a great way to get it done. However, they can be pricey.

  When looking at the price range of building a shed, storage building kits sit somewhere in the middle. Using a shed plan, gathering the materials yourself, and building it by hand is the least expensive option. You may not know that shed plans are cheap and easily available to anyone who needs them. They also make it pretty easy to build according to city or county specifications, so consider them carefully.

  If building isn’t your thing, there are still other options. First, you can have a contractor do it for you, according to the plan you set out for them. Contractors can even put together a kit for you, although that would be unnecessarily expensive. Second, you can buy a pre-built shed. It seems crazy, but it’s totally possible. You’d be amazed at what can fit on a road and ship to your door.

  If you still want a big hand in building your shed, but can’t find the time to construct it from scratch, then congratulations. Storage building kits are the perfect fit for you! Now let’s talk details.

  DIY Shed Kits

There are several different types of shed kit out there, and you still need to find the one that suits your needs. For larger sheds (which work better for a man cave), you will need to do a tiny amount of building. The walls come in large panels, but you will still need to put the basic frame together. Simple instructions help you through this and it goes by in a breeze. Once the frame is done, you secure the wall and roof panels. Many large shed kits also encourage you to make a foundation and even include parts for it.

  For smaller storage shed kits, the entire thing is just putting together large pieces. The supports are built into the walls and you simply need to nail them together. It feels much like building a very large puzzle with less than ten pieces. Compared to building a shed from scratch, these DIY shed kits go up much faster and certainly save you a lot of sweat.

  The cheap ones do not include paneling or roof tiles, so take note of that before you purchase and see if the extra cost and effort is worth it to you. At the same time, this allows you to customize your shed with a unique exterior. Stone walls and terracotta roof tiles set it apart from all the storage sheds in your area and make it look like a home. Or, at the very least, the entrance to a very cool man cave.

  Wood Shed Kits

Once you have your wood storage shed built, it’s time to make the interior livable! If you found this blog post because you genuinely want to build a storage shed—and don’t care in the least bit about man caves—then you can skip this whole section (but at least read about why you need a man cave). For everyone else, let’s start making this place manageable!

  Have an electrician run wires through it so you can install a TV or other electronics. If you want to put in a bar, small kitchen, or bathroom, then set up some pipes through a plumber or by your own effort. If you understand plumbing, you can usually make a safe setup, but working with electricity requires experts. Lastly, if  you live in a particularly hot area, consider throwing in an AC unit. In very cold areas, insulation is a must, but a shed keeps things at a normal temperature without modifications during winter for most places south of Canada.

  Use carpet, tile, or wood panels to make the floor more comfortable. You can hang flags and signs up directly onto the rough wall, but I find that encourages bugs and pests to move in. I encourage you to cover it with actual drywall if you spend a lot of time in there. For the ceiling, it’s fine to leave it open. It makes the man cave feel spacious and helps you install things in the roof down the line. For more tips on setting up a man cave in your new storage shed, check out this article.

  Finding Shed Kits for Sale

There are several different ways to find a shed kit that’s right for you. First, figure out what style and material you want. Wood sheds with simple double doors are the most popular, but don’t overlook different styles! Many shed kit designs choose to use the long side of the shed for its entrance, along with a few windows, to emulate the appearance of a small home. Still more designs incorporate two stories, large ceilings, multiple entrances, and non-traditional shapes.

  Some shed kits even use unique materials to elicit a very modern look. What serves as a storage shed will look like an amazing modern and minimal building on the outside! A metal exterior looks spectacular and they’re well-suited for a man cave. Vertical or horizontal side paneling dramatically changes the appearance of your storage shed. There are a huge amount of roof tiles and styles you can choose from as well.

  Speaking of customization, a few storage building kits only include the bare minimum. While this might seem disadvantageous—after all, you need to apply the side paneling, foundation, and roof tiles yourself—this actually proves to be a huge bonus to a few hard working men out there. It not only drives down the cost of your storage building kit, but it also allows you to pick whatever appearance you want for your shed! You could even use stone or brick for the exterior. No one will know it was built from a kit! You can refer to some easily available shed plans for some inspiration on how to make your shed unique.

    Completely DIY Storage Building Kits

It’s also worth mentioning that a few places sell the bare minimum for storage building kits. These kits only contain the materials for making your shed happen. You build everything from scratch, but they spare you the hassle of finding materials all on your own. When finding good wood is expensive—and difficult in remote locations—not to mention the equipment needed to actually cut the wood into proper dimensions, these bare minimum kits are a life saver.

  They work great for the DIY man who just doesn’t have the time to go shopping around. A few places even let you send in some storage building kit plans and make everything according to your specifications. You may have to find the glass for your windows on your own, though. Furthermore, some essentials like exterior panels and roof tiles may not be included.

  Regulations to Consider While Looking

I talk about county and city regulations in detail in another blog post, but I want to mention the basics of building codes here so that you don’t have to spend forever clicking through other pages to learn what you need. Here are some common city, county, and neighborhood regulations to consider while you pick out and place your storage shed:

Location (distance from house, visibility from road, etc.)

Insulation, Air Circulation, and other livability stuff

Size limits

Approved shed plan that confirms its integrity and stability

Specified foundations to plan for disasters

Materials used (wood, steel, etc.)

Colors

Purpose

Security

  Where to Buy Storage Building Kits

Most people purchase their storage building kits from home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes. Their online selection generally has a better price than their in-store products (plus, way more options to browse through). The only disadvantage of buying from chain stores like that is the chance of receiving wood of poor quality. While they have a better system for returns, it’s still annoying to replace any pieces that they send with minor defects and such.

  Buying straight from the companies that sell the storage building kits is cheaper with all the same advantages of customer service. Because these kits undergo less shipping across the world, they are also less likely to arrive with nicks or scratches. Another big issue for kits is the chance of bent or warped panels. That’s annoying to correct, if correction is even possible for your chosen material.

  Lastly, sending in wood specifications according to a shed plan to your local lumber yard is guaranteed to get you some high-quality wood. However, you need to do the measurements an inventory yourself to make sure no one screwed up on the job. Mistakes happen. This is also the cheapest way to get your kit, although obviously, you have to work harder because nothing is set up in panels for you.

  Make sure you know all of the regulations before you put down your shed so that you save yourself a huge hassle down the road. Find a shed that matches your personal aesthetic, the local building regulations, and the amount of work that you want to put into your build.

  What to Do With Storage Building Kits

Now that you know how to procure the perfect storage building kits for your personal tastes, it’s time to put that knowledge to work! Get your backyard set up and prepare for a shed of your own. Use the rest of the site to learn how to convert a shed into a man cave and you’ll have a stunning setup in no time.

  Above all, remember to build this like a man. Plan your shed effectively to minimize the building time you need. Don’t cut corners. Ensure everything is safe—properly piped, wired, and insulated according to your needs. As long as you follow these instructions, you can proudly show off your new shed, and no one will be the wiser about how you used a kit to build it!

The post Storage Building Kits appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/storage-building-kits/

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Man Cave Stuff

Man Cave Stuff

With your man cave built, the flooring installed, the walls up to snuff, and the lighting fixtures in place…what next? Your man cave lacks some oomph, and today, I want to help you fill in all the missing spots in your cave! Of course, this starts by seeking out man cave stuff that matches both you and your room.

Many stereotypical man cave things border on kitschy, so we steer clear of that with today’s subject and figure out how to find the coolest gadgets for your man cave. From the best electronics, to perfect signs, to minibar accessories, and so on—we discuss it all! So sit back and enjoy some serious discussion on all the man cave stuff your cave deserves.

  Cool Man Cave Stuff

First of all, let’s define ‘cool.’ Something like this proves subjective in the long run, so you may not consider the stuff I show here to rank among the cool things. For that reason, I touch on all sorts of man cave stuff. Whether you want to decorate your bar, set up the accessories of your game room, or fill in the gaps of your rustic cave, something here will appeal to you.

Make finding things that represent you and serve a function your priority.  Decorations work fine—especially when you accrue them over time—but you grow attached to things with function faster. Anything with a use automatically becomes cooler. When you want to impress guests, simply point out the man cave stuff you picked and let your stuff do the talking!

  Man Cave Must Haves

Unique man cave stuff relies on filling a specific niche of your room. While a Star Wars clock looks seriously spectacular, more than one overkills the concept. Instead, spread out your man cave stuff over some must-have items. Clearly, the clock serves an important function and looks great in rooms. I don’t care if every electronic device you own tells the time, your room needs a clock. They look classy. At least one unique light fixture provides a focal point for the room. Lastly, a large sign, painting, or poster gives the room a cozy feel—no matter your theme.

Part of learning what stuff to put in a room is learning what stuff not to include. For any electronics, keep wires well out of view. Use shelving or cabinets to hide them, run them along the floor with tape, cover them with rugs, or drill some holes to slip them into the woodwork. Limit the amount of gaudy noisemakers that litter the room. That bigmouth bass musical decoration seems fun at first for a fisherman sort, but the novelty wears off fast. If you decide to bring in something that wildly clashes with the theme, then at least make sure it at least matches in color. This keeps it from drawing away from the room’s unity.

  Cool Gadgets for Your Man Cave

Now, let’s focus back on cool things for a man cave. Many quality of life items go overlooked, but when you include them, they drastically improve the impression your man cave gives to others. A hammock offers a nice place to relax, entertainment for newcomers, and it saves on space. This applies especially with hammocks that assemble easily or hang with simple fasteners. A bookshelf or display case serves as more than a location for your odds and ends. Use it to display your cool man cave stuff and keep dust off of them. Coffee tables provide the ultimate utility for your room, especially those neat electronic ones. And—let’s face it—they make perfect foot stools in a pinch.

On top of regular lighting, include at least one source of colored lighting that you use to create a cool ambience during parties or just relaxation time. It helps people adjust to the mood! Candles also work for this task. If you own any type of pets, accommodate them in the room somewhere. That way, they stay off of your regular items and keep the room undamaged! These ideas set you on the path of finding cool man cave items!

  Man Cave Stuff for Minibars

Many overlook some essential man cave stuff for their bars. For one, a can opener that fastens to a wall keeps it from walking away. A fridge meant specifically for beer or wine keeps your drinks at the perfect temperature. A distiller or unique cooler adds flair to your bar. On top of all that, neon signs set the mood and make your bar look like a real establishment! Find posters or signs that match the brands of beer you commonly stock up on.

For people who want that extra touch, consider adding beer kegs or beer taps to give your cave that tavern feel. Themed shot glasses hold together the room without looking tacky. Lastly, consider adding a display of bottle caps somewhere in the room. For fans of craft brews, the display serves as a collection of sorts. They make the signs in the shape of every state, every country, and a few interesting designs like a dart board or custom lettering.

  Stuff for Rustic Man Caves

For man cave decor ideas, certain themes prove more difficult than others. With something like a rustic man cave, finding antiques or features that fit the bill simply proves difficult. If you want a modern function, they usually only manufacture it in a modern design. Thankfully, the internet helps with that!

When looking for rustic man cave stuff, stick to a few unique keywords. Wooden, antique, grunge, western, southern, Mexican, classic, and—of course—rustic all give you some good results. For some rooms, things with a steampunk theme match the rustic aesthetic—as long as you take off the gears everyone loves to tack on. Of course, you may also use our recommendations to find some unique man cave stuff for your room!

  Man Cave Signs

Ah, yes. No man cave is complete without the perfect signage! Similar to paintings or wall decorations, signs establish the ambiance of the room. They design a ton of man cave signs in wood, plastic, cloth, and metal materials. I recommend searching for a custom man cave sign design that really establishes the room as yours. A sign that displays the rules of the room or code of conduct also goes a long way towards making the room feel like a cave—even if the rules simply state that the alcohol must flow!

Any game room also needs banners, flags, and signs dedicated to their favorite teams, games, or franchises. Amazon sells even the most obscure game designs, so I highly recommend looking into it! Other types of signage include stuff focused on your hobbies, unique wooden engravings, and things which label the room as yours. Always name your man cave and always give it a name tag somewhere with a custom sign!

  Man Cave Ideas for a Small Room

For small rooms, managing space takes up most of your brainstorming. However, many people neglect to think about the vertical space of their man cave! Intertwine shelving, furniture, and signage to create a perfect use of space on each wall. If you want to make the room appear larger, include lots of lights and actually tone down the use of paintings.

Space out your furniture, keep the floor nice and visible, and consider adding texture to different vertical stripes of the wall. All of these techniques give the illusion of space in a small man cave. Grab some extra wall mounts to account for furniture that doesn’t include them. Keep the support beams of the house in mind whenever you install things on the wall!

  Man Cave Ideas on a Budget

For cheap man cave ideas, garage sales and antique stores provide ample amounts of furniture and materials. Combine old wooden furniture with new upholstery from Amazon or fabric stores to create brand new furniture that suits your man cave! Just watch out for any nasty pests that might be in for the ride on old furniture. For an inexpensive way to fill your man cave with stuff, consider looking for pre-made decorative sets. This includes a four-pack of canvas paintings, shelves with shot glasses and coasters included, and so on. By purchasing in ‘bulk,’ you spend less overall. Plus, the matching stuff makes for a great starting point in your cave decoration.

To save cash in another way, consider purchasing the materials to make your own decorations. Wood and metal works best from local stores to skip on shipping costs, while the internet carries a huge variety of spray paint, tools, and decorative materials for a more affordable price than brick-and-mortar stores. With a little bit of ingenuity, you build perfectly matching stuff for your man cave that adds tremendously to the cohesion of your room.

  Ultimate Man Cave Accessories

Once again, the best man cave stuff all depends on what you need to use in your cave. Simply pick what you need and then upgrade it to something snazzy. Need a shelf to display your wine? Choose one with flashing lights that change color! What about a cooler? Go for the rustic look and use a barrel of ice to store the goods! Instead of square bookshelves, look for unique shapes that match the theme of your cave. On top of all that, find ways to minimize space—that helps you cram even more use out of your limited man cave! The more stuff you put in, the more use your room offers you.

Mixing up your accessories also goes a long way. A room dedicated to gaming clearly needs comfy couches and awesome screens, but what about your other hobbies? For example, a flat surface to sketch Star Wars space ship schematics or fill out adult coloring books makes your man cave more than a one-trick pony. It helps you relax in all aspects and offer you a personal mantuary!

  Simply The Best Man Cave Stuff

As far as man cave stuff goes, you want to grab the best stuff available to you. Sometimes, this item costs an arm and a leg, and they only sell it through online stores. Other times, you find it on the roadside or in the back of an antique store collecting dust. Whatever stuff you decide to put into your man cave, remember to use it all.

All of your stuff combines with the room to help you chill out in the cave. So, go ahead and grab that Lord of the Rings canvas print or that huge table saw setup! When you walk into the room and feel like everything sits where it belongs, you know you found all the right stuff for your man cave.

The post Man Cave Stuff appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/man-cave-stuff/

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Shed Plans: Learn to Read and Use Them!

Shed Plans: Learn to Read and Use Them!

Continuing on with the wonderful world of sheds, let’s talk about the building details! No matter what size your shed is or what purpose you use it for, these instructions walk you through everything you need to know. Want to figure out foundations? I cover that. Want to learn about the legal stuff? I already talked a bunch about that in this article, but I do go over the basics here! Want to reduce the cost of your shed or figure out how much they typically cost? You’re in the right place. No matter what, if your questions went unanswered in any of my other posts, then this post has everything you need!

  Even if you know nothing about building, I walk you through what tools you need, the terms you need to know to use your shed plans, and how to make a DIY shed. Check what tools you need, get them ready, and prepare to build the best shed in the neighborhood! Always follow the directions in your shed plans. If you deviate from them, you could risk losing materials, collapsing your building, or getting injured. Obviously, I can’t help you with that. Stay safe!

  Cost Questions about Shed Plans

The biggest factor in whether or not you can build a shed is not your ability. It’s your money. Building a shed when you can’t afford it is disastrous, and any corners you cut come back to haunt you in the future. Here are some quick questions to ask yourself and memorize before you begin gathering materials. If the prices in these answers sound reasonable and affordable, then you’re prepared to build a shed. If not, wait until later to build. Look at this post if you want to know more about saving time and money.

  How much does it cost to build a storage shed?

On average, it costs $3,000 to buy a storage shed. High end sheds get up to $10,000, while low-end sheds are less than $500. The cost changes depending on your area.

  How much does it cost to build a shed on your own?

By building a shed yourself, you cut out roughly $50 from low end sheds or shed kits. For high-end sheds, you cut out a whopping $3,000 or more! So subtract that amount from the price averages above to get what you would roughly pay for a shed. Keep in mind that instead of paying with money, you will be paying with time!

  How much does it cost to build a 12×16 shed?

12×16 sheds are incredibly popular since they can be used as a small (single) car garage and fit basically whatever you want inside. They cost about $3,000 to buy, but you can shave some of the price off by being thrifty and building it yourself.

  Keep in mind that portable sheds, pre-made sheds, and shed kits also affect how much you spend. They tend to be pricier, but they also take far less time to build. Some companies even offer (relatively) cheap contract work to set them up. These prices assume you build from the ground up!

  Reducing the Cost of Your Shed

The easiest way to reduce the cost of your shed is to do the work yourself and find discounted materials. If you have no lumberyards in your area and have a home improvement store (which is a weird conundrum to have), look in their clearance section. Stores often carry materials with tiny nicks and scratches that are just fine for an outdoor shed to have. All you need to do is ensure it still has all its structural integrity!

  The cheapest way to gather materials is to search the net. No, I’m not talking about ordering from random companies. I mean going to Craigslist and other trading sites to see who has a surplus of building materials! Many people abandon their projects and would love for you to take it off their hands for something of equal value—which isn’t always money! Others may pay you for ‘disposal,’ so you can do whatever you want with the wood you were paid to take away. These materials can be severely damaged or contain pests, so inspect them thoroughly ahead of your purchase.

  For the last way to reduce costs, look no further than local businesses. If you have a lumberyard in your area, go there and check out all the cheapest materials. They may even cut everything for you according to your shed plan and ship all the wood to your doorstep for free. This is truly the best and cheapest way to get quality wood. Now that you know how to afford it, let’s talk about setting your plans into motion!

home building plan service books Best of shed plan books Shed plans 10×10 with loft

Legal Questions About Shed Plans

For a whole lot of detail about legal restrictions, permits, and materials, check my post here. Otherwise, here are some commonly asked questions!

  Do you need a permit to build a storage shed?

This depends on where you live. Make sure to check your federal, state, county, city, and (if applicable) HOA guidelines. If you live in the country, no one really cares what you build on your property. If you live in the suburbs, you’ll probably get reported by stupid neighbors even if you do everything right. So, look it up! It changes according to very specific locations, so I can’t even give you a general idea.

  What should I watch out for when building a shed?

To avoid disputes, pick a place that is at least a yard within your property. Figure out how close to buildings or fences you can build it. Make sure you have a solid foundation. Treat your wood properly to avoid rot. Avoid building beneath power lines, and if you have no other choice, check how high your shed can be. Refer to my other article for everything else you need to know!

  Finding Shed Designs

I supply several free plans down below with instructions on how to build them, but for complicated designs, you’ll need to look to paid stuff. You find the best wood shed plans in large collections like this one. They offer all the plans you need—from gambrel shed blueprints, lean to sheds, and even to small barns! They also include directions for furniture, if you want to keep your DIY instincts going after the build.

  Bookstores and online retailers like Amazon sell smaller and specialized collections. Simply avoid the self-published stuff on Amazon, since you don’t know if they properly did their math in any of their designs. Stick to tried and true brands like Black & Decker, Creative Homeowner, and any publishing companies you’re familiar with and trust. My building instructions help with all types of shed plans, so keep reading to the end if you’re new to building.

  DIY Shed Plans

If you’re interested in building your own shed, you can find hundreds of plans with this collection. If you just want something free, don’t despair. Lots of free shed building plans cover the basics and let you build your own shed without a lot of experience. You won’t find spectacular plans, but if you only need simple woodshed plans, these ones will work fine! The ones I picked out for the section below all look great, cover all the basics of what you would need them for, keep costs down, and are freely available for you to use!

  Please keep safety in mind while building. I am not responsible if you are injured while making a shed. Remember to take as many precautions as possible when working with large machinery, sharp saws, and heavy materials. Deviating from a plan without understanding the mechanics of how that plan works can lead to structural instability—and, therefore, the potential for destruction and injury. I can’t emphasize enough that you need someone to spot you while you work and you need to take as many precautions as you can. You are the one responsible for your injuries, so look out for yourself! Each plan I link below has a similar section—that’s how important your health and safety is!

  Garage Shed Plans

Do you want to find a safe and secure place to store your car that isn’t exposed to the street? This free 16’ x 22’ garage plan is from Rona.ca and does just the trick. It tells you all the materials you need and gives you full blueprints for the project. It takes about ten days to build. Due to the presence of a garage door, you’ll want to have previous building experience to make this look good. It also has a unique roof plan that adds a bit of extra work. It looks great, so I’m not complaining. Along with the garage door entrance, it includes a small side door and a window.

Along with the normal framing and roofing instructions, it helps you finish the exterior, install the garage door, throw in the windows and doors, and even apply the asphalt shingles. That’s pretty good for a free DIY garage shed plan! You can see the other images here.

Garden Shed Plans

These simple free garden shed plans are from a place called construct101.com . You can find all the images there, but if the plans confuse you, go ahead and refer to my guide down below. They help with all kinds of garden sheds. If you know a bit about architecture, feel free to improvise on this free 8×8 shed plan to create 10×10 shed plans and 12×12 shed plans. Just make sure you know the math and logic behind the stuff. Despite the appearance of a weathervane, you’ll want to purchase that separate. They don’t include directions for that.

This garden shed includes a large window for letting in light, a gable roof, and two large double doors for getting heavy stuff in and out without a fuss. The best part about it is the windowsill garden directions they include. Before you build, think about the view you want from the shed window (you’d be absolutely surprised about how many people point their windows towards a fence). It even includes directions for making your exterior look nice. Of course, you’re free to personalize the colors and some of the materials.

  Outdoor Shed Plans –

This incredibly useful shed plan collection contains the following sizes: 10×16 shed, 8×10 shed, shed plans for 10×12, and even 10×20 shed plans. Since it contains over a dozen sizes, you can use the collection as a base to build stranger sizes, like 10×14 sheds and 8 x 15 sheds. Make sure you know what you are doing any time you make modifications to backyard shed plans.

The one I want to show you out of all of these is the typical outdoor shed plan they provide. The gable-style shed is very large and can even shelter people if you prep it according to code. Throw some carpet, a couch, and a TV in there and you have a simple man cave. It takes between one weekend and one week to build, depending on your experience level. If someone is helping you during the build, it will definitely be closer to one weekend. You can download the plan pdf here.

  Lean-to Shed Plan

A lean-to shed serves as a storage shed that goes up against another building. It normally has shingles and matches the general appearance of the house. The backing doesn’t have to be fancy since no one sees it. This free lean-to shed plan is advantageous because of its low price and fast build time. The detailed instructions also help tremendously. The door takes up most of the main wall, although you can adjust the size as needed.

When placing a shed next to a building, take care to keep the bottom of the shed ventilated (just a raised foundation helps with airflow). The ground around the shed should also be raised, and the single roof slope needs to point away from the home. This is all to keep water from eroding the base of the main building. You can choose to make the lean-to shed a standalone building and use it for wood storage, although you’ll want to waterproof it a little more.

  Gambrel Shed Plan

To maximize the amount of space your shed can hold, you want to pick a shed plan with a gambrel roof. Gambrel roofs are more complicated to construct, so make sure you have everything on the list of tools I put below. Instead of having one peak with two slopes like a gable shed, this one has three points that add just a bit of extra space. When you have particularly tall or large things to store, this makes a huge difference. You can also build in a loft at a later point to make full use of that space.

These shed plans give you the blueprints and materials for a 10×12 gambrel shed. Pay close attention to the instructions for the shed truss and rafters—if you mess up the angle too much, your shed will look strange at best and have some serious structural problems at worst. The last thing you need is for that giant roof to come crashing down on you! Despite its slightly increased difficulty, you don’t need that much experience to build one of these. Just follow the instructions to the letter and make sure your measurements are perfect.

  Barn Shed Plans and Large Utility Shed Plans

These free shed plans come straight from the University of Iowa. They include up sizes going all the way up to a 40’ tilt-up concrete utility building. It includes both frame buildings and post-and-beam plans. The designs themselves are not to aesthetic, but they get the job done. After all, something this big needs to put purpose over appearance to justify its cost!

The barn shed plans are free because they benefit so many different types of people. You can use them as a stable, storage place for large machines, office, lumber or food storage, and even a meeting hall for a small town. Since these plans are so large, I would advise against altering the plans in any way. The margin for error becomes smaller the heavier your roof and materials get! These plans will also take more cash, more people, and more time to build…but it’s well worth it.

  Extra Large Shed Plans/Colonial Shed Plans

Besides building a large utility shed or barn, your best bet for building a large shed is to find colonial shed plans. The sample plans on this product page are more than enough to get you started. Of course, for the full details, you’ll want to purchase…but you don’t need to. You can follow my building section below here to fill in any gaps in your knowledge that their free plans leave behind. If you do get the collection, it contains many size and door options. If you’re buying shed plans, I would go with this collection instead—you get more bang for your buck.

In general, colonial sheds look like little homes on the outside. With white trim, quaint windows, and desaturated exterior paint, they perfectly match that classic colonial fill. On the inside, you can make them look like any other shed. You can also go the extra mile and make it livable. It’s all up to you! This style of shed plan is especially attractive because of its natural lighting.

  Office Shed Plans

These plans are called an assortment of things. Whether you want to find free studio shed plans, free modern shed plans, or free office shed plans, you will generally find them in the same document. Since modern shed plans are, well, modern, you won’t find any classic designs for them. That’s why I’ve included this blog from design milk that talks about converting an old shed into an office shed. They tear down the old shed and replace the floorboards. If you scroll down to my next section, you’ll find out how to build the foundation. After you get that done, you can follow along with their blog.

The blog gives you an accurate representation of how much a shed costs and how to make it look nice and livable. The author cuts down on costs by staining the floor instead of covering it with carpeting. The interior looks even better than the exterior and nine small windows fill it with natural lighting. This is absolutely crucial if you want to get office work done in a positive environment! Read more here.

    Small Shed Plans

This free shed plan is made available by 101construct.com (it’s also not the only one featured on this page by this site, so you know they’re hot stuff). These 10 x 12 shed plans work great if you want a shed you can walk into and work in. You can convert it into a small man cave, playroom, workshop, storage shed, and even a garage if you attach a ramp and create a solid foundation. Build your foundation ahead of frame and anchor the floor frame on top. The rafters are the most complicated part of the build, but using my directions below, it will be a piece of cake to get all the cuts done.

This shed looks great and uses aesthetic side panels and a shingled or tiled roof. It doesn’t give very many details on finishing the exterior, so refer to my ‘Finishing Touches’ section for that. The double doors accommodate large machinery and furniture, so this is particularly useful if you plan on putting any of that in your shed. You can find the full shed plans here.

  Storage Shed Plans

This small DIY storage shed contains all of your equipment. Machinery like your lawn mower still needs to go in the garage, but this helps you store your saws, rakes, weed whackers, shovels, and so on. The mini shed only takes one weekend to build and it has 2 x 8 floor dimensions. These storage building plans are made available by Black + Decker, and you can find all of the extra information on the storage building plans here. I go over in detail how to make sheds in the next section.

The shed is fairly light and you can even construct it in your garage and move it later if you want to. It’s not necessarily portable, but moving it once or twice won’t hurt.  To create the shed, start by building the wall frames. Raise the walls and use bracing as you work on them. Fasten them together, make the roof rafters (which are fairly simple in this build), and then install the roofing quickly and easily. Attach the side panels, make that door, and bam! You have an incredibly affordable storage shed.

    Tools for Building the Shed

Your work is only as good as your tools. Make sure you have all of these essentials on hand before you begin building so you don’t run into a problem halfway through. On top of these important tools, check your shed plans to see if you need specialized tools. In example, some tools require an air compressor to run, but you won’t need pneumatic tools for every type of shed building operation.

  A Good Drill – This goes without saying. For secure nails, you need a solid drill.

Belt Sander – This helps you smooth out any surfaces you want to treat or paint.

Circular Saw – Used for cutting your own wood conveniently.

Hammer – Pretty sure you know what this is for.

Helpers – The most essential tool, these people keep you safe and might even help you build.

Ladder – You need to be able to reach the roof if you want to build it!

Level (the bigger the better) – Ensures that your foundation and frame are all secure and level. Very essential for large buildings or things that need to withstand the test of time!

Nail Gun – Saves you a huge hassle when working with hardwoods.

Nail Punch – Helps you measure the distance between nails and their location before you start building.

Safety Glasses – This is self-explanatory, I can’t count the amount of times my glasses saved me from a stray wood chip.

Sawhorses – You need something solid to saw on, so of course you’d want two of these when building a shed.

Speed Square – A stand-alone fusion of the combination square, try square, and framing square. It helps a ton when cutting simple angles.

Tape Measure – For things that are too long for the speed square (which is most things).

Optional Tools:

Air Compressor – This is used to run any pneumatic air tools you might have.

Framing Nailer/Roofing Nailer – A pneumatic tool useful for nailing different materials together. Technically two different things, but you’re likely to find a combination tool so I put these in the same place.

Electric Miter Saw – If you plan on making a habit out of building, you need an electric miter saw. It helps you cut large pieces of lumber more accurately than a circular saw. However, it isn’t mobile.

  Have your tools? Let’s keep building.

  Building the Shed

Now that we know all about shed storage, let’s focus on building the shed itself! Your shed plan gives you the details on what to cut and where, but this section will guide you through any holes in its information. It also helps those of you who want to design their own shed or can’t be bothered to follow directions that are set in stone!

The only part of building that requires serious planning is the stability. With enough nails, anything can be stable—but do try not to make your roof too heavy. Also, set aside at least a weekend to put up your shed (more if your shed is on the larger side). Grab a spotter from your friends or family to keep things safe for everyone involved. Now get out your tools and let’s begin!

  Quick Building Terms and Construction Definitions

Having trouble reading your plans? Does my building section below confuse you? I use all of these terms frequently, so if I say something confusing, check this list. As long as you learn these terms, then the instructions should be clear enough for even a complete idiot to build a shed! I also added in words that come up in shed plans often, even though I don’t use them here. If something seems unclear in your shed plan, use this architecture word guide to figure out what they mean!

Anchor Bolts – Connects structural and non-structural elements to concrete.

Bay Spacing – Space between the frames of a steel building.

Bearer – Timber/steel that attaches directly to the ground stumps.

Bearing Partitions

Bearing Wall (or Load-Bearing Wall) – Actively supports stuff above the wall (such as a roof).

Brace – Temporary structure that gives in-progress structures some support.

Clear Height – Distance from floor of building to any overhead or hanging object.

Clear Span – Unsupported space between two inside span supports.

Column – Vertical structure in a building (usually supportive).

Continuous Beam– A backup support beam.

Eave – Edge of the roof (sometimes overhangs).

Eave Height – Distance between floor level and eave line.

The Eave Line – The height of the eaves.

End Wall – A wall meant to support the roof.

Fascia – A large, flat piece of wood used to cover the rafters.

Foundation – The base supports of a building.

Gable End Bracing – Horizontal braces that distribute wind forces over a large area.

Gable Wall – The triangular wall between the angled ends of a roof.

Girder – Thick piece of iron, steel, or concrete used for support.

Hanging Beam – (Overhanging Beam) A beam that stretches across multiple supports that distributes weight equally across them.

Hat Channel – (Furring Channel) An artificially created hat-shaped beam that resists corrosion and evens out walls.

Haunch – Foundation extension for porches, patios, and similar structures.

Jack Stud – (Trimmers) A vertical stud that supports the header in large openings like windows and doors.

Jamb Stud – A vertical stud in a frame.

Joist – (includes jack ceiling joist, ceiling joist, floor joist, trimmer, etc) Any beam parallel with a wall to support the floor or ceiling.

Ledger – A board attached to a wall that allows further structural elements.

Lintel – Horizontal block between two vertical supports, usually above doors and windows.

Nogging – Horizontal filler beams in walls.

Post (Corner, Endframe, Etc) – A vertical post that makes up the supportive structure of a building.

Purlin – Any long, horizontal structural beam other than the crown plate.

Rafter – One of several sloped beams that support a roof.

Ridge – The peak of the roof.

A Ridge Board – The board between the rafters at the peak of the roof (sometimes not required).

Ridge Cap – Covers the ridge to seal it against weather and wear and secure the two sides together.

Rigid Frame – The structural frame of a building.

Sidewall – See end wall.

Sill Trimmer – Used to create an opening in the wall to accommodate stairs, chimneys, windows, and doors that run parallel to the floor.

Soffit Bearer – Provides a base and fixing point for roof cladding materials (such as tiles or shingles).

Stud (common stud) – Vertical framing in a wall. Probably the most important parts of a building.

Stump – A column that helps support the floor, usually of varying heights.

Subfloor – The supports beneath the main floor of a building.

Termite Shield – Metal that slows the movement of termites to the wood of your building.

Top Plate – Top beam of a frame that supports ceiling joists, rafters, and whatever else you put up there.

Trim – Moldings applied around openings, the floor and ceiling of rooms, and other open structures. Generally makes the building look finished.

Wall Girt – A horizontal part of a frame that helps a building distribute wind forces.

  Shed Foundation

You need to start your work with a solid foundation…literally. A building with no foundation floats away or rots any time it sprinkles outside. Even if you live in an incredibly dry area, an uneven building poses a huge structural risk. The last thing you need is for your storage shed to collapse as you’re building it. The cost of a foundation is included in any quotes of a shed, simply because it’s essential to construction. It’s also pretty easy to do, and you have your choice of two affordable types of foundations.

  General Rules

These are rules you need to follow no matter what sort of shed or foundation you are building. First, make sure your foundation is on top of raised ground. If your property is on a slope, that means building a foundation up out of the ground. For flat areas, bring in some soil and create an artificial hill that drains water away from the building. If your shed is next to another building, everything (including the roof) should slope away from the pre-existing building. Lean-to sheds are best for this.

On top of this, keep it above the typical water level during heavy rain. Even if your shed is three inches above the ground around it, it’s not going to save it if you built it in a dry creek bed! You need to keep your shed high and dry in order to prevent the foundation from rotting away. This applies to any kind of foundation you build. For windy areas, secure your foundation firmly to the ground. As with any other construction project, make sure your materials and the type of foundation match the classification of the building you are legally able to build (the slab foundation section mentions the reason for this).

  Concrete Block Foundations & Skid Foundations

For the cheaper option, you want to use concrete bricks to create a raised foundation. Combined with pressure treated skids, this offers a ton of airflow and prevents rotting wood at the base of your building. First, choose if you want to set your building on top of gravel to further found it and protect the soil underneath from eroding. Next, making sure all of the bricks are on level ground, line them all up. A taut string helps immensely for making sure everything is in order. Sometimes, you’ll want to stack more than one concrete block to prevent moving as you build. Never use hollow blocks for a foundation. If it’s all you can find for whatever reason, fill the insides with concrete to make them whole and secure.

For a more simple approach, use long 6 x 6” skids to create a level surface and an area to build on. This is the most temporary type of foundation possible, but it’s more than enough for a small shed. It also lets a small amount of air flow beneath the building to prevent rot and mold. Pier blocks are another great type of raised base, although it can be a hassle getting the wood lined up properly with them.

  Slab Foundation

The more expensive option is a concrete slab. Use a simple frame to outline the area you want your base to be. Try to make the ground as level as possible before you put down the frames, but don’t worry too much about it if you plan on having a raised slab. The top of the frame does need to be level, so measure that part out for sure. Pour gravel into the frame and allow it to sit for a few days. Make sure none of the gravel pokes out over the edge. When the gravel seems settled and the ground is dry, pour concrete into your frame and level that off as well. Once it sets, remove the frame around the concrete and start on the next section!

While I call this the more expensive option, it’s still kind of cheap compared to other types of foundations! Some people recommend a pure gravel base for the foundation, but because this inhibits airflow and concentrates moisture, it’s generally a bad idea. The only disadvantage to the slab option (which is designed to weather the test of time) is that it changes the class of building in some places. It goes from a temporary building to a permanent structure, which means you might need to find an inspector or apply for a permit.

  A Foundation for Colder Climes

If you live somewhere it freezes, neither a slab foundation nor a raised foundation will work. The frost will destroy your foundation slowly but surely. Go ahead and dig post holes four feet apart from each other. Pour concrete into each hole, stopping at the frost line. Next, set your post in there and pour concrete up to the top of your hole. The post must be straight and plumb, so you’ll want a brace while the concrete sets.

Saw the posts at the height that you would like your floor. Take special care to make sure these are level and spaced evenly. Use four feet spacing if you’re building 12×16 shed plans, 8×12 shed plans, 8 x 16 shed plans, 8 x 12 shed plans, 12×24 shed plans, 12×20 shed plans, 16×4 shed plans…and you get the picture from there. Use 4 x 4” runners to finish off the foundation. You build your floor according to your shed plans on top of this.

  Shed Floor

Using 16d galvanized nails, connect the floor according to your shed plan. Always make sure that your joists are perfectly aligned with the length of your decking (IE, for a shed length divisible by four, place your joists perfectly centered at each 4’ mark). This makes it very easy to attach your decking! Once you finish laying your decking down, anchor it to your foundation. Proceed with floor sheathing and you have yourself a floor!

For people who went with a concrete slab and have no building restrictions in place, you only need to worry about attaching the walls to the foundation. You can leave the concrete as-is, cover it with carpet, or install hardwood tiles. It all depends on how often you plan on entering the shed and what purpose you’re using it for! Generally, a plain concrete floor works best for storage sheds and saves you money.

  Shed Frame and Shed Walls

Once again, your shed plans are the best tool for creating a stable shed frame. Mark out where each opening is so that you don’t forget during construction and accidentally place studs there. Every room needs a door, and sheds that you plan on inhabiting or spending time in needs two doors…or at least a window. As you build, you may have to brace your walls as you go along. Use a double-layered wooden frame to top off load bearing walls and make your roof more secure.

Before you begin on that roof, though, you need to complete the walls! Even if you don’t plan on adding rooms, you might need to treat your walls according to laws of the area. This applies doubly so if you needed a permit to build your shed. For most buildings, you want to build your frame on the ground before raising it into position. This helps immensely with measurements and makes the building process safer. Place the wiring and ventilation system in the area now. Insulate the room with a fire-retardant material. Once that’s done, you can cover up the studs, wires, and fluff.

  Shed Roof

The shed roof is, by far, the most complicated part of the build. If you mess this up, you’ll run into quite a few big problems. Your roof and building could blow away. Your shed might start tilting from uneven weight. It might even collapse if you didn’t build your load-bearing walls correctly or didn’t measure the weight correctly! That’s why it’s especially important that you pay attention to what your shed plans say for this section of the build.

In general, you make one set of rafters that serves as a guide for the rest. This way, you only need to do all of your measuring and calculating once. By setting up two end rafters and running a string along them, you can ensure that all of your rafters are even. You build every rafter on the ground since it’s difficult to balance them while they’re vertical. Once you finish, put them all up at once and cap it with a ridge board. Secure each rafter as you go along to prevent catastrophe. Whenever you put the rafters down, take care not to lay them diagonally over non-load bearing walls—that could cause a collapse.

From there, use large wooden sheets to construct the roof. Caulk seals any holes you might have left. After that, cover it with waterproof paint. Some people choose to make a multi-layered roof—check to see if your shed plan is one of those types of buildings! Your tiles or shingles go on top of everything when you’re done. If you fail to waterproof your roof properly, you will get mold and rotten wood issues in your shed. Plus, any leak gets all your stuff wet.

Of course, if you want to go the cheap way, feel free to use flat metal sheets for the roof. Take extra care that both the roof and building are securely founded, since this type of roof allows a lot of air and water through. You don’t want a piece of metal blowing around in a windstorm. A crooked shed doesn’t look that great, either.

  Finishing Touches

What you do on the inside of your shed is up to you, but for the outside, you need to use specific finishing touches to ensure the durability of your shed. First, if you didn’t do it as you installed your windows and doors, put caulk around any open places. Take special care when dealing with horizontal joints, where water tends to pool the most. They actually sell paintable caulk if you want it to look spectacular.

All of the outside wood should be coated with an exterior wood primer. After that, paint it with a finish or stain it as you please. The type of paint doesn’t really matter, although you should save the label of the can for repainting in the distant future. If you use oil paint and then change to latex paint later on, you’ll have to apply a primer on top of the oil paint so that other types of paint can stick.

Use whatever trim your shed plan calls for or improvise on your own. If you do improvise, try to keep things lightweight so that it won’t affect the integrity of your shed. Another thing to think about as you handle your exterior trim is the direction of the trim. Horizontal trim has a habit of building up water and mold over time, even with careful treatment. Use them in shaded areas or a little beneath the roof eaves. With all of that done, you have a wonderful shed to show off!

  Shed Ideas

Now that you have your shed, do you need ideas for how to use it? Check out my storage shed post, man cave shed post, two story shed post, and the rest of my site for all kinds of ideas. I go over how to decorate inside and outside and how to make the space yours! If you’re having trouble picking a type of shed, you can also check out my in-depth article on shed architecture. You never know which one suits you most until you see it in front of your eyes!

  Using Your Shed Plans

Now that you know everything about building and materializing your dream shed, go ahead and browse the rest of the site to learn about all kinds of construction and design projects. I wrote this post to help you make your property your own. Nothing feels better than looking at something spectacular and knowing that you made it happen. With these shed plans, that’s all the easier.

No matter how you build your shed, decorate your home, or make your space your own, I want you to walk away with more knowledge and skills than you had before. Confidence is key, and determination is the deciding factor. Can you stick to your plan? Can you pull through like a real man? It’s all up to you! Happy building!

  The post Shed Plans: Learn to Read and Use Them! appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/shed-plans-learn-to-read-and-use-them/

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How to Find and Use Your Barn Plans

How to Find and Use Your Barn Plans

Let’s take a step back from all this shed business. Sheds are great and all…but what about barns? Barns add way more to your property value, house all kinds of essentials, and allow for much more space than a small shed. Even small barn plans can accommodate a luxuriously sized man cave—or whatever other sort of wild stuff you need to seclude from the rest of the world! Since barns are primarily a functional building, rather than a residential one, the amount of designs and purposes varies drastically. Today, I want to talk about how to find and use barn plans that match your needs exactly. Let’s begin!

Large Barn Plans

If you already know what you want, I describe how to use your barn plans and find materials down below. If you don’t, then here are some ideas and basic plans to get those gears turning! Refer to my post here to see what your expected costs might be (multiply it twice to account for the large size of your barn). Once you have an idea of what you want, seek out a collection of barn and shed plans to make your vision a reality.

Having your plans clear ahead of time helps you manage your time, your budget, your materials, and your sanity. You need all of these things before you begin, although it’s quite possible you will lose your sanity along the way if you get crappy barn plans. A wide range of options also helps you stay within the law of your locale. Anyways, let’s talk architecture!

  Post and Beam Barn Plans

Post and beam barn plans use heavy timber, rather than typical lumber, to get the job done. Since the wood is much sturdier, it allows for larger and spacious structures, all using fewer materials. These open spaces accommodate animals and living quarters with ease, making them the most popular type of barn (and practically the only type of barn plan out there). This style is called post and beam because every aspect of support is carried in the beams. You can customize the walls however you like, as long as you don’t throw in too much heavy stuff. Large windows, shelves, tool hangers, and decorations go up there with ease.

As you look for barn plans, lean heavily towards post-and-beam barn plans. They’re tried and true. They accommodate living quarters, lofts, offices, and anything else you would want in a barn. They also allow for all sorts of construction materials—something you can read more about in the Rough Cut Lumber Barn Plans section. The plan for these barns tends to look samey, which is why I cover all types of Post and Beam barn plan types. For example…

  Gambrel Barn Plans

The Gambrel barn plan looks spectacular, though it takes a little extra knowledge and more thorough barn plans to pull off. It only differs from your typical post and beam barn plan through its roof shape. Instead of being a sharp single-angle roof, it has several corners along its slope that almost make it look curved. This allows more ceiling space on the second floor, which is especially nice if you plan on living there. It also has a sharp angle at the front of the building and often a side area that continues from the roof.

The side area is excellently sheltered from the elements, making it great for keeping animals contained, setting up a workshop, or storing machinery. Due to the rarity of gambrel barn plans, each and every gambrel barn looks unique. If you want your barn to look different than any other in the area, go with a gambrel barn plan!

  Barn Plans with a Loft

Thankfully for everyone, you can always add a loft plan in after construction. As long as you build your barn properly according to your barn plan, it should be more than enough to accommodate your loft. The advantage of finding a barn plan with a loft is that it cuts down on space. The barn naturally supports the loft in its design, while you need to make special accommodations for renovations down the line. Building with a loft in mind also allows you to construct larger lofts in a more simple manner.

A loft gives you area for dining, tools, machinery, and storage underneath it. At the top, you can throw in more storage or a place to simply relax. An office close to your place of work, rather than your home, also helps separate your job from your normal life. That can be a life-saver when it comes to your social life! Keep in mind that a loft can go above an enclosed room as well, and the walls of that room can be turned into shelves…the possibilities are endless. Lofts truly help you maximize the use of space in your barn. I highly recommend throwing one in, if you don’t flat-up build a two story barn in the first place!

Barns with Living Quarters

Nothing is better than living in the same place that you work. Actually, I take that back. There are a bunch of better things. But hey, you can sleep in up to three minutes before you work, relax in your bedroom during your breaks, and generally be around whenever you’re needed. For farm work, all of those things are essential in running a business—at least if you’re the owner of the place. They truly match the rustic countryside and allow you to efficiently use your land, especially with two-story designs.

These types of barns are typically incorporated into the tried and true post-and-beam plans. With living quarters on the second story, it can truly feel like a different world when you step into your living room. If you plan on building a barn and renovating it to have living quarters down the line, take into account the increased price. Renovations for barns cost quite a lot—sometimes more than the original barn. Building a desirable plan to begin with, even if it costs more in the short-term, works out better. You can also create adjacent sheds or homes, though it’s just not the same. Living in close quarters with animals gives you a bunch of health advantages, too!

  Rough Cut Lumber Barn Plans

Rough cut lumber barn plans are your cheapest option for large barns. For one, their materials require so little treatment and rarely ship far, driving their cost down dramatically. And another thing—less time spent prepping that wood yourself means less time building and less time wasted. Time is money! The disadvantage of rough cut lumber is that it weathers poorly. If you don’t plan on treating it or painting it down the road, you may end up with structural problems or leaks of all kinds. The last thing you need is a moldy barn.

I recommend using rough cut lumber barn plans only if you need to throw together a barn immediately. With a sudden influx of animals, that can be more often than you think! Just try to get the wood properly sealed down the line so that you don’t waste money on the construction. Of course, even though I am distinguishing rough cut lumber barn plans separately from the rest, you can actually use rough cut lumber with any kind of barn plan. Just keep in mind its pros and cons if you decide to switch the suggested materials of your chosen barn plan.

  Small Barn Plans

Using small barn plans, you can turn a relatively tiny amount of land into a productive zone that gives back more than what you put into it. Use it to house small livestock and enjoy the resources those animals give us! You can also create a multi-storied small barn and grow a few things in there year-round. With proper planning and investment, a small barn can easily produce half the food a family needs every year.

Small barn plans are much more difficult to find than the industrial ones or barns with living quarters. There are just fewer buyers—with many potential customers living in an area with strict zoning restrictions. With this is mind, you may need to adapt barn plans that you find, unless you grab a collection of wood working plans. Make sure there is a dedicated and sheltered area close by where you can prepare the food itself, either before you start building or as you build.

Visit local barns in your area that do what you want to do and downsize those plans. You see exactly what sort of system works, then you can combine it with all of your other needs for an efficient small barn plan. If you do end up adapting your own plan, and it’s distinguished enough from the plan you started with, then I highly recommend turning it around and selling that plan. Just make sure your roof is well supported, the building can withstand heavy snow, and your foundation sits above the water table. As long as you do those things, your barn will weather the test of time and prove useful for others!

  Finding Materials for your Barn Plans

I’ve talked about how to find and judge building materials before, but I would like to go into detail here. Building a barn takes a lot of cash, and no one has mountains of that laying around, so let’s talk about all the ways to reduce that cost and find your materials. First, check out the net. Craigslist, auction houses, trading sites, online home listings, and so on all hold potential to find very cheap materials. Going to your local chain store also yields a lot of materials on clearance because of small imperfections. As long as these flaws don’t affect the integrity of your barn, go for them! Just don’t buy at full retail price while you’re there.

The best way to gain high-quality, new material is to visit your local lumberyard. Give them a list of what you need and they’ll deliver on the goods. Some of them will also cut and ship them for you! Even for these extra fees, it beats big box prices and the time it takes to do it yourself. You can focus on building instead of spending a lot of time chopping and cutting. Simply double-check their measurements against your barn plans and then start building!

While we’re on the topic, think about what types of materials you want. Obviously, wood is the single most important material for any barn. In newer barn plans, though, plastics and metal might be involved. They offer their own pros and cons, so consider this while you pick out a barn plan and shop for materials! If you bought a collection of plans, don’t be afraid to change your barn plans during the process of shopping if one of them looks a lot cheaper to build at that moment in time. After all, you have quite a few plans for a reason. Switch to the one that best suits your needs!

  Additional Notes for Building with your Barn Plans

If you live in the country, zoning laws are not very strict. If you live in the cities or—just why?—in the city, you have a lot more restrictions to deal with. First, zoning laws determine what sort of building codes you follow. Residential, commercial, industrial, urban services, agricultural, and direct control areas constitute the majority of zones. Building a barn is most likely banned in commercial, industrial, and urban services zones.

If you find yourself in the wrong zone, look into the history of zoning laws. If your zone was recently changed to one that does not allow barn construction, overturning it in an appeals court is easy, and you can get your barn! For more information on building regulations, check my post here.

Another thing to note before you build your barn is what exactly you’re using it for. This directly affects which type of barn plan you want to grab. It also keeps your ultimate goal clear—something that drastically increases the speed and success of large building projects like these. If you want a man cave in there, go with a simple and spacious design (or use these tips). If you want to house animals, look into post and beam barn plans that incorporate stables. In the event you want to live close to the place you work, find multi-room barns or barn plans with a loft to satisfy your needs. Since the purpose of your barn changes which plan you need, think about what you want and decide early on how to accomplish it!

As a final note on dealing with barn plans, I want to emphasize one thing. Budget. Properly. If you fail to budget your time and money for the project, you inevitably end up wasting a lot of resources on an incomplete building. If you leave materials standing out too long—untreated and fully exposed to the elements—then they could be ruined. That’s a whole lot of money down the drain. If you need help building this quickly, then find some friends or hire a contractor to make it happen. If you need more money to put into the project, then follow the material guidelines I outlined above…or just wait for a more appropriate time to begin building!

  Final Word on Barn Plans

Whatever you choose to build, and however you choose to build it, I’m certain that the right barn plan will set you on the path to success. But barn plans aren’t everything. You need perseverance, dedication, and above all…resolve. Okay, that sounds a little more epic than it needs to be, but you get the point. A working man needs to carry through with his plans, whether it’s with sprucing up a man cave or building the ultimate barn from scratch.

The post How to Find and Use Your Barn Plans appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/how-to-find-and-use-your-barn-plans/

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Man Cave Refrigerators

Man Cave Refrigerators

For anyone hosting a bar in their man cave, the fridge holds utmost importance. You use it to hold your drinks at a certain temperature, ensuring you and your guests enjoy a refreshing beer when needed. On top of the whole comfort aspect of drink temperature, certain temperatures also improve the tastes of wines! Even for us sober folk, the fridge holds our most precious belongings: snacks. Lots of them. This post helps you learn to incorporate a fridge into your man cave with ease. It also gives you tips on which man cave refrigerators match your needs!

Man Cave Refrigerator Ideas

Let’s start with the essentials—what you want out of your man cave refrigerator. The coldest beer fridge keeps your drinks nice and frosty, but a larger beer bottle fridge may better accommodate your needs. Something that fits all kinds of food also needs larger storage compartments. Furthermore, not every fridge design fits in with the theme of your man cave. These fridges represent some of the more basic man cave refrigerator ideas—feel free to branch out from these!

  Danby 120 Can Beverage Center

Although this design imitates the coolers of a real bar, I like to imagine the blue lights represent a neat technological theme. Honestly, this fridge fits in anything other than a rustic man cave! They also make it with a recessed handle, so that solves a few space issues.

Buy from Amazon

  Kalamera 15” Beverage cooler

A taller fridge with skinnier sides helps maintain a certain temperature. This one in particular includes a temperature memory—so it tells you exactly how long it takes for your drinks to cool.

Buy from Amazon

  Danby DWC172BL 1.8-Cu.Ft. 17-Bottle Counter-Top Cooler

In contrast to a larger fridge, this one sits easily on your counter. For people who only carry a few snacks in the cave and drink a little rarely, this little emergency fridge saves electricity and fits into all sorts of spaces.

Buy from Amazon

  RCA RFR321-FR320/8 IGLOO Mini Refrigerator

To a lot of people, form matters as much as function. To be completely honest, I often purchase things in my favorite color, even if a better designed option exists in a bland white or black. This fridge uses a simplistic design. However, they also make it in a ton of fun colors. Especially for caves with a game theme, grab a fridge in your team’s colors or something that matches your room!

Buy from Amazon

  Man Cave Mini Fridges

To expand on those ideas, think of what your man cave mini fridge will contain. After all, people prefer cans, bottles, boxes, or food containers to a different extent. These different varieties help deal with that!

  NewAir 84-Can Beverage Cooler

This man cave mini fridge can hold between 84 and 126 cans, depending on the size you want. Although specifically made for cans, each shelf easily adjusts to accommodate other drinks. Even when using the bottom for sports drinks, it still holds three shelves of beer cans above it.

Buy from Amazon

  NewAir AW-181E 18 Bottle Thermoelectric Cooler

This cooler, on the other hand, works for wine and only wine. It holds between twelve and twenty-eight bottles. By storing them on their side, open bottles expose a large surface area to the air, improving the flavor over time.

Buy from Amazon

  EdgeStar BWC70SS 62-Can Beverage Cooler

This quaint little cooler works best for personal use. It stores two shelves of drinks, so someone who just needs a small drink during their relaxation time can rely on it to store everything they need.

Buy from Amazon

  Danby DAR044A4BDD Compact All Refrigerator

This simple design withstands the test of time and holds absolutely anything you need it to. It comes in black, white, steel, and…patriotic? I hope you enjoy Budweiser if you go for that version, because they plastered the brand right over the flag!

Buy from Amazon

  Kalamera 24” Wine refrigerator 46 Bottle

Like the NewAir wine cooler, this cooler stores wine horizontally. However, it contains far more controls to ensure your wine stays in optimal conditions—including temperature control. On top of that, it fits more wine bottles.

Buy from Amazon

  Man Cave Fridge Wraps

When they only make your man cave refrigerator in bland colors, fear not! People use fridge wraps to customize their utilities all the time. Plus, every fridge wrap features a pattern. Even for a large mancave fridge, I guarantee a fridge wrap makes it fit into whatever theme you used for your cave. Rustic man caves feature saloon-style fridge wraps, while gaming rooms use football or video game-themed wraps. More than anything else, though, I prefer the one below.

  Kegerator Skin – Beer Barrel

Why, you ask? I mean, look at it! Nothing encapsulates the man cave experience more than beer. The fridge exists mainly to house your alcohol, so this label cements that forever! On top of that, it just looks nice in the room. Or at the very least, much better than a boring solid color surface!

Buy from Amazon

   Choosing the Best Man Cave Refrigerators

A mancave fridge exists for one reason: convenience. While you obviously own a fridge in the kitchen or garage, those exist outside of your man space. Putting one straight into the cave saves you time and gives you peace of mind. Whenever you want, you grab a drink, and if you run out, you visit the reserves (the regular kitchen) until restock time. When in the middle of a big game, it minimizes the time you spend away from the action. That’s more than enough reason for me to keep a man cave refrigerator in my own cave!

The post Man Cave Refrigerators appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/man-cave-refrigerators/

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Man Cave Furniture

Man Cave Furniture

You finished your ceiling, so no stray paint drops threaten your floor. You put up your walls, so no dust or chalk litters the room. Knowing the layout of the room, you installed all the plumbing and wiring necessary to suit your needs. Plus, you finished the floor and the whole room looks beautiful. Now what? The furniture, of course! Now that you finished the messy bits of construction, furniture makes up the first part of turning your empty room into a man cave. Furniture sets up the feel and theme of the room and molds how you decorate everything. With all of that stuff out of the way, let’s hook you up with the best man cave furniture around!

For more than just furniture, our detailed list of the best man cave ideas helps you improve your man cave from the ground up!

  Modern Man Cave Furniture

To spruce up a modern man cave, stay away from wooden furniture. Instead, look at leather, fabric, metal, and plastic (yes, I said it, plastic) seating. Naturally, a unique design that features smooth edges and sharp patterns complements a modern room the best. For your man cave couch, modern designs range from expensive to repulsive, so settling for a normal couch works fine. Your furniture sets up your man cave decor, so a black or white couch goes with anything, while a sports-themed couch captures the mood of a game. For more ideas for man cave rooms, check our man cave decor article .

  Flash Furniture Upholstery Recliner

For small man caves, this recliner that allows for additional storage underneath and expands as needed helps to manage space. Plus, the simple base helps keep it safe from potential water damage in poorly insulated garages and sheds. It also swivels, which provides endless entertainment, of course. Compared to the other chairs I recommend, this chair ranks among the most affordable. When fully reclined, it leans back about 50*. This allows you to focus on things in the room without craning your neck!

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  Real Relax Massage Chair Recliner

You know these chairs already. You see them at the mall with quarters attached, charging you two dollars to sit in it for five minutes. And, you know what? These chairs are worth every penny. With a beautiful design that hugs your body and adjusts to your natural sitting angle, this chair provides perfect comfort as you relax in your man cave, watch the big game, or read your favorite book.

Buy from Amazon

  Man Cave Refrigerators

Use a fridge as one of the founding pieces of furniture in your room. Since they tend to take up a lot of space, situating the room around them makes sense. Otherwise, you end up with a fridge that looks out of place and sits in an inconvenient spot. At the same time, mini fridges or small wine coolers might suit your needs better. It all depends on what you need to keep your snacks stocked for you and any of your guests.

As for actual contents? Keep a variety of beer—with extra of your favorites—along with meats, cheeses, salsa, and soda for whoever winds up the designated driver. Put some chips to the side, and you have yourself a party at a moment’s notice! For smaller or specialized fridges, just drinks works best. Some other man cave ideas for a snacks? Throw in sports drinks for active types, vegetables for your vegan friends, and yogurt for the hipsters. What about personal man caves? Well, no problem! Just hoard all that food for yourself to save a trip to the kitchen.

Of course, these fridges only fill in some needs. For more specialized fridges—along with ways to incorporate them into your man cave theme—check out our main man cave refrigerators page.

  Awesome Man Cave Recliners

After couches and fridges, man cave chairs determine the flow of the room. Chairs facing a TV—in the same direction as a couch—create a home theatre experience. On the other hand, chairs facing inwards create a cozy feel and focuses attention more on people in the room, rather than objects. Desk chairs improve the workshop feel, bar stools fulfill a crucial function, while bowl chairs create a haven of relaxation in your man cave. For rustic man cave ideas, wooden chairs go a long way to completing the theme. Now you see why chairs make such a difference in a room!

Ultimately, your relaxation requirements determine what sort of chairs go into your room. Cheap, decorative, and thematic chairs might look great with your man cave theme and keep your wallet nice and fat, but their comfort proves lacking if you only go after those traits. Always look at reviews for online recliners to spare you some strife. Regardless of decoration or function, make sure your butt likes those cushions, because you’ll be sitting in them for a while!

  Double Reclining Sofa, Brown Bonded Leather

Although I never tried this couch myself, my dad uses one in his own man cave. It feels so satisfying sinking into the plush leather after a long day to watch some TV, drink a little, and chill out. The two end chairs extend to become a recliner. A companion double seat also includes two recliners, although the main sofa seats more than enough. Combine both of them with a corner wine holder and enjoy the fine life! It assembles very quickly and—I can’t emphasize enough—feels incredibly cozy to sit in. Let’s just say I’m jealous of my dad.

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  3 Double Reclining Sofa, Brown Bonded Leather

For larger man caves, seating a whole party proves difficult with a single couch. This triple seat couch lets you squeeze five or six people easily to enjoy a party game—as long as they sacrifice a little personal space! On your own, this provides a wonderful place to lie down. It feels more comfy than a mattress, so be careful sitting in it late at night!

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  Homelegance 9668BLK-1 Glider Reclining Chair

With a sleek design and cozy leather material, this chair easily extends a leather couch of the same color and blends in with every type of man cave theme. It leans back just enough to give you a good view of the room—that means no staring at the ceiling while trying to sit normally!

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  Man Cave Bar Furniture

For your man cave garage, your furniture needs to withstand the weather and various temperatures it brings. In the same way, the furniture for a man cave bar needs to stand up to the abuse of constant use from yourself and your guests. High-quality seats stay looking newer for longer, while craftsman-grade bar shelves keep off stains and hold plenty of mix materials. Add to that your coolers and neon man cave signs , and you create the perfect bar right there in your own sanctuary. Finish your plumbing system—if necessary—before you look into bar furniture. For those without a sink nearby, I recommend keeping a little minifridge behind the counter for mixed drinks, where applicable.

Our man cave bar feature goes into all the furniture you need.

  Emerald Home T100-0 Chandler Cocktail Table, Wood

This wonderful rustic coffee table contains two layers to store magazines, books, games, remotes, and anything else you frequently need as you relax in the cave. Its sturdy material keeps it looking great over the years. The natural texture of this wooden coffee table keeps coffee rings and scratches hidden!

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  Anya & Niki Teak Wood Coffee Table, Unique Design Sturdy and Easy to Assemble

For rustic man caves, wood furniture takes priority. This unique teak wood coffee table looks different from piece to piece, ensuring your man cave looks unique! Assemble it in just a few moments and easily move it when needed. Without extra shelves beneath it, it gives you a lot of leg space for when you relax on the couch.

Buy from Amazon

  Small Man Cave Furniture

Man cave ideas for a small room center around managing your furniture and ensuring it serves its function while taking up little space. In example, a man cave coffee table contains multiple compartments for storing books, tools, beer, remotes, games, and anything imaginable. Small coolers and cabinets coexist to cut down on space. Suspend as much of your large and bulky furniture up onto the wall. This includes shelving, your TV screen, games, wires, and stereo system. For very small man cave ideas, consider adding multiple layers to your room. Even a small raised platform helps to hide games, electronics, unused furniture, and so on. The more vertical space you use, the more the space between your furniture expands!

  Chicago Gaming Signature Foosball Coffee Table

Place this table at the center of your room to provide both function and some stress relief. If you deal with kids in your daily life, putting them in charge of this table while you chill in the room doing other things keeps them occupied. Of course, it also works for drunk adults. Check out my detailed man cave idea page for more fun things to put in the center of the room!

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  Coaster Country Style Coffee Table

For super rustic designs or steampunk designs, the wheeled coffee table fills your room with flavor. On top of that, it perfectly matches industrial rooms and workshop-themed man caves. In small mancaves, roll it to the side of the room and place it upright to save space, when necessary. Take it out for game days or when you invite guests over!

Buy from Amazon

    The Very Best Man Cave Furniture

In the end, it’s your room, with your rules. Any sort of furniture that improves your comfort and experience in the room works…even if that piece of furniture is a giant bean bag! Hopefully these recommendations help you start setting up your man cave furniture! Since furniture determines the whole layout of your room, you need to select carefully and coordinate everything together. Walking up to a garage sale and picking up the cheapest antiques might work for cheap man cave ideas, but a good man cave unifies their room with a direction visible in every piece. From the floor to the ceiling, every sign, clock, chair, and entertainment system flows together.

The very best man cave furniture captures the essence of the room and enhances it, adding to it both with function and aesthetics. As long as you keep that in mind while browsing for furniture, your man cave will stand out from the rest as a spectacular achievement! We write more about the best man cave ideas here and cover far more than just furniture. Take advantage of all the tools and resources at your fingertips and start building today!

The post Man Cave Furniture appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/man-cave-furniture/

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Man Caves: Wood Sheds

Man Caves: Wood Sheds

Building a man cave on a budget doesn’t work when you have limited space—and that’s why many people have turned to backyard man caves. Wood shed man caves allow you to fine-tune your space down to the smallest detail. You choose what sort of floor, wall, and ceiling you want. You can build your entertainment system right into the walls. With a little ingenuity, you can even make the cave open out into the backyard so it feels like an outside bar…with all the essentials of a man cave! Wood sheds provide an empty template with which you can create any man cave you can dream of.

So, interested in man caves made out of wood sheds? Do you already have a shed you want to convert, or are you planning on building your own? Either way, I put a bunch of advice for you in this post that helps you with everything you need for building your custom man cave. Finding the best wood, picking the best decor, looking for plans, finding pre-made kits, and converting old sheds into something livable are all necessary knowledge for a man looking to build a wood shed man cave! Now, let’s start from the beginning and make your dream a reality!

    Wood Shed Plans

If you already have a shed or want to find a pre-made kit, skip the next two sections. If not, let’s get you started on your journey. Building things with your own two hands feels great, anyways. Woodshed plans help you measure out all the needed materials, save money in the long run, plan for utilities, and help you with legal matters in the future. If you are an architect, go wild—after all, a shed is pretty easy to build. Why not add more stuff to it?

If you have never built anything before, I highly recommend you look into wood storage shed plans or simple wooden shed plans. By referencing pre-existing plans, you can come up with your own designs. It’s important to know how much weight each portion of your floor can support as well as how much you can tack on to the ceiling without losing structural integrity. This is especially true of something you plan on converting into a man cave! If you’re not confident in your mathematical prowess (and hey, it happens), don’t feel bad for using a pre-designed shed with no alterations. It keeps things simple, safe, and speeds up construction.

If the concept of going off a plan intimidates you, don’t start building from scratch. That’s just a recipe for disaster. Look into prebuilt sheds, shed kits, and contractors instead. I provide information for all of that in a bit.

  Making Wooden Storage Sheds

Now that you have your plans, you want to grab your materials. There are many different grades of wood, and you want to go for the first and second grades. These pieces of wood contain very few—if any—defects. The wood needs to be level with no twists or warps in the shape. There are several different types of board sawing styles you can consider. Rough-sawn is cheap and durable, while plain-sawn, rift-sawn, and quarter-sawn boards have progressively higher stability…and price. Whatever you choose, find it at a local lumber yard—it’s cheaper than the big stores and helps support local business.

Check the weather ahead of time before you begin building. Sheds take multiple days to build, unless you’re working as a highly efficient team! You don’t want it to start pouring as you put your foundation in place. Most shed plans come included with the tools and materials needed, but some architects and designers go the extra mile and include instructions on how to build with their plans. If this is your first time building, learn the basics of building from those plans and utilize that knowledge to make your own shed.

For making a man cave shed, I highly recommend a large and tall shed structure. See the largest allowed in your area and size one out a few feet below that. This allows you to create a huge man cave and even build in some awesome features as you go along. If you pick a plan with a lot of windows, invest in some black out curtains.

To estimate the costs of your wood shed, check out my dedicated post on the matter.

  Wood Shed Kits

If building things from scratch isn’t your talent, but you still want to keep things cheap and avoid contractors, then wooden shed kits are the thing for you. You can find shed kits for sale in most large home and garden stores. It will be pricier to buy these premade sheds…unless your time is money. The prices range from $1,000 to $6,000, all depending on the size and style of the shed you want. For small sheds, some companies will deliver it pre-constructed to your doorstep. Well, driveway, anyways. They help you situate it in the backyard.

For larger sheds, they arrive as a pile of materials. You can have whatever company you buy from construct it for you, or you can follow the simple directions to assemble it. I promise it’s easier than reading IKEA hieroglyphics. The difference between gathering materials yourself and purchasing a shed kit is that the shed kit comes with some pieces preassembled. With the best companies, you only need to attach the walls and roof together. Shed kits do not usually include foundational supplies, so make sure to consider that while you price out your options.

Some companies out there specialize in selling man cave shed kits. They construct the shed and plan out your cave for you. However, given their expense and rarity, it’s much easier and more efficient to do the decor stuff yourself and get a ‘cheaper’ kit.

  Finding a Contractor for Wood Sheds

If you absolutely must hire a contractor, you have two options: go to a large brand name, or go to a local and reputable company. By going with a brand name, you protect yourself from shoddy workmanship (the brand name can’t exactly go under the radar when you contact them). A local and reputable company is obviously better, but do some serious research into them, because horrible contractors are out there in droves.

  Converting Wood Storage Sheds

Do you already have a pre-built shed on your property? Excellent! Let’s learn how to make a shed livable, and then how to upgrade that livable space into a man cave! A shed man cave conversion takes a similar amount of effort as a shed bedroom conversion, but you get to prioritize different things. With a bedroom, you are required to follow certain laws to ensure it is safe for living. With a man cave, you can stick to the minimum amount of effort—mostly making sure the building has structural integrity—and then your effort focuses on optional quality of life changes. I made a huge post on how to convert sheds into man caves.

The first thing you’ll want to decide is what to do with the ceiling. I prefer to leave the shed supports exposed or build a partial loft (more info on two story sheds here). It makes the man cave feel much larger and, well, cave-like. It also makes it easy to mount things up high on the wall when you can easily wrap wires around the support beams. Think about how you will set up your surround sound or hang up your flags before you cover up that stuff! After that, think about how you will ventilate the area. Sheds work a little bit like big ovens—it’s tolerable in the winter without heating, but in the summer…well, you will need to get that air flowing somehow. Windows do the job well, but planning for an AC works even better.

    More Conversion Tips for Wood Sheds

Lastly, let’s talk about floors. Some people might like the dirt floors of storage sheds, but if I’m putting a fancy TV and furniture in there, I want it to have an actual floor. Level the floor out and use large sheets of plywood to get a sturdy surface. For bonus points, apply sealant so that water won’t seep in from the floor (a pretty common issues). Once that mini “foundation” is in place, you can put down tile, carpet, or wood flooring to make your man cave really shape up. Get some contractors to throw in whatever utilities you may need, and voila, your shed is ready to be made into the perfect man cave!

  Backyard Man Cave Shed

So, how do you use your shed, now that it’s ready to throw in stuff? I talk all about this in other articles (like this one), but here are the basics to get you started. Put your large furniture in first—the fridge, any counter tops, and then your seating and tables. Think about where your TV will go as you set things up and place things accordingly, or you’ll regret it later. For decor, find some awesome posters or pieces of art that fit your man cave theme.

And you did pick a theme, didn’t you? All man caves need a central theme that tie it (and you) together. You can pick Star Wars, your favorite football team, Final Fantasy, minimalism, and even the color green. It really doesn’t matter, as long as you love it and can show it off to anybody. Throw in some signage to denote this as a man cave, rather than a study or a living room. Remember that everything should be casual and doesn’t need to follow the ‘etiquette’ that an actual home would. Your wood shed man cave is a place to relax, not a place for rules!

  Legal Stuff: Concerning Wooden Sheds

Living in a shed on your own land sounds like a dream for fans of minimalism and the simple life. However, if you want to build a man cave shed and then rent it out, there are a few things you should know. First, a shed is a class 10a building, but in order to rent, you need a Class 1 building. The difference is that Class 1 buildings need insulation, hot water, cross ventilation (for fire safety and airflow), a septic waste and water disposal system, and a few other things. There are a few pre-built sheds that include the basics for these utilities. I recommend also including electricity, since that is becoming more and more necessary in modern times and many counties require it.

  Always Check for These Before Building:

Speaking of counties, regardless of whether you want your man cave livable or not, you will have to look at state, county, city, and neighborhood regulations regarding backyard sheds if you live in a thriving community. If you have already had a shed for years, I wouldn’t worry about it, but building a new one while ignoring building codes is just asking for trouble.

  Common Codes

Attachment – Attaching your shed to your building isn’t building a shed at all—it’s building a porch or extending your house. It sort of defeats the purpose of building a secluded man cave shed in the first place, so I recommend against attaching it to the house. Look up how far away from the house your shed needs to be.

Building Permit – This is pretty self-explanatory. A building permit tells the city and the neighborhood that you understand the rules of building your own shed. It assures them that you’ll follow all the minimum requirements and lets them more easily hold you accountable if you shirk your responsibility. Real men don’t cut corners, anyways.

Location Restrictions – Even if you build on your property, that doesn’t mean you can build whatever. Home owners associations are notorious for a rule that says no constructions should be visible from the street. Furthermore, some places restrict your shed a certain distance away from your home and fence. Its vicinity to trees may also play a big role. The location restrictions can be quite random, so look them up!

Wood Shed Design Proposal – The single most important part of your building proposal, the shed design lets people know what you plan on building. It tells them about the structural integrity of the building and how you plan on meeting all the regulations above. It tells them if your building is the correct size and can be constructed in a timely manner. There are lots of pre-made wood shed kits and wood shed plans that you can select from, if you don’t have time to make all of the blueprints yourself!

    Highly Recommended (and Occasionally Required) Legal Stuff:

Yep, there’s still more! This is all common legal stuff you will run into–but even if you don’t, try to follow these guidelines.

Electricity Regulations – If you run electricity into your shed, many places will require it to be done by a licensed electrician and approved by city health inspectors. It doesn’t matter if you plan on renting out the man cave or living in it. This is just a safety concern for them.

Foundation Restrictions – Depending on your location, you need to guarantee a certain amount of stability for your new structure. Places with a high water table may require cement foundations to keep water out…or they might require a raised wooden foundation to keep water underneath! They need assurances that your shed won’t just blow away in the next bad wind storm.

Severe Weather Planning – Foundations make up a big part of this, but there are other ways to weather-proof your home. Your building must be fully insulated, the roof may not leak in even the worst thunder storms, and your shed should be on raised ground so that water flows around the foundation—rather than through the foundation—during a rain storm. Your roof tiles and side panels must be securely in place.

Once you have all of the legal stuff out of the way, feel free to build your own wood shed and convert it into the best man cave you’ve ever seen!

  Using Man Cave Wooden Sheds

Despite all these hoops you have to jump through, man cave sheds really pay off in the end. Separated from the rest of the house, they truly feel like a sanctuary (or mantuary) that you can relax in whenever you need to. Of course you’ll have to go back to reality eventually, but for now, kick back, relax, and enjoy your hard work! It can take weeks—or even months—to create the perfect man cave shed, so when you pull it off, make sure to relish it. Nothing feels better than enjoying the fruits of your own labor, after all!

The post Man Caves: Wood Sheds appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/wood-sheds/

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Making the Most Out of Two Story Sheds

Making the Most Out of Two Story Sheds

When you think about building your own man cave, you might forget about the possibility of a two story shed! Two stories maximize the amount of square feet you squeeze into your shed, which is especially useful when yard space is limited. With what’s essentially double the space, you can greatly increase the amount of things you cram into your cave. Plus, there are a few things only possible with a two story man cave! Today, let’s talk all about two story sheds and how to make the most of them as a man cave. Make sure to check out my other man cave shed article, while you’re at it!

  2 Story Sheds to Live In

In order to make the most out of your two story sheds, think about cool features that take up two stories. In example, I see a lot of men who put in a fire pole for…well, whatever they want to use it for. Usually sliding from the second floor to the first. Other awesome two story features include a large aquarium, waterfalls, an actual cavern aesthetic, and even a giant ant farm. Go wild thinking of how to convert this shed into a man cave to live in!

Of course, all the normal man cave shed rules apply to a two story shed. You can my post on making sheds livable (and fun) here. One of the key advantages of a shed man cave is a clear division between your cave and your home. Thanks to this division, the man cave truly feels like a mantuary.

Two Story Shed Plans

Unless you already have a plus size garage or a two story shed laying around, making your ideal two story shed will take planning. To be specific, professional planning. If you’re an architect, make sure you check and double check your plan before carrying through with construction. If you’re not an architect, look into pre-made two story shed blueprints and construction plans. Plenty of them are out there for a low price or even free. I prefer MyShedPlans, but to each their own! Finding a plan is the very first step of making your man cave, so you want to take your time picking out the best design for you.

  Building a Two Story Man Cave on a Budget

Once you have a working plan, start looking for all the necessary materials. For wood, skip Home Depot or Lowes and go to your local lumber yard. Oftentimes, local yards will cut it for you in the size you need, while still offering a better price! It also helps to support local businesses. And, to further drive the point home, local lumber has a much better quality than the stuff you get from typical home and garden stores.

While shopping on a budget, check local antique shops and scour the neighborhoods for yard sales. You can also go to furniture stores, check out what works for you, and then order the stuff on the net when you get home for a cheaper price. For more details on making a man cave shed on a budget, check out my post here.

  Two Story Shed Man Caves

Once you  secure your shed, it’s time to decorate! Beyond the wild ideas I gave you before, I want to focus on some foundational basics. First, is your second floor visible from your first? A loft-type setup gives you a perfect excuse to use two separate themes in your man cave. On top of that, it’s much easier to set up a projection system and surround sound system when you don’t need to use a ladder to do everything.

If your cave is separated completely between floors, then make sure you separate their functions. You should spend an equal amount of time in both of them. An easy way to do this is to put your entertainment setup on the top floor and your food and snacks—with basic entertainment—on the bottom floor. Your stairs also form a critical part of a two-story man cave shed. Make sure to decorate that area and make it match the rest of the cave.

  How Will you Use Your Two Story Shed?

So, how do you plan on using your shed? Will you create an actual cave system, complete with waterfalls and a little greenery? Perhaps you’ll put your video games on the second floor and your sports stuff on the first. Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy both floors as much as possible. A two story shed is an awesome thing to have, so use a man cave to make the most of your awesome home extension!

The post Making the Most Out of Two Story Sheds appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/two-story-sheds/

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Star Wars Man Cave

Star Wars Man Cave

The inner nerd in all of us wants to deck out the home with our favorite games, movies, and anime. Unfortunately, not every wife allows a nerd living room, but a man cave circumvents that. By constructing your own man cave, you let your nerd decor run wild! One series in particular harbors a place in the hearts of nerds and geeks everywhere…Star Wars! As the first feature on nerd cave ideas, let’s look at some awesome Star Wars Man Cave ideas and pictures!

  Star Wars Man Cave Ideas

As far as awesome nerd caves go, a Star Wars themed cave takes the cake. With a whole galaxy of themes to pick from, these geek cave ideas range from planet-specific decor to a franchise-wide celebration of the series. With so many different movies, games, novels, spin-offs, and otherwise, every Star Wars man cave looks different. However, capturing the unique tone of the Star Wars universe takes skill. So, use these guidelines to help you determine how to decorate your mantuary!

  Franchise Theme

First, pick between a franchise theme or an in-universe setting theme. The franchise theme displays the Star Wars logo proudly throughout the cave. A black ceiling dotted with white stars (perhaps even LED stars!) populates the best man caves. Adding the word scroll from the start of the movie to important places catches the eye of any guests and creates a movie-watching mood. Displays dedicated to specific characters work well, although I suggest showing off at least three characters, so it avoids looking like a shrine to one dude in particular. Use nostalgic movie posters, collectable cups, and space-themed furniture and rugs to enhance the Star Wars feel.

  Star Wars Dark Force Darth Vader Framed 3D Lenticular Picture

This cool lenticular design shows off the leading force of the dark side and his cronies. Because of the lenticular design, Darth Vader and his stormtroopers appear as a 3D image, despite its two-dimensional appearance. No special glasses required!

Buy from Amazon

  Vandor 99089 Star Wars 13.5″ Cordless Wood Wall Clock

With a logo, the symbols of the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire, and classic art of the original protagonists, this clock reminds us of the golden times of Star Wars. In fact, it might cause some nostalgia overload!

Buy from Amazon

  Setting Theme

On the other hand, a setting-based theme puts you right into a scene from the movie. The sandy wastes of Tattooine, the watery wonders of Naboo, and the icy plains of Hoth all evoke a Star Wars feel without resorting to logos and figurines everywhere. On top of that, picking a setting allows you to choose any type of man cave decor you want. Rustic looks match Tattooine—just throw in some extra lighting to make it more futuristic. A relaxing zen waterfall fountain both reminds everyone of Naboo and helps everyone chill out. Hoth proves a bit more difficult, but throw in some AT-AT walkers and you create a battle atmosphere. Some clever paint jobs also mimic frost.

Plenty of organizations make their appearance in the movies as well. By focusing on one in particular—be it the Galactic Empire, Galactic Republic, Rebel Army, Jedi warriors, or any other group—you create a unique setting that shows which ‘team’ to root for during the movies. After all, none of the conflicts in Star Wars are black and white!

  Vinyl Evolution Star Wars Design Wall Clock

This repurposed vinyl record clock shows the major players in episodes IV-VI of Star Wars, plus it looks awesome and gives you the time. I suppose you could play it in a record player as well, but the missing sections would ruin the needle.

Buy from Amazon

  Star Wars (Light/Dark Side) Light Switch Cover

Want a dramatic flair to entering the room? Simply flip the switch and declare your solidarity with the light side! Of course, a clever person can switch the alignment of the lights and ‘turn on’ the dark side. All up to you! The design also fits in well with other Star Wars decorations.

  Buy from Amazon

  Technical Theme

This technically counts as a setting theme, but in differs in its presentation. True Star Wars nerds know that a huge amount of supplemental material goes with each movie, novel, game, and spin-off. The engineering details of each ship, extensive maps of each planet, and galactic placement of each scene all provide the story behind the story. Along with that, they look awesome! Using these materials as your decorations creates a very unique man cave and works great…especially if you consider yourself a true fan of the series!

  3D Illusion Platform Night Lighting LED Lamp

Like the lenticular image above, this display gives off the illusion of a 3D apparition. Of course, an optical illusion causes the 3D effect, but it still looks cool! It switches between several colors or stays set on a color of your choice.

  Buy from Amazon

  Nerd Man Cave Decor

Building a nerd cave, especially a Star Wars themed nerd cave, always dips a little into your wallet. The reason? Simply put, officially licensed products wear a collectable’s price tag. For nerd home decor DIY, flavor your own decorations by using an airbrush to match whatever look you want. White and silver look great for Star Wars man caves, in my personal opinion.

For Star Wars man caves that focus on the spectacular games that the franchise created—or gamer bedroom ideas—set up a stellar entertainment system…pun intended. Use furniture that hides your wires or integrate them into the sci-fi decor. As a fellow nerd, I’m sure you know a little bit about wire management! Star Wars comic book man cave ideas incorporate the unique style of the comics and use them to tell a narrative on the walls, furniture, and so on.

By using Star Wars art, prints, and posters in your cave, you immediately turn your room into something dedicated to Star Wars. Plenty of unique and modern posters exist on sites like Amazon and Etsy to find something perfect for any style of man cave. Custom frames that match some of the space ships in the series create a cool aesthetic!

  Star Wars Han Solo 12L 3D Thermoelectric Cooler

I really hope you reached this point before shopping for refrigerators. Why? Because this fridge is the only one you will ever need. With Han Solo popping out of ‘carbonite’ on the front, it also works perfectly to store your favorite drinks. A Star Wars cave absolutely needs this! It holds up to eighteen cans and adjusts for other types of drinks as well.

Buy from Amazon

  Ultimate Nerd Cave

Of course, man caves encompass far more than geeky goods. Gamer cave ideas center around electronics, but most man caves also contain a bar of some kind. Whether you use a fridge to store your beer or a full-fledged counter and wine rack setup, a Star Wars bar stool complements the bar with something matching your theme. You can also incorporate the Star Wars theme into your bar by recreating the Mos Eisley Cantina—the location of many famous Star Wars scenes. Okay, maybe just two. It’s topical, and that’s what counts!

The lighting of your man cave also easily complements your Star Wars theme. By setting up a futuristic lighting scheme, it immediately invokes the setting of the franchise. For something more thematic, custom lights that include characters, settings, or features of the series provide some eye candy for your visitors.

  Star Wars Darth Vader Candy Holder

This silly little holder serves to provide little snacks or hold car keys when the drinks start flowing. What better way to tell your guests to stash their keys away than, ‘Give them to the dark side?’ If Vader’s not your best friend, perhaps Darth Maul, Yoda, a Stormtrooper, or a Jawa suit you more. And yes, they make them in each variety.

Buy from Amazon

  Plasticolor Star Wars Logo Garage Stool

The Star Wars bar stool looks great for any man cave bar. They also make this cozy seat with a Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, or Boba Fett design. Compared to other bar stools, the price is very affordable, and matches Star Wars man caves perfectly.

Buy from Amazon

  Epic Star Wars Man Cave Ideas

With all this geeky interior design to choose from, finding an idea should be no problem for you! However, picking just one for your cave proves difficult. Think deeply about what you love in the Star Wars universe. Is it the unique settings? What about the beautiful attention to detail? Or maybe you just love the nostalgia of partaking in the series. In any case, the wonder of Star Wars captures the imagination, and it’s up to you to build the perfect Star Wars man cave!

~Robert

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Cost to Build a Shed

Cost to Build a Shed

Right now, the cost of a shed varies dramatically depending on your location. Typically, you’re looking at between $500-$7,000 dollars, with an average of about $3,000 dollars. What is with that huge difference? Well, today I want to dissect the prices of building a shed, along with how much you should charge if you are providing a service for someone else. This will help you identify competitive and reasonable rates for builders as well as shave down some construction costs, if you need to. If you thought my post about man cave sheds was inspiring and you want to start your own, then take a seat and start here by learning the cost to build a shed!

    How Much Does it Cost to Build a Shed?

As I previously mentioned, the cost varies dramatically depending on the type of shed and materials used. Let’s start with the foundation, since you’ll be dealing with this before anything else. A wooden foundation costs much less than a concrete foundation and certainly gets the job done. The wood has to be treated to resist rot and both types of foundation must drain any sort of water out of the home efficiently. The ground around your shed should slope away, further ensuring your shed doesn’t flood. I talk about more structural specifics in my shed conversion post.

  For walls, vinyl makes up the most expensive type. It resists rust, rot, and erosion. Metal wards off insect infestation and rot and tends to be the cheapest option, but it also rusts and makes for poor insulation. Expect cold winters and sweltering summers! Lastly, wood sheds are the ‘average’ price and its cost is largely dependent on your area and the design of the shed. To cut down on wood costs, always visit a local lumber yard. The local lumber yards also have higher quality wood than your typical chain stores. If you are a contractor, you definitely need to set up a partnership with your supplier of choice.

  If you build your own shed, you also have the option of buying pre-made ‘shed kits’ from all sorts of stores. Even Lowes and Home Depot carry them! Just read the reviews and check the quality of supplies that customers end up with. Your local lumber yard almost always beats them in price and quality, with just a bit of extra work and construction required. You can find a bunch of pros and cons of different materials on Wikipedia, believe it or not. Sometimes it’s reliable for simple information like this!

    How Much Should I Charge to Build a Shed?

Obviously, all of the materials need to be included in the price. Beyond that, you need to consider electricians, plumbers, and construction costs. An electrician costs between five to ten times minimum wage in your area per hour and is absolutely essential for properly laying out wires. Construction workers should charge between three to ten times minimum wage. Obviously, this means set numbers are hard for me to tell you, but you’ll figure it out quickly with a calculator. If you build it yourself, it takes a few days and costs between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on your materials and building style. I highly recommend using shed plans from this dude to cut down on your costs.

  How Much Does it Cost Per Square Foot to Build a Shed?

Usually, a shed costs half of minimum wage per square foot. As of writing this, that means $5 per square foot. This doesn’t take into account material prices, complicated designs, or extra utilities. For those, refer to the prices I listed above and ask any contractors how long it will take for them to do their work. Furthermore, a loft adds to your square footage if you choose to include it, even if the size of your foundation doesn’t change. I would recommend this site for the intricate details of wooden shed pricing.

  Do you have to get a permit to build a shed?

Usually, you do need that permit. Look up city laws, county laws, as well as the rules of any Home Owners Association in your area. Many places dictate the type of materials, vicinity of the shed to your home or property line, the style of architecture, and the color of your shed (if painted). Most basic sheds will always comply with guidelines, but if you want to do something special, look into the specifics before committing to the build. Look through some different shed plans to see which one fits the rules of your area.

  Granted, if you live in a rural area, I highly doubt anyone would fault you for building your own shed. On top of that, no one throws a tantrum over small ‘play’ pens (although said sheds usually make for poor man cave material). In suburban or urban areas, your neighbors pose the biggest annoyance with the permits. Make sure to do everything properly.

  Picking the Cost to Build a Shed

When it comes down to it, you control the price of your own man cave shed. If you want to get it done fast, look for reliable contractors in the area and shell out a few thousand. If you want to get it done cheaply, look through some shed plans and source some inexpensive materials from local stores. You could always browse the net for cheap lumber, but I much prefer looking at it with my own two eyes before making a purchase. Plus, you only need to use your own truck for shipping!

  A savvy dude can build a small shed for as little as $500 if he has the know-how and dedication. For the best man cave sheds, though, build your own and expect to put $2,500 into the construction. It’s completely worth the expense, I promise!

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from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/cost-build-shed/

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The Worst Advice We’ve Ever Heard About Man Caves

The Worst Advice We’ve Ever Heard About Man Caves

It’s our instinct to look up guides from so-called experts and take their word for it when they tell us something we’re not sure on. However, a little bit of critical thinking peels away the façade of some of these bad tips and tricks. It’s always important to look through various resources, which is why I recommend reading up on some shed plans and information on other amazing sites, but learning to distinguish between the good and bad sites is just as important. Today, I want to point out some common advice that is either flat-out wrong or only applies in certain situations. Without further ado, here is the worst advice we’ve ever heard about man caves!

    1) Make a “Wow” Effect

A lot of designers focus on amazing and impressing people with their appearance. It’s always fun to show off your skill and dedication to your project, but that doesn’t always mean you have to go overboard. The room should not be overwhelming to your guests, and certainly not overwhelming to you! The man cave serves various functions, so the best thing you can do for your man cave is not create a unified and impressive design, but instead split your focus.

  By implementing multiple ways to use your man cave, you cut down on the “wow” factor, but greatly increase its personal value. Which one is more important to you—using your man cave, or showing it off? Let that be an indicator of whether or not you should take this advice.

  2) Make the Room Look as Big as Possible

We like big rooms, big houses, big beds, tall ceilings…the list goes on forever. Big is nice for all sorts of reasons. However, that doesn’t mean you need to make every room you design as big as possible. What matters is that you have room to breathe in your man cave. The perception that you need a huge room to make it look nice is just misguided. You need enough space to walk comfortably and place all of your belongings. Many men cover their walls in posters, art, and trinkets to make the room look smaller! With a small room, it feels much cozier—sort of like a little hideout just for you! You be the decisive factor in how big you want your room—not whomever gave you this bad advice! For more information on working with space, check out my post on small man caves.

    3) Less is More

In a similar vein, lots of people suggest cutting down on decorations and furniture to exaggerate the space of the room. As long as all of the man cave essentials are covered, there’s no need for more stuff, is there? Wrong. While less is more applies in many places, man cave designing is not one them. The more services your man cave provides for you, the better! The more decorations you include, the more it reflects your inner self. See a pattern here? There are only a few situations where I recommend toning down your man cave decorations.

  First, a modern environment accentuates the space of the room and minimizes the amount of stuff you see. You should still get the same use out of it, but all of your movies and decorations are hidden within some shelves or cabinets. With a study, you want a lot of space to work, so you also want to hide most of your materials with that. Nonetheless, both of these types of rooms can benefit from more art or books or something of that nature. Don’t let this advice rule your decisions.

  4) You Need a Central (Insert A Certain Piece of Furniture)

A central object in the room that stands out from everything else is called an eye piece or focal point. These objects contribute to the “wow” factor I mentioned above. They help give your guests something to fixate on and talk about as they get used to the room. While it’s nice to have these, and I recommend them in most situations, you hardly need them. A man cave that hosts several smaller attention-grabbers—such as a shelf of books, movies, games, or any other collection—serves just as well to entertain guests. Furthermore, a man cave should never focus on how you entertain your guests. It’s all about you! Put things you like looking at in the cave. I wrote quite a bit about the decor you need in a man cave, so check that out when you can.

    5) Put a Huge TV in There

Electronics dominate our lives. Hell, you’re reading this on a phone or computer somewhere! Instinct tells us to incorporate this into our man caves, but I find that many men like skipping out on this. After all, connecting to the outside world in a time of political strife and scandal takes its toll on the mind. By limiting our interaction with news, video games, and the internet to outside the man cave, we create a more habitable space.

  Beyond just that, affordability should always come first. Not everyone needs the latest and greatest television to enjoy things properly. While I could never dream of leaving out a TV from my man cave, I also find a smaller television quite satisfactory for my needs. Smaller screens also help you fill more of the room with decorations and support your man cave theme. If it is enough for you, it is enough for your man cave.

  6) Make a Hidden Entrance

This is, by far, the worst advice anyone could ever give you. Especially with basement man caves, this just makes your cave a huge fire trap. With one entrance to an enclosed space where you may or may not enjoy a smoke, any sort of heat or fire will head straight for that entrance and cut off any chance of escape. Furthermore, if any firefighters run in, they’ll have no idea how to get to you. It’s nice to emulate the secret entrances of superhero hideouts, but in practice, they’re a horrible practice.

  Make sure you have two clear entrances and exits, even if they are small. If you want to make a hidden entrance after that, be my guest! Update the blueprints for your house whenever you make structural changes like that—the city uses them for tracking more than just building codes!

    Using The Worst Advice We’ve Ever Heard About Man Caves

Now that you’ve read the worst advice we’ve ever heard about man caves, think about how this bad advice might affect your man cave design. Do you really need that big TV? Could your wall use more decorations? What sort of functions can you add to the man cave that make it more useful to you? In the end, advice only works when it’s given on the individual level. Many of you will actually find this advice useful, despite it being bad in most situations!

  The point of this article is less to highlight the worst advice we’ve ever heard and more to ensure you think critically about the advice you listen to on the internet. Even some of the tips I write about on this site may not apply to you. Check through all sorts of resources (this one works quite well) and see what works for you. Your man cave is all about what you want, so find out what that is and stick to it, no matter what bad advice comes your way!

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from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/827-2/

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How to Convert a Shed into a Man Cave

How to Convert a Shed into a Man Cave

If you find yourself without a lot of space in the house, but plenty of space in your backyard shed, then perhaps it’s time for you to consider how to convert a shed into a man cave! Skip the man cave shed kit and convert the one you already have into a fully functional cave. A shed provides everything you need to create your own cave—specifically: four walls, a floor, and a roof. Converting these simple elements into something you can call a man cave is quite a task, but this helpful post guides you through each and every step of the way. Go into this article with a simple shed, and go out with an amazing man cave!

    Cool Man Shed Ideas

Every good adventure starts with a little bit of planning. Check out man cave shed pictures that you love and browse man cave sheds for sale to gather a little inspiration. Building a man cave on a budget is much easier when you have a plan in mind, and with such a huge variety of backyard man cave ideas to choose from, you should have no problem coming up with a plan. However, how do you pick your favorite?

  Think about things that you have trouble doing in other rooms of the house. If your wife hogs the TV all the time, think about a game-themed man cave. If you just want a place to relax and decorate, choose something more abstract, like a rustic or modern theme. I provide quite a few man cave theme suggestions here.

    Step One – Cleaning

Let’s face it: sheds are dirty by nature. The ground is covered in dirt, the walls are splintered and untreated, and the roof is a mess of exposed spider webs. When you don’t need to deal with them on a daily basis, storage areas like sheds become a sanctuary for dust. Now that you want to convert your shed into a sanctuary of another sort, we have to start by making it livable.

  Sand down any splinters on the floors and walls, clear out all the insects that accumulated over the years, and empty out anything stored in there. If you live in the south, be wary of black widow spiders, scorpions, ants, wasps, and other dangerous creatures that inhabit unused spaces. Food-grade diatomaceous earth will take care of any pests quickly without posing a danger to children or pets.

  To get your budget started, think about selling any of the stored stuff that you haven’t touched in over a year. If you take enough stuff out of the shed, you could even have a garage sale! This little bit of extra money helps while you renovate and populate your man cave shed.

  Step Two – Renovating

Consider all the things you want in your man cave and where you want them. Large structures such as walls, bars, tables, and platforms should all be built before you start throwing furniture or utilities into the man cave. Check out some recommended shed plans and see if any of them suit you. You need to account for where your furniture, entertainment setup, lighting, and utilities go so that you have enough room for everything. Don’t build everything and then realize that you really need to put a bathroom somewhere once it’s all done! Keep in mind that your shed should have at least two exits, and more windows are always a plus!

    Step Three – Utilities

This is quite possibly the most difficult step of your conversion endeavor. Plumbing and wiring both take experts to ensure that you don’t end up spending a lot of money in the future fixing things. Along with that, electricity in particular poses a health hazard if you have no idea what you’re doing. Don’t underestimate the power of lightning harnessed in a tiny little wire! Contract specialists and make sure not to cheap out and hire losers that barely know what they’re doing. AC is much easier to set up, so perhaps you can do that one yourself, but I also recommend a contractor for that one.

  If you plan on using cable in your man cave shed, you have a few options. You can use a huge wire to manually connect it to your home, use a satellite extender to create a more stable connection, or call your cable company and properly lay out some wires for the shed. If you plan on reselling the house in the future, the latter one works best for you—but be prepared for an unreasonable price tag to go with the operation. Building your own shed helps mitigate some of the costs, since you can position things efficiently for the pipes, wires, and cables. Once you finish all your work, throw in some insulation and get ready for the fun stuff!

  Step Four – Redesigning

Now that your shed is livable, it’s time to make it presentable as well. During this part of the conversion process, decide what you want to do with the floors, walls, and ceiling. Add carpets if you need them, drywall if that suits you, and a nice lighting setup on the ceiling if that looks best. Although simple, I separate this into a whole step because it is one of the costlier parts of how to convert a shed into a man cave. For more ideas, look into a dedicated guide to shed designs like this one.

  Step Five – Security

With all of your utilities in place, it’s time to secure the shed before putting in your valuables. You can purchase a lock and key from your local hardware store. A combination lock simply doesn’t suffice when it’s easy to get past them with a couple movements or a cutter. Hell, someone could even fashion a lock pick out of a soda can if they really wanted to break in! Put locks and blinds on all the windows. If you have a sliding door, put a bar in along with the regular lock. For some reason, the locks on sliding doors never last longer than a year. Now you can really start converting the living space into a man cave!

    Step Six – What to Put in Your Man Cave

Think back on your man cave theme and decide what sort of stuff to put in the cave. The normal essentials include a couch, recliner, large TV, video game consoles, a fridge, and glasses for whatever sort of drinks you enjoy in the man cave. Signs, posters, figurines, collections, and plants help make the room look populated. Think about what sort of things you personally enjoy and like to keep around. In example, I like to keep some woodcarving knives around to literally whittle away the time during commercials and whatnot. It doesn’t match the steampunk theme of the rest of the room, but it does serve a huge purpose to me! For other ideas, check out my post here.

  Other Helpful Man Cave Shed Information

Consider patching up the roof and looking out for leaks ahead of time. Use diatomaceous earth to prevent bugs from invading. Keep your shed floor at least two inches above ground level to prevent flooding disasters—which is especially common, since backyards aren’t normally irrigated! Similarly, try to keep all your electronics well above the floor. Periodically check your locks to make sure your man cave is secure. Throughout the years, continue adding new features to the man cave to keep it relevant to your interests and fun to hang out in. I go into more depth about how to handle a man cave shed in the long term here, but these points should cover your basic upkeep!

    Using Your Backyard Man Cave

At last! You finish your backyard man cave shed and can relax and use it. Or…can you? More than any other location, man cave sheds require constant upkeep to ensure they stay habitable and free from pests. In other words, you have an excuse to use it at least once per day! I can’t imagine going without a man cave for more than 24 hours, anyways. Now that you know how to convert a shed into a man cave, make your dreams a reality and build the perfect room.

  If you don’t have a shed, start from scratch. I promise that all the sweat, blood, and tears you put into your man cave shed pay off in the end. Once you finish your regular work, it’s like having two separate places to come home to, and twice as relaxing!

The post How to Convert a Shed into a Man Cave appeared first on TrueManCave.

from TrueManCave https://www.truemancave.com/convert-shed-man-cave/

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13 Things About Man Caves You May Not Have Known

13 Things About Man Caves You May Not Have Known

I already talked about the myths of man caves, but today I want to focus more on some trivia. By reading the rest of the posts on this site, you should know all about man caves and what goes into them. But did you know that some man caves differ dramatically from the images, themes, and concepts that I already went over? These 13 things about man caves you may not have known help you develop your own cave into something unique that represents yourself—without imitating others! If you have trouble giving your man cave personality, perhaps these bits of trivia will guide you to the right path. Let’s get started on our journey!

    1) They Don’t Need to Be Manly

The stereotypical man cave is covered in football paraphernalia, taxidermied animals, signs about drinking, and American flags. Undoubtedly, all these things represent manliness on one level or another. However, your man cave does not have to radiate manliness in order to be a good man cave. The only thing it needs is a man to call its own and give sanctuary to.

2) They Don’t Need to Be Underground

Lots of people only imagine basements as the home for their man cave. It sits underground, just like an actual cave, and it is separated from the rest of the house by a whole level. While the separation bit helps a ton with establishing a special man space, in actuality, you can convert almost any room into a man cave. Attics, sheds, guest rooms, and even rented studios all make for great man caves. I even wrote about converting sheds into man caves, so that helps give you some ideas on where to build. Don’t let whether or not you have a basement affect whether or not you build a man cave!

  3) They Provide a Mantuary for Everyone in the House

Most people think of them as sanctuaries for men alone, but in actuality, they provide a service for everyone in the house! By keeping the man of the house relaxed, it helps the rest of the house feel chill. On top of that, it helps specialize every other room in the house by taking out the miscellaneous aspects of the man cave and unifying them in one room…as opposed to scattered throughout the house!

  4) Man Caves Keep the House Clean

Speaking of its effects on the rest of the house, a man cave actually keeps the rest of the house clean. A lot of clutter like hunting gear, workshop tools, random print outs, and weird lamps combine within the sanctuary of a man cave. In other words, the rest of the house looks more normal than before. It also minimizes the amount of mess a man makes in other rooms, simply due to how he uses his time. Of course, the man cave can only be cleaned by the man, so that’s a lot less mess that the rest of the family deals with.

    5) Man Caves can Double as Workshops

Separating work and play is a must for all men, but sometimes work and play go hand-in-hand. When men enjoy hobbies generally considered ‘work,’ such as smithing, carpentry, tinkering with cars, painting, and other sorts of crafts, then putting them into their man cave is at the top of their priority list. Naturally, garages, basements, and attics work best for these messy crafts. A large library or specialized desk also fit into a man cave well. It’s all about comfort and relaxation, and sometimes that means adding in a little dose of work!

  6) Man Caves have more Themes than Games and Nerds

Everyone jumps to the idea that man caves center around football, soccer, baseball, Star Wars, video games, TV shows, and so on. In reality, a lot of us prefer other things in our caves! My own cave has a steampunk theme, and a lot of other men stick to a rustic man cave that just offers a bit of classic relaxation. Finding your own theme is part of the fun of building a man cave.

  7) Entertainment Systems are Optional

Similar to skipping on the nerdy themes, skipping out on the entertainment system helps some men relax. Constant access to news, reality TV, stressful multiplayer games, or even the internet poses a mental health risk if you’re already stressed most of the time. This is why some men choose to leave the outside world, well, outside! That stuff can stay in the living room.

    8) They Are Perfect Hangouts

Instead of sequestering yourself in your man cave all alone, think about inviting friends over. All the amenities make great entertainment for guests. Plus, during your man cave designing, you can even incorporate social elements. A simple but tasteful bar, small bathroom, a food area, and several video or board games help your friends feel welcome. The special rules of your man cave still apply, of course, but sometimes that proves to be great for your friends!

  9) Man Cave Designers Exist

Are you or someone you know struggling to figure out the design of their man cave? Stop worrying about it! Lots of interior designers out there specialize in man caves. Some even have pre-built man caves that they rent out or sell! Simply look for man cave sheds in your areas. Of course, building your own shed works way better than hiring someone to do it, but asking a designer for help never hurts during your initial planning or the decor phase. Simply put, not every man has a knack for interior design, and that’s quite alright—as long as you’re good at something!

  10) They Have Rules

While it seems like man caves give men free reign, lots of us choose to institute special rules for our special rooms. In example: No women, no children, no drama, beer is the only drink allowed, only cheer for such-and-such team, vegans banned, and so on. Keeping drama out and encouraging healthy drinking and conversation adds to the friendly atmosphere. Naturally, talking about ‘TMI’ things poses no risk in a man cave. Feel free to chat about your biggest shit, because the rules say all talk is allowed if it’s not drama!

  11) They Can Be Beautiful

While you  don’t normally think of man caves as glamorous, some of them still look sleek and amazing. When you steer away from the stereotypical themes and coordinate your theme and furniture, then your man cave can turn downright beautiful! With the help of a designer, the chances increase dramatically. The function of a man cave is more important than its appearance, but looking great never hurts. It also feels better to show it off when it’s a marvel of architecture and design. Who wouldn’t want a beautiful man cave?

  12) Female Versions Exist

They’re called she-sheds or just she sheds. If your wife won’t give in and let you have a cave, considering using the promise of a she-shed to barter with her. If you build your cave, then you help her build her she-shed! She-sheds generally focus more on incorporating gardening, bright lighting, and living creatures than man caves. Other than that, they’re pretty interchangeable.

    13) They Reflect Your Inner Self

More than anything else, man caves reflect your inner self. When you set up your man cave, you think about your wants and needs and incorporate that into the room. It follows that the room shows everyone what you value most in life. If you like to keep those things private, then you may want to make the cave exclusive to you and put some KEEP OUT signs up. However, I highly recommend letting others see the inner workings of your man cave. It helps them understand you better, and also helps you to understand yourself!

  What to Do with These 13 Things About Man Caves You May Not Have Known

Now that I’ve told you these 13 things about man caves you may not have known, you should come to see man caves in a totally different light. They’re not just some room where you spend your time alone watching football games and drinking. They provide an awesome social atmosphere, place of rest and relaxation, and even helps improve the rest of the house. Whether you build your own man cave shed or set one up in the basement, think about these things and see if you want your man cave to stand out with any of these traits. Remember—your man cave, your rules. Ignore the norm and go with your gut!

The post 13 Things About Man Caves You May Not Have Known appeared first on True Man Cave.

from True Man Cave https://www.truemancave.com/13-things-man-caves-may-not-known/

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A Beginner’s Guide to Man Caves

A Beginner’s Guide to Man Caves

Welcome to TrueManCaves! For all of you just visiting to figure out this whole man cave thing, I want to extend a warm welcome. For everyone else, this little guide should provide a fair amount of knowledge to start up your man cave or improve what you already have. Starting out with absolutely zero knowledge about man caves proves difficult, but I help you work through every step of the way both with this guide and the rest of the site. By the end of this post, you should feel comfortable with the whole concept. Without further ado, let’s start our journey into the world of mantuaries with a beginner’s guide to man caves!

  What are Man Caves?

First, let’s take a look at the definition of man caves. Man caves, mantuaries, and man spaces all refer to the same thing. A special room in your home—usually the basement—provides a highly specialized retreat for the man of the house. Inside this room, men do whatever they want, which includes things banned in the rest of the house like huge farts or belches. Hey, it’s our room, we do what we want! Drinking is also nearly a requirement. Unlike the rest of the house, the man decides the rules and the decor of the room. This little room is a one-stop-shop for some manly relaxation.

    Why Do I Need a Man Cave?

If your home is any good, you should be able to relax in every area of the house. So why would you need a man cave? Simply put, there are many different types of relaxation. In your living room, you sit back and enjoy your time apart from work and your social life. Maybe you chat with your wife or kids, cook a little bit, or watch television. However, due to the usual design and permissions of a house, there’s no way you get to turn on your color-changing lights and start blaring your favorite band. You can’t hang your favorite Star Wars poster on the wall. I mean, maybe you can, but most wives don’t allow it.

  On top of all that, sometimes you just want some time to yourself, where you set all the rules that you need to follow. A man cave provides that space where you completely throw away your cares and relax for a few hours. Of course, escapism and hermit behavior would be a problem, but responsible men know their own limits. As such, by using a man cave to relax, they maximize the amount of soothing activities they achieve in what little time they make for it. A living room (family room), study (work room), bedroom (sleeping room), or dining room (social room) all serve a completely different function that doesn’t match the power of a man cave.

  How Do I Pick a Location?

The first and most important part of building any man cave is choosing a proper location. Basements make the most popular locations—perhaps due to their similarity to actual caves—but they hardly represent the only option. Attics, garages, spare rooms, rented studios, and even backyard sheds work great as man caves. I even provide a bit of advice for setting up your own man cave shed here, if the house simply doesn’t have the space for it!

  To decide between these places, think about the necessities of your cave. Do you need plumbing for a bar or convenient bathroom? Do you need a lot of electrical outlets? Or maybe you want a floor that can be scratched and ruined by woodworking, tinkering, or paint? All of these decisions affect which room is best for you. Pick the one that most suits your needs! If you still can’t decide based on what you need, then pick the one that gives you the most privacy.

    How Do I Work with Small Spaces?

Since many rooms end up unused because of their space limitations, and in turn go towards the whole man cave effort, lots of men end up working with space issues. I use a few different techniques to deal with these issues and even make the room appear large and airy. First, incorporate bright lighting. A small room usually has its packed furniture cast larger shadows in the room, so cutting down on those shadows opens up the room.

  Second, ensure that you clear as much floor space as possible. This means building your amenities vertically, rather than horizontally. Choose tall shelves instead of wide, small entertainment setups, and hang furniture on the wall wherever possible. Make use of negative space in the room by limiting the amount of decor you use. A shelf of packed figurines, followed by a shelf of one or two ‘special’ ones, looks much more spacious than setting them up evenly on both shelves.

  Lastly, think about extending the vertical space in your room. By building a simple foot-tall platform, you provide extra storage beneath it and a nice vantage point over the rest of the room. By establishing clear divisions, you make the room appear larger. Not a bad way to start adding space to the room, right?

What Goes in a Man Cave?

Now that you know what it is and where to put it, you might find yourself wondering, ‘What decor do I use?’ Simply put, find things that reflect you. Centering your man cave around a theme helps a ton, but ultimately, you want things that suit you. If you drink a lot, get one of those wall-mounted bottle openers so that it doesn’t wander away. If you like to game, a surround sound system, recliner, and huge TV are a must. For collectors and book lovers, building shelves into the wall defines the room as both a man cave and yours. Something about constructing permanent changes in the room just gives it more personality than, say, a store-bought shelf.

  On top of the stuff you need in your life, think about the stuff that you want. Maybe you’re one of those people who like the singing bass decorations. I won’t judge you. Okay, maybe a little. But I’m sure your wife or family does not tolerate that in the home. The man cave provides a sanctuary not only for you, but also for the things you love! Hopefully, these little suggestions help you figure out what sort of things you need in your cave.

    How Do I Know When My Man Cave Is Finished?

Your man cave is built when it reflects who you are, helps you relax, provides a distinct space from the rest of the house, and fulfills all your entertainment needs. For some people, that’s as simple as a room with a cozy lamp and bookshelf to read in. For other men, an incredibly interactive gaming system and full-fledged bar make the room home. Whichever sort of man you are, you’ll know in your heart whether you achieved the man cave you set out to.

  Finished, on the other hand? I don’t think it’s possible to finish man caves. Over the years, our values grow and change, and our interests follow suit. As you find these new hobbies and requirements, incorporating them into your man cave becomes a priority. So, rather than worry about whether your man cave is finished, think about whether it is built instead. If it serves its purpose, then you own a man cave. It’s as simple as that.

  Using a Beginner’s Guide to Man Caves

With all of these hard questions out of the way, your quest to create the perfect man cave begins! Whether you already have a man cave or want to build one anew, every question and answer on this post helps you through the tough steps. Check out the rest of the site for do’s and don’ts, help with managing your theme, directions on working with certain rooms, and more. I honestly want to help you build your cave because—when you get to the bottom of it all—these man caves change lives. A sanctuary is no joke and a man cave belongs in every man’s life. I hope you find this out for yourself!

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Man Caves appeared first on True Man Cave.

from True Man Cave https://www.truemancave.com/beginners-guide-man-caves/

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Man Caves: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Man Caves: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

For people considering man caves—either as potential builders or curious friends—a lot of misconceptions float around man caves that skew their opinion in a misleading direction. I already talked about the myths of man caves, so let’s take a look at some things which ring true. This list of the good, the bad, and the ugly goes over the reality of man caves and why you want one—or, why you need to avoid them! Of course, this all varies from person to person based on their own interests and personality types, but in general, this article covers everything you need to know about man caves: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let’s begin!

Man Caves: The Good

First of all, man caves serve a wonderful function for all men who create one for themselves. Its primary purpose is to create a secluded man sanctuary (or ‘mantuary’) that relieves stress and provides uninterrupted relaxation. By having a space all their own—not shared with anyone else—it gives men something extra to feel pride about in their lives. It highlights their achievements, their desires, their interests, and provides every form of entertainment the man could want. Really, why wouldn’t you want a man cave? Even women build their own she-sheds!

  Speaking of sheds, they also help fill underutilized space in your home or yard, such as attics, basements, or ‘guest’ rooms that end up as storage rooms. Setting up a man cave shed might take work, but it makes the yard look awesome, improves the value of the house, and provides a safe distance from a few common worries in life. Mostly chores, but it’s still worth it. I wrote a whole post on working with your own man cave shed, so check it out!

Man Caves: The Bad

Depending on who you ask, these bad things could represent something spectacular. However, I want to go over them anyways so everyone knows the risks of a man cave. Saying it like that sounds dramatic—don’t worry, these risks are more of an inconvenience than anything else. First of all, lots of men out there have no experience with interior design, so it will take extra work for them to build something that looks spectacular. In the meantime, it will look more like a living room than a true man cave. If you find yourself or someone else in this situation, browse this blog to find a few different solutions and guides for that sort of thing.

  Second, clutter usually accumulates in man caves. Lots of a dude’s stuff fits nowhere else in the house, so all of your trinkets and doodads end up stuffed somewhere in your cave. Without supervision, it quickly becomes more of a hoard. Plus, since the room belongs to a man and not his spouse, it usually goes uncleaned. Avoid building a man cave if you aren’t responsible about cleaning, because making someone else deal with your mess is just unfair and hardly gentlemanly.

Man Caves: The Ugly

This only applies to a few men with some bad personalities, but it truly accounts for the ugliest part of a man cave, and the biggest risk in its construction. Though rare, some men feel that they have no place in the world. They dislike hanging out with others, dealing with family life, thinking of work, doing chores, and generally being a productive human being. I don’t want to call them lazy—maybe non-confrontational is the best word. These men lock themselves in their man caves any chance they get, completely escaping and neglecting the important things in life. Truly, this is the ugly part about man caves, and something you should absolutely avoid. Manage your time wisely!

Wrapping Up Man Caves: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

To finish things off, I want to mention that this all changes depending on the individual. The ugly part of a man cave deals with a personality issue, while the bad part of man caves only happens with neglect or lack of effort. The good vastly outweighs the bad and the ugly, especially considering how rare those two features really show up in man caves. Certainly, the bad is tolerable to most men anyways. Ultimately, the man cave provides a sanctuary for men and a place to relax all on our own. This little bit of solace is worth all the effort in the world!

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from True Man Cave https://www.truemancave.com/man-caves-good-bad-ugly/

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24 Hours to Improv Your Man Cave

24 Hours to Improv Your Man Cave

Improv (short for improvisation) simply means making something out of nothing. It challenges you to work with what you already have to get the best result. Lots of people postpone the construction of their man cave due to a lack of budget, lack of time, or both. If you count yourself among them, I want to challenge you and a friend to take 24 hours to improv your man cave.

  With a hard time limit and a friendly dose of rivalry, you’ll be absolutely surprised at how quickly your man cave falls together! Simply follow these quick steps to get the basic skeleton of your man cave going and even flesh it out a little. At the end of the exercise, compare man caves and see who wins! Before you begin, make sure you have a proper location. A simple shed works, and you can see some further info on making a man cave shed here. Otherwise, a basement, attic, garage, and guest room work great. As long as you don’t take over a bedroom or living room, it works!

Step One – Pick a Theme (TIME: 1 HOUR)

Once you start with your improv man cave, the first thing you should do is pick out the theme. What do you want to use your man cave for? What sort of things do you like? Some common themes include rustic or western themes, gaming themes, sports themes, and steampunk themes. With an ideal location, you may also consider man cave workshops, garages, and studio retreats. Rather than prioritize work and how productive your room is, think about how you enjoy rooms.

  Your theme determines what sort of furniture you acquire, colors you focus on, and what sort of decor you choose. If this is your first time messing with interior design (which happens with a lot of men), don’t sweat it. This guide covers all the basics you need to know!

Step Two – Acquire Furniture (TIME: 5 HOURS)

You only have 24 hours to create your man cave, so furniture shopping is not usually an option. Plus, you probably want to keep your budget as low as possible. For this, I recommend asking family what sort of furniture they have laying around that they want out of their homes. Trolling around neighborhoods for garage sales and abandoned furniture also works on a low budget, and timing your challenge to coincide with a large disposal day further assists. Lastly, visit antique shops and see what they offer that might fit your theme. Your essentials include a fridge, couch, entertainment system, and recliner. Paint and rugs also help.

  Again, avoid actual furniture stores, since the employees will upsale their already expensive products and insist you check out them all. You don’t have time for that when every other method I described also helps cut down time on your decor. As with all old or used furniture, check for signs of pests before bringing it into your home. The worst offenders include lice and bedbugs. Roaches and fleas can be dealt with using a tiny amount of pest control, but lice and bedbugs take a lot of work. Look for empty egg cases throughout. Sometimes the bugs also hang out in margins of the cushions. Keep infested material far, far away from your home—preferably where you found it!

Step Three – Acquire Decor (TIME: 3 HOURS)

You probably picked up a little bit of material while searching for furniture. Now, look at the gaps in your room and see what needs to be filled. Your decor should match your theme, of course, but also include things that you enjoy. Rather than focus on ‘manly’ things, look for things that serve a personal function for you. Little pieces of decor like wall-mounted bottle openers, neon signs, or one of your favorite posters make the room feel much more cozy. If it doesn’t match, don’t worry. That’s what the next step is for.

  Step Four – Reunify Theme (TIME: 3 HOURS)

Your room contains all the basics, but chances are, everything looks mismatched. When you look for furniture on such short notice, of course they belong to different sets! To make your furniture match, look into some furniture covers. This is when you’re allowed to visit a furniture or home improvement store. I highly doubt your local supermarket will carry what you need.

  Along with making furniture match, you want to match your decor to the room. Take note of the most dominant colors in the room. Usually, black stands out the most. While choosing your unifying decor and furniture covers, take your main colors into account. Lastly, if you find something that matches your theme and your colors, purchase it!

  Step Five – Throw in Essentials (TIME: 2 HOURS)

It’s time to make a checklist and make sure you have everything! As I already explained, you need four essential pieces of furniture—your couch, recliner, fridge, and entertainment system. However, with only that small bit of stuff, your room looks rather empty. You also want to throw in wall decor, a place for warm (non-refrigerated) snacks, a rug, a coffee table, and a sign on the entrance of your cave to distinguish it from the rest of your home. Do you have everything? Then congrats, you created a fully-functional man cave!

Step Six – Test Everything (UP UNTIL ONE HOUR BEFORE DEADLINE)

Now that you put everything in place, you should have enough extra time to enjoy your man cave for a bit. Set up all of your electronics, make sure the fridge works, make sure your couch is comfortable, and so on. The main purpose of a man cave is to help you relax, and after all the scrambling you did today, you need relaxation more than anything! While sitting and enjoying your new room, you may find little things that bother you. Use this time to fix any of these small problems that crop up. Again, you take plenty of time during the day for this task, so running late should be no issue! This step helps ensure that your man cave is up to snuff in terms of functionality, so don’t skip it!

  Step Seven – Clean and Organize (ONE HOUR)

The last step to improvising your man cave includes organizing and cleaning. While a man cave works just fine with everything put wherever you want, that’s no way to win your little competition! Instead, all of your decor should look deliberately placed. An easy way to do this is to place smaller objects in groups of odd numbers and to the side of your tables and surfaces. Books are an easy example—put three on one side of your coffee table, stacked from largest to smallest.

  With art, vary your sizes, but make sure at least some of their corners meet. For a little bit of inspiration, look at how artists lay out their comic book panels. Organizing your images works the same way! Another fun way to organize things is by color. Whether you group your DVDs in a rainbow pattern or stick blocks of colors together, it looks nice and organized!

Wrapping Up the 24 Hours to Improv Your Man Cave

Although I set this up as a competition, all of these steps help found every man cave in the world. Sure, it starts off looking a little mismatched, but time will help you sort out the unwanted clutter from the things that belong in your man cave. By taking such a limited amount of time to build, you also know that it takes a mere day to drastically improve your man cave if you desire!

  Ultimately, I hope these 24 hours to improv your man cave helped you learn the foundations of interior design and why—in this day and age—every man deserves his own ma n cave. This little 24 hour venture is truly worth it, and you feel that as soon as you finish! Whether you won this little contest or not, enjoy the fruits of your labor and chill out in your new cave for many more years!

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