Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Free Shed Plans
If you have decided to build your own shed, and are looking for ways to cut costs, you may be tempted to use one of the numerous free shed plans available on websites on the internet. Before you do this, weigh the pros and cons. The big advantage to free plans is obvious - they are free. The disadvantage is that they may be poor quality shed plans.
This is not to say there aren't excellent free plans available. If you have a lot of woodworking expertise, and are familiar with the basics of good construction, then you may well be able to find a free plan which perfectly fits your requirements. You have to be honest with yourself here. Anyone can build a shed, but if you don't have enough experience, and you are working from a poor quality plan, your shed may end in disaster. Rather heed the warning, and avoid poor quality plans, than waste time and money on a project which is bound to fail. "Free" may not always the best option.
Let's look at some of the things that can go wrong with poor quality shed plans. First of all, you need to know that many of the 'free shed plans' available on the internet are drawn up by enthusiastic amateurs, not professionals. Even though they may mean well, they may not fully understand how to convey the information you need to complete your shed successfully. Many people have found themselves half-way into the construction of a shed based on free plans, only to run into insurmountable difficulties caused by poorly constructed, inaccurate plans with missing data.
This is a good reason to avoid using poor quality shed plans. Although building a shed seems pretty straightforward, and it is, if you know what you are doing, the plans do need to be extremely accurate. Don't say you haven't received ample warning about the dangers of poor quality shed plans!
Incorrect measurements, or measurements which are not to scale are common problems with poor quality plans, and a good reason to avoid them. At best, in accurate measurements will mean that the shed will leak, and be somewhat unstable - at worst, you will not be able to complete the shed, because the various sections do not match up. "Free" may not always be the best option - many of the free shed plans available have incorrect measurements.
Another common problem with poor quality plans is that they do not provide you with all the relevant information. For instance, if a 'free plan' gives you a list of materials required that is incomplete, you may be well into the project before you find you don't have enough materials, or the right materials to complete it.
Another big issue is safety. Imagine you build a shed with shelving which is not properly designed. If you put weight on the shelves, they may collapse immediately or later - which could injure someone. It is even possible that they entire shed may collapse in bad weather, or just as a result of poor design. This means you not only face possible injury to yourself or someone else, you also waste time and money. This is why "free" may not always be the best option. It is better that you heed the warning and avoid poor quality shed plans, rather than relying on them and finding yourself in difficulties.
Remember, free shed plans come with no guarantee. If you have your shed plans designed by a professional, you have a guarantee of their accuracy, as well as someone to ask if you have a problem or don't understand any aspect of the designs. With free shed plans, unless you know what you are doing, you have no way of knowing how to avoid poor quality shed plans. "Free" may not be the best option. Do your research, and if you have any doubts sending up warning signals, reconsider using them.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4946092
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