The Versatile Shed: How To Build, Renovate and Customize Your Bonus Space

278 Pages·2012·21.47 MB·English

by  Chris Gleason

The Versatile Shed
How to Build, Renovate and Customize Your Bonus Space
Chris Gleason
Contents
Introduction
Off-The-Rack Sheds
Planning From The Ground Up
Gear Girl
Writer’s Retreat
Recording Studio
Guest House
Gardener’s Paradise
The Bike Guy
Violin Maker’s Shop
Fancy Built
Introduction
I’m not sure exactly when the first house was built, but my guess is that it was
probably followed a short time later by the first shed. People have always
constructed small outbuildings as a way to gain additional space, whether it is
for working or storage, and this need is as vital today as ever. Today’s
challenging housing market means that it is difficult for a lot of folks to trade up,
so many of us are finding creative ways to make our current homes do more.
One of my favorite ways to do this is by considering the value that a shed or
small outbuilding might add to your daily life. Formerly just a place to store the
lawnmower, sheds have undergone a bit of a renaissance in the past few years:
the phrase “shed working” has entered our collective lexicon, and the tiny house
movement has perfectly illustrated that a high quality of life can be attained with
very little space, indeed.
Because I believe so strongly in the potential that sheds have to offer us — as
fun, creative, and interesting bonus spaces — I have written this book in a way
that I hope addresses a lot of different perspectives. For those who would like to
build their own sheds, I have offered step-by-step construction photos and tips.
For readers who would like to modify an existing shed to meet their needs, I
think that there is a lot of great info on how to do just that. And finally, for
everyone, including those who are just looking for some inspiration to show
what’s possible, I have assembled a lot of beautiful pictures of sheds that just
about anybody would be proud to have in their yard.
Here’s to a great shed project!
Christopher Gleason Salt Lake City, Utah November 24, 2011
CHAPTER ONE
Off-The-Rack Sheds
If you’re not interested in building your own shed, you’ll probably end up
working with a company in your area that specializes in small outbuildings. I
spent some time with Mike Anderson from A-Sheds, a company with offices in
both Denver and Salt Lake City, and I was really impressed with what they have
to offer. I took a tour of a number of different models that they had on hand, and
learned a lot about some of the more unique projects that they’ve undertaken.
Mike affirmed my belief that sheds can be much more than just a place to store
the lawn mower. Their company has built sheds that have been transformed into:
Art studios
Pottery studios
Motorcycle garage
Small rec rooms