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Posts Tagged ‘yard’

Durable And Bright Vinyl Fencing

July 13th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 2 Comments | Filed in Home Improvement

A neighbor on our block recently replaced his wood slat fencing, choosing to go with vinyl instead. Time, the elements and a family of moles took its toll on the 22 year wood fence so it needed to be replaced.

Prior to his project, I wasn’t all that familiar with vinyl fencing. I’ve seen it spring up in new housing subdivisions but most of my neighbors seems to prefer wood and chain link fencing. I believe the trend to vinyl fencing will soon render most other fencing choices obsolete as these fences never need painting, can withstand the worst kind of weather and is easy to fix if a pack of rodents decides to burrow underneath it.

Long Lasting Vinyl Fencing

Weathered picket fences need to be maintained, but vinyl fencing only needs the occasional power washing in order to return it to its former glory.

Weathered picket fences need to be maintained, but vinyl fencing only needs the occasional power washing in order to return it to its former glory.

My neighbor was convinced that vinyl fencing was right for him when a salesman explained just how durable of a product it really is. Vinyl is a heavy duty plastic product derived from PVC – polyvinyl chloride resin which makes it resistant to moisture and humidity and can be easily cleaned as well as recycled. The only maintenance needed is the occasional power wash to keep it looking bright.

When vinyl fencing initially hit the market, the cost differences between it and wood fencing was wide.  Oil price increases forced prices up in 2008, but for 2009 vinyl fencing has returned to its previous levels. Wood prices, on the other hand, have continued to rise narrowing the gap between the two.

Look For A Lifetime, Transferable Warranty

Most vinyl fencing companies and manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty which means that when your fence is installed you won’t have to replace it ever again. Some companies even offer a transferable warranty which can be helpful if you plan to move, an attractive asset that today’s home buyers seem to appreciate.

Vinyl fencing is available in a number of different styles including privacy, picket and post and rail sections. Though my preference is white, fencing is available in a number of different colors – just make sure that you’re satisfied with the color you choose because it’ll be something you’ll need to live with for many years.

Would I tackle this project myself? If I had the right tools I might. However, you may personally find that the cost of installing vinyl fencing isn’t that more expensive than the materials purchased which means that you can leave the tough work to the professionals whose expertise will ensure that your fencing project is completed to your satisfaction.

Photo Credit:  Stephanie Schleicher

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You Can Choose A Polyethylene Shed!

April 3rd, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Home Tips

I must admit that I am smitten. Smitten as in a recent visit to a local big box retailer which put me in front of the nicest looking shed that I’ve ever found retailing for under one thousand bucks.

garden shedMade from high density polyethylene (heavy duty plastic), it isn’t wooden but it is solid, durable and likely to last well beyond its 10-year limited warranty. What’s more, for the most part it snaps together, making it easy to build. Steel reinforcements placed along the top of the ceiling help to ensure that your shed can withstand some of the harshest weather conditions.

Building A Garden Shed

The brand isn’t important because I’ve found similar sheds from other manufacturers sold elsewhere, but the concept is important because it proves that you can find a reasonably priced shed that isn’t made from aluminum.

When shopping for a polyethylene shed, you’ll want to make sure that it has the following attributes, otherwise you might find that it fails to meet your needs:

Decent Footprint — Any shed that is less than 8×8 isn’t much help for me, but the one I like is 8×10 and is eight foot tall at the center. This means that the door opening is at least 7′ tall, tall enough except for the occasional NBA player.

Windows & Doors — Two doors are better than one, especially if they widely swing open and have steel hinges. Windows are important too, especially if you plan on using your shed as a work area too. Shatterproof is a must while skylights invite in plenty of sunlight. Look for a door with a padlock loop and deadbolts especially if you have expensive equipment you want to keep on hand.

Ventilation — There has to be a way to vent the shed, therefore I look for built-in screened vents on each side of the unit to make sure that air can flow in and out freely. In most cases you’ll want to work in your shed with the doors open, but adequate venting will ensure that airflow will not be restricted whenever the doors must be closed.

Flooring — Though my current shed, the rusty aluminum one, is still standing the floor rotted away years ago. In its place is a wooden floor, but it has largely disintegrated too. My requirement of an HDPE shed is that a floor be included, preferably one made of the same materials and can be snapped into place.

Durable — I understand that HDPE is a superior material, but it also needs to stain resistant, easy to clean, and resist fading and cracking. With our children’s play equipment, we always purchased the most durable products especially equipment that can be hosed down, cleaned off and won’t fade over time.

Finally, if you’re looking for something to keep around a long time, you may want to create a pad area which can include wood, gravel, cement or asphalt, a level section of the yard offering a semblance of permanence for your garden shed.

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Shed Organizing 101

April 1st, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 2 Comments | Filed in Home Improvement, Home Tips

When we moved into our current home five years ago, tucked into one corner of the backyard was an aged aluminum shed. Five years later, that shed is still standing, but barely.

shedYears ago I decided that I would never buy a metal shed for the simple reasons that they don’t last all that long and they also don’t have the interior walk around space needed to make them all that useful beyond storing a lawn mower, garden supplies and other smaller items.

What Type of Foundation to Use

My next shed will be a lot like my neighbor Jerry’s shed, built out of wood and sitting on a semi-permanent foundation. Where I live if you pour concrete in order to provide a permanent foundation, then you need a permit and approval from your neighbors. But, if you set it on top of solid-concrete blocks, then the town is okay with that and your neighbor’s complaints won’t stick.

One of the reasons that people go with aluminum sheds is that they are so darn cheap. In fact, I’ve seen them retailing for just under $300 at my local big box retailer, a tempting low price for the person who needs outdoor storage but doesn’t want to pay a whole lot for it.

If you build a wooden shed, then all you’ll have to pay for is the components: wood, roofing materials, hinges, flooring, etc. But, most people choose to buy a completed structure, one with a window (and requisite flower box), door, shingled roof and permanent flooring.

Size Does Matter

Assuming that you’re happy with a wooden structure, one that is certain to withstand many years of usage and all sorts of weather conditions, you’ll want one big enough to serve your needs. Size does matter, but there is something to think about when choosing the right shed for your yard: if you organize it properly can you make better use of a smaller unit? I believe that you can.

Jerry’s shed is bigger (24×20) than what I need (16×12), fairly well organized, but it could be better arranged especially when it comes to maximizing storage capacity. The one thing he did that I really like is that he hung fluorescent shop lights from the ceiling which provides adequate lighting and doesn’t get in the way of the tallest worker. With an 8′ pitched ceiling, two adjoining shop lights hang just inches from the top, with his only fear that someone might hit the bulbs with a rake or a broom.

Organizing Wall By Wall

On one wall, Jerry has taken peg board and cut it so that it covers the entire wall from top to bottom. That wall has several dozen wire peg hooks hanging from it, where he hangs rope, cords, spackle, paint brushes and anything else that won’t pull away from the board. Bought in bulk, hooks of the same size should cost you about 30 cents each.

On a second wall, Jerry makes good use of putting up shelving, placed just above his work bench. Home Depot, Lowe’s and similar stores can cut the wood to size, so pick up some L brackets and you can nail them into the studs. Use left over wood to fill in blank spaces underneath for additional shelving, which can hold small paint cans, varnish, oils, cleaning solutions, etc.

Along the third wall is where Jerry lines up his lawn mower, seeder and stores waste cans. If your workbench is tall enough, some of these things could be stored underneath, but I like Jerry’s arrangement because he can quickly get what he needs and leave. Besides, underneath his work area he  has plastic bins filled with all kinds of stuff including screws, nails, gardening material, you name it. Those plastic bins, by the way, were once filled with kitty leader making for a reusable and useful way to store stuff.

The fourth wall is one which has both the door and the lone window to his shed on it. Thus, the only storage area he has on that wall is immediately below the window. I got Jerry to hang up several smaller hooks which hold various bags containing gloves, towels, paper goods and the like.

With mostly everything hanging from a wall or pushed up against a wall, there is plenty of room to walk around the interior without tripping over this or that, making it easier to enter, exit and move around the shed thanks to wise use of space.

Adv. — Are you looking for lights, cables, cords and wires to outfit your shed? If so, the Parts Store has everything you need at a low, low price. Overnight or two-day delivery is available, with a hassle-free return policy that is amongst the best in the business. Shop from their secure website today to find the parts you need for a wide variety of home products.

See also — Back Yard Sheds: An Excellent Space Manager

Photo Credit: A Syed


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