Shed Plan Designs: A Steel Shed? Perhaps!

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Don_Koenig]Don Koenig
Building a storage shed on your property is nothing to take lightly. Not only is a shed a big investment of both time and money, it is a big decision as you work through shed plan designs that will work for you. You must consider many things as you make the decision to build. Things like shed size and design that comply with local building codes as well as meet the requirements of any home owner's association guidelines must be made. Then you must decide whether to build the shed yourself or have it built by a contractor. Finally, you must decide on the material you wish to use in building your shed.
Have You Ever Considered Steel
Steel sheds are the choice for storage on many farms today. They are also used as warehouse buildings, garages, and other kinds of structures that require strength and durability with low maintenance requirements.
As a building material, steel is not as expensive as you might assume it to be. Not only can you build a steel shed for right around the cost of a more traditional shed built from wood, the cost to maintain the steel shed over time is significantly less than maintaining wood.
Constructing steel sheds is generally not thought of as a do-it-yourself project. Special equipment like cranes for lifting the skeleton into place are needed to expedite the process. Steel is also not as forgiving as wood to work with. If something doesn't quite align with wood you can make adjustments on the spot. With steel, if the bolt holes are out of alignment you have done something wrong in an earlier step and you'll find it difficult to make necessary adjustments.
Steel construction is generally stronger and more durable than wood construction. That's because steel, made from iron and carbon combined at very high temperatures, is an extraordinarily strong material. Steel is, however, quite hard and parts must be fabricated off site. The steel used in construction will vary in strength based on the percentages of iron and carbon contained in the steel. The more carbon the harder and stronger the steel will be.
Steel shed design is more limited than a wooden shed design. That being said, if you are looking for a basic shed design, say 10 x 20 foot design, you probably aren't looking for a fancy building with gabled roof designs and the like. In that case, a steel shed is just as functional as a wooden shed.
Of course, you must think about maintenance when it comes to any shed building you decide to build. Steel, if taken care of, will last a long time. In the long-run, steel requires less maintenance than wood. You'll never get termites, carpenter ants, or other pests that like to eat the wood found in a traditional shed. Steel doesn't support the growth of fungi or other mold spores and it is unlikely to support mildew as well.
In harsh climates, especially those where snow loads are an issue, steel also is a wise investment. Your steel shed will take a greater snow load and be far less likely to collapse under the weight of a heavy, wet snow.
The point is, of course, when you are considering shed plan designs it is wise to consider building your shed from steel as a viable alternative to building with wood.
Don Koenig has been a professional carpenter and woodworker for over 25 years. He offers tips and ideas for building sheds an other woodworking projects at [http://www.designsforsheds.com]Designs for Sheds. Right now he is offering a free gift of a 24 page basic shed plan for a [http://www.designsforsheds.com/shed-plan-designs]12 x 8 Shed. Why not visit his site and see what all the fuss is about.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Shed-Plan-Designs:-A-Steel-Shed?-Perhaps!&id=6692497] Shed Plan Designs: A Steel Shed? Perhaps!