Plans for Shed Building: Building a Door That Lasts

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Don_Koenig]Don Koenig
Most people, when making plans for shed building, pay close attention to the foundation and the roof because they are the two components of the building that make a crucial difference in the stability and durability of your shed. The shed door is often overlooked as an important component but that is, as you will see, a serious mistake. While the foundation and roof are stationary components of your building designed to be rigid and provide strength to your building. The door, however, is the single most used component of the shed, opening and closing every time you go in and out of the building. So let's pay some attention to building the door.
Design Considerations
The first thing to consider is the size and type of door you require. The size of the opening must be large enough to accommodate the largest piece of equipment you intend to store in the shed. For most, that is a tractor mower. Build the door opening too small and you'll never get the tractor in the shed. Build it too big and you lose some wall space you could put to good use for storing rakes, shovels and other garden tools.
Once you determine the size, you must decide on the type of door to use. Will a single door swinging out be adequate or will you need a double door meeting in the center and swinging out. Shed doors generally swing out so as not to require a larger shed in length than is needed. If your doors swing in and you drive your tractor mower inside and park it will you be able to close the doors if they swing in. Some people like to put in Dutch doors where the top and bottom of the door swing independently of one another or they can be locked so that the top and bottom swing as a single unit.
Another decision you must make about door construction as you plan for shed building is to plan for repairs. Look, the shed is a working building. You are bound to bang into the doors from time to time. It is likely that over time the doors will become unhinged, will develop nicks and maybe even a hole that needs repair. Plan for easy removal of the door so that you can take it down, fix it or maybe even build a new one when needed.
Construction Considerations
When installing the door, I like to use strap hinges on the outside of the shed. This choice makes it easy to put up and take down when necessary. I will use a flat 2x4 between the wall studs at the place I intend to put the hinges on the wall side to add strength and stability to the hinge. Be sure to get hinges that are galvanized and are sized to support between 1.5 and 2 times the weight of the door as a safety measure. That way you'll be certain the doors will remain stable for the life of the shed unless you damage them in some way.
Make absolutely certain that the doors you build are square. Use a framing square to make certain of this. A door that isn't square poses a significant problem because it will be bumping into the frame and not fit in the square opening you created. It doesn't take much time or effort to make your door square but failing to do so will haunt you forever.
When choosing wood for your door construction, make absolutely certain that the wood is kiln dried. Doors should be made of wood that is at least one-inch thick. Some people prefer rough sawn planks as a way to give a rustic look to the building. Don't forget to brace your door using a 'Z' brace that requires three pieces of wood, two pieces for the top and bottom braces and a longer, diagonal piece running the length of the door from one top corner to the opposite bottom corner. I both nail and glue the braces in place for added strength.
When you make plans for shed building don't forget to pay close attention to the construction of your door. A good set of plans will spend a reasonable amount of time and energy showing you how, in a step-by-step manner, exactly how to go about the task of making the most secure door possible for your project.
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/plans-for-shed-building]12 x 8 Shed. Why not visit his site and see what all the fuss is about.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Plans-for-Shed-Building:-Building-a-Door-That-Lasts&id=6681012] Plans for Shed Building: Building a Door That Lasts