Category Archives: Storage Solutions

Fireplaces Pits & Chimineas, Storage Solutions

Tips For Storing Firewood – Using a Firewood Rack

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DIY Outdoor Firewood Storage Rack

Firewood Rack Offers One Solution

Making sure that you have enough firewood to last you through the winter means planning far in advance. Freshly cut and split logs are never recommended for burning because of their significant moisture content; only seasoned firewood, which has an ideal moisture content of 15% to 20%, will provide you with an efficient fire that produces low emissions. According to the Wood Heat Organization, properly seasoned firewood has been “cut, split, and stacked. . .in the early spring and [left to] stand in the sun and wind all summer.” Wood that is stacked in a single row, rather than stacked in back to back rows or thrown into a pile, allows for more air to circulate and more moisture to evaporate. Prepared in this way, firewood can be ready for burning in six months, but it never hurts to save the wood you cut and split this year for next year’s winter fires.

Storing your seasoned firewood properly is an important consideration, and there are any number of options available. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when deciding how and where to store your seasoned firewood.

Convenience and Insect Deterrence

Seasoned firewood that you plan to use for the upcoming winter should be easy to access, but storing logs against an outside wall of your home is not recommended. Firewood can attract insects, and if logs are stored next to the house, pests can enter your home or cause damage to your home’s exterior. Some of the best, most convenient places to keep seasoned firewood are next to a fence or next to the shed or other outdoor storage building. If you suspect that your firewood may be crawling with critters, do not give into the temptation to spray the firewood with pesticides because burning these logs will create harmful toxic vapors.

Protection From Moisture

So that your firewood burns efficiently, it should stay dry while outdoors. If there is enough room available inside your outdoor shed or storage building, then firewood can be stored easily there. Alternatively, a simple tarp can be used to cover your firewood to prevent it from taking in moisture from rain or snow. Tarps are inexpensive and can be tied down easily to prevent them from blowing away. If your stack of firewood is stored in a place on your property that is not visible to passersby, then choosing to cover the stack with a tarp will not negatively affect your home’s “curb appeal.”

Elevation and Air Circulation

If stored directly on the ground, firewood can soak up moisture and attract insects. Storing your firewood in a sturdy Firewood Rack will keep your logs elevated, promote air circulation, and deter pests and wood rot. A Firewood Rack can be hand made from wood, but a rugged tubular steel-framed Firewood Rack is rot-proof and rust-proof, easy to assemble, and comes in multiple sizes, so you should be able to find one that fits the space in which you plan to store your firewood.

Properly storing your seasoned firewood will ensure that you have easy access to it when it’s needed without also sending an invitation to pests to invade your home. Proper storage will also keep your firewood dry while at the same time encouraging air circulation. By following these simple tips, you will be sure to enjoy long-burning, low emission fires throughout the winter season.

Garden Tools & Tips, Storage Solutions

Storage Shed Kits Ensure Easy Installation

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Storage Shed Kit
Building your own storage shed can be a tedious and tiresome project. You must possess great carpentry skills to get the job done right. On the other hand, buying a fully assembled, pre-fab shed can be very expensive and cost prohibitive for most home owners. Looking for a great compromise? Use one of our cedar storage shed kits. They come precut and with complete instructions. Several options are even available in a panelized version that is partially pre-assembled, making construction even easier. You get everything for the walls, floors, roof, and any accessories, such as windows, planters, doors, etc. You will love the convenience and ease that our kits offer. Get all of your lawn, garden, and pool equipment neat and organized or construct one as a playhouse for your kids!

Garden Tools & Tips, Storage Solutions

Why Cedar Is the Best Choice for Garden Sheds

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Cedar Garden Sheds

Outdoor storage sheds are an essential accessory for today’s homes. Whether you wish to store yard tools, gardening supplies, or pool chemicals, outdoor storage sheds (also known as garden sheds) provide additional space for your outdoor equipment, making it much easier to access and freeing up your garage for vehicles, bicycles, and the spare refrigerator.

Traditionally, though, outdoor storage sheds and garden sheds have been made of metal, vinyl, or plastic, and they are often less than attractive. As a result, sheds tend to be tucked away in some dark and hidden corner of the yard, away from direct view. Wood sheds, on the other hand, specifically cedar wood sheds, bring a natural and beautiful appearance to the backyard. Thanks to the durability and versatility that cedar wood sheds and garden sheds offer, using the shed for more than just storage is an attractive option for creative home owners.

Why cedar? Cedar is an all-weather wood that can withstand decades of harsh weather conditions, including icy winters, wet springs, and hot, sunny summers. It can be stained or painted to complement your existing home decor, and it is naturally resistant to mildew, rot, and insects, making it virtually worry-free. As an added bonus, cedar looks beautiful and smells fantastic. Because of these benefits, cedar is a natural choice for outdoor storage sheds.

Garden Tools & Tips, Storage Solutions

Backyard Greenhouses — Is Bigger Better?

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The purpose of greenhouses is to allow gardeners to grow a wider variety of plants and flowers, no matter the growing zone, and to extend the growing season to three, and sometimes four, seasons. No matter what size the greenhouse, the interior of a greenhouse heats up because the sunlight shining through greenhouse windows warms everything inside faster than heat can escape. The greenhouse walls and roof keep the warm air inside, even when temperatures outside are chilly.  How do you know, though, what size greenhouse is ideal for your garden?  Consider the following.

Hobby greenhouses are available in many shapes and sizes. If space is limited, a practical option would be a lean-to greenhouse or an attached greenhouse. These greenhouses are generally smaller in size and are physically attached to another building, such as a house, garage, or shed. Attached greenhouses and lean-to greenhouses get less sunlight during the day simply because they are attached to another structure, so they should be placed in a location that receives the most amount of sunlight throughout the day. Lean-to greenhouses and attached greenhouses are ideal for gardeners who wish to use the greenhouse only seasonally, and who may wish only to grow a small selection of plants.

Larger hobby greenhouses are free-standing and can hold more plants, flowers, and vegetables. Larger greenhouses can also support a longer growing season. Importantly, upgrading to a larger size greenhouse can be more expensive than starting with a larger greenhouse in the first place, so thinking ahead to future gardening needs is a must.

Is bigger better when it comes to backyard greenhouses?  The answer is different for every gardener because it depends on the amount of garden space available and the amount of planting each gardener wants to do.  If space is available, and if gardening is a serious endeavor, bigger is better.

Garden Tools & Tips, Storage Solutions

Minimize the Messy in Gardening

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Messy Garden Tools Need Organization

Gardening is messy.  Don’t make it messier by tossing garden tools into a corner of your shed or garage when gardening chores are done for the day.  Not only are tools harder to locate when they’re needed again, they can suffer damage easily and require frequent replacement.

To prevent hoes, rakes, shovels, and other garden tools from getting out of hand, keep them neat and tidy in a convenient place.  A sturdy, wooden garden tool holder makes an ideal garden tool storage solution.  With casters underneath and a dedicated slot for each individual tool, a garden tool holder is easy to move where it’s needed, and makes organizing tools a snap.  Your tools can be found where you left them, and they’ll stay in good working order for many years to come.

Cedar Garden Tool Holder