Month: January 2023

It’s hard to think of a more relaxing, peaceful place to spend time than a library. Whether you are looking for information or entertainment, a library has more than enough of both. But, of course, to get to your nearest library, you may need to take a long walk or even get in the car to drive to that physical location. So why not bring the library experience home?

By creating a library shed, you can start to compile your own collection of books that will always be just a few steps away. This is a more straightforward and affordable process than you might think at first, and we’ll discuss the necessary steps in the article below.

You’ll want something affordable, durable, and customizable for your backyard library. Those words accurately describe what we offer at American Steel Carports, Inc. Thanks to our Build & Price tool, it’s easy to design a shed that will serve your needs perfectly while fitting in the available spot on your property. Have questions? Just contact us, and we’ll be glad to work with you.

Start with the Books

Without books, you don’t have a library. So, the care of those books is where you’ll want to start when thinking about your new library shed. Adding a set of shelves to your shed will likely be the best bet for organizing and storing the books. You’ll want to ensure your shed design includes at least one long, uninterrupted wall that will make for a good spot for these shelves to stand.

In addition to some shelves where the books can live, you will also want to ensure the conditions inside the shed are suitable for paper books. Moisture is the enemy of paper, so a damp, shed environment will quickly lead to books that are falling apart and maybe even moldy.

You can take a few steps to avoid excessive moisture, including adding a window for ventilation or installing a dehumidifying unit that can run periodically to pull water out of the air. However, the latter option will require power, so keep in mind that this option will require electrical work, which will drive up the cost of your process. On the other hand, cordless humidifiers are a more affordable and convenient option.

Keep in mind that sheds made by American Steel come with a 20-year warranty from the date of completion of installation. However, this warranty is forfeited if the owner modifies structures. Therefore, we recommend moving forward with battery-powered dehumidifiers. We also offer options so your shed can be fully insulated to help regulate indoor temperatures.

Make it Functional

Collecting your books in a shed is a good starting point toward an enjoyable library space, but you still need somewhere to read the books in peace. So, consider adding a comfortable chair and a small table on the opposite side of the shed from the bookshelves. With a nice chair and a spot to set down your book – or a beverage – you’ll have everything necessary to enjoy reading in peace and quiet.

Additionally, the inside of a shed will be pretty dark, so adding light will be necessary. Of course, this is easier if you have electricity added, but you could opt for a battery-powered light source if no electricity is available. You can also add as many windows as you’d like to your design for more natural light.

Additional Comfort

Sheds are often cold, utilitarian spaces. That’s fine when it’s used for potting plants or storing a lawnmower, but it’s not exactly the vibe you are going for when building a library. So, consider taking other design steps to make this a more welcoming place to spend time. Here are a few options:

Bring in a rug

Adding a rug to the floor of your library shed will not only make it cozier but might also bring the temperature up a bit by providing a bit of insulation under your feet.

Cover the windows

If you add a window or two to the design of your shed – which is easy to do when you work with American Steel Carports, Inc. – you might want to find some curtains that can make the space feel more finished.

Artwork or other decorations

The focal point of a library will undoubtedly be the books, but you don’t have to stop there in terms of what you bring into the space. If you have any artwork or interior décor that you particularly like, add those elements around the shed to further the ambiance and make this place uniquely your own.

Start Your Project with American Steel

We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to build a library shed! Once completed, your new library shed will likely become one of your favorite places to spend time. Of course, we’d love to be a part of this process, so don’t hesitate to contact our team at American Steel—whether you are ready to get started or need more information.

Remember to explore our free Build & Price tool to discover the possibilities! Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog, and we hope to serve you soon.

Digital photos are the way of the world these days. Anyone with a smartphone can quickly snap and view a relatively high-quality photograph without additional equipment or required experience. While this technology is incredible, that doesn’t stop countless people from continuing to process their photos the “old-fashioned way.”

If you love photography and want to continue shooting film, you’ll need a darkroom where you can process those images properly. This article will walk you through how to build a darkroom, including what spaces can work and how to prepare the room for photo development.

A quality shed is one of the best options for a dedicated darkroom. Those can be found here at American Steel Carports, Inc. Our durable metal products are proven to stand the test of time, so explore our Build & Price tool today to see what is possible. Of course, you can also contact us directly if you would like help from a member of our friendly team!

Choosing the Right Space

The key to creating a quality darkroom is finding a controlled space that will offer a clean environment and the ability to work in a dark, undisturbed manner. Unfortunately, rooms that need to be used for other purposes aren’t a great pick, as there will be too much dust flying around to maintain the clean setting required for proper development. This is why a shed is a smart pick as a darkroom. If you build a small shed specifically for this purpose, you can optimize the space for your work and avoid the kind of clutter and debris that will lead to issues.

Addressing Ventilation

It’s important to remember that there are chemicals used in a darkroom, and the fumes of those chemicals may be dangerous. Therefore, properly venting the air in your new shed is essential to this project. In a small shed, you may need nothing more than a portable fan pointed out of the window that ensures the toxic fumes from your chemicals don’t accumulate and create a dangerous situation.

Add Storage Features

There are plenty of things you’ll need to store if you are going to operate a good darkroom, so you won’t want to leave the shed completely empty. Bringing in basic furniture pieces will make the shed more functional and will allow it to serve your needs nicely for this project. Some elements to consider include the following:

Chemical storage

The last thing you want to do is pile up your chemical containers on the floor and walk around them as you work. Instead, add a sturdy table or small cabinet where these supplies are safely kept when not in use. Of course, you’ll also want a good table on which to work, so make sure you have plenty of open surfaces available in the shed, so you don’t feel cramped or crowded and can spread everything out comfortably.

Add some drawers

Another essential part of a darkroom is a space where to keep film until it is time to do the development. While any storage solution that allows no light in can work, a drawer or set of drawers may be the best option. Remember, the key here is that no light gets in, so plastic drawers are not a good pick.

The Dark Factor

It may go without saying that a darkroom needs to be, well, dark. If too much light comes into the space, it won’t particularly matter what else you do – the room isn’t going to function correctly for developing photographs.

First, keep thing element in mind when you order your shed. You will want to have a window included in the design for ventilation, but you probably won’t want to add any more than the bare minimum. Each additional window, after all, is another chance for light to sneak through. If you build a small shed for this project, just a single window will likely do the job.

Also, you will need to cover the window and any other spaces where light can get in while you are working. Many different types of materials and products can work, but some thick black plastic is usually your best bet. Covering up the various little gaps that let light into the shed might take trial and error. However, you will be ready to use the space only when it is truly as dark as it can be.

Start Building with American Steel

We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to build a darkroom! There is certainly some time and effort required to create your darkroom, but that will all be worth it when you can process and successfully develop your first batch of prints. If you decide that a shed is a perfect place for your darkroom, don’t hesitate to contact us here at American Steel Carports, Inc. to get started on your project. We even offer convenient financing to make this purchase more manageable from the start.

When you are ready to get started, remember to explore our free Build & Price tool. Again, thank you for stopping by our blog; we hope to serve you soon!

When you think of growing plants, you think first of being outdoors. After all, the outdoors is the natural environment for plants to grow, as it needs to have access to the sun to go through the process of photosynthesis. But what if you could take the plants through that process indoors? Particularly in spring before the last frost. A whole new world of possibilities opens up when you grow your plants inside, and a shed can be the perfect structure to do just that. This article will explain some basic steps of building a shed to grow and care for plants.

When the time comes to order your shed, American Steel Carports, Inc. is the perfect partner for the project. We have been leaders in this industry for many years and have the reputation, quality products, and customer service to prove it. Start with our Build & Price tool, or contact us to ask any questions you may have. We hope to serve you soon!

Keep in mind that sheds made by American Steel come with a 20-year warranty from the date of completion of installation. However, this warranty is forfeited if the owner modifies structures. Therefore, we recommend moving forward with battery-powered grow lights for the colder months and then moving plants outdoors. We also offer options so your shed can be fully insulated to help regulate indoor temperatures.

Start with Sizing

Any shed you use for a grow room will need to be a suitable size for the task. Without enough space, you won’t be able to grow as many plants as you would like, and the project will be a disappointment. On the other hand, a bigger shed will take up more space on your property, so it’s a balancing act to choose the right size for your situation.

Only have room for a small shed? Not to worry – you can still create a small growing space that will serve you well as you prep your plants before spring’s last frost. One of the benefits of working with American Steel Carports, Inc. is how easy it is to customize our structures to suit what you need. Our team will help you finalize your order so that the shed you receive is ideal for your plans.

Addressing Electricity

For the average backyard shed, electricity is not required. If you plan to grow plants in this shed, however, the story is a little different – you will need to use a grow light to help your plants thrive, and those lights will need to be powered somewhere. Therefore, the shed will need to be wired for electricity as soon as possible. Or, you can simply opt for battery-powered grow lights and skip this involved process.

This is a job that should be left to a licensed electrician. Even if you are an avid DIYer, some jobs are better left to the pros – and this is one of them. You might want to reach out to some local electrical contractors to determine how much this work will cost. That way, you can add the cost to the price of the shed itself and know exactly how much this overall project will cost before you start.

Add Some Fans

Another piece of this puzzle – and another element that will demand electricity – is the fans you will need to control the air inside the shed. Due to the way plants use the air while they grow, you will need to have the ability to both move fresh air in and move stale air out regularly. The plants will struggle to stay healthy without moving air around, and the humidity inside the space will be consistently elevated. Of course, battery-powered fans are another option.

When you design your shed, keep in mind the need to move air around effectively. For example, adding some windows to the shed will open up spaces you can use to move air around with some fans – if you don’t add any windows and have just a single door for access, air management will be tricky.

Consider This Option

If you have the space available on your property for a more oversized shed than you need for growing plants, you might want to go ahead and build that big shed and then divide it into a couple of different sections. Then, in the plant growing space, you could add grow lights and create a controlled environment for the plants to thrive. Then, the rest of the area could be used for standard shed functions like storing yardwork equipment and other supplies.

You likely won’t want to grow all of your plants inside a shed. Of course, there is still something magical about tending to an outdoor garden, but there is no reason you can’t do both.

We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to build a shed for plants. Remember to explore our Build & Price tool, and reach out to American Steel Carports, Inc. when you are ready to start this shed project! Thanks for visiting our blog, and we hope to serve you soon!