Deciding to build a granny flat is simple, designing and building the extension can be a lot harder. You'll have a lot of questions to answer along the way. Can you use a general contractor or is is better to use one who has built a lot of granny flats before? Is a template design better than a customised one? Should you let the person who'll live in the flat have a say in what it looks like? Luckily, I'm here to help. My name is Maria. We moved my Mum into a purpose-built granny flat last year, so I've had to answer all these questions and more. I thought it'd be useful for other people to see how we managed the process, so here we are — get reading!
Follow These Tips to Help you Construct a Superior Quality Rural Shed
Adding a shed to your structure should be a simple DIY construction. However, the structural strength, appearance and durability of the shed will depend on how well you plan, the materials you get and the execution of the building plan. You can choose to handle the construction as a DIY or to get someone to do it for you, but either way, your success will depend on how well you can follow these tips and guidelines.
Create a solid foundation
The structural integrity of every structure that you erect on your land will depend on the type of foundation which you create for it. The options which are available include piers and concrete slab. The foundation will cost you a considerable amount of money and if you opt for concrete, a lot of time will also be needed for the curing process. However, consider this an investment in the life and service which the shed will offer you eventually. Ensure that the foundation is level, hardy and secure enough to support the rest of the structure.
Installing the frame
Rural sheds are usually simple in design, which means that erecting the structure is also easy. The crucial aspect to remember is to include a door at the front and the back wall frame. It is essential to note that in most shed designs, the rear wall is typically shorter than the front wall. When creating the framework, this difference in height must be adequately represented. The reason behind a shorter back wall is to create a slanted roof for the shed. Slanted roofs are recommended so that rainwater, snow and ice can slide off the roof with ease.
Creating the sides
The side frames are going to tie together the entire design of the shed. Ideally, you should start the creation by ensuring that the outermost beams match the height of the back wall and the front wall respectively. The height of the rest of the beams will decrease as you proceed towards the rear wall.
After the frame has been erected, the next component is the roof. Metallic roofs are the most popular for sheds because they are easy to install and maintain, and very durable. With the frame in place, the only thing you need to do to have a quality roof on your shed is adding the right roof truss. After installing the roof, the last bit of the process is adding the materials which will make up the wall.