EncepCo, LLC Jiffy Plans
outbuilding plans for the home and small farm

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After you have decided which kind of structure you need, you will need to determine where you are going to put it. The first choice for a site should be on the south or southeast side of the house in a sunny location. The east side is the second best location. That's where it will capture the most November to February sunlight. The next best locations are the southwest and west. The north side is the least desirable location. You can place your structure where it will be partly shaded during the summer when light reduction is not serious and may be desirable. Be sure to take into account the possibility of falling limbs that can damage the structure.

Sometimes you can place a structure against a door, window, or basement entrance of your house. This will let you use heat from your house to make your structure more accessible, and save on construction costs. Your home heating bill, however, will increase significantly. If you have an L-shaped house, you can save the cost of 2 walls by building in the "L".

Whether your structure runs north and south or east and west is not so important as wind protection. Protect your building from winds by locating it so existing buildings will shield it, or by providing it with a windbreak hedge or fence. No matter which size or type of structure you choose, consider how much time you'll have to spend in it after it's built. Don't be over enthusiastic; for example some new greenhouse owners find they do not have as much time as they thought for gardening. On the other hand, there is a misconception that greenhouses require constant attention.

You can get the most for your money by doing some of the construction work yourself. How much work you do depends on how handy you are with tools and in building. Be honest with yourself - don't take on a job that's too big to handle. If you are good with tools, you can put up almost any small outbuilding structure. However, keep in mind that you may have to hire a qualified electrician, plumber or another professional builder to help you out.