Shed Buyer's Guide

Maybe you didn´t see exactly what you were looking for at any of our locations…
Are you not really sure where to start?
Are you starting to feel overwhelmed with all your choices?

Then you´ll want to read every word of this exclusive Shed Buyer's Guide.

W e take storage structures so seriously that we actually consider ourselves storage consultants, rather than a bunch of Amish guys making sheds. And from what our friends tell us; this is the only kind of Shed Buyers Guide out there. Now we sure hope you buy your structure from us, but in all honesty- you can use this same guide no matter where you are-or where you get your shed.



F ollow our step by step "How to Design Your Own Shed" guide here and in about 4 minutes, you´ll have all the details we need to give you a guaranteed to the penny quote!

Let´s get you started!

Step 1: What are you using your structure for?

• Storage Sheds aren´t just for regular old storage anymore.
• Use your Pine Creek/Belles Springs Shed for basic storage, a children´s playhouse, a small retail store front, pool house/storage, gardening or potting shed, Storage structures also come in 1 car and 2 car garages.
• Storage sheds can also be customized without spending a lot of money for motorcycles, boat storage, classic car storage, ATV storage and utility trailers.
• Our standard storage sheds can double as on property offices, art studios, photography dark rooms, craft rooms, workshops, home gyms and the up and coming "Man Cave."

Pine Creek/Belles Springs Storage Sheds can be used for animals as well- horses, llamas, alpacas, cats, dogs, goats, emus and one guy even used it as an ostrich house.

     "Most folks don´t understand that we at Pine Creek/Belles Springs can customize anything. It´s probably because so many other guys-including the big box Home Improvement Stores only offer in stock items," teaches storage expert JR Krause. "If folks can wait a few weeks, they can choose everything on their shed. It´s a lot like building a custom home. We can design the layout, the square footage, the interior, the exterior, the color the style… and what they don´t know is how cheap it can be!" So don´t settle for just a storage shed- make it do double duty! Check the list of possible uses here and get an idea of what you want, not what the other guys are going to give you.

…Read below for some money and frustration saving "Insider Advice" on how to select what size structure

Different Uses for Storage Shed

Basic, traditional Storage

Lawn Mowers, boxes, Holiday Decorations, Files, "The-Kids-Moved-Out-But-Their-Stuff-Didn´t", bikes, toys, grills, lawn and garden stuff… make sure to read below for some money and frustrating insider advice on how to select what size structure.
Some free advice on basic storage

J R Krause our manager at the Hershey-Elizabethtown location suggests you think about an extra set of doors. "I have seen customers who used every square inch of space of their shed-which is brilliant-but the first time they need to get something- Murphy´s Law says that it will be at the very back or your shed. With an extra on the side, you have 2 ways to access your treasures!" Don´t ignore the higher wall space- for a few dollars more; you can design your shed so it has pegboard on the side to store bicycles off the floor.

I f you are storing propane for the gas grill, paint or anything that´s flammable- make sure you have plenty of ventilation. End vents and ridge vents will really increase the air circulation inside your storage structure. "I had actually had one customer- a few years back- whose shed burned down because of some self combustible turpentine with rags. He made sure to get venting on the 2nd shed he bought from us."
 

I f you are trying to store bigger toys-just l-consider heavy duty peg board on the side to hang the bulkier items up off the floor. In our Dutch Barns, you can pick up extra space by going with the lofts- with a shelf that´s about 24" high- it´s a great space for less used items like Christmas Decorations.

 

S toring records? A real straight forward structure can do the trick- but check with us on the insulating options you have to keep the humidity inside low so it will reduce mildew if you are going to be storing records in there for over 5 years.

If you are storing indoor furniture or better outdoor furniture, go with an insulated floor and walls to eliminate any moisture creeping through that could warp and damage your investment. Further reduce moisture by getting circulation going with a few end vents.

Why a Storage Shed is better than a Rental Unit

S torage Units are a smart way to go-if you are only going to store stuff for up to 3 months. But after you go into the 4th month, you would have been better off to have your own storage unit.

Retail Storage Units rentals	Your Own Backyard Structure
Drive across town to access it	Walk a few steps to your back yard
Not able to get best square footage/cubic footage use out of it with lofts and shelves	Customize it with lofts, shelves, benches, lockers
Not sure what you have there	Open the door and view it
Cerement Floor draws up moisture making it damp and possible damaging	A wooden floor helps to block moisture, protecting your investments
Payments between $25-$200 and you have nothing to show for your money	Financing Payments between $25-200* and it´s yours for years!

*Check with the nearest display site near you for the current financing specials we have, or call our toll free number.

Safe affordable storage for your motorcycle or ATV's

I t´s easy and actually cheap to use a storage shed for your motorcycle or ATV. Since you can customize any structure from Pine Creek/Belles Springs, we´ll help walk you through the process of starting with our basic design like a Dutch Barn or Front Entry Peak and advise you on the choices you have to customize so it does what you want it to.

Some Free Advice on Motorcycle/ATV Storage: "When I´m helping customers out, I always start with the most important question-how will you be using this? And with a motorcycle storage unit, I ask if they want to use it for 1) regular storage 2) storage with a work shop or 3) a show room. I was blown away when the Amish guys at the plant actually came up with turn table for our specialty storage shed- The Hawg Barn."

C onsider designing your storage structure with a garage door and possibly a standard house door leading into a workshop section. "This way, you can easily get the bike in out and have some storage and workspace on the other side." suggests JR. Other things to consider: overhead lights, and our one of a kind- rhino coated flooring that contains rubber for easy clean up of spills and is water resistant.

An On Site Office if you don't have room inside the house

N o room in the house? Want a "Home Office" for around $2,000? A storage structure can be easily customized to become a place where work is enjoyable.

Some Free Storage Advice:

• You'll probably be using your Home Office year round so make sure to customize it with an insulated floor with a 3/4 inch smooth surface. This way, it will be easy to carpet or cover the floor how you want.
• Do you need a view? Start with a structure like a hip roof storage shed and design it with extra windows- maybe even sky lights to avoid that cubicle feeling. Think about finishing off the interior with our T-111 siding or maybe dry walling it.
• You can make it feel just like your home by opting for standard house doors, an electrical package.
• Interior Designer Will Hapeman-known as the Decorating Coach - adds, "Think about the works space- since these Amish craftsmen can create any kind of work space/table- you can select a height that works for you. I recommend sitting in a chair, and measuring 4-5 inches above your lap to get a good measurement. Once you have the basic square footage…move onto a layout that they can design for you that factors in how many work stations, supply cabinets and shelving".
• Make sure to upgrade to the insulated windows. We don't push this all the time- in fact for standard storage like the Christmas decorations you don't need to worry about how cold the structure will get. But if you want to work when its 45 degrees out, the insulated house windows will keep the chill out.
• And you can customize your On Property Office for really cold weather by adding one of our self contained heating/air conditioning units.

A Children's Play House that you can use after the kids are gone

W e have some pretty unique-won't be found in your neighborhood -designs but hopefully you'll soon read that you should consider your storage structure for double duty- a play house with a dividing wall to store something like pool furniture.

Some Free Storage Advice on Playhouses:

• Make sure there is plenty of ventilation. If it is too hot inside, the kids will not play in it, and they will be back inside telling you they are bored. By adding end vents and ridge vents, you will ensure the little ones will not roast.
• Windows of course are a smart choice.
• Since they won't be young forever, think about putting at least one "grown up" door on it so you can your storage shed after the kids have moved on.

Our structures are going to last a long time, so make sure you get the most out of it. Thinking ahead and how you will use this playhouse in the future will also influence what color choices and roof colors you select.

Pool Houses/Pool Storage
that dresses up your pool without eating up your yard

Y ou have a pool-lucky you! You can start with a standard storage shed then pick your options so it complements your home. When calling us or visiting us, you'll be pleased to see just how many of these options are free- included in the price of your storage shed.

Some Free Storage Advice on Pool Houses/Pool Storage:

• Consider a full height wall in your pool house so there is both a changing room and part for storing pool chemicals and pool stuff.
• Decorating Coach Will Hapeman says "By splitting up the 200 or so square feet you are really maximizing your space and your guests won't even know that the building is being used for chemical, chlorine and skimmer storage."
• An extra door is a smart investment because you can access each room separately. Changing room off the front- chemicals and storage on the side.
• "I like the Pine Creek/Belles Springs model because may include the small front porch that looks great and gives some protection from those fast thunderstorms. These guys have even created a pass through area- like a concession stand so your pool house is really like a pool cabana. Pick up a few inexpensive weather resistant outdoor stools and you have a country club in your own backyard."
• Maybe start with one of our Cottage Styles then work with us to design your very-one of a kind Pool house.

One of a Kind Deluxe Pool House- The Pine Creek Tiki Bar

I f you do a lot of entertaining outside or around your pool, at least consider one of our Tiki Bars. This same style has been popular with our business customers who have bought these for their own clubs and bars. Designed like a Pacific Island Get Away, you customize the floor plan to give you pool/outdoor storage along with enough interior space for rest and relaxation. We can custom build your Tiki Bar to accommodate hot tubs, big screen TV's, Bar and bar storage…even a bathroom!

"Most people love the looks of our Tiki Bar, but what I think is the greatest thing is the different sizes it comes in. Some of our customers in newer houses don't quite have enough back yard space to pull this off- a full sized Tiki Bar- or any structure for that matter may look a little out of place. But with sizes as small as 12 x 20- you can create your own structure to get great use out of it AND it still fits the scale of your property."

A Man Cave or Club House for Grown Up Boys

M en-if you are looking for a truly private space to call your own- that's far enough away so you can't hear your wife's voice, but close enough if she starts really hollering- then a converted storage shed will do the trick.
Pool tables, pin ball machines, a movie projector, big screen TV's…surround yourself with creature comforts you like most to make this a true getaway.

Some Free Advice on Creating Your Own Man Cave:

• "I think we are the experts in helping customers design a man cave having helped hundreds of men design their own retreat- sharing with them what other customers have done."
• Explains JR: "Start with a 14 foot by 20 foot structure-one that has a peak roof and a 6-8 foot interior wall.
• You may be a in hurry to get your Man Cave, so we can really customize any structure in a few weeks.
• By having even walls throughout- it's easier for you to finish and you won't hit your head.
• And make sure to get a price quote that shows the electrical package choices.
• "I pull the guys aside and tell them to please their wives by going with dormers so it goes with your house."
• And believe it or not- we can even put bathrooms in your man cave- so get a separate price for that option. This way, you can stay in your Man Cave for hours on end. If that's what you want.

How to Convince Your Wife You Want a Man Cave or a Workshop- or a Motorcycle Storage Barn-or any structure…
By Our Resident Expert on Storage Sheds Therapy Mark Krause

I f you decided you want a storage shed for your workshop, a Man Cave, a Hawg Barn for your cycle, or any other reason…here's a trick: Let Mrs. get involved with all the design choices- exterior, shingle color, paint or siding color, door colors, etc. Don't make a peep when she is going through this process. You got your shed, be quiet and be grateful. Even if she chooses pink siding with purple trim, stand there, smile, and say "Yes, Dear- it does look fabulous. And you have to use that word- fabulous."

See us after the sale if you want a new set of keys and locks

Plans for a Workshop?

D id you ever consider using a storage shed as your workshop? By only spending 10% on what a home addition will cost you, you can have your own workshop on your property,
With our burglar proof hinges-one of the strongest in the business- you can work in peace in your own space and not have to worry about cleaning up each time.
Want to make a mess? Go ahead- then lock the door and return to your mess when you want to.

Some Free Storage Advice on In Home Workshops

• Give some serious thought to splitting your structure into 2 parts.
• Check out our Dutch Barn Style structures that give you cubic space in addition to square footage.
• With the extra space above the doors, you can easily put in a some cheap lofts that give another 20% more space-and more headspace while you work.
• Then you have plenty more room for shelving, peg boards and your actual work bench.
• Some customers were clever enough to design their workshops with garage doors on 1 of the ends-to make getting bigger items like lumber in and out faster, as well as use the storage side of your workshop for your tractor-snowblower...etc.

Horse Barns and Run-in Sheds to buy

O r Emu Structure, Ostrich Structure, Llama Structure Goat, Structure, Alpacas…

• Some stick built Horsebarnss and Run In Sheds-Run In Shelters can be $25,000 and up.
• With a Pine Creek/Belle Springs Structure you'll only have to spend a fraction of that and have a structure that is just as reliable, and just as good looking. Maybe even better looking!
• With a range of sizes-depending upon how many horses you have- you select the design and in a few weeks, your structure will be delivered ready for your horses right away!
• Because they are portable, you can move your Horse Barn or Run In Shed to different places around your property over the years it literally is a portable run in shed- -because with the Amish craftsmanship that goes into it-you are going to have this for a long time.
• If you have a few horses and were leaning to a larger, more expensive built on site Horsebarnss; you may want to check out the pricing on our 24 x 48 horse barn- as we have priced that one to be one of the best in the industry.
• Miniature Horse Barns and Shelters is a real specialty of ours- one of the only manufacturers on the East Coast that offer this.
• If you didn't see any miniature horse barns on our locations page, contact us directly and we can tell you what we have for immediate delivery, or help you customize your own Horsebarns.

Remember you can customize any of your structures with us- take horse barns and workshops- we have made several combination units-each one tailor made that combine a horse barn and workshops.

An Insider Secret on Storage Sheds Expensive Delivery Charges-

J ust so you know…be careful when considering buying from a sight with only one location. We don't blame any of the other guys for charging for deliver- it's a standard industry practice. But what can get expensive for you friend is when they only have 1 place to deliver from.

If a shed maker is in Lancaster for example, and you are in New Jersey, you'll have to pay for the trucking, gas, driver, insurance and fees for the whole trip. But with 15 different locations (and 1 in New Jersey) chances are you're pretty close to one of our display lots, where the delivery is free within 25 miles!

Some Free Advice on Horse barns and Run In Sheds-Run In Shelters:

• Make sure you have considered ventilation for your beloved beasts.
• And depending on what animal you want to house will determine what material to select inside. For example, we advise you to select an oak kick board on the inside for larger animals, but you wouldn't need that for yours goats.

Designing Your Own Craft Room

I f you have run out of space in your home and want to design or create your own great scrapbook craft room-or any hobby room, use one of our storage sheds. Because you can customize any of our structures-by either visiting our display locations or reviewing our selection on line, designing a craft room is a pretty simple process.

Some Free Craft Room Design Advice:

• Start with one of our more basic models like a 10 x 16 Victorian Style.
• Decide on how much work space and storage space you will need, then work with one of the Design Professionals either in person or over the phone and we can recommend:
  • peg boards,
  • workbenches,
  • extra shelving,
  • sky lights,
  • walls
  • and depending on where you live- insulated doors and windows.
• As with any structure, you have some free or really cheap cost choices when it comes to matching your structure to your home.

Art Studio Plans?

T he Kids have them- we love what the genius behind the Crayola Art Studio did- but how about one for grown ups?
It's really easy to convert one of our storage sheds into your own art studio. And if you have art studio plans in mind already- we can guide you customizing a structure to give you exactly what you want.

Some Free advice on creating your own Art Studio

• J.R. Krause recommends, "The Lighting with an Art Studio or Photography Studio is a must when creating your own studio.
• Consider 2 maybe even 3 sky lights and take your time when reviewing the all the different window choices we have.
• The choices can be pretty overwhelming- that's why I take people to our "Options Shed" where they can see the all the different choices they have when creating their own structure.
• They can see all their choices in one place and make something that is exactly what they want."

A Special note about storage sheds in modular home communities and trailer parks

W ith smaller yard space and tighter squeezes, it's important to find out about a shed companies delivery service before choosing your storage. You may find an unbelievable price on a close out model, but if they are going to rip apart your lawn, drive over the shrubbery and have the land owner coming after you for the damages…you could be in some trouble.
Pine Creek/Belle Springs delivery drivers are trained and experienced with these tighter spots and rarely have we had complaints. If your property is small, has limited openings or you think it's going to be tricky getting the delivery truck in there, just let us know. If you live near one of our locations, we can come out and visit your property for free-and without any obligation- to ensure that your property can handle a delivery truck- and give you some free advice while we are there on how to choose the wisest storage structure for what you want.

Contact us to see if your park or community has lower contract pricing with us.

What if a delivery truck won't fit on your property?
Well, if one of our guys can't delivery to your property, chances are no one can. Your option then is to have your structure built on site. Check with us to get a no obligation quote from our Built on Site Construction team.

A Small Retail Store Front that's cheap in price

• Use your storage shed for a your business.
• We have sold a lot of structures to people who have a business that needs outdoor space like:
  • Car lots,
  • Christmas Tree Farms,
  • Outdoor Farmers Markets
  • Road Side Fruit Stands.
• When you come into our display lots, pay special attention to our offices- they are-of course- basically a storage shed that we customized.

Some Free Storage Advice

• As with any structure where people will be there in for longer periods of times, make sure there will be adequate ventilation and consider our electrical package.
• You also may want to consider our HVAC units that make the structure seem like more expensive stick built building-but for only a fraction of the cost.
• And they can be real affordable- start with a basic little office but make sure you get our 7 foot wall unless everyone is very short.
• Check out Front Entry Peak Roofs-which seem to be most popular for retail offices in the 10 x 16 size.
• Finally consider the house doors on it, rather than the standard shed door.
• Depending upon the size, you can design separate work stations, and small lobby area.

Create a separate space for a dedicated home gym that you will WANT to use

• The Amish can't really understand our pre occupation with health clubs and gyms.
• But when you consider the average Amish wife walks 9 miles a day-its no wonder they can eat all those wonderful treats and stay so trim.
• But for the rest of us who can't seem to find the time to get across town to the big gym, and our treadmill is nothing but a $3,000 clothes hanger, using a storage shed for a home gym is the best solution.
• By taking just a few steps from your home, you could easily be inside your own gym with your equipment, decorated the way you want it for use any time of day.
• (Maybe you should think like the Amish do- and move your storage shed a few more feet back from the house- to get in a few more steps…)

Some Free Storage Advice on Using a Storage Shed as a Home Gym:

• Think about insulating the walls so you can use it year round.
• If you want stereo equipment, separate lighting or maybe installing a small refrigerator, check out the electric options we offer.
• An upgrade that many other shed makers don't offer is dry walling the interior.
• "For just a few dollars more-you can paint or paper the interior of your new gym in a color that will either motivate you-energize you or maybe relax you. One of my clients used a storage shed as a yoga studio, so we went with a pale blue and a light sponge treatment. You can pick up some cheap oversized mirrors that will give the same look as the more expensive floor to ceiling mirrors like the gym. I send a lot of folks to IKEA for these." (Decorating Coach Will Hapeman).

Give Teenagers Their Own Hang Out or Room

• Now this may be a judgment call on the parent's part, but we have consulted families on using a storage shed for a teen's room or hang out on the property.
• Discuss the options you have as far as dry wall, electrical packages, and house doors and get a price quote to see what fits your budget.
• Pay special attention to the different choices you have in windows so you can make this structure compliments your house.

Get an Instant Dog Kennel set up in one afternoon or a palace for any pet

• As far as we can tell, there aren't a lot of choices if you have a couple of dogs.
• If you are considering your own dog related business or have a lot of your own pooches, a Pine Creek/Belles Springs Structure gives you a deluxe Dog House ready for tenants in one afternoon. A few of our customers have specifically used our structures for a cat house.
• More like a Cat Palace! With plenty of windows, we were able to design extra ladders and cat walks through out the structure to give plenty of ways to exercise.

Some Free Storage Advice on Dog Kennels/Multi Dog House:

• JR. Krause advises "We can cerate different holes in the structure that lead into separated "rooms". I had a customer who had 4 dogs, and split up one of our hip roof structures into 4 parts then put up a simple fence system on each side. The dogs then had their own private spaces- both inside and out. un in different holes with runs so the dogs were separated on the inside."
• If you are not going with a whole kennel, pet doors are a cheap upgrade.
• Section off your structure to keep supplies on side and your pets on the other.

Never thought you could afford a home in the mountains or down the shore? Design your storage shed to be an instant cabin!

H onestly- we were a little surprised when someone bought our prototype of our Montana.
But then after the 15th person came in and customized their purchase to make it a small retreat, we realized that our customers are smarter than we are!

By adding a few options, you can turn an ordinary structure into a second home and weekend and vacation getaway.

Some Free advice on converting our structures to cabins or retreats
J ake Beiler, who is kind of our specialist with these, gives some advice that you may not have thought of,

"When you are working with us, we probably will recommend a 7 foot wall-peak to peak-to make it real livable. Since you are going to use it as an actual living space, you want to have the interior feel of a home. I always point out to folks they should consider going with a regular house door on their cabins. If you are expecting a lot of guests to use it- like a hunting cabin-you should spend the few bucks to have us put lofts in on either side so you can sleep 8 comfortably. You can design your structure with electrical packages to get all the comforts of home. I think the front porch option really makes this look like a place you want to relax in. You can use this porch area to change your boots, get out from the weather, or set up a few chairs and enjoy your view."

Most folks are surprised to learn where we CAN deliver to. Up on a mountain, down by the lake…as long as we have a wide enough opening to get our delivery trucks through, and if we are driving down a road or lane-enough height- we shouldn't have any problem.

Put Your In Laws in Storage/In Law Guest Quarters/Guest House!

J ust like our Mountain or Shore cabins, you customize our structures so it's a private guest house on your property. And there is just no beating the price between a Pine Creek/Belles Springs Structures and building your own!
You can get a nicely featured Montana for example for around $10,400 (the basic version sells for only around $8,000-depends on your location). A quick call to some home remodeling companies and you'll see how you could easily spend double that.
"These things are built as strong as a house- with a 16 inch on center studding-your guest house is built to last"

Some Free Advice on your In Laws/Guest Quarters
Insulated doors and walls should be on your check list.
And decide if you want us to put an electric circuit box in when we build it, or just wire it for a hook up from your electrician.
If it's going to be used year round, you'll be better off including one of our self contained heating and air conditioned units in it.
We can also put dry wall up on all or just part of your structure.
Most of our customers who purchased these units tell us in our follow up calls for satisfaction that they are happy with the 14 x 24 dimensions.
(Most however do wish they had included at least one loft area for some added built in storage.)

Exclusive Pine Creek Electrical Packages for Storage Sheds:
A ny of our structures can be made so they are ready for electrical power. Ben from one of our plants explains:

"We can install an electrical box in any structure when we are customizing them at our production facilities. So the owner can easily run a wire- or hire an electrician- to easily hook up a line. Probably takes 15 minutes. When customers have ordered a structure for a bigger office, we can also include a full electrical panel with breakers. Our Lighting kits give you rough wiring for 1 light switch, 2 lights and 3 receptacles."

(Not bad for an Amish guy that doesn't use electricity at home!)

Storage for Fire Wood or Coal

A delivery of coal or firewood can run upwards to $500.
Keep your delivery safe with a Pine Creek Structure keyed lock. Our aluminum piano hinges are both burglar proof (and rust proof.). A small structure set just outside the back door will make bringing fire wood and coal into your home easy.

Some Free Advice on using a Pine Creek Structure for Storing Firewood or Coal:

• Storing your firewood in a protected shed keeps them away from termites who may you unknowing bring into you house.
• And for Coal storage, we recommend customizing your doors so the coal truck can easily back up and attach their chute to your structures.

  "Make a quick call to your coal supplier- and find out how high their chutes are and we can make the windows on your coal storage shed to fit your specifications, "advises Guy Sheely. "Also consider putting plywood on the interior to save yourself the hassle of digging between the studs."

• Although it won't need to be as pretty as mountain cabin- adding some windows will actually keep your firewood a little bit dryer-allowing you to store your wood for a few years.

(we thought we listed every possible use...but we'd love to hear how you'll use your structure. If you think we missed something… drop us a line! )