Extreme Shed Makeover
Spring has sprung and it's time to spruce your home up...give it a little curb appeal. While you're in the Spring-cleaning mood, don't neglect your shed! I'm not saying you have to go all "Ty Pennington" on your shed with the demolition and screaming "Move That Bus!" because, let's face it, your family and neighbors might think you are crazy.
However, I am talking about giving your shed some attention. Just like a house or car, your shed needs some upkeep from time to time. Here are some ideas to help your shed to last a little longer or perhaps to serve you better:
CLEAN IT OUT! Just like closets and garages, sheds tend to be hiding spaces for all the clutter that we don't want to deal with. Spend a day decluttering. Get rid of old materials that you know you're not going to use, products that have expired, and throwing out the "stuff" that has accumulated over the winter.
Repair it. If your hinges are squeaky or rusty, get out the WD40, if your roof has lost some shingles, put some new ones up. You get the idea. This is a great time to do a safety inspection. If you have little children around, be sure to keep their safety in mind. If you have tools or chemicals that could be potentially dangerous, make sure you have a good lock--AND USE IT!\
Give it a face lift. Depending on your shed, this might be a fresh coat of paint, stain and polyurethane, or a new roof. You've heard the expression before--"If the barn needs painting, then paint it!"
Discourage uninvited guests. I'm not talking about your relatives...OK, well, maybe some of them. Seriously, though...I'm talking about wildlife critters that you wouldn't want in your home (well, most of us, anyway), such as snakes, rodents, bats, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, mosquitoes, wasps and hornets, and the like. Again, be extra careful if you have small children or animals around, as traps and poisons can be very dangerous...which, of course is the main reason they are used to discourage your uninvited guests. There are some great alternative insect and animal control products on www.whateverworks.com. An organic approach to pest control can be found here.
Organize. This means different things to different people and a lot will depend on how you use your shed. If your shed is your workshop, this may mean building a tool bench or just arranging the tools on an existing tool bench. If your shed is for storing your lawn and garden equipment, this may mean buying some airtight tubs to keep your fertilizer and potting soil fresh.
It's all up to you. You can do as little or as much as you want. Just remember...if it's worth having, it's worth taking care of. Happy Spring Cleaning!