Where To Put All That Stuff
It’s time to put away the pool stuff, tidy up the tools, lock up the lawn mower and gather up the garden furniture, But where to put all that stuff?
Though the sun is shining there is a distinct chill to the wind, and winter weather is just around the corner. We all love to sit outside and enjoy those last precious days of Fall, when we can enjoy a meal at the outdoor table even if we are wrapped up in jackets and boots and napkins fly off the table. Inevitably, winter will arrive, so it’s time to think about storing all our outdoor stuff somewhere ‘high and dry’ for the winter. Hopefully your option won’t be in the garage where the car belongs.
Let’s face it outdoor garden furniture can be expensive. Well, the really comfortable type of outdoor furniture usually costs an arm and a leg. So, whether you manage with lightweight plastic chairs and tables or have the elite version of outdoor furniture, you still want to store it somewhere safe where it will not become damaged by the weather or even worse become flying objects during winter storms.
With deep snowfalls, our outdoor ‘stuff’ also becomes a plowing hazard. I can attest to this! Much to my chagrin my husband drove over five of my garden tubs with the tractor one year. What a sorry state they looked when the Spring melt unveiled their new ‘distressed’ look.
Equipment and tools left outside do not do well in wet weather. Aside from the obvious issue of rust there are a myriad of other issues to consider. All engines that won’t be in use should be drained of fuel to protect the seals in the system from disintegrating or at minimum a protective additive should be added to the fuel system. The engine and any hydraulic parts should be protected from weather and any batteries protected from freezing. You can just throw an unsightly tarp over them which may or may not stay in place despite your best efforts at tying it down, and which may become another object with a ‘flight of fancy’.
Your storage options on your property may be limited. If you have a barn it is probably chock a block with livestock and hay. Outdoor furniture and other ‘stuff’ can pose a hazard to horses and other livestock who may behave errantly and collide with the pile of carefully stacked furniture or carefully placed equipment.
It is also not a good idea to store motorized equipment in your barn as it presents a real fire hazard. A friend of mine built the most amazing log home a few years ago. It was his dream home. He pulled the ATV into the garage (which was attached to the home), and despite the firewall that separated the garage from the house, when the ATV caught fire during the night, it devastated the entire house before the fire department could prevent it. A very sad incident and one that was entirely preventable.
Tractors and heavy equipment are also prone to catch fires, especially if their diesel fuel has been diluted with kerosene to help prevent gelling up in cold weather, which is a common procedure.
If you are lucky enough to have a pool, then you will need a place protected from freezing weather to store all the endless plastic accoutrements that come with the ‘splash territory’. Plastic does not do well in cold temperatures and parts can be expensive to replace.
Best Practices for Storing Your Sports Gear CLICK HEREYou might also need a dry and tidy place to store your firewood. Especially if your firewood is going be used in an open fireplace.
How do you address your storage issue?
The first thing is to ascertain how much storage you need. To determine this simply group all the ‘ stuff’ in one place and measure it. You may want to group your motor driven equipment in a line up if it is larger and you need each piece to have its own exit door. Obviously these items will need a garage structure rather than a storage shed.
Where and what to shop?
Not just any outdoor storage shed or garage will do. When buying a structure it is smart to shop at the manufacturing source to garner the widest variety of options for customization, colors and styles. Experience in all things count and Stoltzfus Structures has been helping folks keep their stuff ‘high and dry’ for over 40 years. Amish built structures mean excellent craftsmanship and with their wealth of experience they can provide you with a top quality product and sage advice as to design options for any need you might have and address any budget concerns.
Dave Zook, owner at Stoltzfus Structures explains it best.
“The bonus of working with an experienced company like ours is that we build everything to spec at our factory so the structures are built, painted, stained just as you’d like them inside and protected during that process from the weather. Our Amish team of carpenters, work with attention to detail and with top quality materials to ensure our finished products will last for many years. Our proven track record at providing good delivery times and experiences for our customers provides our clients with full confidence to work with us. There are so many options to choose from but if you want a custom build, we can do that too. “
Indeed the testimonials including some from repeat customers that Stoltzfus Structures provides here on their website is impressive.
The added bonus of their quick and easy delivery to any location and any site, is an additional boon as is their ability to match the siding/shingle/colors to the design of your house or existing structures. An outdoor storage shed does not have to be an eyesore! In fact if you have an old garden shed rotting in the back yard and would like to see it gone Stoltzfus Structures will come and remove it for you.
“From the solar panels on the factory roof to the recycling of old sheds, Stoltzfus Structures is very eco-friendly. I am a big believer in protecting our environment,” says Dave.
Another benefit to consider when you add a storage shed or garage to your property is the added security it provides for your equipment. Unfortunately in today’s world things do go missing. If you run a business such as a horse farm or store, with a lot of foot traffic this can be a major concern. A storage option also keeps all that most interesting equipment and tools safely stored away from curious children.
If you are on a budget and need something extra fast check out the Stoltzfus Structures Liquidation page where you will find some superb deals. You don’t need to go through another winter without the storage you need just because dollars may be in short supply either. Stoltzfus Structures offers a great financing option on items like our outdoor & storage garden storage sheds through a 3rd party lender with good rates and a simple and confidential application process. So leaving your ‘stuff’ high and dry is a really good idea.
Nikki Alvin-Smith
Nikki Alvin-Smith is a seasoned freelance writer who loves to share her lifelong experience with everything lifestyle, horse, farm and travel. Her work has been printed in more than two hundred magazine titles worldwide and her published articles number in the thousands including travel and lifestyle press.
A Brit who has called the U.S. home for more than 37 years, Nikki brings a unique perspective to her writing. Her experience as an international level Grand Prix dressage competitor/coach/clinician ensures plenty of travel and opportunity to gather lifestyle ideas for home, garden and farm. When she is not writing, riding or on the road, you’ll find her prepping culinary delights for family and friends or out with camera in hand capturing the beauty of the great outdoors.
Together with her husband Paul, also a Grand Prix dressage rider, she lives in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of New York and operates an organic hay farm and dressage yard. Over the years they have developed and constructed several properties together. She is the proud mother of three children, Tristan, James and Chelsea (twins), and the latter two have kept with the horse riding as adults.
Learn more at www.NikkiAlvinSmithStudio.com.
