9/13

Pre-cut metal roofing panels

Save time and energy by covering the roof with metal roofing panels. You can cut them with a circular saw and a carbide blade, but it’ll save you a lot of work if you order the panels the exact length you need. Plus, you’ll have a greater color selection if you order the roofing rather than buy off-the-shelf panels.

Remember to order in advance, since it usually takes several weeks for the roofing to arrive. Also, ensure the overhangs are the right size so the panels slightly overhang the fascia.

10/13

Build economical hanging doors

Get the same look as expensive frame-and-panel doors for a fraction of the cost by simply laminating two layers of inexpensive 3/4-in.-thick boards together to make a frame, covering the frame with panels or tongue-and-groove boards and hanging the resulting doors from an overhead track.

For strength, plan to build the front and back layers, so the corners overlap each other. Then, to accommodate inset panels, make the front pieces a little wider to create a lip for the panels to rest against. Hold the plywood or tongue-and-groove boards in place with stops nailed on the back. You can assemble the two frames with pocket screws before gluing and screwing them together, but it’s not necessary. After the glue dries, plane or sand the edges to hide the layers.

Don’t bother buying heavy galvanized hardware made for farm buildings to hang the doors. It’s overkill. Buy heavy-duty closet door hardware instead. It’s not meant for outdoor use, but holds up well when protected by an overhang. And if the roller bearings get corroded, replacing the entire hanger mechanism is simple.

11/13

Save money on windows

A shed is a great place to use recycled windows that you might have lying around, or you can find at building materials recycling centers like Habitat for Humanity’s Restore. I used repurposed materials for the Red Room, and they are perfect!

If you prefer to buy new, utilitarian barn sash windows are perfect. Basically, you order the sash — the movable part with glass — and build a simple frame to hold it. Add a few hinges and hold-open hardware, and you’ll have an inexpensive, nice-looking window. If you want a screen, you’ll have to build a separate frame and staple screening to it.

Consider skylights as an alternative or an addition to windows. They let in a flood of light and leave wall space free for hanging storage and shelving. Skylights made for houses are pricey, but there’s an inexpensive alternative.

Plastic dome skylights start at about $45 and are easy to install. Just cut a hole in the roof sheathing, nail the skylight into place and shingle around it. Plastic skylights aren’t exactly attractive, so place them on the side of the roof that’s the least visible.