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SHED OF DREAMS: FROM BACKROAD SHED TO GLOBAL BRAND

Throughout the pages of business history, it’s not uncommon to find an unassuming shed to be the birthplace for an idea. After all, if you need an affordable, comfortable, practical space to start out, a simple shed ticks all the boxes. So it’s not surprising that many household names that today sit proudly on big city skyscrapers, got going with more humble headquarters. You see it from car manufacturers to computer electronics to a particular brand of bicycles that you’ve probably heard of, even if you’ve never owned a bike.

In the winter of 1975, in a dimly-lit Wisconsin bar, two men settled on a name for a new bicycle company. One favoured “Kestrel” after the bird of prey. The other preferred “Trek”. A word from his native South Africa, which means journey. He felt it conjured images of travel and adventure.

With a name in hand, the two set up shop in a squat, red 7000-sq. foot shed in southern Wisconsin where they began to build bikes of extraordinary artistry. The shed would serve as the incubator for a company that would go on to imprint itself on the sporting psyche. One that would go from a backroad barn to conquer the highest mountains in the world of cycling.

There were only five employees on the payroll when the shed opened its doors in 1976. Together, they created a culture of free spirited craftsmanship and it showed in the product, which quickly earned cult status. In its first year, Trek produced 904 touring frames, selling for around $275 apiece. Two years later they started offering complete bicycles. After 4 years, the company had grown so much that they needed more space. In 1980 they purchased 10 acres of land not far from the shed that gave birth to Trek and construction of a 26 000ft factory got underway.

Today Trek bikes is one of the most recognisable brands in the world – even to non-cyclists. The name would also be inextricably linked to the pinnacle of all cycling races, the Tour De France (although perhaps for controversial reasons). In 1997, Trek signed a cancer survivor by the name of Lance Armstrong. He became the first American to win on an American team, on an American bike and, by 2005, Trek and Lance had rewritten the history books with 7 consecutive Tour wins. Although Lance would later fall rather publically from grace, the image of Trek and the yellow jersey is hard to separate. Today, the company is still recognised around the world as an iconic sporting symbol.

Although Trek’s headquarters may now be in a building much more modern and well appointed, they haven’t moved very far from the idea – and the place – that got it all started. In fact, it’s still on their property – just down the road. They not only kept their idea, they kept the shed as a reminder of what they set out to do in the first place.

To us, that’s the beauty of a shed. At ShedBoss, we like to think of it as a place where anything can happen. There’s no telling where a dream that starts in a shed might end up.

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THE NAME GAME: TOP SHED NICKNAMES

We love our sheds. Whether they’re hardworking tool sheds or hard partying man sheds, they’re part of our lives. Some of them are such a big part of the family, it’s hard to imagine life without them. And just like the family dog has a name, some owners have a habit of christening their sheds with all sorts of weird and wonderful monikers. Some are crude, some are simple, some are downright hilariously clever. All of them are as unique as their owners.

How each shed gets its name is usually a story in itself. Most of the time, it’s about the character and humour of the owner. At the end of the day, it’s personal. Just for fun, we searched the internet for some of the best most creative shed names in the world and then we had a go at thinking up a few of our own.

Top 5 Best Shed Names:
• Justin Timbershed
• Shedquarters
• Frankenshed
• ‘Ted’ (the shed)
• The Ruminator

What we love about all of these names is that there’s a story behind each one of them. Which one is your favourite?

Our top 5 shed name ideas:

• Right Said Shed
• Shed Sweet shed
• He Shed She Shed
• The grateful shed
• Ready Sheddie Go

As you can tell it’s easy to get carried away thinking of fun and clever names. After a while though, you realise that the best way to name your shed is perhaps not to name it at all. Sound crazy? It might not be. We think the best thing to do might be to let the name come to you.

You see, after months or years of working and living in your four walled retreat, it develops a character all of its own. When that happens, the name might simply arrive of its own accord. Whether it’s a thought that pops into your head, or if it’s something a mate simply blurts out. It might even be something your wife starts saying. Either way, the best names arrive spontaneously in a moment. And once they stick, they’re there for good.

If your shed is full of old motorcycle parts, you might end up calling it something like the “Bike Hospital”. If it’s the place to drink a cuppa and do a bit of gardening it might get a name like the “Tea Trowel”. Who knows.
No matter how your shed gets its name, it’s something to cherish. It signals that the shed has become part of who you are. We at ShedBoss love to see that happen. It means we’ve added something of real value to life. Nothing would make us happier than to do that for you.

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FROM CAVE MEN TO MAN CAVES

In Old English the words “shedde”, “shadde”, and “shad” meaning “separation” or “division” have been part of our language for centuries, but the shed’s history goes back a lot further than that. Sheds have been part of our society since pre-historic times and today they cast light on how we lived thousands of years ago.

Since the dawn of humankind, every culture has had its own way of sheltering from the elements. Early shelters were huts were made from wood with animal skins were draped over wooden frameworks. Eventually small abodes gave way to larger structures with separate rooms and when people began gathering more possessions, separate storage structures were built. The concept of the shed was born.

Even humans who lived in caves had something resembling storage spaces. They would use smaller caves or dig new alcoves within the caves to create space more storage. Ancient Egyptians dug underground bunkers, and lined them with reeds, for storing grain and other necessities. Early Europeans would often use mammoth bones and skin. Eskimos even build sheds in the same way they built their shelters – with ice and snow.

Archaeological studies of ancient societies’ sheds have produced some of the greatest insights into ancient modes of living. Storage sheds reveal a great deal about daily life in ancient times. They stored food, tools and items that were used day to day life. Sheds were used as workshops for making furniture, tools, clothing, shoes. Archeological studies of ancient storage sheds tell volumes about what the population ate, what animals they domesticated, what they hunted, how they farmed and the things they manufactured.

In southern Italy an ancient shed was discovered a collection of maple wood which indicated that it was part of a workshop that produced furniture for wealthy Romans. When mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79 it entombed the boat sheds of Herculaneum, where archaeologists found fishing nets, bronze hooks, sinkers and fish skeletons. Offering a fascinating look at another part of Roman civilization.

But the shed has always had more than just a practical use. It also symbolized status within the community. After all, not everyone had a swanky separate cave, hut or shelter just to keep their stuff. If you had a shed, chances are you were in the upper echelons of the tribe.

And this tradition continues until today. Where home owners build them to add value to their homes. Just like blokes build man caves to show off their toys, ancient people used storage rooms to indicate their place in society. It may sound strange, but having a place to store animals and tools separately from where you slept meant you were well off!

The shed has come a long way since it’s mammoth skin days. Today they are can include a number of creature comforts, including electricity, air conditioning and plumbing! At ShedBoss we’re building examples from steel and concrete with skylights, windows and motorized roller doors, that can stand up to the harsh New Zealand weather. Although today’s shed’s may be a far cry from those of a thousand years ago, they still fulfill our most primary need. People continue to stock them with all manner of things that add to their lifestyle and they continue to tell the story of the way we live.

What would your shed tell future generations about you?

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THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SHED

It seems as soon as people learned to put a roof over their heads, they started creating places to fill with work, life and play. Archaeologists have evidence that humans living in caves used smaller caves or alcoves. In early Europe people built them from mammoth tusks and skins. Even Eskimos built shed-like structures from blocks of snow and ice. Yes, the humble shed has been part of everyday life ever since we started living in houses.

So what makes the shed such an ingrained part of the human experience? Let’s take a look psychology behind shed ownership and explore what makes this building unlike any other.

A family tradition

For some, owning a shed is a rite of passage. As kids we grow up watching dad tinker away and we automatically know that one day, we too will build our own. It’s an unspoken tradition and – like marriage and the first child – the building of a shed is a signal that the family tree has a solid new branch.

A place of your own:

These days there are very few places that are truly yours alone. We work in shared offices, drive in shared lanes and share our living space. The so called Man Cave (and its close relative the She Shed) gives you a little corner to be your own boss. Studies have shown that your own space helps regulate your emotions and positively affects your emotional well being. Whether we’re building something, playing computer games, reading or listening to our own music on full it’s a place free of judgement, where you make the rules.

A place of refuge

The world is a noisy busy place. With phones, traffic, pets and crying kids everywhere there are few places you can go to escape the din. A shed is a place to escape, to recharge and to find some space to think. It’s a retreat from daily life. There is many a couple who can attribute their happy marriage to the space, peace and quiet afforded by a little alone time. And there’s a reason many famous writers did their best work in a shed.

An outlet

Everyone needs an outlet and some feel the itch to create very strongly. For people like gardeners, metalworkers, woodworkers, artists and mechanics the shed is a realm where magic happens. Where things transform and appear from thin air. Where rusty objects are resurrected and given second life, and imagination gives birth to new creations. With the right tools, you’ll never be bored in a shed.

For many reasons, there’s little doubt that the shed is part of the human story. Whether it’s a tradition passed down from generation to generation, or somewhere you can just be yourself, at ShedBoss we’re proud to build places for the story to go on. We can do that for you.

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CHECK LIST TO GET YOUR SHED SHIPSHAPE FOR 2017

It’s a new year, which means some of us are resolving to do things like lose weight and get in shape. It’s also a good time to think about a few ways to keep your shed in great condition, so you’ll get more out of it for years to come. We’ve put together a little check list of simple things to do to get your shed ready for a great 2017.

Pest control

Critters make a home in sheds. Especially if you have a very cluttered shed, there’s no knowing what could be lurking under junk or behind packing boxes. From mice to spiders and snakes, you don’t want unwelcome guests living rent-free in your outbuilding. If you have any telltale signs such as droppings, spider webs, snake skins or insect eggs is a good sign that you have a problem. Even with no such signs in evidence, it’s a good idea to get the pest inspectors in to spray and make sure no creepy crawlies decide to take up residence.

Check fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are a great thing, but you’ll be amazed how many people never check them. They need yearly inspections to make sure they are properly pressurized and working correctly. A fire is the worst time to discover that your extinguisher needs a service so get it done now and you’ll be set for the year.

Test automatic door

Garage door motors are expensive to replace and they wear out faster if your garage door isn’t running smoothly. Does your door make any unexplained creaking or screeching sound? If your door runs slowly or moves at an inconsistent speed that is a sign of a sticky door. Inspect the rails for scuffing and any signs of friction or wear. Check the rollers for worn bearings. The door should roll easily and not require grease or oil to move freely.

A word of warning. Never attempt to adjust the spring tension of your garage doors yourself. Although they look harmless, some door springs store massive amounts of energy and can cause serious injury or even death if adjusted improperly. Leave it for the trained, professional installers.

Gutter cleaning

We usually pay attention to the gutters on our houses, but the shed is often overlooked when it comes to keeping things clear. This is a bad idea. Collections of leaves can clog gutters and do more than cause them to overflow. They can cause pooling of water which – besides smelling bad – also attracts insects who lay eggs leading to epidemics of flying creepy crawlies.

Clear bushes and foliage from around the exterior

Plants that have managed to grow up around your shed not only look untidy, they can be bad for its structural condition. Overhanging trees drop leaves and berries in the gutters. Falling branches can damage your roof. Plants crowding the sides create spots for dirt to build up. It’s simple to avoid these problems by simply keeping your shed clear of creepers, shrubbery, trimming the grass back away from the walls and cutting any encroaching branches.

Replace light bulbs / florescent tubes if required.

It sounds obvious, but light bulbs are the easiest way to improve your enjoyment of your shed. Replace dull or flickering ones with new white light bulbs. Low energy bulbs are a great option. Although they are more expensive, they outlast conventional bulbs by a big margin, which means less time spent on the step ladder in future and because they use less energy, they save money in the long run.

Declutter

Give your shed space to breathe. We’re already well into summer, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still do a spring clean. Get ruthless with the build-up of junk in your shed. Once you start getting rid of stuff you’ll be amazed how liberated you will feel.

If you make one resolution this year, spend more time in the shed. Performing these simple checks will ensure yours stays in great condition and gives you maximum enjoyment in 2017. If you do find anything that needs attention, remember we’re always here to offer assistance, advice and great service.

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PET PARADISE

If you’re an animal lover, you probably feel a little guilty when you leave them at home. We’d all like to spend more time with our pets. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could take them for walks, go hiking or take them for a romp on the beach every day of the week? Unfortunately, most of the time life takes over. Between work commitments, family gatherings and taking the kids to the endless sporting activities there’s not a lot of time for our furry friends. Sometimes its unavoidable that they get cooped up at home.

That got us thinking. What if you could create a playful place for pets to explore that makes home feel like a pet paradise? What if you could make a few changes that would let them climb, jump, hunt and run around while you’re away?

We searched the internet for just that kind of thing. It didn’t take us long to stumble on this little gem of a video, featuring a guy who has transformed his house into a literal theme park for cats.

Take a look at the video here: https://youtu.be/okOVxfuSYPk

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He’s weaved cat walks through every level of the home. Going mad with arches, bridges, ramps and geometric shapes, turning it into a maze of feline fantasy. It’s fantastic! You’ll find the cats darting along the ceiling, disappearing into secret doors and emerging to descend from winding spiral staircases. He says the cats make the house feel alive and we have to agree.

He’s not the only one. A quick YouTube search turns up loads of other examples of people who have created playgrounds for pets to varying degrees. From 6’ “cat trees” in the corner of rumpus rooms to full-on outdoor pet enclosures that look like adventure camp obstacle courses. There’s people out there creating amazing places for pets to have a ball.

Admittedly, turning your entire home into Disney world for pets is a bit extreme, but there’s no reason you couldn’t do it in your shed. In fact, what better place to create walkways, runs, ladders, little doors, tunnels and little mini mazes? You could even trick them into doing exercise with a fun oversized hamster-wheel. Or what about constructing simple contraptions that will reward your pets with treats and turn feeding into fun? With a little imagination you can give them somewhere to play while you’re away.

If you’re a pet person, maybe you’ve been inspired to create a safe pet-friendly place that will keep them busy for hours. If you’ve made something like this, why not let us know. We’d love to see what you’ve done. And of course, if you need a well-built weatherproof place to turn into your animal paradise, you can always give the pet-friendly team at ShedBoss a call.

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THE ULTIMATE PLAY ROOM

Like many of us, a lot of my childhood memories played out on the living room carpet. We didn’t have a dedicated play room, but nevertheless we entertained ourselves building pillow forts and conducting elaborate battles with Lego weaponry. It was terrific fun, but I also spent a fair bit of time picturing my own ultimate games room. I always dreamed of building a place that would be the envy of all my friends. I had big ideas.

Of course, as we get older these dreams are usually set aside to make way for more sensible things, but what if we stopped being grown-ups for a second and looked back? What would happen if we rummaged around in the memory banks and pulled out some of those ideas? What would the ultimate games room look like? What would your 12-year-old self build? What would happen if we threw practicality to the wind, tossed the budget out the window and allow the imagination run wild. Here’s a few of the ideas I found lurking back there.

The skateboard room.

Imagine a whole room filled with quarter pipes, rails and ramps all laid out for the perfect run. Made from perfectly smooth, curving, sweeping, sculpted ready-to-skate wood sheeting. How many days would be spent executing perfect variable heel flips, hard flips, backside kick flips, grinds, wall rides and tail slides? For 12-year-old me, this would have been a gnarly nirvana, dude.

The trampoline room.

Imagine a place where bouncing knows no limits. Take a large room with a high ceiling and cover the floor with trampolines. Put padding everywhere and prepare for bouncing mayhem. Then take it a step further and put them at different levels. Create ledges to drop down and gain extra altitude. Perhaps angle some of them against the wall for more ambitious moves. Crazy? Maybe. Crazy awesome? Undoubtedly!

The Scalextric race room.

Slot car racing is still as much of a hit with kids as it was in the 80’s. To this day there’s something special about racing your mates around a twisting track in a tiny plastic sportcar. In my day we had simple figure 8 tracks, but as a kid I imagined a 3 dimensional multi-level behemoth of track with loops and interchanges. I imagined racing against several friends as our cars jostled for position on fantastic fantasy raceways with bridges, bends, tunnels and twisting spirals. Anything is possible when you take the brakes off the imagination.

As a company who builds recreational sheds, a lot of ideas come through our doors. Many customers fill their man caves and she-sheds with everything from pool tables to foosball tables and beyond. There really is no limit to how far you can take it. You could even build a place your inner child would love. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be inspired to talk to ShedBoss about making that 12-year-old’s dreams come true.

Having a space for your hobbies is an important area to have in your home.

Reconnect with your hobbies

Having hobbies is an important thing to have in order to keep your mind occupied and help you grow as an individual. Unfortunately, after having a family, sometimes these passions fall to the wayside in lieu of looking after young children and providing for the household. But the best way to reconnect with your old hobbies is so simply create a space dedicated to that sole purpose.

This could present a wonderful opportunity for you to build a custom designed shed and turn it into a space for doing whatever makes you tick. Creating a space outside of your house where you can retreat and spend time doing what you love is good for the soul and can be a great way to de​-stress after a long day at work.

Depending on the type of hobby you like, you could look into installing different types of custom shelving, tables and other features. For example, if you're an avid fan of model planes or figurines, having a large table and workshop dedicated to the various paints, brushes, glues and other tools of the trade can help to not only keep all your things in the same place, but give the room a sense of purpose.

Keeping these things locked up and safe - away from the prying hands of young children - will be essential. So take the time to invest in decent storage systems for all your things. Not only will this protect them from little kids, but also obscure them from view in the unfortunate event of a robbery.

Creating a space for you to reconnect with your hobbies could be a wonderful thing to consider in the near future. Get in contact with the team at Shed Boss to discuss any ideas you may have regarding this endeavour.

Look into the insulation options available for your shed and make winter far more comfortable.

Garage insulation: Keep out the winter blues

With the height of winter upon us, most of us will be well acquainted with the freezing temperatures that are only natural with these cooler months. Now could be the perfect time to consider getting insulation for your custom designed shed – if not for this winter, at least to be prepared for next year. 

Insulation helps to maintain the atmosphere inside a room, such as a home or a garage. This means that in summer, you'll be able to keep out the hot air and keep the garage a comfortable temperature, while in winter warm air will be trapped inside, allowing you to retain heat inside your garage. 

This could be especially useful in industrial sheds and the like, where a number of people will be working throughout the year on projects. The combination of body heat and tools will help to heat the space, while the insulation will ensure the warmth doesn't escape through the walls. 

A number of benefits can be earned from installing insulation. For one, you could potentially cut down on your overall energy bill. Without the need to be constantly running a heater or other source of warmth, your power bills could start dropping. A simple, one-off investment for the installation of insulation in your industrial or commercial shed could potentially save you a significant amount of money in the long run. 

Furthermore, if you install insulation into a garage connected to your residential home, the extra layer to your home will work for your interior as well, providing your home with another layer of defense against the cutting cold of winter. 

Insulation is just one of the things to give some thought towards when building your own sheds in the near future. Speak with the experts at Shed Boss about the options available and begin working towards creating your dream garage. 

Future proof your property and garage for your family.

Future-proofing your garage: Things to consider when building your own shed

Future-proofing your property is something to consider when building a shed. The term itself applies to ensuring your home and other installations are able to adapt to the constant changes in your life and anticipating these developments – in order to minimise the related shock and stress when things do change. 

For example, things like extending the whole lifecycle of a building through construction techniques and materials or taking sustainability into account come under the umbrella of future-proofing. 

Future-proofing your custom designed shed 

If you're in the market to purchase a new custom designed garage for your home or commercial project, taking these considerations to heart and looking into the types of construction options available could help you create an installation that will stand the test of time. 

One thing you want to consider is the material being used in order to avoid corrosive complications in the future. The team at Shed Boss can help protect your investment from the ravages of harsh weather conditions, ensuring your investment stands the test of time moving forward. 

Furthermore, looking into sustainability and reducing your whole carbon footprint is another thing to consider. Things like installing skylights and low-energy light bulbs will help you reduce the amount spent on power, reducing the overarching bill for your home while also contributing to the reduction of your effect on the environment. 

Another aspect of future-proofing is creating an installation that can be easily adapted and expanded to the needs of future endeavours. Investigate the types of construction available to you, as well as the type of material and doors used, in order to find the a way to change up the construction if your future needs require it.