Budget-Friendly Ways to Update Your Outdoor Storage Shed, Garage or Barn

One of the things that sold us on buying our 1929 expanded American Bungalow in 2000 was the presence of two outbuildings in the backyard. Indeed, the detached garage and utility barn were absolutely essential to the deal. First, they blocked views of a parking lot, state road and commercial district behind our home. Second, they provided great potential for storing lawn and garden equipment and other stuff that we had accumulated over the years. Third, who else had a garage and a barn in their backyard? We thought it was cool and thus began our journey on the road to imagining what we'd do to fix up our outbuildings.

Allocating Home Improvement Dollars Wisely

While an outdoor storage shed, garage or barn in your yard can provide enormous benefits, including additional entertaining, workshop and storage space, it can also pose home improvement challenges. Home improvement, remodeling and repair dollars are not unlimited. This is especially true for anyone who owns an older home. The lion's share of home improvement dollars is generally allocated to the primary residence. Whatever remains is often invested in a little lawn and garden upkeep. Very little is saved to tackle things like painting or repairing a shed, garage or barn.

Does that mean the homeowner should ignore the outdoor storage shed, detached garage or barn? Absolutely not. But, it may mean that you have to keep a close eye on the cost of maintaining these outbuildings if you have other priorities on your home improvement, DIY or remodeling to-do list.

Budget-friendly ways to keep your outbuildings looking like new

Scaling back the dreams you have for your various outbuildings doesn't mean you should ignore keeping your detached shed, garage or barn well-maintained. On the contrary, outbuilding upkeep can cost a bundle or result in additional tear-down costs if you fail to put any dollars or efforts into this space.

How can you hold costs down while, at the same time, preserve your outbuildings? Easy. Check out these great Budget-Friendly Ways to Update Your Outdoor Storage Shed, Garage or Barn. Sure to enhance your home and garden's curb appeal and so much more.

Home Improvement Tip 1. Paint. Painting your outdoor storage shed, garage or barn is probably the least expensive way to make it shine like new. Paint is a budget friendly solution that you can do on your own or contract with a painting firm. Paint can be applied with brushes or sprays, you decide. Paint colors can be chosen to harmonize with the color of your home and decking. Or, you can choose an offbeat, colorful palette to set your shed, garage or barn apart. We painted our barn Candy Apple Red after much coaxing by our painting professional. And, it turns out, he was absolutely right: the red color covered the grey hue of the wood like no other stain could. For your next outbuilding project, check out Cabot's new line of semi-transparent stains which allow some of the color and texture of the wood to come through. Or, go red.

Home Improvement Tip 2. Seal and Caulk. When our garage and barn began to leak, we knew just what we had to do: seal and caulk. Yes, indeed, a little bit of paint and caulk can seal things up and put things right again in your outdoor storage shed, detached garage or car barn. In addition, caulking and other sealants can keep bugs and critters in check, protecting whatever furniture and other materials you store in these outbuildings. DAP makes a great line of sealants and caulks.

Home Improvement Tip 3. Install Wood Trim. Adding a little trim to your outdoor storage shed, detached garage or utlity barn can give your outbuilding a completely new look. Trim can be painted white or other colors to make your outbuilding stand out and look like new. Trim can also be used to create a more polished look for your shed, garage or barn. Trim can be particularly important additions to older outbuildings where rotted wood can be replaced with great-looking wooden trim.

Home Improvement Tip 4. Install Windows, Doors and Light Sources. You can make your outdoor storage shed, detached garage and barn look sensational by replacing the doors with French, carriage or another type of custom doors. Windows can also enhance the curb appeal of your shed, garage or barn and add much-needed light to old, dusty outbuildings. For high end windows or doors, check out what Anderson and CertainTeed have to offer. For mid- to low- cost windows and doors, take several estimates from local window and door manufacturers. Home Depot also makes a great line of replacement windows and doors and, as such, may present a budget-friendly solution for your shed, garage or utility barn home improvement project.

Home Improvement Tip 5. Clean Up and Organize Shed, Garage and Barn. By cleaning out and organizing the equipment and other stuff stored in your garden shed, detached garage or car barn, you can give new life and purpose to the outbuildings in your yard. The possibilities are endless. Go ahead, turn your shed into a potting shed. Or, make your garage a workshop. Maybe you can turn part of your barn into a screened in porch or studio. The skies the limit when you clean and out organize your belongings in your outbuildings and repurpose them to accommodate the changing needs of your family.

Resources

Home and Garden Television
www.hgtv.com

Home Depot
www.homedepot.com

This Old House
www.thisoldhouse.com

Do It Yourself Network
www.diynetwork.com

Renovating Barns, Sheds and Outbuildings
By Nick Engler, 2001.

Barn Again: Restored and New Barns for the 21st Century
By E. Ashley Rooney, 2010.