ow to build outdoor storage cabinet

12 Easy Steps To Build An Outdoor Storage Cabinet

Building an outdoor storage cabinet is easy for the people who know it. Without the right knowledge, you can not build it. So before jumping in the field, learn in details about how to build an outdoor storage cabinet.

Why we need outdoor storage facility?

Outdoor storage is all the rage today. A significant number of People are starting to see the value that outdoor storage cabinet can add to their homes.

However, outdoor storage sheds are not cheap. Whether you choose to build or buy one, these sheds cost a lot of time, effort, and money. 

And it is probably for that reason that outdoor storage cabinets are gaining so much traction.Before starting this work read our article carefully about making procedure of an outdoor storage cabinet.  


What Is Outdoor Storage Cabinet?


An outdoor storage cabinet is exactly what it sounds like. Think of an ordinary cabinet, like the kind people use to store cups, plates, books and the like, but this one is kept outside.
Outdoor storage cabinets can take various forms. Some people build them from scratch. Others buy cabinets that were created for this very purpose.
You also have people who take ordinary indoor cabinets and then transplant them outside, instantly turning them into outdoor storage cabinets.


Why We Need Outdoor Storage Cabinets?


Outdoor Storage Cabinets are convenient. If you have clutter around the house that keeps consuming so much of your space, you can throw it into your outdoor cabinet.


This same logic applies to appliances, tools, and items that you normally keep around the yard.

Put simply, outdoor cabinets are organizational tools. They are supposed to store anything that normally stays out of your house but which you would also rather keep out of sight.


What Should I Store in It?


You can keep anything in an outdoor cabinet. All your rakes and clippers and yard tools can fit inside this unit.

The same goes for gloves, and fertilizer and even potted plants. You can also store your boots and old clocks and shovels and the like.

An outdoor cabinet is just like any other cabinet. It will secure whatever you want to keep out of sight.


How to Store Items in Outdoor Storage Cabinet?


The approach you choose to take when storing the contents of your outdoor cabinet will depend on the cabinet and the items in question.

Most cabinets have shelves that should adequately hold whatever you want to store.

You can also remove those shelves if you simply need an empty space in which to haphazardly throw all your junk.

People with tools like shovels and axes normally build racks that they attach to the back walls of their cabinets. Their tools hang on the racks.

You can take whatever approach suits your tastes.


Where Should I Place It?


The placement of your outdoor storage cabinet matters; you have to consider a number of factors, the most prominent being:


1). Accessibility  

Accessibility is informed by the contents of your cabinet.

For instance, if your cabinet is used to store garden tools, then you need to keep it close to the garden.

That way, you can get to your tools with ease.


2). Appearance 

 the aesthetic also matters. Some people will keep their cabinets in the backyard because they are simply too ugly for visitors to look upon.

Others will happily flaunt their cabinets in the front yard because their appearance blends in with the flowers and the lawn and even the fence.

Your tastes and your decor might have the biggest influence on the location of your cabinet.


3). Durability

You have to keep the elements in mind. The more time your cabinet spends in extreme weather conditions, the faster it will wear out.

It is probably for this reason that so many people keep their cabinets on the porch, away from direct exposure to the sun and the rain.

Some people also position them under trees or within the covering of some sort of shed.


Is Any Extra Shed Required Over It?


If possible, you should always place your outdoor cabinet under a shed. Position it in any location where your home’s roof can protect it.

Outdoor cabinets are exposed to the weather and that can be problematic.

There are people who don’t care because the contents of their outdoor cabinets are hardy tools that can survive the harsh weather conditions.

But if the contents of your outdoor storage cabinet are vulnerable to the sun and the rain, you will need proper shedding to protect them.

If you have no room on your porch, then invest in waterproofing features for your cabinet.

You can also build your outdoor cabinet its own shed. Whatever keeps the sun and the rain away will do.


Is There Any Disadvantage of Outdoor Storage Cabinets?


Outdoor cabinets are vulnerable. First, they are exposed to the weather which could ruin them and their contents.

Secondly, outdoor cabinets and their contents are susceptible to theft.

Depending on your security, anyone can walk into your yard and take your cabinet with its contents, especially if they have enough ingenuity.

Step by step process to build an outdoor storage cabinet

An effective outdoor storage cabinet is based on a lot of factors including the tools that you choose to use. As soon as you have them close by, take the whole procedure step by step. Here's what you'll need to get started;

Requirements:

  1. Plywood
  2. Staple gun
  3. Resin glue
  4. Galvanised screws
  5. Hammer
  6. Hinges
  7. Staples
  8. Shelf support
  9. Sandpaper
  10. Cabinet Latch

Step 1: 

  • Measure up your pieces of plywood according to the size of your proposed outdoor storage cabinet.
  •  Take the pieces of plywood in a parallel position.
  •  Apply some glue on the longer sides of your plywood.
  •  The glue should be water resistant to combat all forms of moisture including rain.

Step 2: 

  • Now you can use staples to join the pieces of plywood.
  • To form a rectangular shape, staple the edges of the longer sides to those of the shorter ones.
  • The staples should be a few inches apart from each other.

Step 3:

  • You have to use glue to piece up the edges of newly formed rectangular shape.
  • Get more plywood and place it on each of the four sides of the rectangle.
  • Shoot more staples all around the plywood.
  • The staples should be evenly spaced.

Step 4:

  • Turn the rectangular structure upside down and apply glue to the pieces of plywood. The reason for this is to help the structure gain stability over time.
  •  Failure to do this will see your structure come tumbling down even at the slightest provocation by the wind.
  • Shoot more staples through the wood without a particular order.

Step 5:

  • Place the structure back to its upright position and get some shelf standards. 
  • These help in providing ample support to the structure especially when it will have many uses.
  • Hence the name storage cabinet.
  • The real challenge occurs when the shelf standards have to be uniformly aligned.
  • Use a long and thick plank of wood as a guide.

Step 6:

  • Use a power drill for efficient screwing as you look into the shelf standards.
  •  There are holes that are automatically found on the shelf standards.
  • They suit the purpose of efficient drilling at this stage.

Step 7:

  • Get some sandpaper to smoothen all the edges and surfaces around your cabinet storage. 
  • This should work on the door, shelves and all the corners of the cabinet.
  • Check that the sandpaper you use is 100-grit and that it will be as efficient as ever.

Step 8:

  • Make the storage cabinet lie on its back as carefully as you can.
  •  The structure is still very delicate and must be handled with care.
  •  Make the plywood lay on the storage cabinet flat.
  • Flushing them on every side will cause them to intersect conveniently to form the doors.

Step 9:

  • Now that you have the doors, work on the hinges for them to be effective. 
  • Use a drill or screwdriver to make this an easier and faster process.
  • Hinges have two sides: one is for attachment to the door and the other is to the cabinet.
  • When the attachment is firm, the door is able to open or shut.

Step 10:

  • Use a hammer to place the glides at the base of each corner of the cabinet.
  •  These help in providing stability as well as uniformity so that neither of the sides will be raised at an angle.
  • After this, place it back to its upright position.

Step 11:

  • A storage shelf is not complete without the shelves.
  • They should all be level and not too high for you to reach. 
  • Number the slots to make it easier for you to have them installed.

Step 12:

  • The plywood you handled during the initial stages should be able to play their role at this point. 
  • Install them in your storage cabinet as the shelves.
  •  When learning how to build an outdoor storage cabinet, be keen on how you use the tools needed.
  • Careful not to discard any plywood or other remnants as you might need them later on.

Step 13:

  • Have latches close by to place at the center of one side of the closed door of your cabinet. 
  • Do the same on the other side of the door and seal it using screws.
  • The outdoor storage cabinet can be locked and the key kept safely.

What Types of Locks are Needed for outdoor storage cabinet? 

There is no easy way to secure your outdoor cabinet. Your best bet is a really great padlock, something akin to the American Lock A700D Steel’ Padlock.

There’s also the Brinks Home Security Solid Steel Shrouded’ Padlock.

Better yet, invest in a disc lock because they are so difficult to cut with bolt cutters.

Additional Information

When you are either buying or building an outdoor storage cabinet, pay close attention to the features.

Find out whether the cabinet is waterproofed or if it has some sort of window or ventilation mechanism.

Find out if the door is strong and sturdy, whether the roof is slanted in such a way that water will run off. All these factors and more will determine how well and how long your cabinet will serve you.

In a nutshell, outdoor storage cabinet gives you the best service in all season among all types of outdoor storage facilities.


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