Outdoor structures are extensions of our homes. They are more living space, more storage space, and more things to fix. It's a good thing that most outdoor structures are relatively easy to fix. Here's how the Fix-It Club takes care of various outdoor structures.

How Does It Work?

Outdoor structures include storage buildings, garden sheds, woodsheds, and others.

An outdoor structure is a building or add-on that is separate from your home while serving its occupants. It can be a storage building, woodshed, gazebo, playhouse, dog house, pump house, or other building. Outdoor structures have many of the same features as a house, including flooring, roofing, framing, and others. Decks and gazebos are closely related, so if your gazebo needs repair, see the Deck Fix-It Guide .

What Can Go Wrong?

Outdoor structures often don't receive the same maintenance that a home does, even though they may suffer more from weather extremes and other hardships. Roofs and gutters leak. Siding is damaged. Concrete floors crack. Windows get broken. Paint peels. A door can stick and its hardware can fail to work properly. Cabinets and drawers can stick or sag. Electrical receptacles and electrical switches can fail.

Fix-It Tip

Power wash your outdoor structures yearly when you power wash the outside of your house, deck, and driveway.

How Can I Identify the Problem?

Once a year, check the condition of all outdoor structure hardware and renail any popped nail heads.

If a roof leaks, see the Roof Fix-It Guide .

If a gutter or downspouts leak, see the Gutter Fix-It Guide .

If siding is damaged, see the Masonry Fix-It Guide  and Exterior Siding.

If a concrete floor cracks, see the Concrete Fix-It Guide .

If a window is broken, see the Window Fix-It Guide .

If interior or exterior paint is damaged, see the Paint Fix-It Guide .

Smaller outdoor structures use simple roof truss systems. Check periodically for damage.

If a door or door hardware are damaged, see the Door Fix-It Guide or the Door Hardware Fix-It Guide .

If storage cabinets or drawers are damaged, see the Wood Furniture Fix-It Guide .

If a structure sags, see the Framing System Fix-It Guide .

If an outlet or switch fails, see the Electrical Receptacle Fix-It Guide or the Electrical Switch Fix-It Guide .

If there's a problem with plumbing, see the Drain System Fix-It Guide, the Faucet Fix-It Guide, the Toilet Fix-It Guide, the Pipe Fix-It Guide, or the Plumbing System Fix-It Guide .

What Part s, Materials, and Tools Do I Need?

Replacement parts are available from local hardware stores, home improvement centers, and lumber yards. The tools you will need to fix an outdoor structure may include:

• Screwdrivers
• Hammer
• Wrenches
• Electric drill
• Adhesives