Syracuse Business Stresses Quality and Variety
Writer / Angela Cornell
Photography Provided
Deciding that a yard needs a shed is simple. Deciding which shed to purchase, on the other hand, is not.
There are several options to consider regarding a sheds features. How much of a footprint should it have? What type of frame should it have? Will it need a loft? Does it need to be insulated? What color should it be? How many doors will it need? Should there be a window? Window boxes? A porch?
Father-son team Michael and Marvin Miller, owners of Custom Sheds Plus, are expert craftsmen who put a lot of care into making backyard storage exactly the way customers want it.
The Millers specialize in high-quality stick-built sheds.
When we started this, we agreed we want to make a nice-looking shed that will last, Marvin says.
From the moment a customer orders from Custom Sheds Plus, the Millers concentrate on the buyers specifications. Once the customer signs off on the order form, the Millers get to work.
The foundation of any building is incredibly important, which is why the Millers take extra care to ensure quality.
We actually have a lot of people asking whats in our floor, Marvin says.
The runners are never more than 4 apart, and the floor joists are always 16 apart.
It makes for a strong floor, Marvin says.
Thats where the main wear and tear is, and we wanted to make the best floor possible.
After that portion is assembled, its covered by an LP smart floor. This material is not only incredibly durable and overlaid with a beautiful finish, but the floor pieces also have a tongue-and-groove feature that allows them to interlock. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.
The walls and siding are also important, and come with a 20-year warranty. Theres no limit on paint color.
We have our standard colors, but if they want a whole different color, thats what theyre going to get, Marvin explains.
Anyone who has done much yard work knows the discomfort of walking into a blistering shed on a hot summer day. The type of roofing on a Custom Sheds Plus outbuilding is designed to help alleviate the heat.
The sheeting on the roof has the foil laminating on the inside to reflect the heating off of it, Marvin says.
The owners put extra effort into the durability of their sheds in all areas of construction, even using screws instead of nails for extra longevity.
When the shed is finished, it is delivered to the customers home.
You get your site ready, and theyll bring the shed out and set it down wherever you want it, Michael says. They can get it within inches of where you want it. If youre building an 8 shed, all you need is an 8 opening.
Depending on the kind of shed, it can take two to six weeks from the time the shed is ordered until delivery.
The more customized it is, the longer it takes because we do not stock everything, Marvin says. Within a week we should have it done, but then theres scheduling to get it delivered.
The Millers, who have professional backgrounds in construction work, are proof of the adage, Do what you love and youll never work a day in your life.
My favorite part is just working at home and still doing something that I like, Marvin says.
The workshop for Custom Sheds Plus isnt only used to make garden sheds.
Weve made a three-sided wood shelter to store firewood in, weve made a 12x16 dog kennel, and weve done a couple different storage barns – one with a full-length porch on the side, Michael says.
Both men enjoy the diversity of their projects, and they hope to eventually expand into making live-in cabins, complete with electrical and plumbing.
For all the extra work that goes into these outbuildings, their costs are comparable to other shed suppliers.
As far as other builders are concerned, were pretty competitive, Michael says.
Custom Sheds Plus is located at 13836 County Road 48 in Syracuse, and is open by appointment. Call 260-215-3988 to order your shed, or to see examples of sheds theyve built in the past.
