Here Is What Happens When You Call Ed.
No sales desk. No forms that go nowhere. You call or text Ed directly, and he walks you through every step from the first conversation to the final walkthrough — personally.
Ed Shackelford
Founder of The Vintage Shed Company. U.S. Army veteran. Construction Management graduate. 35+ years of commercial and residential construction experience. When you call, you reach the man who builds.
Four Steps. The Same Person At Every One.
Think of starting a project with Ed like hiring a surgeon who also sits in on every consultation, performs the procedure himself, and follows up personally afterward. The same person who answers your first question is the person on your property on build day. That is not common in this industry. It is the standard here.
The First Conversation
Call or text Ed at (513) 379-2421. He will ask about your site, the structure type you have in mind, how you plan to use it, access conditions, and general timing. This is not a sales call. It is a qualification conversation — Ed is determining whether the project is a genuine fit before either party invests more time.
Ed answers his own phone. If he is on a job site, leave a voicemail with your name and a brief description of the project. He returns calls as soon as practical — typically the same day.
Site Review — Ed Visits In Person
If the first conversation confirms a likely fit, Ed schedules a site visit. He evaluates access, drainage, grade, foundation requirements, setbacks, and any site-specific conditions that affect the build. Nothing is quoted or committed until Ed has seen the property with his own eyes. This is standard commercial construction practice applied to residential projects — and the reason his structures perform the way they do.
Service area is approximately 100 miles of Greater Cincinnati, including parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Written Scope & Agreement
Ed does not work from verbal agreements. After the site visit, he prepares a written scope document that covers structure dimensions, material specifications, what is included, what is not included, build timeline, and warranty terms. If you want to confirm what LP SmartSide siding is, or why the subfloor is 3/4-inch 7-ply pressure-treated plywood and not OSB, Ed explains it directly. You sign a scope you understand completely — not one you are hoping is right.
Permits are the homeowner's responsibility unless otherwise stated in writing. Ed advises on what is typically required for your jurisdiction.
Build Day — Ed, Randall, And Travis
Ed builds every structure on your property with his sons Randall and Travis. Randall leads the framing. Travis handles finish and siding. Ed oversees the full build and holds every phase to commercial construction tolerances. There are no structural subcontractors on site. The people you spoke with are the people building. When the structure is complete, Ed walks you through the finished work himself and reviews the warranty terms, sealing requirements, and any scope items that require your follow-through.
All exterior primed wood must be properly sealed within 30 days of project handoff. Ed advises on appropriate materials at the final walkthrough.
You Do Not Need A Finished Plan. You Need A Few Basic Answers.
Ed does not expect you to arrive at the first call with blueprints. He expects you to have thought through the basics. The more clearly you can describe your situation, the more useful the conversation will be for both of you.
What Ed Will Ask You
Come prepared with rough answers to these points. Exact dimensions and specifications develop during the site review — but the first call goes further when you have thought through the basics.
- What type of structure are you considering? Utility shed, garden studio, workshop, storage building, combination use — or something you have not fully defined yet. Ed helps narrow it down.
- Where on your property would the structure sit? Approximate location, whether the site is level or sloped, and how close to fencing, trees, or existing structures.
- How do you need to access the site? Whether a truck and trailer can reach the build location — and any gate widths, overhead obstructions, or terrain considerations.
- What is the intended use? Storage, a workspace, a hobby room, a combination — and whether you anticipate electrical or utility connections down the road.
- What is your general timeline? Not a hard deadline, but whether you are planning for this season, next season, or have a specific date driving the project.
- Have you confirmed setback requirements with your municipality? Ed can advise on what to ask, but permit research is the homeowner's responsibility before scope is finalized.
Ready To Have That Conversation?
You do not need to have everything figured out. Call or text Ed with what you know. The first conversation is where the clarity starts.
Scope Clarity Before The Project Starts Is The Reason There Are No Disputes After It Finishes.
In commercial construction, unclear scope is the source of nearly every project conflict. Ed applies the same discipline he developed across 35+ years of commercial work to every Vintage Shed Company project: what is in scope is stated in writing before work begins. What is not in scope is equally clear.
| Project Element | Included In Base Scope | Not Included Unless Specified In Writing |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation System | 6x6 YellaWood PT grade-certified beams | Concrete piers, helical piers, or engineered foundation systems |
| Floor System | 2x6 PT joists 16" OC · 3/4" 7-ply PT plywood subfloor | Finished flooring, vapor barrier upgrades, radiant systems |
| Wall Framing | 2x6 kiln-dried dimensional lumber · 1/2" PT sheathing | Insulation, interior wall finishes, drywall |
| Siding | LP SmartSide (standard) · Primed for paint | Paint, stain, or decorative finishes applied by owner |
| Exterior Finish | Primed and ready for topcoat | Paint application — owner completes within 30 days or warranty terms are affected |
| Roofing | Roof structure and sheathing per agreed scope | Gutters, downspouts, skylights, solar unless specified |
| Doors & Windows | Standard units per agreed model or specification | Custom units, storm doors, security hardware upgrades |
| Electrical & Utilities | Not included in structural scope | Owner contracts licensed electrician separately; Ed can advise on rough-in considerations |
| Permits | Ed advises on requirements | Permit fees and applications are the homeowner's responsibility |
| Structural Warranty | 30-year structural warranty · subject to written terms | Cosmetic finishes, owner-applied materials, utility connections |
"I would rather spend thirty minutes on scope clarity before we sign than spend thirty days on a dispute after the structure is built. Transparency is not a selling point. It is how I work."
Ed Shackelford · Founder, The Vintage Shed CompanyThree Things You Will Not Find At A High-Volume Production Shed Company.
One Number. One Person.
When you call (513) 379-2421, you reach Ed. Not a scheduling desk. Not a project coordinator. Not a salesperson who hands off to a crew you have never met. Ed takes the call, Ed visits the site, and Ed builds the structure. The accountability does not transfer.
Materials That Are Not Visible After Completion
The 3/4-inch 7-ply pressure-treated plywood subfloor will never be seen after the structure is built. Neither will the 2x6 floor joists or the 6x6 foundation beams. Ed builds them to commercial standards anyway — because what a structure is built with matters more than what it looks like in a photo. No OSB. Ever.
A Warranty Backed By The Builder, Not A Brand
The 30-year structural warranty is written and signed by the person who built the structure. When you need Ed, you call the same number you called on day one. There is no warranty department, no third-party claims process, and no question about who is responsible.
Answers To What Most People Ask Before The First Conversation.
How Quickly Can Ed Get To A Site Visit After The First Call?
Site visit timing depends on the current project calendar. Ed will give you a straight answer on availability during the first call. If the project schedule is full for the near term, he will tell you that directly rather than stringing out a conversation that cannot result in a committed timeline.
Does Ed Work Year-Round?
Yes. The Vintage Shed Company builds year-round in the Greater Cincinnati area. Certain weather conditions affect scheduling during winter months, and Ed plans build timing accordingly. He will discuss seasonal considerations openly during the site review.
How Long Does A Typical Project Take From First Call To Completion?
Timeline varies by structure type, site conditions, and current project load. Ed does not give generic timelines on the website because a committed timeline requires a site visit and a signed scope. What he will tell you on the first call: where you stand in the queue, what the realistic range looks like for your project type, and whether your preferred timing is feasible.
Can I Get A Price Before The Site Visit?
Ed publishes base pricing ranges on the models pages of this site. Those ranges give you a starting reference point. A committed project price requires a site visit — because site conditions, access, foundation requirements, and scope specifics all affect the final number. Ed will not give you a precise price from a phone description and then adjust it significantly after showing up. That is not how commercial construction works, and it is not how he works.
What If My Property Has Difficult Access?
Difficult access is a site condition Ed evaluates during the site visit. Gate widths, overhead clearances, soft ground, steep grades — he has encountered these before and has a working approach to each. If a site condition genuinely makes the project infeasible or significantly affects scope, Ed will tell you that clearly during the site review rather than discovering it on build day.
Do I Need A Permit For A Backyard Structure?
Permit requirements vary by municipality, structure size, and intended use. In most Greater Cincinnati jurisdictions, structures above a certain square footage or those with electrical connections require a permit. Ed can advise on what questions to ask your local building department, but permit research, applications, and fees are the homeowner's responsibility. Permits should be in hand before the build date is scheduled.
Can I Upgrade Siding, Roofing, Or Other Materials?
Yes. The Vintage Shed Company offers siding upgrades including Vinyl, Cedar T&G, LP SmartSide Clapboard, Vinyl Shakes, and Cedar Shakes in addition to the standard Duratemp and LP SmartSide. Roofing, door hardware, window placement, and other specifications can be discussed during the scope development phase. All upgrades are documented in the written scope before work begins.
How Do I Pay? Is A Deposit Required?
Payment terms are addressed in the written scope and project agreement. Ed discusses payment structure directly during the project conversation — before any scope is signed. There are no payment surprises buried in fine print. If you have a question about payment terms before calling, include it in your first conversation and Ed will explain his standard approach directly.
The Calendar Fills. If Your Timeline Is This Season, Call Now.
Ed limits The Vintage Shed Company's project calendar deliberately. Every client receives direct attention from the first conversation through the final walkthrough — and that level of personal accountability requires a managed workload. He does not take on more than he can build properly.
If you have read this page and the project sounds like the right fit, the next step is a phone call. Ed will tell you within the first few minutes of that conversation whether the project is viable, whether your timeline is realistic, and what a site visit would look like.
You are not calling a sales desk. You are calling the builder.
Ed answers his own phone. If he is on a job site, leave a voicemail with your name, your location, and a brief description of the project. He will return the call the same day in most cases.