How to Buy a Storage Shed
For people without a garage or basement to store their garden necessities, a prefabricated shed can be a lifesaver. Sheds and shed kits for every budget are available at home and garden centers, and online at sites such as Gardensheds.com. Choose a size and material that works with your space, and you can keep your tools, bags of soil, lawn mower and assorted junk out of sight and safe from the elements.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Decide how much storage space you need. A lean-to shed 6 feet (1.8 m) long and 3 to 4 feet (.9 to 1.2 m) wide is big enough for tools and might cost a few hundred dollars. If you'll be storing a lawn mower and more, look for a freestanding shed measuring 6 by 8 feet (1.8 by 2.4 m), which will cost $1,000 or more.
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2
Consider the material not only for looks but for what you need to store. Cedar siding is long lasting, readily available and weathers to a gray color, or you can paint or stain it with wood preservative to keep it brown. Vinyl siding that looks like wood is a less expensive and even longer-lasting alternative. Metal sheds heat up quickly to high temperatures in the summer, so they're not recommended for storing gasoline or other volatile liquids and fertilizers.
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3
Make sure the entrance is wide enough to get a cart, wheelbarrow and other equipment comfortably through the door-- say, 3 feet (.9 m).
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4
Choose a combination greenhouse and storage shed to maximize the pace. One measuring 8 by 10 feet (2.4 by 3 m) can accommodate both tools and plants, with special shelves for setting seedlings out.
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Take advantage of features to help you work: windows and skylights for natural light, benches for work space, ramps for easier wheeled entry.
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Visualize how the shed will look in your yard. Even a small one can seem large. Landscaping around it with shrubs and trees can make it blend into the garden.
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Tips & Warnings
Do-it-yourselfers can pick up a shed kit or buy plans and build one on their own.
If you're willing to pay twice the money for the convenience, you can have a prebuilt shed delivered and installed by one of the large home-improvement stores.
Consider turning your shed into a potting room come springtime. You can pot up seedlings or sit down with a cup of coffee while you plan your next harvest.
