How to Buy a Backyard Storage Shed

storage shed purchased five years ago

Buy a backyard storage shed only after careful planning and assessing a need for additional storage. Determine that the storage you need cannot be provided more economically by any other method. See Resources below for an article on how to save money on storage.

Once the decision is made that backyard storage is your next purchase, consider all the variables before you buy a backyard storage shed.

Instructions

1. Determine the size before you buy a backyard storage shed.

   Decide on the size of backyard storage shed you anticipate you may need. Consider more than one need for backyard storage. If you need a shop and storage both, consider one building to accomplish two needs. A shop can be on one side and storage on the other.

   The size of the backyard storage shed should consider any loft space for storage, too. If a loft can be added, the building will hold more with less ground space.

2. Consider the entrance options and windows.

   Be sure access is workable. You can buy a backyard storage shed that is efficient and workable, or you can buy a storage building that is long and skinny, but has no way to get to the back. Two doors may save untold hours, so be sure to consider two doors.

   Windows are an invitation to thieves, but if you need windows for the shop or for working in the backyard storage shed, consider how many windows are needed and where they should be located.

3. Get a permit if needed.

   Contact your city or county and see what the regulations are. There are permits, locations, easements, power lines, side and back restrictions, and maybe even size restrictions for backyard storage sheds in some cities.

   Some cities have restrictions that prevent any visible backyard storage sheds, and some have restrictions that the buildings cannot be constructed within a certain number of feet of the house.

   Learn the restrictions for your subdivision, for the city, for the county, and maybe even for the state before you buy a backyard storage shed.

4. 

   Think about utilities.

   Consider utilities to the storage building. If you need electricity and a telephone, check for restrictions that control these utilities. Some states require compliance with the National Electric Code, and most cities require code compliance for most utilities.

   Consider, too, the expense of running electricity or telephone lines to the backyard storage shed. The distance from existing lines may be significant in the cost.

5. Consider the stored items.

   Think through how the stored items will be protected from the elements and pests. This may be important to consider before you buy a backyard storage shed, and may determine the kind of building you choose.

6. Consider the appearance before you buy a backyard storage shed.

   Plan a storage shed that fits the landscape and landscaping. You will not want a building with radically different architecture from your home. If the storage building you purchase needs to be painted, match it with the house paint and exterior. Match the roofing, too, so the storage building blends in.

7. Plan for the landscape.

   Consider the landscaping around the storage shed once constructed, and plan ahead so there is space for flower beds, vines, whatever is needed to make the purchased storage shed fit your landscape.

8. Plan for the foundation.

   Think about the foundation or underside of the storage shed. If it is on a slab, pests and wildlife should not be an issue, but termites and carpenter ants may be, if it is wood. If it is on skids or piers, consider how the underside will be protected from pests and wildlife. Consider hardware cloth or some barrier all around before you buy a backyard storage shed.

9. Go shopping to buy a backyard storage shed.

   Shop for a storage building once these considerations have been contemplated. Search the internet and the local home improvement stores. Decide what you need and get ideas, prices, construction dates, who gets permits, warranties, and the degree of completion.

10. Ask questions before you buy a backyard storage shed.

    Inquire if the structure will have a floor, insulation, a ceiling, a loft. Know about the roofing and if it will be nailed or stapled, shingles or rolled. Ask about the walls and how they will be finished, and whether there is insulation in walls and ceiling. Be inquisitive about door locks, window protection, electricity, exterior lighting, steps, and exterior electrical sockets. All of these will make a difference, and will be added expense if they are not included in your construction agreement.

11. Sort priorities before you buy.

    Prioritize your special situation by needs. If you need immediate construction, consider the companies that can provide a fast turn-around. If you want turn-key construction, consider which builders can provide all the extras you require. This will help eliminate some of the possible contractors and let you make a decision based on your needs. You can buy an outdoor storage shed that you will be happy with once you have thought through your specific needs and expectations.

    If you have a few builders at this point in your evaluation who can supply a storage building with your requirements, it is time to get bids and consider price. You are getting close to being ready to buy a backyard storage shed.

Tips & Warnings

• We often write about consumer issues, and have links in Resources below for similar articles.

• copyright 2009 Linda Richard

• Feel free to link to this article or send it to a friend. Do not copy.

Resources

• Save Money on Storage
• Save Money on Utility Bills in the Summer
• Reduce a House Payment without Refinancing
• Landscape a Yard On a Budget
• Avoid DIY Do it Yourself Danger
• Landscape Trees and Shrubs not to Buy