Storage Shed Guide
A storage shed can be a structure that adds a certain aesthetic quality to the yard as well as acting as a repository for all your stuff. Building a shed should include more than just nailing together planks of wood. You should strive to integrate the style and size of the shed into your landscape and complement your house. The storage area inside the shed should provide ample space for the contents while providing easy access and maneuverability. Does this Spark an idea?
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Purpose
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The first step in building a storage shed is deciding on the specific purpose. Storage can mean anything from odds and ends for which no storage space exists inside the home to large lawn equipment like riding mowers or a garden tractor. Spatial considerations are dependent upon the type of storage you have planned for the shed.
Location
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Choosing a location for your storage shed means picking a spot that is convenient to your needs. Logic is the best path for choosing a location. You want to place it where it will be most convenient to suit its purposes. You can place your storage shed closer to the house if the contents are things like boxes of Christmas ornaments or sports equipment. Place the shed closer to the garden if it will contain landscaping tools.
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Building Codes
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Be sure to check with your community's building codes and regulations before making a final decision on placement and size of the shed. Codes can affect how close to the property line the storage shed can be situated and may also dictate the kind of materials you are allowed to use in construction.
Interior Working Space
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You need to take the kind of work you plan to do with the shed into consideration when choosing your design. If the shed is going to be used strictly for storage, creating open traffic lines is less important. If you are going to be using the shed for other purposes besides storage, make sure you have enough room to move about comfortably.
Style
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The importance of the style of the storage shed varies from owner to owner. You might not think style of design is particularly vital, but think in terms of how the shed may detract from the style of your house. A shed that blends in with the surrounding structure offers less potential for dissatisfaction once construction is completed. Complementary design can be introduced by matching up architectural features like siding material, rooflines and window designs.
Roofing Options
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Roofing options play an important role in storage shed design by offering either more or less space. A gambrel shed is pitched on each slope and therefore creates additional headroom space. A pyramidal hip roof not only gives you extra storage space below the ceiling, but also provides protection from the elements courtesy of the roof overhang running around the entire perimeter.
Flooring
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Smaller sheds may not need any flooring at all, but if your shed is going to be storing heavy machinery you will certainly want to lay down a concrete foundation. Ground anchors with augured ends that can be screwed into the soil allow you to use the ground as your shed's foundation.
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References
- Photo Credit sunny shed image by Tracy Horning from Fotolia.com
