Many people who want to enhance the appearance of their garden choose to add a shed. And with so many styles to choose from and so many ways to build a shed, you definitely have a lot of leeway in terms of what direction to take and what you’ll actually use the shed for. As an example, some people build sheds that can serve as outdoor living areas where they can work or relax. Others choose to build sheds purely for storing supplies.
Photo by cmkalina
If you’re thinking about adding a shed to your garden, continue reading for a few things you should consider first, whether you’re building a customised shed using directions from Howtobuildashed.org, or you’re going with a prefabricated option instead.
Ask the Right Questions
Before embarking on your shed-building project, you should ask yourself the following questions:
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What will you be using the shed for: storage, creative projects, working from home, etc.?
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How big do you need the shed to be? Do you really have the room in your garden for the shed you’re hoping to build?
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What materials would you like to use? For example, do you want to build a modern shed or an eco-shed using recycled and sustainable materials?
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Are you planning on running electricity to your shed? If so, do you have the means to do so?
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Are you planning on adding skylights and/or windows to your shed, or are you going with a much simpler design?
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How big should the door be? Do you want to be able to leave the door open while you’re in the shed? Do you want garage style doors, double doors, doors with windows built in, etc.?
Find the Ideal Spot for Your Shed
You can’t just build your shed anywhere in your garden. Instead, you need to find the ideal spot for it. A shed that will last for a very long time should be placed on level, dry ground. It should also be in an area that you will have easy access to.
Do you need to remove any trees to make room for the shed, or are there any plants whose branches and fallen leaves would cause problems with the foundation or roof of the shed?
And, of course, you want the shed to be within your property lines and built in accordance with local building codes.
Install the Right Flooring
Because your shed will be exposed to the elements, you need to ensure that it’s built strong enough to withstand them without being damaged. One of the areas that you really need to focus on is the flooring.
To ensure your flooring won’t rot, go with pressure-treated lumber for the frame of the floor, as untreated lumber will rot over time. Also, when it comes to the floorboards, you should purchase ¾” exterior-grade or tongue-and-groove plywood. For a floor that’s really resistant to the elements, go with pressure-treated plywood, especially if your garden receives a lot of moisture. And to avoid rust, use galvanised decking screws.
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