Building A New Backyard Shed. The Perfect End Of Summer Project.

Backyard sheds are no longer restricted to storing lawn mowers or overflow items from the garage. They have become “he” and “she” sheds for hobbies, workshops, and home offices. You can have one too, but just be aware that finding the perfect shed for your yard takes proper planning and execution.

At first glance, it can be easy to fall in love with a shed’s design only to find out it’s too large for your space. Or if you don’t know what you’ll put in your shed, you may purchase one that ends up being too small. Before you start your search for the perfect shed, answer the following questions to help ensure you buy the right one for years to come.

How Will I Use My Shed?

Answering this question should go beyond the basics. Sure, you may want a workshop, but what tools will be stored in the shed? What equipment will be needed? What’s the size of the largest item? Will electricity be required? How many outlets should you have?

Be specific when outlining how you’ll envision using your shed. For example:

1. What will be the total weight of all the stored items? 
2. How large of an opening is needed to move items in and out of the shed?
3. Is special equipment or lighting needed for a hobby?
4. How much open space will be needed for projects or storage?
5. Will the shed be used year-round?
6. Do you plan on using the available wall space?

Use your answers to create a list of the must-haves for your new backyard shed.

What Size Shed Do I Need?

When deciding on the size of shed you need, plan for expansion. You don’t want to discover that the new building is too small just weeks after purchasing. Thankfully, sheds come in a wide range of sizes.

• Small sheds are typically less than 80 square feet and are designed for lawn and garden storage. Size options include 8×8 and 8×10.
• Medium shed sizes include 10×10, 8×12, or 10×12. Most medium sized sheds have around 90 to 120 square feet of interior space.
• Large ones can have as much as 288 square feet, with typical sizes beginning at 12×12. A 12×20 shed has 240 square feet, which is usually sufficient for a workshop or hobby space.

Next, consider creating a floor plan for your shed. Make a list of what will be placed in the shed, including their dimensions. Arrange the items in different-sized spaces to find the best layout. If standard shed sizes do not work, custom backyard sheds are always an option.

What to Look for in a Shed?

While the shed’s exterior design may be the first thing that catches your eye, you also want to look at its construction. Specifically, you want to look at the frame, siding, and roof of any one you are considering purchasing.

Frame

How a shed is constructed determines how long it will last. For example, floorboards can be made of treated or untreated wood. Treated wood will last longer because chemicals are added to help protect it against the elements. Standard floor joists use 2x4s; however, 2x6s are recommended if heavy equipment will be stored in the shed.

Wall studs should be 16 to 24 inches apart to ensure structural integrity. The less distance between studs, the stronger the shed’s frame. Also, look at the roof trusses, especially if you live in areas that receive heavy snowfall. Make sure the frame is capable of withstanding the load as snow accumulates over winter.

You should also look at the window and door frames to ensure a tight fit to minimize air movement in and out of the shed.

Siding

The three most common types of shed siding are wood, metal, and vinyl. Selecting siding may depend on the surrounding buildings. Some homeowners want their sheds to match their homes or the style of their neighborhood. Others want a contrasting material or pattern. Regardless of the material, check its thickness, durability, and warranty.

While appearance is important, there are other factors to consider, such as:

• Maintenance. Wood siding requires painting every five years. Vinyl and metal siding requires little to no maintenance.
• Climate. Exposure to wind, rain, snow, and sun impacts the siding’s durability. Extreme temperatures cause greater expansion and contraction.

If you plan to insulate your shed, vinyl and metal provide less insulation than wood. 

Roof

Roofs are designed to protect buildings from moisture. The best material to use depends on where the shed is located. Humid climates benefit from steel or asphalt shingles that facilitate water flow off a roof. 

Durability is another factor when selecting roofing materials. Metal is considered the most durable, followed by asphalt. Wood shingles, as with wood siding, require maintenance. You will want to inspect the quality of the vents and flashing in addition to the shingle choice. A cheap or poorly constructed vent can create noise issues and inadequate flashing can cause major leaking down the road.

Bottom line, make sure to look for sheds with roofing choices that fit your environment. 

Interior

If your shed is going to store a few rakes and shovels, the interior is less important than if your shed will be a home office. Some things to consider if you plan on spending significant time in your new shed; how tall do you want it to be? Do you want it to have a loft? How do you want the walls, floors, and ceiling to look?

The interior of your shed will reflect your needs for the shed. If you are planning on keeping it pretty utilitarian by storing tools and garden supplies, then you don’t necessarily need to bother with things like insulating the walls or painting them for that matter. You can just leave the interior as is from the initial build. If you want to make your shed more of a lived-in type space, then you will definitely want to flesh out the interior to make it more livable, comfortable, and usable. Here are some things that you can do to help increase the inside of your shed’s livability factor:

• Seal any cracks or seams that let outside air directly inside
• Add insulation in between the outside wall and then finish the inside wall with sheetrock or similar paneling
• Paint the interior to match or go with your actual home
• Install a quick and simple shop sink
• Install electrical outlets 
• Put in a small AC unit or fan
• Cut out a window on an otherwise blank wall
• Add storage bins and shelving
• Install a mini-fridge

What Should I Spend on a Shed?

Not only do backyard sheds come in a range of sizes, but they also come with multiple price points. Deciding on what the must-haves are before shopping makes it easier to find the best one that fits your budget.

The average shed cost can vary widely these days. The good news is that putting together a custom shed has become very popular so your options and the amount of businesses that can cater to your needs are widely available. The bad news is that this high demand and popularity can drive up costs. If you’re wanting to do some back of the napkin math for your budget, here are some things to keep in mind. 

• Basic Garden Shed
  • Budget: Between $500 and $2,000 depending on your materials
• Storage Shed
  • Budget: Between $900 and $10,000+. You can really customize this type of shed to meet your needs. Can be on the larger end.
• Home Office or Working Shed
  • Budget: Between $5,000 and $20,000. Since this shed will have to have a lot of things like interior HVAC, electrical, and other expensive amenities, these can get expensive quite quickly but can be worth it depending on their intended use.

Whatever your preferred design is or amount of budget, we hope that this guide has helped you get a better idea of what your dream shed project could be if you take on the necessary planning beforehand. Let us know in the comments which type of shed you are currently working on and if you have any tips for our readers. We can’t wait to hear from you.