Increase your outdoor storage in style
That garage can only give you so much. Your basement is practically bursting at the seams with clutter. And the attic and crawlspace aren’t very practical or accessible. So how’s a spatially challenged homeowner supposed to stow all that excess stuff?
The solution is a right-sized and wellplaced exterior storage shed — the perfect enclosure for housing everything from tools and supplies to sporting equipment.
“A shed is a great way to add inexpensive storage to a house, especially since it often uses existing and underutilized yard space. The price per square foot is incredibly low compared to the high costs of house additions and remodelling, and many people simply don’t have any other square footage available in their homes to use for storage,” says Doug Fritsch, director of web and package sales for Pittsburgh-based 84 Lumber.
Storage sheds typically come in two flavours: prefabricated sheds, often made of low-maintenance resin, vinyl, metal and/or wood, that are relatively easy to assemble by handy do-it-yourselfers; and custom wooden sheds built from scratch by a contractor/carpenter or a skilled homeowner. With either option, you need a good foundation upon which to erect the shed, and that can be tricky to prepare — which is why it’s usually best to hire a professional for the job.
“Wood is the most widely sold type of framing for sheds; it’s a low-cost and sturdy material that allows for a multitude of siding and roofing options, including low-maintenance vinyl siding and a steel roof,” Fritsch notes.
Sheds range in size from around a six-foot by six-foot structure up to and beyond a 14-foot by 32-foot shed, depending on the available yard space, budget and needs. The right size will depend on how many items you plan to store.
“Your finished shed will likely be filled to capacity, and you’ll wish you had built a larger one than you did, so think long and hard about the right size,” adds Fritsch.
Most prefab shed kits sold at home improvement stores are priced between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars, while the cost to build a custom shed averages about $3,000, according to Homeadvisor.
But they’re worth their weight in gold to today’s space-deprived homeowners, the experts agree.
“Good candidates for a shed include families who have run out of storage space. And with the right appointments and size, a well-built shed could easily serve as a man cave, craft shack, or other non-essential room,” says Jennifer Snyder, certified professional organizer and owner of Neat as a Pin Organizing and Cleaning in Waco, Texas.
But typical shed contents are the usual suspects — lawnmower, snow blower, bicycles, gardening and landscape equipment, pool accessories, camping gear, and painting supplies.
“They’re often used to store flammable or dangerous liquids and chemicals, too,” says Fritsch.
Your contents and need to access them should be considered carefully when deciding on shed placement.
“You’ll probably find yourself using it much more than you anticipate, so it may be best to situate the shed close to your work area,” Fritsch adds. “You don’t want to walk 300 yards just to grab a leaf rake or a pair of work gloves.”
Yet, you don’t want it too close to your home, either, as the roof slope may drain rainwater directly into your house’s foundation, and it’s best to keep any hazardous or combustible chemicals a good distance away.
“Make sure that, whatever spot you choose, you keep within your property’s lines,” says Bryan Stoddard, director of Homewares Insider, based in Jersey City, New Jersey, who recommends avoiding placement too near your neighbour’s property, as well. “You should also check for any local restrictions that might impact the placement on your property, especially if you live in a homeowners association.”
Lastly, be aware that, if you’re building a custom shed, you may need to obtain a local building permit, and village codes could prevent you from exceeding a certain size — so check with your municipality before adding a shed.