3 Things to Consider Before Building Your Backyard Shed
Wednesday, August 10th, 2016
A backyard shed can be both a practical and decorative addition to your backyard, so it’s no wonder so many homes have them. In fact, homeowners have found sheds to be so useful, there’s a new shed style trending. The pub-shed is essentially a tiny backyard bar designed to accommodate three to five people that includes a number of customized amenities. So, if you’re looking for a place to escape or another outdoor addition to entertain your guests, a pub-shed is the way to go.
Building a backyard shed may start out as a weekend task, but without the proper planning, it can easily turn into a month long project. At McCamy Construction, we firmly believe that process makes perfect, so before you start excavating, here are three questions to ask yourself:
1. What is the purpose of your shed?
The first step to building anything is determining the requirements. How do you plan to use your shed? Most backyard sheds are built for storage purposes: lawn mowers, garden tools, pool supplies, bicycles, Christmas trees, you name it. However, there are other uses for sheds. In addition to the pub-shed I mentioned earlier, homeowners have built backyard sheds as “hobby huts” to enjoy a particular hobby like art, gardening, and carpentry. Check out this article for a few more interesting ideas. Once you’ve developed a concept, you can begin to think about what you need to do to make it a reality.
2. How big should your shed be?
This size of your backyard shed should be calculated after considering these two factors: How big you need the shed to be for it to comfortably fulfill its purpose
What are the dimensions of the largest items you plan on storing in your shed? These measurements will act as a starting point to help you figure out how high to build the walls and how wide to make the entrance. You’ll also what to think about how much little stuff will be in your shed. Will you need shelves or a bench? If you plan on spending a lot of time inside, you’ll want to buffer the dimensions to allow yourself some breathing room. If you plan on just running in and out to retrieve a needed item, elbow room might not be much of a concern.
How much room your backyard can spare
The amount of backyard space you have available is the most important factor when deciding how big to build your shed. Not only should you look at the length, width, and height you plan on using, check for wires, tree limbs, and anything else that might interfere with the building process. You’ll also want to examine the terrain. The area you build on does not need to be perfectly flat, however you’ll want to make sure that the lowest corner does not drop lower than 3.5 feet from the highest corner.
The size chart below shows the lengths and widths that are most popular among backyard sheds. The shaded areas indicate homeowner favorites.
(Source: Leonard)
3. How much are you willing to spend?
When it comes to building a backyard shed, your options are as endless as your budget. The cost of a shed can range from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand, depending on the materials you use (fabric, plastic, metal, wood), the size of the shed, and whether it’s a kit you purchase out of an inventory, a custom order you request, or one you build yourself. If you’re primary goal is being cost-effective, make sure you consider the lifespan of your shed’s materials before choosing what looks like the cheapest option.
If building a shed is part of your plan to renovate your backyard, we’d love to share some ideas with you! Take a look at our recent outdoor living renovations and contact us by filling out this form or calling 865-247-7068.
