What should you know before building a shed in the backyard?
Are you thinking about building a shed on your property? That’s great! A storage shed is an excellent way to take back needed space within your home and building your own shed is a fun way to work with your hands. You probably already know that building a shed lets you use the materials you want so you can build the exact shed you want.
But if you have never built a shed before, there are things you should know that might not come naturally to you. Even the best guides often assume beginners will know things they do and fail to mention them. So make sure you keep these helpful hints in mind before building a shed in the backyard.
Building Permit
Depending on where you live you may be required to secure a building permit before you starting building your shed. Some jurisdictions require a permit for any additional free standing structures on the property, while others only require a permit if your shed is a certain size.
Get the answers you need before you start building or you may end up adding the cost of a fine onto your building costs.
Do I Need Power?
If you have yet to decide on a type of shed you want to build you should first consider if you will need to have electricity in your shed. Will the shed simply be used to store unused items or will it become a workspace or detached office? If you need lights or you intend to use power tools, then you will need electricity.
This means you need to decide if you want to build a solar powered shed or if you want to set it up with electricity through the electric company in your area.
Doors
It is a given that any shed you build will have a door, but what type of door will it have? If you intend to store large items such as lawnmowers or a motorcycle, you will want to consider double doors or a large sliding door. It will be very cumbersome to have to maneuver big items out of a too small door.
Stairs vs. Ramp
Getting items in and out of your storage shed easily is important, which is why you need to decide early on if you will install stairs, a ramp or both. Ramps will make it easy to store heavy items or large items. Imagine trying to get a lawnmower up a few steps. No matter how strong you are this is a frustrating task, particularly after you’ve mowed the entire lawn.
Location
Have you already chosen a spot where you will build your shed? Take a look at the location again and make sure it is perfect for your needs. If you decide against installing electricity, are there enough windows to light the shed? Does the shed get any direct sunlight during the day? If it doesn’t then it may not be the right location.
You should also consider how close you want to build the shed to a fence, trees or shrubs. Anything that is likely to contain moisture means the risk of mold or mildew and a lack of direct sunlight increases the risk. Erect the shed with enough room on all sides to let the shed breathe and dry out easily.
Once you have carefully considered each of these things, you are ready to start building a shed.