Deciding on sizes for your storage shed plans: Aside from carpentry, I like to do a little bit of gardening myself and one of the best things I ever did was building a storage shed for the back yard where I could store all of my gardening materials and tools. I don’t like sheds which are too small for then they would not serve their purpose. I also don’t like to build a shed that is too large for it would overwhelm my back yard and – where will my garden be? I like the Goldilocks’ Principle: it has to be “just right!”
If you are thinking of building a garden shed for your tools, equipment and materials, it is always good to first take a look at what you have or what you are planning to store in it. There are times when you think you have everything and they can fit into the shed without problems, and then you forget that you need more and no longer have the space to store them in. Bear that in mind before you build a shed.
If you are thinking of storing some hand tools, flower and nursery pots, watering cans and hoses, these can all fit in a 3×5 foot shed. This is a great size for smaller garden areas which you can just work with the limited tools.
If you have a rototiller thought, then the 3×5 is not enough. Having a rototiller is used for small to large sized gardens. So if you only have this one equipment, make sure the shed that you are building is a little larger, give it enough space for storage. Increase the size to 4×6 square feet. However, if you rototiller is large and electric, you know you’ll need a larger size. Go for the 8×10 square feet. Just make sure that this size will not make your garden disappear.
If you like to do some potting in the garden shed, then make sure that you have the space for it. Measure out an area that would include the tools and the work bench or benches. Add about another two or three feet from all sides of the bench for manoeuvrability. This should allow you to keep on gardening even in the middle of winter.
If you still have a lot of room in the back yard, then adding a greenhouse off the side of the shed is a great idea. This greenhouse will eliminate the need to build a large shed.
If you have equipment that are large like a lawn mower you could drive around in, then look at bigger shed designs like small barns or simply make a shed that is about 12×24 square feet for this will store everything without difficulty.
When I build a shed I always make sure that the doors are wide and could be opened from both directions. This will make it easier for me to store the equipment and to take them out without banging my shoulders or hips against hinges. Think barn and see how the doors are designed.
Last thing; make sure that when you build a shed that there is a lot of room for storage of chemicals and other dangerous materials. I would advise making sure there is a separate storage room with a lock and key just to play it safe, especially with children and pets around.
Written by patch
Topics: Building a shed