Adding A Shed To Your Backyard

The more time we spend outside, the more we need a sensible storage solution for all the stuff that helps make our lawn, garden, and patio look exquisite. A garage may do for a while, but if your home seems to be bursting at the seams, it’s time to add a shed to your backyard.

Sheds are practical. They’ll cover your needs, whether you require basic protection from the elements or a new workspace. 

And with Father’s Day just around the corner, what better surprise is there for the dad in your life than a place all his own to store hand tools, garden gadgets, and lawn utensils? 

So, don’t spend another summer with tools tossed about. Instead, check out our guide for adding a new shed to your yard. 

What Do You Need to Consider Before Adding a Shed to Your Property?

Before deciding on a pre-fab, DIY kit, or designing and constructing your own, double-check that you have permission to build said shed. Many neighborhoods and communities have strict zoning laws. These may determine not only whether you’re allowed to build one but also what color it is, its size, and where it can be placed on your property.

Considering they aren’t exactly inexpensive, you don’t want to face potential fines or be forced to tear down what you just built up. If there aren’t any local zoning concerns, reach out to your homeowners’ association to better understand their shed guidelines, too.

With the matter of zoning set aside, you can begin thinking about what type you want to build.

With sheds, like with houses, bigger tends to be better. You don’t want to be left with the realization that you can’t fit everything inside your building until after you’ve already built it.

So, before thinking about colors or surface-level aesthetics, think about what you intend to use the shed for.

If you merely want a storage space, consider everything that will be put in there. You may even want to gather those items and arrange them similarly to how they would be placed in your shed, then measure width, height, and depth.

You may want your shed to be a workspace or even a living space in addition to offering some storage. In that case, you’ll want a space that’s big enough to safely move around in and comes with windows or other ventilation possibilities.

Deciding on the size and how you intend to use the shed will help determine perhaps the most important factor for your buying decision: cost.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shed?

One of the primary factors in how much it costs to build a shed is the type of shed you buy:

• A pre-fab shed is built off-site and then delivered and installed at your home.
• A do-it-yourself garden shed kit gives you the instructions and pre-cut materials so you can build it yourself.
• A completely custom design for which you then have to buy and cut materials.

All other things being equal, the standard rule of thumb here is that the more labor you have to do yourself, the less it will cost you financially. A pre-fab shed is often the most expensive. A shed kit or custom design means you can cut most labor costs by the final dollar amount.

Of course, this rule of thumb may not always hold true. If you’re starting from scratch with your tool collection, you may find yourself paying a pretty penny buying everything from nail guns to caulk guns to safety equipment and various saws.

Another thing to consider is time. A shed is a simple structure but a complex DIY project.

You’ll likely need to lay the foundation, for instance. If you want windows, built-ins, or other customizable details, you’ll have to do more than casually hammer some nails into pre-marked wood.

Speaking of which, if your DIY skills are nascent at best, you’ll probably encounter issues where you make the wrong cut or similarly stray from instructions. Fixing those common mistakes will cost more money for materials and take additional time to correct. 

If you don’t know how to build a shed, it can take some time to understand everything you need to do. Even if you do, you’ll need to spend up to three days, if not more, completing all the necessary steps. 

If you want us to put a specific number on a shed, you can use this online shed calculator to see if your dream shed fits into your realistic budget. 

What Shed is Best For Your Yard?

Let’s break down the pros and cons of each type of shed construction to see which one is best for your needs.

First, let’s look at pre-fab sheds:

• Highly customizable.
• Likely the most expensive.
• No need to purchase additional tools or materials.
• Potentially the most durable — pre-fab sheds can last up to 20 years.
• No labor on your part.

Now, here are the plusses and minuses of do-it-yourself garden shed kits:

• Typically not customizable.
• Less expensive than pre-fab sheds.
• All materials come pre-cut.
• May need to buy your own tools, which can increase costs.
• Can hire a handyman to build the shed for you, but that will increase costs.
• Not likely to be as durable as pre-fab sheds — DIY shed kits last around five to ten years.

Finally, here’s what you can expect with a completely DIY shed installation:

• Fully customizable.
• Typically, it is the least expensive overall option. However, costs can rise with the purchase of materials, tools, and labor help.
• Will need to cut your own materials.
• Will take the longest to install.
• Durability can vary wildly depending on your DIY skills and the quality of the design.
• Even if you have plans for how to build a shed, this option can be the most intimidating and involve the most potential pitfalls.

How Do You Maintain Your Shed?

A shed is an investment, and while it can be difficult to precisely calculate the return, one potential metric is how long it stays standing. Yes, its lifespan will depend on materials and build quality, but you can extend its use through proper maintenance.

Some maintenance is basic. Sweeping, dusting, and checking for leaks only take a few minutes each. It will also help you identify and repair smaller issues before they become larger, more expensive ones.

Keeping an inventory and organizing the equipment in your shed will reduce clutter, make it easier to find your tools when needed, and reduce pests. A bonus: a well-kept space often means well-kept tools, which help extend their lifespan, too.

Speaking of pests, you can further keep them at bay by cutting back grass, plants, or tree limbs from the shed’s exterior perimeter. You can also build an invisible barrier against spiders with Miss Muffet’s Revenge — just spray today and sweep up cobwebs tomorrow.

Add a Shed to Your Backyard This Spring!

A shed is a practical addition to any yard. In one small or not-so-small structure, you can have storage solutions, a workspace, and even a place to lounge.

So, before the summer gets too hot, install a shed in your backyard this spring!