How to Choose the Right Shed, Step by Step

Ok, so you’re thinking about building a new shed but you’re unsure which shed is the right one for you. Lets go through it by the numbers and determine what your needs are, what options are available and the type of structure that will best service your needs now and into the future.

In this article we will step through all the determining factors to help you make the right choice the first time and save you both time and money.

You will be able to use this article as a formula to analyse your requirements and based on a number of factors including what you want to use the shed for, how much room you have and how much want to spend, you should be able to determine what shed is the right one for you.

1) The first thing you need to decide is why you need a shed, or if in fact you need a shed at all.

A shed is going to use some of the space in your yard and it’s also going to cost you money to build, so if you are only after short term storage and you have a lot of thing to store, a storage facility may be the answer.

However the greater your time-frame and the lesser your total storage area required or if you needs are not simply storage, the better chance that building a shed will be the most cost-effective solution.

Here is a list of some of the reasons why you may want to build a new shed:

• Additional storage


• Park the cars, boats, etc


• Workshop


• Gardening


• Bikes


• Mowers & garden tools


• Pets


• A place to hide from the wife/husband

2) Now that you have determined why you need a new shed or shelter and what you’re going to put in it, you can work out what type and size structure you require. When it comes to size there are a number of factors to consider including:

Required floor area – A quality shed will last you well over 10 years, so don’t just look at your immediate needs but look to the future. Is your family growing or might you take on a hobby that requires shed space, etc? I realise none of us has a crystal ball to look into the future, however if you believe you may need more floor area down the track, plan for it now. One shed in your back yard usually looks better than two or more small sheds scattered around the yard and it is almost always a cheaper option to build one larger shed too.

Available yard space & position – Where possible your new shed should fit in with you existing garden and add to the aesthetic quality of the yard. Here is a simple formula to use as a general rule: small yard – smaller shed, large yard – larger shed. Garden sheds can be nestled into a garden, positioned up the side of your house or in a position not visible, however if you need vehicle access to your shed it will probably need to be built in a position that has access to your driveway.

How big is your budget – When it comes right down to it, the shed you build can be determined greatly by what you can afford or how much you want to spend. Depending on the size, type, etc; the cost of your new shed could range between a couple of hundred dollars to several thousand.

3) Type of structure – Finally you need to decide what type of shed or shelter will best suit you needs. If you’ve gone through the previous steps you should have a pretty good idea, but we’ll have a look at a few different options anyway.

• Storage units – often less than a metre deep, these small sheds are ideal for those areas where space is limited, suitable for fitting under eaves, in car parks or high rise unit complexes without taking up too much space yet are large enough to store tools and sporting equipment etc.


• Garden Sheds – a multipurpose backyard shed. Garden sheds are probably the most popular garden building and they aren't just a place to store the lawnmower and tools. These days there is a growing trend in alternative uses for the garden shed, such as: playhouses, home offices and workshops and they come in a variety of sizes and configurations.


• Carports – if you want to keep your trailer, boat or car out of the weather an inexpensive alternative to a garage is a carport. They come in various sizes and with a gable or skillion roof.


• Garages – the garage is probably the ultimate backyard shed, giving you not only somewhere to store anything from garden tools to the family car but also room to work on your hobbies or even operate a home based business.

Sheds are available in several different materials including wood, PVC, steel and even brick, however if you’re looking for a sturdy, durable, low maintenance & cost effective shed that will add value to your home I don’t think you can go past a Colorbond or Zincalume steel shed.

This article is part of a series of articles covering all facets of selecting, buying & building your new shed. Go to www.shedsrus.com.au to read the rest of the series.