Building a Storage Shed for Your Backyard

You will need to consider:
1. The Purpose and Appearance of your shed

Before starting to build a storage shed you will need to ensure that the shed you build is right for you and your property. Depending on the purpose of your shed and where you locate it on your property you may or may not be concerned with the looks/design/aesthetics of what you are going to build.

Clearly if you only require extra space for your gardening tools and equipment or to free up some space from your house and if your shed is going to be visible to people passing by your property, you may place a high priority on your shed being attractive and pleasing on the eye.

You do not want an unsightly looking carbuncle spoiling the appearance of your home if it will be visible to visitors and passers by and you might then give some consideration to the type of design to use. For example a saltbox shed is a particularly attractive and character filled shed which, if built properly and well finished, might even enhance the value of your property.

On the other hand you may require a shed such as a lean to type shed simply to store firewood over the winter or to provide good shelter to your livestock, be they cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or whatever.

In these circumstances you will be less concerned with how your shed looks and more with how it functions or works in doing the primary job you require from it.

So decide at the outset what precise purpose your shed must fulfill and this will dictate to a great extent where you will locate it and what design to use.

2. Planning/construction permit

You could spend a lot of money and time building the most beautiful and practical shed with all sorts of features such as windows, doors,a ramp and a lovely gambrel type design for example, to then run into trouble with neighbours or the local planning authority because your shed  required a planning permit.

This requirement will vary from area to area but you should check out with your local planning authority any restrictions or requirements that they might have before starting your shed project.