You say the garage and basement don’t provide enough room to store your tools and equipment. On the other hand, you want a place to relax after a long day of work, but the living room doesn’t offer enough quality down time. Well, we have a great idea that doesn’t require the help of a seasoned home improvement professional.
It’s called building a shed.
Once the domain for storing stuff, the backyard shed has expanded its role by becoming a place for getting away from it all. Whether you create a shed for storage or to as a private getaway, we present six tips to help you create the perfect shed for your backyard.
Build it on Solid Ground
They say location, location, location is a vital factor in determining the success of a business. It is also a vital factor that determines the building of the perfect shed. Where you will build your shed is the most important question to answer. Since most sheds are created using at least some wood, you want your shed to be located far away from any water source. If your perfect shed is about the same size of the prototype shed, you can build it on a foundation of skids or solid concrete. Just makes sure the shed is level to the ground to prevent moisture from seeping inside. A concrete shed will require the addition of cinder blocks to create a stable foundation.
Determine the Correct Size
You can expect to spend plenty of time calculating the correct size for your shed. For a man cave or a she shed, this is a fairly easy step to perform. However, if your shed is exclusively used for storing items, you’ll need to list the items you want to store in the shed and then ask for help determining the right size by consulting with a home improvement professional. Size is an especially important factor if you plan to store large items, such as a riding lawnmower.
Proper Air Circulation
Have you ever walked into a shed and been immediately overpowered by gasoline or any other type of chemical fume? The reason for the powerful scent of chemicals is because the shed was not adequately ventilated. Although size plays a role in determining the level of air circulation, you can also build the lowest layer of the shed at least a foot above ground level. This prevents moisture from eroding wood and assists the flow of air throughout the shed. You can also open up a section of each side of the shed to invite wind and sunlight inside.
Durable and Waterproof Floor
Make no mistake: The frame of your floor is going to endure plenty of punishment. You can take all of the moisture-proof steps you want and still trek in water by simply walking into the shed. To prevent damage to the floor frame, choose exterior grade plywood to eliminate the possibility of flexing between the joints. You can also opt for pressure treated wood that is at least two inches thick to prevent prolonged exposure to weather elements from diminishing the quality of the floor frame.
Roof Trusses Prevent Leaks
So you spent a lot of time ensuring the floor is solid like a rock. Now don’t forget to take care of the roof! As one of the most difficult components of a sturdy shed, the design of the roof can leave you scratching your head. Roof trusses, which you raise after construction of the roof, do a great job of preventing roof leaks. Install each truss over a stud and then add shingles to increase the strength of the trusses.
image credit: https://myrooff.com/shed-roof-trusses/
Low Maintenance Material
Creating a shed is more about function than appearance. Therefore, you should consider going with a low maintenance material in the design and construction of the shed. Instead of creating your shed with expensive wood or concrete, choose a material like PVC trim boards to eliminate the need for painting, as well as waterproofing the shed. You can also select imitation slate roof shingles and composite decking that leads up to the front of the shed.
If you follow each of six tips for creating the perfect shed for your backyard, you will have created an addition that should increase the value of your property. Nonetheless, creating a shed means you must hire a certified property inspector to ensure that you have complied with the housing code mandated by your community. Even better, run your shed plans by a housing inspector before you begin the project. The inspector will not only tell you if your shed plan fits in with the local housing code, her or she will also be able to give you tips on how to create the perfect shed for your backyard.
But if you’d rather leave the building to the professionals, that’s fine too! Recreation Unlimited offers a variety of custom, Amish-built sheds perfect for any backyard. Give us a call at (317) 773-3545 or visit our Noblesville showroom where we have several sheds on display for you to see first-hand.