If you’re looking at adding a new outdoor shed to your property, there’s a lot to consider. There are obvious factors like the outdoor storage shed’s size and cost and elements you might not have considered, like municipal bylaws, functionality, and even the colour.
A good quality shed can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars and last over a decade, so this isn’t a decision you should take lightly. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing a suitable outdoor shed for your property, and if you follow this guide, you’re bound to find the perfect fit.
Why Choosing the Right Outdoor Shed Matters
Choosing an outdoor shed is a costly decision that you’ll need to last until you sell your home, or up to a decade or two, so it’s essential to take your time and choose the right design and functionality.
On top of selecting an outdoor shed that meets your needs, you’ll also need to choose one that meets the needs of your surrounding neighbours.
All of this is to say that if you rush the decision and buy and build an outdoor shed that isn’t right for your property, you could end up choosing one that is inappropriate for your situation. Making the wrong choice can result in a costly or time-consuming ordeal to modify or even remove the wrong type of structure.
With all of that in mind, here are the top considerations when choosing an outdoor shed and your options when it comes to building one.
Top Considerations When Buying an Outdoor Shed
Choosing a suitable outdoor shed isn’t a matter of strolling to your local home improvement store and picking one off the rack. There are several factors to consider, and each one will affect whether you look at your shed with pride each time you are in the backyard or with frustration. Here’s what you need to consider when choosing a suitable outdoor shed.
1. Bylaws
Most municipalities have bylaws and requirements (or even permits) regarding the type and size of outdoor shed you can add to your property and may even govern where you can place it on your property. You may encounter similar regulations if you belong to a homeowner’s association (HOA) or strata community. If you belong to these types of organizations, there may be additional restrictions on what kind of structure you can add to your property.
To find out whether these types of restrictions apply to you, check the permits section of your municipality’s website. There may be several web pages devoted to outdoor structures. If you can’t find this information, call your municipality’s information hotline and describe your plans. They will be able to tell you whether you need a permit, and the types of restrictions that are in place for your outdoor shed project.
If you belong to an HOA, call them directly to inquire about restrictions relating to outdoor structures. They will either relay the information to you by phone or will be able to email you a summary of the restrictions.
Your outdoor shed might be subject to minimal conditions, or they may heavily regulate your decision, even determining the type of building materials you can use. In the worst case, you may not be allowed to build a structure at all.
2. Cost
Outdoor sheds vary widely in cost, so your budget will be an essential consideration when picking the perfect outdoor shed for your property. These structures can cost between a few hundred dollars up to multiple thousands of dollars, depending on the size, materials, and functionality you choose.
For example, a small shed made of metal or composite should cost only a few hundred dollars and is purchasable from a big box store. A shed like this is easier to assemble, but also less durable in the long run. In contrast, a shed that is made of wood, is large enough to stand up straight in, and has a shingled roof will be more expensive from a materials perspective and may even require professionals to build. A larger shed like this may cost thousands of dollars to build.
Determining your budget is an excellent place to start in your selection process after checking your local bylaws, as it can be the guiding limit when you choose the specifics for your shed.
3. Function
An important question to ask yourself is what you want your storage shed to do? Will it store some basic gardening supplies, or will you be using it to keep expensive equipment and function as a small workshop? Do you only need a small cabinet to store some trash cans or a full-height building with electricity, a locking door, and a workbench?
The options for function are highly customizable, so it’s wise to sit down and consider what role your shed will serve. Once you know the answers to these questions, it will be easier to narrow down your decision.
4. Aesthetics
How would you like your shed to look? You may be comfortable with a basic windowless composite shed. But, perhaps you’d prefer a higher-quality wood building complete with a shingled roof, cedar shake siding, and windows. Do you envision outdoor lighting, window boxes, shutters, or weathervanes?
Whatever you choose, keep in mind that your outdoor shed will most likely be a focal point in your backyard – whether you want it to be or not. So take the time to consider your desired aesthetic carefully.
5. Materials
The type of materials that you choose for your outdoor shed will impact its durability and longevity. An outdoor shed built from plastic composite won’t last as long, is more likely to dent and warp with regular use, but is affordable and easy to assemble by yourself in a few hours. A wooden shed is more expensive and more durable, but you’ll probably have to build it yourself from raw materials.
In Canada, you are most likely to see sheds built from three materials:
- Metal – these sheds are economical and easy to assemble yourself.
- Plastic, resin, or composite – These sheds are more durable and you can still build them yourself. They are low maintenance and won’t rush
- Wood – Wooden outdoor sheds are the most expensive and the most durable, but require more maintenance. They are paintable and easy to customize.
6. Ability
Building an outdoor shed yourself can save you hundreds of dollars in labour and help your dollar stretch further to buy a better quality outdoor shed. That said, it’s essential to frankly consider your construction abilities when choosing a suitable structure.
If you plan to build your outdoor shed yourself and only have basic building skills, then a pre-built outdoor shed kit from a big box store is a great way to get started. If you have an arsenal of tools and more advanced building skills, then building a high-quality wooden outdoor shed on your own is possible.
How to Build an Outdoor Shed
Once you’ve narrowed down the size, function, aesthetics, and materials for your outdoor shed, you’ll need to decide how to construct the storage unit. Very few outdoor sheds arrive pre-constructed. Most of the time, an outdoor shed will require some degree of assembly.
Here are your options for how to build your outdoor shed.
Do It Yourself With a Kit
If you have minimal experience with home renovations, you can still build an outdoor shed yourself! Many big box stores offer shed kits with all materials you need and extensive instructions on how to assemble them. You’ll most likely need some essential power tools like a drill and most of an entire day to complete this project, depending on the type of shed you choose.
Do It Yourself From Scratch
If you are confident in your construction skills and have access to several power tools, including a circular saw, nail gun, and drill, you may want to consider building a shed yourself from scratch. Building from scratch means you’ll need to either find plans online or design your shed yourself.
You’ll need to purchase all of the required materials yourself and execute the build without step-by-step instructions. Building a shed yourself requires medium levels of home renovation experience, and you’ll probably need at least one helper to complete this project.
Hire a Professional
Finally, if you don’t have the time, inclination, or skills to build an outdoor shed on your own, you can hire a professional. You can hire a professional to make all types of large and small outdoor sheds, but the added cost of labour will cut into your overall budget and may require you to downgrade your expectations to remain on budget.
Hiring a professional to build your shed is undoubtedly the most accessible and most convenient option. You can find a professional either through a home improvement store or do your research and hire one.
Choosing and building the perfect outdoor shed isn’t a project that you should complete hastily or without due consideration. Every time you look out into your backyard, you’ll see your outdoor shed. If you choose the right outdoor shed, you’ll feel satisfied and happy every time you look at it. If you don’t, you might feel frustration and annoyance. Fortunately, that predicament is easy to avoid if you weigh all of the possible options we’ve outlined and then choose an outdoor shed that suits your needs.
