Photo Credit: Simply Sheds
Space is something everybody needs, be it personal or otherwise.
Homeowners in particular, who have the tendency to accumulate more stuff than
they could possibly need, always seem to need storage space and when they run
out of rooms to stash their memorabilia in, the next thing they turn to are
sheds.
Sheds as you know, are that single-storey structures you can buy
as prefabricated kits or can build with your own two hands, provided you have
enough construction know-how. Sheds used to be built just for that purpose but
these days, sheds can also double as home offices, art studios, play rooms,
cabanas, etc. One thing that hasn’t changed is why we need sheds and why they
are still the perfect solution to any space dilemma.
In addition to memorabilia, garden tools and equipment also take
up a lot of room and this is why people often consider building garden or want to
learn about farm sheds mainly because it suits their
needs. With the option of buying these sheds pre-made, it has become even
easier to decide on getting one primarily because it also suits their budget
and there is no need to apply for any building permits as long as you are sure
it adheres to local building codes.
To start building your farm shed, you need to decide whether you
really need the additional space or if you can make do with what you have at
present. Make sure you also adhere to your local construction laws or codes
concerning large sheds as there are farm building and
structures specifications in place so that you can make the most out of your
farm sheds. Next, measure the space you want to erect your farm shed in for
length, width and height and decide whether you want it connected to the main home
or as a stand-alone structure. Most people find it easier to have their sheds
connected to the main home for easy access.
Plan your floors based on what you will be housing inside the shed
– if you are planning to park your riding lawnmowers, huge leaf blowers and
other heavy-duty equipment, then a framed floor with joists and ¾ inch plywood
is a safe bet. The last thing you need to decide on is foundation – you can use
cement foundation which is the cheapest option or a dug-post foundation.
The next step is to build your foundation. You can start either by
using short posts to connect to your joists and concrete blocks that will raise
your shed from the ground or you can dig post holes into the ground and attach
the joists to the outside of the post frame, bearing in mind that your joists
should be at least 16 inches apart. Once they are laid, you can either lay a
plywood floor or decking material over the floor and while both are suitable,
plywood is recommended due to its strength.
Building a skeleton of the structure will make the body of your
shed more stable. A 2x4 or a 2x6 inch construction is suitable for a farm shed
project and you can start by laying two boards horizontally parallel to each
other and then connecting them by laying two boards across them perpendicularly
with measurements based on how tall you want your shed to be. These boards
serve as your studs and should be at least 16 inches or 24 inches apart.
If you are adding doors or windows to the structure, you need to
create a header on top of the doorway or window frame to prevent them from
sagging. If you are creating an entryway, leave the bottom support board
attached until the walls are up. When installing the walls make sure you have
bracing boards or someone to hold the walls in place until you finish
connecting them to each other and to the floor.
And now it’s time to add the roof. Roofs for farm sheds can either
mimic a peaked house roof or a slanted roof by making one wall taller than the
rest. You should remember to construct your roof in such a way that water will
run down on it but will not run into the shed. This is done by laying it from
the bottom up and attaching roof felt inside to keep the inside dry.
Now for the shed skin. A 4x8 foot exterior siding that is ½ to ¾
inch thick is the cheapest option any builder can go for. You either screw or
nail it onto the exterior of your structure, covering everything except the
holes for the windows and doors. Wood ribbing usually seals the seams.
And last but not the least, you now need to paint or stain your
farm shed according to your personal preferences and install any studs, hangers
or shelving units to put your stuff and tools on.
You might also like:
Yarra Ranges Planning Notes (yarraranges.vic.gov.au)
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