How to Build a Farm Shed

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)

Budget Barn Design (thehorse.com)
Estimating Farm Building Costs (teagasc.ie)

Using Garden Sheds To Augment Your Backyard Landscape

There is nothing like a clean and organized backyard garden without the unsightly presence of tools, lawnmower, and other gardening effects. Often times a homeowner may forget to gather up the extra items and keep them away in a toolbox or garden shed. It is also a possibility that there's no storage space available within the owner's backyard, making tools and gardening items part of the backyard clutter.

This scenario is not uncommon to many urban dwellers who also happen to be first-time gardeners. The need for a beautiful landscape design is inevitable if they are not capable of doing it themselves. The addition of any structure can be a part of the design especially if the secondary purpose is to keep the tools and other mess in confinement. Of course, no homeowner would want any type of clutter lurking at his polished garden design, so it is important to incorporate storage for this matter.

A metal shed is always a possible addition especially if you have heavy gardening tools and equipment to keep.  If you feel it is unsightly to have a metal garden shed, you can use a wooden shed and dress it up or down to match your garden design. A rustic appearance is often recommended to give your garden a homier and warm ambiance. But never shelf the idea of customizing a metal type of shed just because it is less homey and may have an 'off' look to it. By painting it with a color scheme that will match your garden's palette, you can alter an unsightly metal shed into something welcoming and appropriate. Soft tones of light greens, browns, and subtle flower colors can change the steely feel of a metal shed.

The durability of metal or the rustic feel of wood can make a huge impact on your landscape design. Often, a landscape architect will not recommend the usage of a store-bought garden shed because of its 'manufactured' appearance. But with a bit of imagination, you can create something functional without hurting your wallet in the process.

Improving a worn out backyard garden may also be in the process. You can incorporate a few perennial plants to take over the ailing ones. Keep your garden alive by adding other plants gradually and by having all the necessary tools at hand. This makes your garden shed more indispensable as you will be adding tools, pots, containers, fertilizers, and other items needed for tending your garden. And don't forget about your lawnmower as this machine is regularly needed for quickly trimming down lawn grass.

The beauty of a garden landscape lies in the maintenance of its owner. If you keep your garden alive and thriving, you won't have too many issues with pests and whatnots. And keeping well-maintained tools also allows for better and more efficient tending of your plants.

Lastly, it is also a good investment if you choose to have a garden shed that will last a long time. By choosing well and being imaginative, you can incorporate any design element without sacrificing on function. You can check out samples of design ideas for garden sheds online to get started.

You might also like:

A Gallery of Garden Shed Ideas (bhg.com)

GARDEN SHEDS Building Service Information Sheet (roebourne.wa.gov.au)

The right way to invest in your garden (cnn.com)

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Photo credit: SimplySheds