Choosing storage sheds - storage for garden equipment and supplies

Flower & Garden Magazine, August-Sept, 1994 by H.E. Gibson

It was like a chain-reaction earthquake. Pulling into the garage, my car barely tapped the table, which struck the pegboard where my new blower-vacuum was resting. Crash! Almost $200 worth of premium lawn and garden equipment became wreckage on my garage floor.

That was the final straw that convinced me to build a storage shed in the back yard; there was just too much competition for space in the garage. A storage shed is the perfect place to keep lawn and garden equipment because it puts the equipment where you need it - in the yard. No more maneuvering the lawn mower around the family car and the kids' bicycles.

SIZING UP YOUR NEEDS

The first step in putting up a storage shed is to check local codes and ordinances. Contact your city clerk's office for setback and inspection requirements. Also, review any homeowners association restrictions. Some associations ban unattached buildings. If you install a building without requesting a special exemption, you could be required to take the building down.

Once you know your project is permissible, decide what size structure you will need. Take an inventory of the equipment you want to store and how you want to use the building. For example, you may want a potting station for transplanting container plants.

The best way to assess your needs is to make a list. On one side of the paper, write down all the large items you want to store. These would include your lawn mower, snow thrower, tiller and wheelbarrow. List medium-size items in the middle of the page. These items would include the chain saw, blower-vacuum, spreader and sprayer. Finally, list the hand tools and smaller items you need to store.

Also determine how much storage you will need for lawn and garden chemicals, potting soil, pots, tomato cages and other miscellaneous items. Separate the items that need to be locked up, such as lawn and garden chemicals, from items that can sit on shelves, such as potting soil.

Now it is time to step into your yard with a notebook in one hand and your lists in the other. Find a suitable space. Most people like to keep their storage shed on the side of the house where it won't obstruct their view of the landscape. Be considerate of your neighbors as well. They won't want to gaze from their deck onto your storage shed.

The ideal site will be relatively level, convenient and inconspicuous. Measure the area, taking into account any setback ordinances. These measurements will let you know how much area you have to work with on the site. An average storage shed measures about 10 feet by 8 feet. If you plan to store all of your lawn and garden items in the shed, use this size as a starting point.

Draw the plan on your notebook to scale. Then, sketch in where you would place all of your equipment. Consider traffic patterns when you are drawing in equipment locations. For example, large equipment, such as the mower, will be in and out just once in an afternoon. However, you will probably walk to the tool rack many times in the course of a Saturday afternoon.

Storage sheds are attractive play areas, so plan to keep sharp objects, such as saws, securely fastened and well out of the reach of children. Also, install a locking cabinet for lawn and garden chemicals. This will, help avoid accidents involving pets or children.

Plan locations for pegboards, hooks and shelving. Remember, pegboards allow you to use the vertical space efficiently by hanging small tools. Don't put pegboards too close to the entrance because you can knock down tools if you brush against them coming and going.

After completing your drawing, you will know how big the shed should be. A successful storage area has a place for everything as well as some room to maneuver. You will want space to perform simple equipment maintenance and repair chores, such as changing string line on a string trimmer. Some items can be rotated from back to front, depending on the season. For example, the lawn mower and snow thrower can switch positions, depending on the time of year.

One of the key rules in planning storage is to think about the future. Allow some extra space for more tools and additional equipment. It is said that a person's pile of stuff expands to fit the space allotted for storage.

CHOOSING A STRUCTURE

The next step is deciding what type of storage facility to build. The two primary choices are prefabricated structures that come in kit form and custom-built structures. Custom-built structures can be based on simple plans available at most building supply stores. Some stores offer classes that will help you build the storage shed.

Prefabricated storage sheds are extremely popular. They are easy to install and most are good-quality buildings that will last many years. You can select from both wood and metal prefabricated storage units. Wood units will require periodic maintenance and can be subject to animal damage. Most metal units have a permanent finish that doesn't need painting.

When selecting a prefabricated unit, purchase from a reputable dealer. Look for a warranty on the materials. Also, look at the instructions on the package and be sure it is a project you are willing to tackle. Some companies offer customer assistance hotlines and many lawn and garden centers will answer questions if you run into problems putting up the building.