Garden, Farm Or Industrial: What Kind of Shed Do I Need?

But if you’re in the market for a new shed, what type should you buy?

The type of shed you’ll need will depend on factors such as your purpose, budget, space requirements, and location. Before you go about choosing a shed, first your need to learn about the different types of sheds, and work out which of these best meets your individual requirements.

Different types of sheds

The types of sheds available on the market today are designed to meet a wide range of functions, requirements and space restrictions. Along with carports and tool sheds, you can purchase ready-made domestic storage sheds, garden sheds, farm sheds, and industrial or commercial sheds.

Garden and domestic sheds

Garden sheds or tool sheds tend to be smaller in size and compact enough to fit into small backyards. You can buy cabinet-like tool sheds that offer no working space, or larger tool sheds that can also double as a small workshop. Larger domestic sheds are also available, and these offer much more space for storage, an area with workshop capabilities, and in some cases even garage space.

Farm sheds

These sturdy and large sheds can be used to store farm supplies, feed, equipment and machinery. Some can even double as stables or garages for your vehicles.

Industrial sheds

Industrial sheds are usually the largest type of shed you can buy and offer both durability and function, making them suitable for a range of farming, storage, manufacturing, and business purposes.

What do you need in a shed?

Once you’re aware of the options available on the market, review what you’re looking for in a shed. Consider other factors, such as your budget, the available space on your land, and the types of construction materials you want your shed to be made out of.

Purpose

What are you using your shed for? If you’re using it for manufacturing, construction or commercial purposes, a spacious industrial or commercial shed is probably your best option. If you’re using it for storing farm equipment, keeping horses or providing other animals with shelter, a farm shed with large access doors will probably best fulfil your requirements.

If you’re looking for a shed for your backyard, a garden or domestic shed could be the best choice for you. This applies whether you’re just looking for space to keep your tools and equipment in good condition, using it to store a vehicle, or seeking extra recreational or living space.

Also considerwhether you need space for overhead storage, lighting, ventilation, hanging tools, skylights, and other features in your shed.

Budget

An obvious consideration is budget, as you need to make sure you can pay for your new shed. The larger the shed, the more expensive it will be, so it’s important to strike a good balance between your space requirements and budget considerations. If your budget allows for it, consider customising your shed to your specific requirements.

Size and space

When you decide on the type of shed you want, you’ll want to consider its size and the available land space. The location where you’ll be having your shed built determines how much space you’ll have available. If you have plenty of space for a commercial purpose, you might decide that a commercial or industrial shed is best for you.

Foundation

Sheds need to be built on stable, level surfaces. Whether or not you’ll need to build a foundation will depend on the location where your shed will be built, and whether or not a suitable foundation has already been laid down. Additionally, different types of shedsoften need different types of foundations, and may require features such as flooring framing kits, crushed stone, timber, piers, concrete, gravel, and tiles.

Work with your shed supplier or builder to determine the what type of foundation your shed will need, and keep the foundation issue in mind as you shop around for your shed.

Construction materials

As you decide on the best type of shed for you, another important factor to take into account is the construction material you will use to build your shed. There are three main types of materials generally used to construct sheds: metal, wood, and plastic or vinyl resin.

• Timber – Timber can be an appealing choice for the backyard, but they can also require more maintenance than metal or plastic sheds, and are susceptible to termites and vermin damage.
• Plastic – Plastic sheds can offer a better storage solution than timber if there’s appropriate ventilation, but plastic can be vulnerable to sun and dust damage over time.
• Steel or metal – It’s not surprising that steel is the most popular shed material for many people. Combining strength, reliability and minimal maintenance requirements, stainless steel is usually an excellent choice.

There are many quality shed options that are out there, but picking the right shed to suit your requirements takes a little planning and thought. As long as you take into account factors such as budget and purpose, you won’t find it too difficult to determine which type of shed is best for you.