Garden sheds can come in very handy. You can use them for storing garden tools and general supplies, but they can also as additional space separated from the main house. Read on and find out how to build your own garden shed step by step.
Garden sheds can come in very handy. You can use them for storing garden tools and general supplies, but they can also as additional space separated from the main house. Read on and find out how to build your own garden shed step by step.
What do you need to know before getting started?
Garden sheds are considered to be what’s called permitted developments, which means they usually shouldn’t come with any planning constraints. They should be one story, with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres. The overall height should not exceed 4 metres for a dual pitched (apex) roof or 3 metres with any other type of roof. If it will be situated within 2 metres of a dwelling house boundary, the maximum height is 2.5 metres. A garden shed should cover no more than half of the area that surrounds the original home, but if it is within the curtilage of a listed building it will require planning permission. Whilst most typical garden sheds won’t require planning permission, other garden structures will have unique considerations that are worth bearing in mind.
Building your own garden shed can be quite challenging, but will also give you a lot of satisfaction. It also gives you a chance to gain valuable experience. Sometimes constructing a garden shed is inspiration to set up a company offering construction services.
Shed design
Apart from the requirements regarding the area and height of the shed, there are no other legal restrictions. The shed can have any shape and can be divided into rooms, and there is also nothing to stop you from building an attic.
Before starting construction, you should properly plan how you want it to look. Determining the functions it is to perform is therefore crucial. A small shed is usually enough to store tools, but if you also intend to spend time inside it, then a solid structure with a maximum allowed area will be better. Considering your future needs and expectations is therefore important. For example – you can store fire wood on the porch, meaning you will not have to build a separate woodshed.
Ready-to-use shed designs can be downloaded from the Internet or you can have one tailor-made by an architect. Some manufacturers also offer sheds delivered as modules for self-assembly. If you are not a big fan of DIY, you should easily be able to find a company that will do the job from A to Z.
What else should you consider when building a garden shed? All types of installations should be placed inside the shed for safety reasons. These include, among others, the main water valve and electricity meter. Similarly, if you are thinking about planning garden irrigation, you could place the sprinkler control panel in the shed.
Necessary building materials for constructing a garden shed
What should you build the shed from? You can use wooden planks as well as bricks, stone or OSB boards. Of course, common sense will also be necessary when building a garden shed. A garden shed should be safe for users, and although it does not require building permission, you should follow common building best practices when it comes to safety.
In the case of a wooden shed, if you want it to look nice for a long time, the wood should be impregnated. It will also require painting from time to time. If you also plan to use it during the colder months, it should be insulated. Styrofoam plates or all kinds of mineral wool are perfect for this. Wooden sheds are usually placed on concrete screeds.
If you don’t have any building experience, we would suggest that you do not build a brick shed on your own, as it is very hard work and mistakes can be more of a problem later on. It will be extremely important to build such a construction on solid foundations, and you should also avoid boggy or sandy soils, as after some time problems may arise in this regard.
How much does it cost to build a garden shed in your own garden? It all depends on the type and quality of the materials used, as well as the size. You can build a small shed made of boards or wood for even a hundred pounds. If you intend to build a solid, brick shed, then the cost may be approx. ten thousand pounds (without fittings).
Ready-made sheds, which can be found in DIY shops, are usually wooden. This makes them relatively cheap and quick to install. You will also find models made of plastic (mainly PVC), which are very durable and do not require maintenance. Galvanised steel sheds have similar advantages. The simplest tool sheds could even cost less than £250, but if you plan to sleep in the shed, you should be ready for an investment of at least £1,500
If you want to put up a greenhouse you will also find similar offers from such manufacturers, as well as other garden equipment, such as garages, tool sheds, swings and sandboxes.
Building a wooden shed in your garden
Choose the area with the lowest groundwater level in your garden. It is also worth checking in advance whether your project will not come into contact with branches of nearby trees or elements of infrastructure (optical fiber cables, water pipes, etc.). It should also be easily accessible, ideally even by your car if necessary. If you plan to sleep in the house from time to time, building an additional domestic septic tank could be a good idea. It is worth planning such things in advance.
Before starting work you will need to prepare the ground. Levelling the ground for the screed, digging the foundations and connecting the installations are of great importance at this stage. To harden the area you could also use paving stones, concrete blocks or bricks. It is best to mark out the dimensions with a string and stakes driven into the ground. If you choose a pre-built wooden shed, additionally anchoring it is a good idea.
The shed should also have some form of protection against burglars – a basic investment could be a sturdy lock and window shutters. Another solution would be a sensor that activates a light source after detecting movement (in order to deter intruders) or a camera that will instantly send an image to your smartphone.
Necessary tools for building a garden shed
In order to build a garden house, you should have the necessary tools. These will include:
- spades,
- shovels,
- multifunction saws,
- hammers,
- drills,
- electric screwdrivers,
- pliers,
- ladders, such as this multipurpose 321.2 cm Aluminium Ladder or a 3-rung step ladder with anti-slip profile
- accessories such as nails, screwdrivers.
A large container for mixing concrete for the screed will also be useful. In the case of brick sheds, a cement mixer will be better. It will save time and reduce the amount of work (concrete should be mixed regularly in order not to dry-up). Other tools that will definitely come in handy during masonry work are:
- trowels,
- putty knives,
- patches,
- spirit levels,
- plumb bobs.
Building a shed on demanding terrain might require more advanced equipment, such as pneumatic hammers for rocks and debris, all kinds of plate compactors, soil compactors, power trowels and gas pile drivers. Good quality construction equipment will speed up your work and make it easier.
How to build a garden shed – a summary
A garden shed is the perfect place to keep tools, gardening equipment or storing crops. In the warmer months, the larger and better quality shed can be used as a summer house. If so then it will be necessary to equip it with some furniture (beds, wardrobes), as well as add a terrace on which you can eat a meal or rest close to nature without leaving the shed. After insulation and, for example, installing an electric stove, you could even use the shed this way in winter.
If you cannot connect the shed to utilities, it could be necessary to drill a deep well and purchase a power generator. However, these challenges will mainly be faced by the owners of land far away from other buildings.
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