The Buildings Site

Small Backyard Storage Shed - A Great Beginners DIY Project

It seems that we all never have enough storage space.  Most of us will allow our excess accumulation of "stuff" to infiltrate into our garages.  Building a backyard storage shed can be an effective solution to solving our storage problems.  For the price of a few months storage unit rental, you can build your own storage shed that will not only save money now, but increase the value of your property.  Here are some factors to consider:

1.  Size: Check with your local building department.  Most jurisdictions will allow a shed up to a specified size to be built without a permit.  Usually the maximum size will be 100-120 square feet.  If this size will fit your needs, then you can save the expense and hassle of a building permit.

2. Placement: If you are legally building without a permit because you are staying under the minimum size limit (see 1 above), then usually you are not restricted to the location on your property.  If a permit is required then you will have to satisfy all the setback requirements (meaning staying specified distances from property lines, other buildings, etc.).

3. Type of Construction: Here you have several options.  You can purchase a pre-made shed at your local home-improvement center, and assemble it on-site.  The downside to this is that these units are usually made from vinyl or light gauge metal, and from my experience lack durability, especially considering the cost.  A better option is to construct a more permanent structure from plans.  This option will result permanent structure, and add to your equity.  For those without DIY experience, constructing a small shed can be a valuable learning experience.

I would recommend purchasing a set of plans that also comes with illustrated instructions and some tutorial information on construction practices. If you would like to investigate this option visit