Buying a small garden shed and jamming all your tools in to try and make best use of the space, finding you can’t get your lawnmower in, and having to store your bikes elsewhere around the garden, only to go back and purchase another larger garden shed a couple of years later is a very common mistake that many people make when designing their gardens.
List What You’re Actually Storing
First list all the items you will store in the shed (garden tools, hose reels, pots etc), then decide on the size of the shed based on this list (6×4 for tools and small equipment such as a hose reel and pots, 8×6 for large equipment such as a lawnmower, bikes and a wheelbarrow, 10×8 or 10×10 for potting benches, work benches, storage and for people to stand in the shed and work on their various hobby projects).
Measure Your Plot Properly
If you have a rough idea of the amount of space you require, now measure out the space your shed or outdoor building is going to occupy in your garden. Take into consideration the overhang of the roof, the size of guttering and downpipes, and make sure you allow for at least 60cm of access space to the back of the shed on at least one side. Remember, a shed that looks fine on plan, but fails to allow for adequate access, will be a problem within 2 years!
Check The Planning Rules First
When you have decided on the perfect shed for your garden it is essential to check the permitted development for outbuildings. Within the permitted development for garden buildings there are rules surrounding the maximum surface area that can be covered by outbuildings in your garden and also maximum height for outbuildings. There are also restrictions on the distance from the boundary that certain heights of outbuildings are restricted by. The size of your garden in Cheltenham can vary greatly from large plots at the edges of town to very small courtyards in the centre of town. It is essential to work out the numbers for your own specific situation rather than just going for the most popular size of garden shed.
Think About Door Width
Don’t forget to check the size of the doors as well. A single door of about 3ft wide is sufficient for storing small tools such as pruning shears, rakes, hoes, etc. However, if you plan to store large items like lawn mowers, bicycles, etc. then you will need a double door of 4ft/5ft wide. Many people purchase sheds thinking that a single door will be sufficient, only to find out later that it is too difficult to maneuver large items through a small doorway.
Check Headroom Not Just Floor Space
While the footprint of a shed refers to the size of the ground that it covers, the actual amount of space inside the shed can vary. Most garden sheds have an apex style roof which slopes back from the front. As a result the height at the back of the shed is generally lower than at the front. If you plan to enter the shed and stand up while putting away items on a high shelf, then you will also need to check the eaves height (the lowest point of the roof) as well as the ridge height (the highest point of the roof).
Build In Room To Grow
Most people underestimate how quickly you will outgrow a garden shed. Within a few years many people find that they have taken up a new hobby and have more garden equipment than they initially planned for. The cost of an additional 2 feet in width can be very small in comparison to the potential hassle of having to remove and reassemble an already erected shed. So it is wise to plan for extra space from the off.
Remember The Base Size Too
The area of the base needs to be slightly larger than the shed itself, allowing for about 10-20 cm on each side. This means that the total area that you have in your garden to put the shed will be slightly larger than the shed itself. In very confined spaces this can be the difference between the shed fitting in your garden or not.
Match Your List To A Real Size
Compare these garden sheds to the size of your garden and match your list of things to store against a stock size of garden sheds. A 6×4 shed is ideal for tools and storage of small objects, an 8×6 garden shed is perfect for a lawnmower and bikes and larger items and a 10×8 or 10×10 garden shed gives you plenty of room for a garden workshop or to indulge in a hobby.
There is more on Garden Sheds Cheltenham at Mastersheds.
If you get the size right first time you can ensure you purchase the garden building and use it for years to come, rather than having to put up with a suboptimal size shed.