Home Remodeling Association of Connecticut

Whimsical Sheds Become Garden Accents

Published by: Elizabeth Gormley
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

Sheds are no longer shabby little service outbuildings, hidden in a corner of the property. New sheds are being built to become a valuable asset to the landscape, if not the main focus, following the architectural style of the house or in a whimsical, playful style of their own.

They are not just used for service and storage either. They are being turned into play houses, ateliers, workshops, meditation rooms.

There are several styles of sheds available, and many stand out simply by the material by which they are constructed.  Thinking about a new shed for your Connecticut home's backyard?
There's a myriad of cool shed plans and ideas available over the Internet, to inspire you, and a trusted HRACT Specialty Contractor will build a shed you can be proud of.

What will your particular outbuilding be used for?  Deciding this can reduce the options significantly and make for a much easier road to completion.
   
Tool Shed
This is probably what comes to mind for most of us when we hear the word "shed."  If you are looking to provide yourself with a place to store garden and lawn equipment, household tools, and chemicals like paint and fertilizer, construct a traditional tool shed.  Consider wall pegboard to hang tools and reduce clutter, and L-shaped brackets for keeping equipment off the ground.  Install double doors if you will be housing your lawn mower or tractor.  Particularly if you have children or pets, put a lock on the door if you are storing chemicals in the shed.
   
Firewood Storage Shed
This outbuilding has one function: keeping your firewood dry.  Often this is a lean-to, with an open design and slanted roof.  Stack the wood close to the wall as you can and seal any cracks in the wall and ceiling.  Exposure to dry air is good for the wood—but not exposure to rain and snow.
   
Chicken Shed
Home chicken coops have always been popular in rural areas, and are now on the rise in suburbia.  Raising your own chickens gives you a healthy organic alternative to store-bought eggs and poultry.
   
Post and Beam Shed
These stylish outbuildings resemble a Tudor home.  It is possible to make your handsome shed more than one story with high rafters.  A post and beam shed makes for a great hobby hut, play area, garden office, or simple place to unwind away from the main house.
   
When it comes to outbuilding materials, wood is the traditional choice and extremely durable if constructed properly.  Plastic makes for a nice, simple storage space for garden tools, toys, and bicycles.  Constructing an outbuilding of metal has numerous benefits.  Metal is recyclable, which makes it the ultimate sustainable choice.  It lasts longer than plastic and wood and it has the strength to stand on its own without needing extra beams or reinforcements.  Steel, in particular, is an extremely strong and wallet-friendly metal outbuilding option.  Metal may be coated with vinyl or plastic, and also painted at a low cost.  The drawbacks to a metal shed include draftiness and lack of warmth—temperature is tough to manage in a metal building that is not insulated.  Talk to an outbuilding contractor about your design and building material options before making a decision.  It really matters what you want the shed to function as.  An outbuilding can come in a prefabricated kit or you can build from scratch, which will take quite a bit longer—but may be more rewarding.

To find a shed contractor in Connecticut, browse our directory and contact us today

Image Credits:


View all Specialty Articles