The Evolution of the Backyard Garden Shed

Remember the backyard garden shed your parents, grandparents or neighbours had to house their gardening equipment and tools, the kid’s bikes or the boat? Some were compact, neat and tidy steel sheds and some were old timber, scary, dark, cluttered places where things were lost and spiders were found. Many were demolished and many have been bought back to life with a new use.

Backyard sheds in all their varying shapes, sizes and uses have had a comeback. Anything from the traditional garden tools storage unit to a cubby house for the kids, a rumpus room, games room, a teenagers retreat, a studio for art or music, a home office, a green house, workshop, the ultimate man cave, or a more sophisticated guest house, granny flat or In-law accommodation. The list goes on.

The purpose you have in mind for your “out building” will determine whether you use timber or steel. Most Cubby houses and sheds come in kit form. You will need to measure the space to ensure you order the right size. Then choose the colour, the height, the profile of the roof, and the number and type of doors and windows. You could have your supplier prepare the ground and install the structure for you, build it yourself or enlist the services of a carpenter or a handyman to help get the job done. You may need a concreter to lay a slab, a gardener or landscaper to level and prepare the ground surface or an electrician if you want to include power for say a workshop. If it’s a timber cubby you want you may like to include a slippery slide if it’s an elevated cubby or a sand pit for a ground level model. Some additions include skylights and gutter kits.