Now that fall is here do you dread finding a place to put all the goods that you accumulated over the summer – the pool furniture, gardening equipment, lawnmower, and grill? Although it may seem overwhelming, there’s no need to shed your home of these possessions... instead, just store them. Of course, the choices in storage sheds are myriad, so how do you settle on the right one?

Consider the Purpose

The first consideration, which affects all the subsequent ones, is your purpose in purchasing the shed. Will you be using it to store pool furniture or gardening equipment? Will you need extra room for machinery such as a lawnmower, kayak or motorcycle? Do you want additional workspace in the shed itself? It is important to ask these questions before beginning your search for the perfect shed, because the answers will determine everything from where you place the shed to the size you need to buy and perhaps even the material that you choose.

“I think what attracts people to a shed is need,” says Bob Jackman, store manager at LaValley Building Supply in West Lebanon, NH. “By the time you are thinking of buying a shed you needed one two years ago.”

Homeowners need storage sheds for a variety of reasons. “We see them for everything from the standard small 8’ x 8’ utility shed for housing gardening equipment and wheelbarrows up to people putting snowmobiles, motorcycles and even furniture in them,” says Jackman. He cautions against the latter use. “I don’t consider furniture storage a good use of a shed. It’s not a sealed area like you find in commercial storage units. People put stuff in sheds and expect the mice not to get in, but they do,” he offers.

Although there are many common uses for storage sheds, dealers also see a number of exotic ones.

“We actually sell sheds that are more like camps with big porches on them. Some people finish them off as guest cottages. Some come with kitchens, bathrooms, skylights and lots of glass. We sell sheds that are used as horse barns and some that are used as play cottages for children. Children will play in them for a while and later they can be used as storage buildings since them come with both a small and large door. It is a double use sort of thing,” says Robert Therrien, owner of The Carriage Shed in White River Junction, VT.

Although you may not be looking to purchase a storage shed for such elaborate uses, it is still important to consider and list all your potential needs.

Consider the Size

Focusing on your reasons for purchasing a storage shed will help you determine the size. If all you want to store are a few potting materials and a wheelbarrow, you may get by with a smaller shed. Dale Oakes, manager of Oakes Brothers in Brad-ford, VT, cites 8’ x 12’ storage sheds as among the most popular.

“Most people tend to underestimate the size,” says Jackman, who advises that homeowners consider future needs as well. For example, do you plan on taking up a hobby like kayaking, skiing or biking in the future or do you have children who one day soon may be doing so? If so, it could pay to acknowledge these future storage needs now and purchase a slightly larger shed than your current situation dictates.

“By the time you are thinking of buying a shed you needed one two years ago.”

Also, consider the nature of the items you want to store and the location within the shed where they will be most convenient. Some things such as potting soil, for example, may be able to sit on shelves, thus, leaving valuable floor space for larger items. You will not want to store items you are most likely to use at the back of the shed. Some people also choose to create interior partitions that will separate contents or activities such as workspace from storage space or a small changing area from pool furniture storage.

David Beaulieu in Your Guide to Landscaping on About.com recommends checking that the entry door to the storage shed “is wide enough to accommodate your largest piece of equipment with room to spare.” You can also purchase a shed with double doors to resolve this problem. If you are planning on working in the shed, allow enough height for your head.

If after mapping out your storage needs on paper, you are still struggling with the size shed you should buy, experts recommend actually gathering together in your yard all the items you want to store, drawing a line around them, and measuring the outline. Don’t forget to allow extra room for the future.

Consider the Location
The size of the storage shed you choose can affect the location. First, find a place in your yard large enough to hold the shed. Consider traffic patterns, neighbors’ views, and the general lay of the land. Most sheds require a flat, accessible area to place the shed and its foundation. Experts typically recommend either cinder blocks, a concrete slab or crushed stone as the shed’s foundation or floor.

Choosing a dry location is also crucial as moisture can lead to decay. Other factors in determining location include convenience and aesthetic value. One of the advantages in owning a shed is the convenience of having everything stored in one place. Yet, if the shed itself is not accessible, it negates this benefit. People will be more likely to use items and put them away, if the shed is located in proximity to the home or where you will most likely be using the items. For example, place a gardening shed near the garden or a pool shed near the pool. Integrate the shed into the landscape. Beaulieu suggests landscaping with plants or adding window boxes to help outdoor storage sheds blend into their surroundings.

Before purchasing a storage shed you should also consider town ordinances. Setback ordinances may determine where you are allowed to locate a shed. You should also find out if a building permit is required. Many towns do not require permits for structures under 100 square feet.

Consider the Materials

Storage sheds come in a variety of materials including metal, vinyl and wood. Metal sheds range from galvanized steel to aluminum. Metal sheds are not ideal for New England winters.

“A percentage of the people we sell wooden sheds to are replacing their metal sheds damaged by snow. Metal sheds are fine for a couple of years or they are fine if you are going to pay very close attention to them and support the roof and clean it every time it snows, but they are not designed for New England weather,” cautions Jackman.

“A shed is an extremely low cost option for storage that increases the availability of the products that are in it.”

Vinyl storage centers are another affordable and efficient solution, especially for smaller storage needs. You can buy bins with lift-up tops or even heavy-duty vinyl tarps that can be zippered to keep out elements and small animals. Small vinyl sheds are also an option. Some homeowners choose vinyl siding on their storage sheds to match their homes.

Another relatively affordable and popular option is T-111, a textured plywood resembling vertical siding. A more upscale choice is wood. Sidings include board and batten, cedar, clapboard or ship-lap. Wooden sheds are typically available as both kits and completely pre-assembled units.

Consider the Price

“Price is determined by the type of material and the size,” says Jackman. Another factor is labor or the amount of time it takes a dealer to pre-fabricate the building. LaValley Building Supply, for example, sells its units in two different ways. The most popular way, they call “set-up,” meaning the building is delivered in one piece and set up by a crane on site. They charge $1,657 for an 8’ x 12’ woodshed. The second way is “knocked down.”

“You don’t save a whole lot of money. The reason to buy this way is that our crane can’t get to your site. We pre-build the floor and all the walls. The roof is in a couple of sections. You have to assemble and roof it,” says Jackman. A comparable knocked-down shed sells for $1,357.

In general, prices range from $800 for a simple shed up to $1,200 to $1,500 for a shed large enough to store a garden tractor and some equipment. “Sheds can go up to $10,000 or even $40,000 for the large cabins or pool sheds with a big porch, sliding doors, etc.,” says Therrien.

Although sheds can get expensive, Jackman notes that one of the common misconceptions buyers have is that they have to pay a lot more for style.

“People really do not realize their options. If you are even considering the possibility of a shed you should look at the displays because the options are there. A shed is an extremely low cost option for storage that increases the availability of the products that are in it,” concludes Jackman.