Storage Shed Buying Guide

If your garage or basement has become a dumping ground for unorganized clutter, it’s time to consider a solution. So many homeowners don’t know about the helpful benefits of outside storage spaces. The home improvement experts at Fleet Farm are here to help you find the right shed for your home.

Benefits

Investing in an additional space to store common outdoor home supplies, equipment and tools that are too large to store in your garage or basement keeps the inside of your home clean, accessible, and ultimately more livable. In addition to this, an added layer of protection from weather-related damage or theft of your outdoor home goods is provided. These items include:

Storage sheds are a great place to keep gasoline, fuel treatments and cleaners, pesticides, or herbicides and weed killers that aren’t suitable for indoor storage due to risk of home damage and toxicity levels.

In addition to adding more room back to your garage, basement or other areas of the house, an outdoor storage solution can leave your curb appeal looking spiffy. With the right shed size and design coupled with landscaping efforts and a well-manicured lawn, you’re bound to boost your perceived home value.

Factors to Consider

When choosing a backyard storage shed, it’s important to research your local property ordinances, understand how much additional space you’ll need to live more comfortably, and outline a budget.

Local building codes – some residential building requirements will mandate shed size and material composition
Short-term and long-term use – shed function dictates what the shed’s durability and flexibility should be whether that be for traditional purposes or transforming it into an outdoor home office
Climate – geographic location and seasonal weather patterns will determine shed material composition
Lot size – the amount of land and property lines surrounding your house influences shed size

For Smaller Budget Organization

If there aren’t any decent storage shed options that are within your allocated budget, consider freeing up space in your garage or basement with alternative storage solutions such as shelving, hooks and other hanging hardware, and stackable storage bins. Most DIY organizer projects for large equipment will require heavy duty hanging supplies like screws, a screwdriver, and a ladder and other scaffolding accessories.

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Types of Sheds

The shed style you need mainly depends on the location you have in mind.

Patio Storage Sheds

There’s nothing better than cooking out on the patio, but when winter comes around you’ll need a little extra square footage to protect your patio set and accessories from the elements. In order to avoid rust and extend the life of your patio chairs and cushions, tables, patio umbrellas, and firepits, investing in a space that can withstand heavy snow and freezing rain will be your best bet.

Under Deck Storage Sheds

Depending on an existing shed structure’s height and width your deck might be a good option for placement, especially if your deck boards have been built with minimal gaps or have been waterproofed with a drainage system to keep everything located under the deck dry.

Gardening Tool Storage Sheds

For the green thumbs of the world, storing landscaping tools and gardening supplies in an easily accessible way is key, and makes frequent tending much easier. A dedicated space for your gardening tools also frees up space in the garage.

Vertical Storage Sheds

Vertical tool sheds are built with strength and stability in order to house long-handled tools and outdoor power equipment, trash cans, kayaks, canoes, shovels and other tall, hefty outdoor household items. For homeowners with a small yard, a vertical shed adds valuable storage space with a small footprint.

Comparison Chart

Set-Up InvolvementSizeDIY structural elements needed?Features Patio Storage ShedsLow to Medium36-101 sq ftNo– Accommodates large items like outdoor sofas and table sets-beautifully crafted design to compliment your outdoor living space- Waterproof and weather resistant-LockableUnder Deck Storage ShedsHigh36 sq ft and moreYes– Customizable size, material, and structure- Frees up yard and patio space- Weather resistant- LockableGardening Tool Storage ShedsLow to Medium36-101 sq ftNo– Lodges small essential tools and large equipment- Functional capacity- Waterproof and weather resistant- Lockable- Shelving options availableVertical Storage ShedsLow36 sq ft or lessNo– Houses tall equipment and long-handled tools- Practical design- Waterproof and weather resistant- Lockable

Shed Sizes

Depending on how much stuff you plan to put into your shed combined with a set amount of space to save for future items will govern how big your shed needs to be.

Small Outdoor Storage Sheds

These sheds are 36 square feet or less, which is roughly the size of a small walk in-closet making them ideal for housing small gardening tools, insecticides and herbicides, hand tools, lawn care supplies, shovels, rakes, and power tools.

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Medium Outdoor Storage Sheds

These sheds range from 36 square feet to 101 square feet—perfect for mid-sized to larger lawn equipment including push lawn mowers, snow blowers, and more.

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Large Outdoor Storage Sheds

These sheds come in sizes that are 101 square feet or bigger and accommodate a wide variety of bigger items including riding lawn mowers and farm implements. They can also be transformed into a dedicated shop site for in-home carpentry projects or even be made as a work from home office space if electrical and indoor heating is set up correctly.

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Shed Construction & Material

Some of the most important questions you’ll want to ask yourself before buying a shed are:

“Does my neighborhood have building code requirements to abide by?”
“What material and design will compliment my house?”
“What material will be well suited for the climate I live in year-round?”

When it comes to choosing the main materials for your shed, there are pros and cons to each. In addition to aesthetic appeal, you’ll want to think about how much effort you’re willing to put into the initial installation and ongoing maintenance.

Plastic, Resin, & Vinyl Outdoor Storage Sheds

Plastic sheds, also referred to as synthetic resin or vinyl sheds, are typically highly resistant to moisture-related agents like mold and are also less prone to rust or insect damage—making them ideal for more humid climates. These vinyl backyard structures are the perfect inexpensive option for any homeowner who plans to move their shed to more than one location due to their lightweight and easy transferability.

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Metal Outdoor Storage Sheds

Metal provides a strong structure and has the power to resist extreme temperatures making it a solid contender for long-lasting protection for all of your outdoor goods. The sturdy steel that undergoes a galvanization process to shield it from corrosion and rust combined with the power of a layer of highly durable Valspar polyester paint finish withstands any natural element thrown its way.

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Wooden Outdoor Storage Sheds

Wood is a natural insulator and depending on whether or not quality wood is used, this can lend itself well to homeowners looking to create not only an additional storage place, but an additional working space as well. Wood is also a little more environmentally friendly than its resin or metal counterparts.

Fleet Farm does not carry wood storage shed kits but has all of the resources you need to DIY your own shed along with instructions for how to build it efficiently, using the right tools, and in a way that allows you to customize the look and feel to compliment your home. This gives you full creative control over the size, assembly time, and design.

Shed Built-In Features

Adding utility to and enhancing the appearance of your shed is easy and can be done using the same methods you’d use on your home.

Insulation – all outdoor storage sheds sold at Fleet Farm come fully weather-tight and equipped to protect stored items from damage caused by colder temperatures.
Roofing – all shed roofing at Fleet Farm is crack-resistant and strong, making them built to last against high winds and heavy rain.
Flooring – all shed flooring at Fleet Farm has been manufactured by premiere brands that pay precise attention to maintaining the structural integrity of the shed with a foundational, sturdy floor that allows for easy accessibility for heavier wheeled items like lawn mowers, wheel burrows, golf carts, snow mobiles, and ATVs.

Add-On Ideas

Consider making the use of your space even more efficient (and appealing) through these add-on features:

Indoor shelving – Adding ready-made or building custom shelving for your storage shed will free up floor space for weightier items and ensure optimal square footage use.
Landscaping – Adding flowers around your shed provides a little more character but can repel insects and prevent infestation with specific strains including marigolds to ward off aphids (by attracting ladybugs), chrysanthemums to keep the ticks and Japanese beetles away, and lavender to hinder intrusion from mosquitoes, flies, and moths.

Tips for How to Organize a Storage Shed

Every item that you plan to use fairly frequently in your storage shed should be easily visible to the naked eye so leveraging an open shelving concept is key for maximum accessibility.

Hang a pegboard for hand tool storage
Hang mason jars to keep your fasteners organized (nails, screws, and washers) and for easy reach
Use clear, lidded boxes to contain toxic chemicals like herbicides and pesticides. Place these high up on shelving if possible to keep out of reach of children and pets.

Other Indoor Organizers for Outdoor Equipment

As mentioned above, there are alternative ways to create additional space inside your home if an outdoor storage shed is out of the question. DIY shelving can be built to custom fit the garage or basement—just make sure that if you do so, your goal is to keep a lot of items off the ground—overhead space should be maximized. In addition to this, sticking to an open-shelving concept as opposed to installing closed cabinets typically helps with easier accessibility.