Posted on February 11, 2009 - by DIY Dave

Sheds

In the US, outbuildings or outhouses with an area that is less than 200 square meters could be called sheds. All sheds must have zoning approvals. A shed that has an area of more than 100 square meters must have building permits too. The four corners of a shed that has an area of less than 100 square meters must have anchors, while those that have an area more than 100 square meters should have four inches of foundation made of gravel, aside from the anchors.

A shed could be made of metal, bricks, or wood. While sheds are personal structures, they have evolved into architectural forms. Some types of sheds have attractive roofing styles such as gable or gambrel. Depending on the structure, it may be a lean-to or it could be a saltbox potting kind.

The different kinds of sheds

Here are some types of sheds with corresponding descriptions:

Greenhouse sheds:

Greenhouses are actually a type of shed, although some would not categorize them as sheds. However, a greenhouse is usually put up in exactly the same manner as a shed, with one difference. The walls are of transparent glass that would make sure that the greenhouse remains hot inside.

Garden sheds:

These sheds are those with a simple wood finish, with areas that are blocked off so that the owners could use it as a potting bench or even as storage for tools and other items.

Gable sheds: Gable sheds are basically for storage purposes. They are simple and quite cheap to put up.

Multi-purpose sheds:

Multi-purpose sheds could have many sections, and an example is the 2-in-1 extension shed. A normal section could be for purposes of storage, while the open section could be utilized for firewood keeping.

Putter sheds:

Putter sheds are erected on an area meant for additional storage space. It is a kind of shed that’s unattached to the house or garden, but is simply erected out in the open.

Drive-thru sheds:

This type of sheds are built for a particular type of vehicle, usually a lawnmower. A drive-thru shed must be large enough so that the vehicle, when driven, would not bump into the other fixtures and items placed inside the shed.

Barn-style sheds:

These are sheds of long ago, but they are still being used today. There are barns used for keeping in livestock or for storage of crops from the farm.

Other types of sheds:

Children’s sheds could hold toys or sports equipment. A garage could also be categorized as a shed. Pool houses and boathouses are also among the other types of sheds.