Mower, yard tools and trash can storage

[GirlnAgarage]

The garage makeover is growing many branches. For what we want we'll need an outdoor shed for the lawnmower, weedeater, tools etc. Did you go for a shed that is your house's Minime? Or did you go easy and simple. I don't plan to pour concrete or anything. I can build a good wood frame base on blocks. I do have to consider water washing down as the house & backyard is below road level.

Trash cans & recycling - while I like them in the garage for easy access, I hate they're in the garage taking up space. Any creative space saving ideas?

 

[kbs2244]

I have the trash cans moved on a seasonal basis.
During the winter it is in the attached garage just for convince and the fact that it is cold enough to not smell.
In the summer it goes outside to give me a bit more room.

The snow blower and table saw are on casters and trade places in a back corner seasonally.
(The lawnmower is a tractor that lives under the pool deck year around.)

 

[bazzateer]

The garage makeover is growing many branches. For what we want we'll need an outdoor shed for the lawnmower, weedeater, tools etc. Did you go for a shed that is your house's Minime? Or did you go easy and simple. I don't plan to pour concrete or anything. I can build a good wood frame base on blocks. I do have to consider water washing down as the house & backyard is below road level.

Trash cans & recycling - while I like them in the garage for easy access, I hate they're in the garage taking up space. Any creative space saving ideas?

Look at Jack Olsen's thread, he built some cool sheds for his garden stuff and trash cans.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32636

 

[Jack Olsen]

Does "Minime" mean a smaller version of the same style of structure?

Here's my shed. As you can see, there's not a whole lot of room on my property. And normally, the green lawn-clipping can doesn't go there. The overhang is for bicycles. But it looked cool for the picture.

I'm not any kind of a designer. I used some plates that were sitting on the kitchen table to come up with the barrel-arch style rooflines. In retrospect, I could have made the design more cohesive if the ends of the arches were all on the same horizontal plane. Or if I'd gone with three identical arches instead of two different diameters.

But let's keep things in perspective: it's a shed.

One thing that is hard to see on mine is that I put spacers between the concrete and the structure sitting on top of it so that the wood would not be able to absorb standing water.

I think the biggest consideration with a shed is going to be ease of use. Especially with lawn equipment, you want the access to be easy -- which means big doors.

Also, bazzateer's link is to the old thread on my garage. The newer one, which is unwieldy and unorganized, but more up-to-date, is here.

 

[bazzateer]

Also, bazzateer's link is to the old thread.

Ooops, sorry!

 

[5lima30]

I have a 9'x12' shed that is at the end of my carport. It houses a push lawnmower, weed trimmer, tiller, chainsaws, gas cans, etc. My garden is on the lower part of my property (I live in the mountains) and my garage is near the garden. I didn't want to clutter up the garage with rakes shovels etc. So I built a small "outhouse" that is next to the garden. It works great and is convienient.

 

[texasguy]

I have a separate 20x40 for the dirty stuff - tractors, 3 points, mowers, etc. Similar to what you are proposing - gravel floor but tight enough to limit weather exposure . Even dirty stuff needs love.

I have found that having separate quarters is about the only way to keep a clean garage/shop.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Thanks for the ideas yall


An additional barn unit would be awesome, but gotta keep this one to scale. We're living in the city on .33ac so not a whole lot of room. It's our "starter home". I thought about adding a carport on the garage side but it'll involve pouring cement and it's a tight fit to get my truck into anyway.


5lima30, that outhouse is awesome! My husband would not let me put that up though. LOL

Jack, "Minime" I was thinking those real swanky shed units, with rafters and paint and windows. I didn't want to get too far to that. Just something simple. My neighbor did some lean-to type things in the corners of his yard and used fence panels as the walls. He did pour concrete though. One is for his motor home stuff. The other for yard stuff. I think he put another one up but his wife said she doesn't even know if he had anymore stuff to put in it. Maybe I'll have him build mine Good point about making the doors big enough.


The main equipment I'll have is a push mower, weed eater, rakes, shovels, two ladders. Our yard is kind of hilly and dramatic but there is one section of yard that has the entire south face of the house to play with. Plus that side has the privacy fence and no gate access so it's more private. Our neighbors can see that area from their loft.

 

[neverenoughtools]

I opted for a resin 6'x8' shed complete with composite floor on a compacted gravel base which I erected last spring. Lawnmower,snowblower, 2 stepladders,shovels&rakes as well as some smaller stuff.......it has 2 doors around 3' each that open up as needed.

 

[rickairmedic]

I have had a standard metal shed for years for the lawn tractor bicycles yard tools etc. The garbage totes go behind ( not inside ) the garage . I did buy a 28' cargo container last year to replace the aging metal shed .

Oh yeah the old shed cost me $50.00 plus a case of beer ( payment to my buddies for helping me load and unload it off my trailer) it had a full plywood floor and was on 4X4 skids.

Rick

 

[bczygan]

Does "Minime" mean a smaller version of the same style of structure?

Here's my shed. As you can see, there's not a whole lot of room on my property. And normally, the green lawn-clipping can doesn't go there. The overhang is for bicycles. But it looked cool for the picture.

I'm not any kind of a designer. I used some plates that were sitting on the kitchen table to come up with the barrel-arch style rooflines. In retrospect, I could have made the design more cohesive if the ends of the arches were all on the same horizontal plane. Or if I'd gone with three identical arches instead of two different diameters.

But let's keep things in perspective: it's a shed.

One thing that is hard to see on mine is that I put spacers between the concrete and the structure sitting on top of it so that the wood would not be able to absorb standing water.

I think the biggest consideration with a shed is going to be ease of use. Especially with lawn equipment, you want the access to be easy -- which means big doors.

Also, bazzateer's link is to the old thread on my garage. The newer one, which is unwieldy and unorganized, but more up-to-date, is here.

Jack,
I beg to differ. The asymmetrical design of your roofs is much more pleasing than 3 equal roof arcs would be. It is alive and flowing rather than static.

For the OP, first thing is to check your zoning regs. That will tell you IF you can add a structure, WHERE it can be located, HOW it may or must be constructed and WHAT permits and fees apply, if any. Check area and height restrictions, height definition, accessory, temporary and permanent building definitions, number of accessory buildings allowed, maximum lot coverage, maximum rear yard coverage, minimum distances from other buildings, setbacks, easements, foundation and tiedown requirements, HOA rules and deed restrictions....... And historic area designation rules!
Fun just for a shed, Eh?
A note: In tight city lots, sometimes codes and zoning allow you to build right to the lot line if you have fireproof construction. Sometimes this means just a masonry wall on the lot line, sometimes all fireproof construction for anything in the setback.

 

[Rockerbox1]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95946
here is one I just built for exactly that reason; lawn mowers, garden tools, misc BS that I don't want in my garage

 

[Lippyp]

I have a 9'x12' shed that is at the end of my carport. It houses a push lawnmower, weed trimmer, tiller, chainsaws, gas cans, etc. My garden is on the lower part of my property (I live in the mountains) and my garage is near the garden. I didn't want to clutter up the garage with rakes shovels etc. So I built a small "outhouse" that is next to the garden. It works great and is convienient.

Have you ever caught anyone taking a dump in your shed LOL Thats cool, would be nice to have next to the veg garden so I don't have to haul stuff around.

 

[MoonRise]

A +1000 on checking what the applicable rules-n-regs are. City/town, HOA, zoning, building, etc, etc, etc.

Better to find out what you 'can' do before you get all set and want something that is a NoGo.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

bczygan, smart suggestion. I have done that homework and we're good to go. No permit req'd for under 120sqft. Also no HOA to deal with.

I do have an in ground sprinkler system to work with though. Boy I hate that system. It really limits what I'm able to do around the yard. I've replaced pipes twice (On a different subject, it will have to be dealt with again on our property line when we move the fence over because the POs for whatever reason ran it all the way up to the neighbors foundation, 3' OVER the property line! )

 

[LocoCoco]

I've been doing some thinking on this too and have decided on a plastic shed mostly for the fact that they require zero maintenance and look like new after 10 years (they've really only been around for 10 years so that's the limit of the data).

Costco here sells 9'x10' "Lifetime" plastic sheds with windows, a floor, double doors on one end and a man door on the side, for under $1K. Easy to assemble, look good, will never rot, no shingles, no paint...

My $.02


LC.


EDIT: Here's one: http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product...g=en-CA&Sp=C&ec=BCCA-EC10467-Cat22894&topnav=

 

[JMURiz]

I did a small (6x5) shed in an odd spot between my a/c unit, fireplace, deck, and raised driveway. I kind of made it a mini version of the garage (same siding, materials and made a door to mimic the garage door style).

It's small, but fits all my stuff...and sometimes aesthetics win-out over a large structure.

 

[bazzateer]

I did a small (6x5) shed in an odd spot between my a/c unit, fireplace, deck, and raised driveway. I kind of made it a mini version of the garage (same siding, materials and made a door to mimic the garage door style).

It's small, but fits all my stuff...and sometimes aesthetics win-out over a large structure.

Nice bit of work!

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I did a small (6x5) shed in an odd spot between my a/c unit, fireplace, deck, and raised driveway. I kind of made it a mini version of the garage (same siding, materials and made a door to mimic the garage door style).

It's small, but fits all my stuff...and sometimes aesthetics win-out over a large structure.

Aww see, after I said no minimes, there's a nice example of something very doable without going over kill.



I guess I'll clarify that I do not want to go overkill on a in the yard detached structure. I like these that are right up on the house. I just went out and measured. Between the sprinkler system and dryer outlet, I've got space to work with under that 120sqft limit.

I took a handful of pictures of the area I'd like to keep the shed. Let me get those uploaded.