Shed size

[JT76]

Earlier this year we moved and now have room to put up a shed in the back yard. Just asking for advise for those who have built one and thought it was too small or big etc. Also want to future proof ourselves in case we upsize the van years down the track as seem to be a common occurrence with van owners.

I was originally thinking 12m x 9m with 3.6 m doors x 3. After measuring our van and boat parked together I'm now thinking I only need 9m x 9m and maybe door height of around 3.3m. We have a 14.44 and 19ft boat. I think they are roughly 7m long incl draw bar. Also will have my dads motor home in it which is around 8 m long. The shed will be for storage only so no workshop probably won't even run power to it as it will be a fair way from house.

Is 9m deep enough for most vans if we do upsize sometime down the track, have no plans upsizing now but who knows what will happen 10 years down the track. I prefer to keep size down as it will keep cost down and not intrude into the yard too much, but also don't want to go too small too. Any thoughts?

 

[bigcol]

go for the biggest shed you can afford

you will ALWAYS fill it up

I built a 30' x 30' shed years ago (2 x 8' roller doors at the front), took about 6 months, and you couldn't fit even a lawn mower in there (3 cars and several lounges) should have gone bigger to start with

if room is no problem
if coin is not a problem

go the biggest you can afford

 

[JT76]

Thanks @bigcol I kind of agree with the idea you cant go too big but just want to be practical too. Plus after moving there is not much $$$ left over. The house already has a large garage attached which is 13m x 7m. So that fits the cars and extra stuff for storage. This shed was more a home for boat, van and motor home and not much else. Have a little 7x5 trailer but didnt want to go 4 bays so it will live outside.

Having said the above I would be kicking myself if down the track an extra meter here or there would have been a wise choice. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Smergen]

Whilst not going into required dimensions too much I only offer these bits of advice:

1. I've never heard anyone go "geez, my shed is too big" or "I've got too much storage space in here". Just sayin'.
2. I'd certainly think about running power to it. You mightn't think you need it but the availability of power for lights, plugging van in for prep, future upgrades not to mention resale value I think would warrant the cost. It might be storage for you, but potential workshed for someone else.
3. My shed is big enough for our van but the roller door isn't high enough (not my design). Always go the biggest door your shed will fit. I would grab the specs of a good off-road van (any brand not Jayco), add a foot at least and there's the height I'd start with.

 

[DRW]

a 19'6 van with standard draw bar fits into a 9 metre shed......just, 3.2 metres high should suit almost all vans on the market, now about the boat, man do the grow in length over the years so be careful

 

[bigcol]

I've never heard anyone go "geez, my shed is too big" or "I've got too much storage space in here". Just sayin'.

funny, I've never heard anyone say that either....................

usually the other way around

 

[Drover]

12 x 9 minimum, you will then be able to fit your van and boat in as well as some other gear, any smaller you won't be able to move, if you think you will end up with a bigger van then build your shed so it can be extended without having to rebuild, so setting the roof the right way is a must, doors no smaller than 3.3 or you will regret it............. the biggest you can afford is always the best starting point because if you say they should fit nicely then it will be too small.
Big Mal is 8.5m and not a lot of room left on a 9x3 slab to walk around .

 

[Dobbie]

Go for the biggest you can....you can always add a tv and a couch and a beer fridge and a......etc

Ours is huge...not sure of dimensions but we can fit six cars in it....but over 20 years it gradually got filled with the leftovers of many lives. Up till the end of last year it was full! It's now cleaned out....partially...but still contains far too much.

Despite its size, we put another shed in front of it for the van.....because we couldn't fit it in the first one so obviously, the door size for getting the van in, is critical. Our doors weren't large enough, hence the second shed.

It's never ending.

If you go for a larger shed, I'd suggest you add some some good storage units to keep a lot of life's necessities where you can actually find them. They're good for storing camping gear if you need an excuse.

 

[BaxnRach]

I've just bought a shed from Best Sheds, 12x7.5. X 3.6h
Only needed 9x7.5 but this size was custom as opposed to a standard kit, cost difference was $100 extra for the 12, so a no brainer.
As mentioned above. I'll fill it with something, my 12x6 that I built 18yrs ago is too narrow and too low so is more of a kids playroom, and general storage for my work equipment.
Bloody 20/20 hindsight.

 

[Drover]

The thing many make the mistake with is you need a shed that with the boat, van and mower etc inside you can move around, there is nothing more annoying than banging the said boat or van with a chair or some other bit of gear or having to move one out because you want to work on the other, 6ft between them and the wall and each other is really needed for sanity.

Eg: Park van in shed then after unhooking remember you didn't dump the dunny, because you skimped you can't get the cassette out because the wall/bench/boat is in the way........................not me, but true story. Like a 2 car garage, if you can't park 2 Patrols inside with the doors open, then it's not a 2 car garage.........................

 

[JT76]

Thanks everyone, did some shopping around today and quotes vary quite a bit. Just having 3 x 3.6 m doors adds $$. Can't fit 3 doors in a shed much smaller then 10.5 or 11m wide so I will need to at least go that size. Power will probably get added down the track the more I think about it.

Got a few more quotes coming in on Monday so I'll see how far I can stretch my dollar.

 

[JT76]

Like a 2 car garage, if you can't park 2 Patrols inside with the doors open, then it's not a 2 car garage........

Yes our 3 car garage is 13 m wide so more then double our old double 6m wide garage at the old house. The difference is before I had to fold the mirrors in on wife's Territory to get my door open enough. Now we can park side by side open both doors fully at the same time and still have 200mm clearance. So I do get what you mean and maybe I'll go a little wider keeping that in mind.

If I sell the van and boat I'll have enough money to build a monster shed. Just won't have anything to put in it.

 

[Dobbie]

Ha ha! I can agree with that.

We once had a garage sale to make enough money to build the garage....many years ago

As said, the more space you have the more you fill.

 

[Bushman]

I just wish I had a shed
But I reckon 9 metres in length would be a minimum, our van is 8.1 hitch to spare wheel, 3.5 door height would want to be minimum.
Just remember if the approaches to the doors aren't level the van/motorhome will kick up/down in rear depending on which way the slope is.

 

[JT76]

@Bushman Good point re door height. Once you go past 3 m the price jumps a bit, I was thinking 3.3 or 3.6 might go with 3.6 m just to be sure.

 

[Drover]

My 9x6 was built with the idea of possibly fitting Big Mal inside but when I thought about some work benches, shelves etc, Big Mal has it's own 9x3m slab next to shed , will get a roof soon, council wanted a $500 bribe to relax regs to increase shed roof area from 54sqm to 64sqm, not on, will do it later.
Only a 3m door due to jump in price but I thought I would just lift the door up and fit an extension panel on the bottom but really need a 15 x 15 shed not a hope on this little block of dirt, just another compromise moving to a place the size of the old horse yard................on the road heaps now so academic besides would have to move van/boat each time I get spray gun or welder out..................

 

[MDS69]

A mate just built a 480m2 shed on his property in Sydney. We could hold a forum gathering there I think with everyone's vans undercover

 

[pauljygrant]

We built our shed when we had a Swan but sized to accommodate a future Expanda.
Then bought a Basestation that just fits but can't get the back door open for loading. Either extend the shed or fit another roller door in the rear of the shed......

 

[Dobbie]

I know we enquired years ago about getting the door size changed and were amazed at what was involved and the cost. Almost as much as a new shed...they would have had to strengthen so much to do it.

We gave up and put in another shed for the van.. ..it was easier.

 

[mfexpanda]

a 19'6 van with standard draw bar fits into a 9 metre shed......just, 3.2 metres high should suit almost all vans on the market, now about the boat, man do the grow in length over the years so be careful

We went 3.6m high 9x6m and I'm making it 9x9 in the future . As said the bigger the better