A wood shed is a small outbuilding primarily used to store firewood. Wood sheds can range in size from a small broom closet to a garage. Sometimes called a storage shed or garden shed, wood sheds can also be used to organize garden tools.
Early people developed wood sheds to protect dry firewood and kindling from wet weather. The basic design hasn’t changed much since the beginning — a functional wood shed always has a good roof, and the walls may be open for easy access to firewood, or closed to the elements. Depending on the homeowner’s desires, a wood shed can be placed near the home or in a remote corner of the yard. In the summer or fall, a homeowner can store a large pile of wood against the upcoming winter weather, and enjoy access to dry firewood throughout the season.
A wood shed is often a homemade structure with rugged log walls and a tarpaper roof. There is one type called a pole shed that is simply four poles and a roof. Some of the more elaborate wood shed designs look like small cottages, with a front porch, windows, coach lights, and dormers. A typical aluminum storage shed looks like a small barn with corrugated walls and two sliding doors in the front.
One of the great advantages to a wood shed is the extra storage available. Yard tools and outdoor machinery can be protected from the elements in a space that is separate from the garage or basement. For gardeners, a storage shed is the perfect place to keep bags of mulch, garden tools and plant pots. Garden sheds can also serve as greenhouses, with transparent or semi-opaque walls and roofs.
Wood sheds provide safe and dry storage space, and they make a great choice for organizing clutter and protecting precious belongings. Hobbyists and auto enthusiasts can find a lot to like about sheds, especially when the interior is large enough to step inside and work. A roomy backyard shed can be outfitted with shelves, cupboards, and racks to fit all kinds of tools and parts.
Shed kits are manufactured in several sizes and styles to suit specific functions. They are usually made of aluminum, wood or wood composite. The kits come with instructions and all the necessary parts and components, and they are relatively simple to build. Backyard shed kits are commonly sold at hardware stores, garden centers and lumber yards.