A man’s shed is his castle

Every man needs a backyard shed - a place to hang his hat, store his home brew and sharpen his tools. Most women probably need one too – to hang hats and tools or just get away from it all.

The garden shed need no longer be the ramshackle lean-to up against the fence and whether it is a yurt, gazebo or regular colorbond model, it can add to the value of your home if done well.

If you don’t already have a shed and are thinking about putting one up, you may need council approval, so it’s probably a good idea to check out the regulations before you start building, just in case.

Next thing to decide is where to place it. A flat space is best, to minimise preparation. Good drainage is also important. If the area where the shed is located is likely to be affected by storm runoff or damp ground, the floor should be raised above ground level or placed on a concrete slab.

Take into account the purpose of the shed – if you are going to use it to propagate plants, for instance, it will need sunshine and warmth coming in at least part of each day, so sticking it up the back where the grass doesn’t grow will just not work.

Now for the fun part – what sort of shed to build? There are quite a lot of pre-fabricated or do-it-yourself models on the market now – made from galvanised steel, wood and vinyl, they range from the practical and downright ugly to quite attractive models.

DIY sheds are a popular choice and are available from most home renovation centres. If you’re not particularly handy when it comes to construction, retailers can generally offer professional installation or refer you to a local builder.

When deciding on the size of the shed, it is recommended that you aim for 10 to 20 per cent larger than your current needs dictate – once the shed is there, you will always find something extra to put in it. It can be worth considering a model with a greater wall height if you plan to use the shed as a workshop, not just for storage, to allow you room to move freely around inside.

Natural light and ventilation can be important features if you plan to spend more than brief trips in and out, so consider adding windows, skylights or translucent roofing panels, keeping in mind security – if you’re storing expensive or valuable items inside, make sure all windows and doors are lockable.

Finally, just in case your perfect shed ends up actually looking like something of an eyesore in the garden, take a few extra hours to erect a trellis in front of it, then plant some climbing roses, grapes or passionfruit to provide cover.