Most gardens will contain at least one building or similar structure, perhaps to store tools or a lawn mower in, or as an outdoor living area. There are lots uses for buildings in a garden, some very practical, and others not so practical. In the same way that a cubby house provides a child with a place of their own, a workshop, greenhouse or summerhouse can provide an adult with a place to escape the stresses of daily life. Such a structure may also provide protection for you, your plants, or even your animals, from extremes of weather. Some, such as pergolas or gazebos, may even improve the appearance of your garden, perhaps by creating an attractive focal point.

 

You will often decide on establishing a garden building or structure on the spur of the moment, because you see a need for it at the time. Garden buildings are usually permanent and expensive structures though, so think carefully about whether you will still want it in five years time, and if the way you will use it might change, and not just where is the best place to build it now, but where will be the best place to have it in the future. Consider what future changes you may need to make to your property, for example extensions to your house or building a garage. Do you plan to have children and therefore may need an open play area sometime in the near future? Are you likely to need to build a separate dwelling such as a granny flat, in your backyard? Will future access to the garden building be affected? A little forethought in where you site your garden buildings can often save a lot of headaches later on.

 

 

INDOOR/OUTDOOR BUILDINGS

Some garden buildings are designed to provide complete protection from the outside environment, in effect providing an environment apart from the garden, but situated in the garden. Other buildings are designed to bring the garden indoors or bring the indoors into the garden.

 

In cold weather, it's a wonderful feeling to sit inside a heated house beside a large window where you can appreciate the atmosphere of the outdoors, without having your body suffering from the cold outside. Similarly in hot weather, it's great to be able to sit in the comfort of a cool room, or at least under the shade of a roof, while still retaining a feeling of being outside, amongst the garden.

This feeling is best achieved by either a garden room or summer house (eg. A completely enclosed gazebo like structure, with plenty of windows), or a verandah or pergola which has had glass walls built in.

 

 

BUILDINGS FOR KIDS

Children generally love to have a place of their own, somewhere where they can arrange the furniture themselves, paint the walls, pin up posters and be alone, or be with friends their own age.

A cubby or playhouse in the backyard will likely be used more than any piece of play equipment you could ever buy. It offers more play possibilities than a swing, slide and sand pit all put together, and it is able to be used by all ages of children, from toddlers to teenagers. A well built cubby can be used as a sleep-out if the kids feel adventurous during warm weather, and then when the kids finally leave home, it can be a great storage room.

 

Cubbies may attract various pests such as mice, cockroaches, and even snakes if left unattended for long periods or if food is left lying about. If you've been away on holidays it's always a good idea for an adult to check out the cubby before letting the children in. Cubbies come in all shapes and forms, ranging from those made of used timber to fully constructed kits made of pine logs, to modified garden shed designs. The type is only limited by your imagination and budget.

 

 

BUILDINGS FOR STORAGE

 

Buildings used for storage should be well constructed, and capable of providing suitable protection to the goods being stored. The degree of protection will depend on the type of goods being stored. For example furniture, clothing and electrical tools may require a greater degree of protection than say outdoor gardening machinery. The building should also provide suitable security against burglars, curious children or animals. Cheap storage sheds are available from around $200. Better quality sheds may cost considerably more. Consider the following:

 

*Metal sheds in kit form are usually the cheapest. Some come with each side and roof section already together, and only 6 or 7 pieces to join together so assembly is very easy. Others come broken down into dozens of pieces of framework and panelling, making the assembly job a more tedious process (perhaps a days work). Metal sheds may rust more readily in seaside areas. Galvanised sheeting is your best option. Metal sheds can be very hot in summer and very cold in winter.

 

*Brick or timber sheds are better insulated, and are usually longer lasting, but can be expensive to build. Some timbers require more regular protective treatments (eg: preservative paints) than do brick or metal sheds.

 

*Materials such as fibro cement or hardiplank are easy to work with and can be a relatively cost effective way of building a shed. They are better insulated than metal sheet.

 

*Lean to's can be built very easily and cheaply, up against an existing wall or fence. Council permits may sometimes be required.

 

*Under the house is a common storage area. This can be a valuable use of otherwise wasted space. Access may often be a problem, particularly for houses with only a low gap between the floor and the ground surface. Generally houses on moderate to steeply sloping sites have more space available, and in particular more head height. In some cases excavation can be carried out to increase the space available, however this should be avoided, unless you consult someone with expertise(such as a builder), to prevent damage to the house and it's supports. Attention should be made to ensure there is adequate drainage, as areas under houses are often very damp. Goods should ideally be stored above ground to help improve aeration and reduce problems associated with damp. Pests may also be a problem, in particular rats, mice, possums, and domestic animals. Make sure these are denied access to the storage area and/or that suitable baits/traps are placed to get rid of any unwanted guests.

 

 

BUILDINGS TO WORK OR PLAY

Big boys and girls play with big (and often very expensive) toys, and there's nothing better than a large garage or shed to play in. If you like to make or repair things (eg. machines, furniture, crafts), your priority may be a place to do these things in. Buildings, such as sheds or outdoor rooms, can be purchased specifically for such a purpose, or you may decide to modify an existing building or structure. Think carefully about what you need:

 

* Make sure you have appropriate access. You can you get machines or other goods to (and into) the

  building?

* Is there adequate light. Will you put in a skylight, more windows, or an electric light?

* Do you need heating (eg. pot belly stove, gas heater).

* Is there adequate ventilation in hot weather? You want at least one opening window and one door,

  preferably more in case of problems (ie: fire), and when using chemicals (e.g. varnish, paints,

  petroleum products).

* If you have a larger garage than what you need for your vehicles, this may be sufficient.

* You may be able to fairly simply enclose part or all of an existing car port or pergola.

* You be able to build onto or extend an existing building (eg. knock the wall out of the garage and

  extend it for extra workshop space, or

by enclosing a veranda).

 

 

ALTERNATIVES FOR ROOFS AND WALLS

Your choice of material for walls and roofing will make a lot of difference to the way you can use a structure, the amount of maintenance you will have to do, how long the structure will last, how it looks, and how much it costs. Consider the following:

*Insulation

 Some materials keep the cold and heat out, others don't.

*Light penetration

 If you're going to work inside or grow plants inside, you will need a certain level of light. This means

 windows or some sort of light transmitting material such as shade cloth, fibreglass or PVC are

 preferable for at least part of the roof or wall.

*Ventilation

 Air needs to be able to move through the structure to both keep it cool inside, and to reduce humidity

 which can cause mould on walls and roofs, or diseases in plants.

*Cost

 Cheaper materials may be adequate in the short term, but normally have disadvantages in the long

 term, particularly with  regard to maintenance requirements.

*Strength and Durability

 Both the type of material you use and the size (eg. thickness) can affect the strength and lifespan.

 Not all types of woods or plastics are the same. Some timbers will last a lifetime, without any

 treatment, while others need preservatives to protect them against rot. Some metals will corrode.

 PVC plastics which are UV stabilized will last much longer than non UV stabilized PVC surfacing

 materials..

*Attaching things to the wall.

 Timber walls are simple to attach shelves to, but metal walls may be more difficult requiring either a

 pop rivet gun or welding equipment. Some walling materials (eg. thin metal) may not have the

 strength to support heavy shelves, other materials are stronger. If you want to stick posters to a wall,

 they will adhere to some surfaces better than others.

 

TYPES OF MATERIALS TO USE INCLUDE:

Glass use to be a popular material for constructing  greenhouses but due to the high initial cost, people are tending to use PVC or fibreglass materials now. Broken glass can also be a safety problem, particularly after a storm, or as a result of household accidents. Glass is still widely used due to it's advantages with regard to security and appearance. The choice of glass and type of selection has improved. It is possible to obtain either single or double glazing glass, and laminated safety glass which is vital where children or elderly people are concerned.

 

PVC is used extensively in greenhouses and on pergola rooves. The PVC can be attached by the handyperson without requiring additional tools and can be lifted safely by two people to the position required or by one strong person. PVC sheeting comes in a variety of styles, shapes and colour. It is more flexible than glass, and can often be bent to shape depending on it's thickness. It is generally much cheaper than glass, but will not last as long. It will not shatter like glass. 

 

Fibreglass sheeting is fairly popular as a cladding or roofing material. The quality of the fibreglass has the most effect on it's usefulness. Poor quality fibreglass detoriates quickly and dust and dirt accumulates in the fibres therefore reducing the level of light shining through. Moulds and algae readily grow on this material asit breaks down. UV treated fibreglass will last much longer. PVC and other plastics have to a large degree replaced fibreglass as a cladding material.

 

Timber is used extensively due to is availability, ease of working with the material, and the numerous options available. Timber has good insulation properties and can be very durable if looked after properly. It can also be very attractive, and help keep a more natural appearance to your structure or building. Timber can be purchased cut to size required, treated or untreated, grade factor required (structural strength), and in various types and appearances (e.g. oregon, treated pine, red cedar).

 

Timber can be dressed (eg: sanded or plained) or undressed to suit your requirements. The same principles apply to lattice.

 

Metal is extremely useful to construct the frame for your building due to its strength. Metal frames and support are important in areas prone to white ant attack and severe weather conditions. Metal sheeting, in particular galvanised iron, is very popular for cladding on sheds and garages. It is fairly durable, comes in a variety of sizes, is fairly easily attached, and is relatively inexpensive. The availability of weather resistant, attractively coloured metal sheeting that is often moulded to shape (eg: curved veranda roofing), such as the colourbond range of materials has improved the strength, appearance and variety of pergolgas, aviaries, cubbyhouses and storage sheds that are available.

 

More Information

 

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