The size of quantity of sheds may depend on the size of your property and uses.

We’ve all heard about blokes and their sheds. And we all know that virtually every property from the pint-size urban townhouse to large working farms just can’t do without one and sometimes need several.

While city slickers may require a shed for a few power tools, sports equipment and the lawnmower, down on the farm sheds and out-buildings cater for many different needs, and as such, can vary in size and purpose.

Whether one is talking tool shed, pump shed, wool shed or milking shed deciding on what is needed and where it should go takes planning, just like everything else on a farm or sizeable acreage.

When seeking the right site remember to take into account ease of access from drives and races, water and electricity requirements for the shed, height allowances – consider the size of your tractor and other large farm equipment – and distance from the main house or those specific jobs for which the shed and its contents are intended.

Also ensure the legal description and/or the aerial photograph of your property have been checked so that any extra buildings are legal. Check if council permits and consents are required too.

The greater the distance from the road or main house, the more expensive and difficult it will be to add electricity and possibly water so be sure to factor both these important elements into outbuilding plans. 

While you won’t want an implement shed or a tractor shed right on the road side with no view from the house or no form of alert, at the same time you won’t want it down the other end of the farm in splendid isolation.

Just because you’re in the country doesn’t mean home and contents are safe – consider an alarm for sheds, barns and garages and if these are already in place, make sure you have an annual check in summer when the weather won’t hamper repair or maintenance work.

If the shed is for storing stock food, factor in secure and weather-proof storage and once again be aware of the distance from the animals such a storehouse will cater for.

If the shed will actually house animals too remember to take into account adequate ventilation and insulation.

A light steel frame construction is appropriate for most types of farm buildings and there are many companies locally which can offer advice on size, construction and costs.

In some cases an able handy-person may be able to construct his or her own shed, but the bigger and more complicated the job, the harder and costlier it may be.

Generally, it is best to order a shed from an industry-experienced company which offers warranties and guarantees.