What do you want in your garden shed?
What kind of garden shed are you considering? Prefabricated or frame construction may depend on how big your shed will be? When it is completed, what kind of exterior do you want? What kind of exterior will go over best in your neighborhood?
One choice is custom built, and with this option, you can ensure that the shed is sufficiently insulated to protect the contents from the worst of the temperature variations of your climate, and you can have the exterior match that of your house. Out buildings with the same exterior treatment look better than those with completely different exteriors. Unless you plan to change the exterior of your house in the future and want to preview the new one on smaller scale first. That could save you considerable angst if the exterior you were planning on turns out less than attractive. Better to try it out on the garden shed out back before you become the talk of the neighborhood.
If you buy a prefabricated shed, the exterior and or floor will be limited by the shed manufacturer. Many have sheds with a vinyl siding look, which is time tested and usually fairly neutral. They may have the red barn look available, but think twice about this one. It may be cure for a few days, but, remember, you are going to have to look at it for a long time. Even though you can paint it, the best exterior is the exterior that requires no care. Unless you find painting a relaxing past-time.
With a prefabricated garden shed, you need to determine if it has the capability for electricity to be installed, and whether windows are possible. You may have options for the shed to have insulation as part of the building. Insulation is a good thing, and I cannot think of a reason to not get it. It will keep the building a little warmer than the outdoors in winter, and a little cooler than otherwise in the direct sun of summer. The only possible consideration for not getting an insulated shed is the edibility of the insulation (blown newspaper) or as homes for pests (rodents). But pests are going to be a problem anyway, so no insulation will not help with that.
So, with considerations about the legal requirements of your community and the size needed, you now have a preliminary idea of the building method and exterior styles you are looking for. But there are a few other decisions to make before you get into the car to go shopping: the features of the interior you need or would like to have, like the floor, electricity or windows.
See this checklist for all the things you may have to consider before putting up a garden shed.
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