Cape Style Shed Design

Coordinating a shed design with the style of the main house is a simple step that brings many benefits. When you add a shed to the yard, it's more than just about adding utility. Aesthetics should never be discounted. By making the effort to find the right shed design, you'll ensure a smile each time you look out the yard for years to come. A beautiful, well-integrated shed design adds perceived value, whether it's a prefab or build from a set of shed plans . Conversely, a haphazardly conceived shed can wreak havoc with your home's curb appeal.

Patricia wrote ...

We have a Cape Style house and are trying to find a kit or plans to build either a 10x12 or 10x14 shed with siding and roof shingles to match our house, we also want to put a garage door on one end. Looking at what's available already built we're looking at close to $5,000 without leveling ground or stone.

For this application, I'd favor a tall gable shed design, with the garage door on the 10-foot side. This will allow the big door ample height, along with plenty of room up in the rafters for a storage loft. Go for the larger 10x14 shed ... you'll never regret having the extra space. A backyard shed is a catch-all ... it's always only a matter of time until you fill it up.

For a prefab shed with these specs, $5,000 might not be all that outrageous, depending on your geographic location. Of course, if you have the prerequisites - skill, time, and tools to built it yourself - you could save a considerable amount cash.

Finding a prefab shed on the lot with your siding and roof shingles might be a real trick. A good many dealers will want to sell you what they already have in stock, rather than have a new shed built and shipped. If you can find a prefab shed that has matching siding but not roof shingles you might consider asking if they'd throw a layer of shingles onto the roof to match your house. That may be a relatively fast and inexpensive option, and a win-win ... the dealer moves a shed off their lot and you get your match.