Turn Your Shed Into A Workshop

It sounds incredibly obvious, but your garden shed is an extra space which you can use for pretty much anything. Here are some pointers as to turning it into a workshop; ideal for any weather.

Plan

This is common sense, but 30 minutes doing a bird’s eye plan on a sheet of A4 could save you hours of head scratching later on. If it’s just shelving, that’s one thing, but if you want to move a desk into the shed, a workbench and a bookcase, then you’ll need to do some handy measurements and decide where things are going to go. There’s also the possibility of wiring and connecting up with shed to the electric and wi-fi. Again, that will need a certain amount of planning and expertise. These days, it’s fairly easy to search online for helpful videos and get useful how-to advice from a variety of experts in the trade.

Energize

Depending in which climate you live and how long your summers are, most workshops will need some power, most likely in the form of electricity. An external power generator can be purchased but can be quite pricey. Hiring a professionally qualified electrician is a worthwhile investment. He or she will be able to safely and legally wire up your shed to the mains in your house, usually by threading wiring via some sort of tunnel or trench. You might, however, opt for a portable generator or battery-operated source, and most larger hardware stories will be able to advise you on how to best to do this, and what capacity you’ll need.

Lighting

Florescent lighting is certainly energy efficient and will light the whole space efficiently. It is a little ugly, though, and you might decide that halogen spotlights are more your thing. They can be swiveled to focus on particular areas and are pretty powerful on those dark November evenings. Lamps have the advantage of being placed in different locations within the shed; however, they take up more space and so it depends how large your shed is. LED outdoor string lighting is inexpensive and useful if you’re going to be doing a lot of practical work. You may even want to install a skylight, to allow natural light in if you intend to be there on weekends or throughout the week.

Heating

Insulating your shed is the only way to keep it warm in all weathers. You’ll need some wood strips and cheap boarding, as well as fiberglass rolls; however, once you’ve watched a brief online tutorial and hammered in a few panels you’ll find it’s a doable DIY task. Tube heaters are also a possibility; simply plug into wall sockets. If your workshop is fairly small then a portable heater or two may do the trick. A local electrician might be skilled enough to install electric radiators. If so, then this is the premium, top notch way to ensure you’re warm, all year round. A plumber can help, if your electrician can’t.

Flooring

Aside from desks, chairs and other décor, flooring is the last element in turning your shed into a comfortable workspace. You can choose from cork, tile, carpet and other surfaces, with a stylish rug for extra warmth and homeliness. The principle isn’t that different from affixing a carpet in your main house; however, you’ll need to ensure that the shed floor is raised enough so that there’s no chance of mold or damp developing, wrecking all your hard work.

Remember, it’s far cheaper than getting an actual house extension or attic conversion. It’s more personal and private, too.