About this shed
This garden shed was built beside a new house on a hillside above the lake near Kelowna. It’s 8′ x 10′ (80 sq/ft), with light open-joint panel siding, a full-glass door and a row of clerestory windows under the roof. The photos follow the build from site prep to the finished shed.
Site prep on a hillside
The site was on a slope beside a new house that was still being built. A skid steer levelled the ground, and the shed was set on pier blocks so the floor sits off the dirt.
Panels, roof and siding
The walls were stood up as panels on the floor deck, and the crew kept working after dark to close the shell in. Once the roof was on, the walls were wrapped and the open-joint panels went on, with a small gap between each panel.
Inside the shed
Inside, the walls are plywood and the ceiling is pine tongue-and-groove. The clerestory windows and a window on each side wall bring in plenty of daylight.
| Location | Near Kelowna, BC |
|---|---|
| Size | 8′ x 10′ (80 sq/ft) |
| Siding | Open-joint panel siding |
| Door | Full-glass door |
| Windows | Clerestory windows, plus one window on each side wall |
| Walls (inside) | Plywood |
| Ceiling | Pine tongue-and-groove |
| Foundation | Pier blocks |
More photos
The photos below show the finished shed, its details and the view from the site.
What to plan before building a garden shed
A small garden shed goes up quickly when a few things are sorted out first.
- Site: on a slope, level the ground and use pier blocks so the floor stays off the soil.
- Light: clerestory windows bring in daylight without using up wall space for shelves.
- Siding: open-joint panels give a clean, modern look and let the wall dry between rains.
- Rules: check the local rules on size, height and setbacks before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
How big is this garden shed?
It’s 8 feet by 10 feet, which is 80 sq/ft (about 7.4 m²) of floor space.
What is the inside finished with?
The walls are plywood and the ceiling is pine tongue-and-groove.
Do you need a permit for a small shed?
It depends on where you live. Many BC cities don’t require a building permit under 10 m² (108 sq/ft), but zoning still applies. Check with your city or regional district, and see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit.
More outbuildings to explore
Browse more Backyard Outbuildings, check the Shed Rules by City, or read Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit.