About this shed
This contemporary garden shed in Delta, BC, replaced several small storage sheds that had built up over the years with one single building. It’s 6′ x 14′ (84 sq/ft). To match the house, it has 6-inch cedar channel siding painted to match, a galvanized steel roof with a wide overhang, white double doors and a row of clerestory windows that bring daylight in along the top of the wall.
Quick facts about this garden shed
- Location: Delta (Ladner), BC
- Size: 6′ x 14′ (84 sq/ft)
- Design: Contemporary, single-slope roof
- Overhangs: Front and rear 12″; sides 6″
- Siding: 6″ cedar channel siding, painted to match the house
- Roofing: Galvanized steel
Replacing several old sheds with one
The yard had a few small, worn-out sheds. They were taken down and replaced with one longer building that holds everything in one place and looks like it belongs with the house.
Matching the house
The shed’s architecture follows the main house. The cedar channel siding was painted to match, and the building has a plywood-sheathed frame with a row of clerestory windows built in.
Doors and daylight
White double doors open the full front, and the clerestory windows light the inside without taking up wall space for shelves.
Why a contemporary style suits a garden shed
A single-slope roof is a simple way to make a shed look modern while keeping it practical. Rain runs off one side, the clerestory windows sit under the high edge of the roof, and the long overhang shades the doors. On a long, narrow building like this one, the style also makes the shed look intentional instead of tacked on.
What a shed this size stores
At 84 sq/ft, a 6×14 shed is long and shallow. That layout suits tall or long items such as ladders, garden tools, bikes and a wheelbarrow, with room along the back wall for shelves. In this yard, one building took the place of several smaller sheds.
Shop-built panels, quick assembly
Sheds like this one are built from floor, wall and roof panels made in a shop. Building indoors keeps the work dry and the cuts accurate, and it shortens the time spent in the yard. The panels are then assembled on a level floor frame.
Preparing the site
A shed needs a firm, level base. Before the work starts, it helps to:
- Take down and remove the old sheds, and clear the area of roots and debris.
- Level the ground and set the floor frame on blocks or a gravel base so that the floor stays flat and dry.
- Check the setbacks from the property lines and any easements in the city shed rules.
- Leave room around the shed to open the doors and to reach the walls for painting.
Keeping the cedar siding in good shape
Cedar channel siding looks best when it is painted and the paint is kept in good condition. Look the shed over once a year, repaint any worn spots, and keep soil, leaves and plants from touching the lower edge of the siding so that the wood stays dry. Painting the shed to match the house also keeps it tied to the main building.
| Location | Delta (Ladner), BC |
|---|---|
| Size | 6′ x 14′ (84 sq/ft) |
| Design | Contemporary, single-slope roof |
| Porch or deck | None |
| Overhangs | Front and rear 12″; sides 6″ |
| Siding | 6″ cedar channel siding, painted to match the house |
| Doors | Solid French (double) doors |
| Windows | Clerestory windows |
| Roofing | Galvanized steel |
| Electrical | None |
| Heat | None |
| Extras | Custom roof |
More photos
The photos below show more of the finished shed, the framing and the details.
What to plan before replacing old sheds
Swapping a few small sheds for one building takes a little planning.
- Size and permit: at 84 sq/ft this shed is under 10 m² (about 108 sq/ft). Delta lets you build one accessory building under 10 m² without a building permit, but zoning, height and setbacks still apply.
- Match the house: using the same siding style, paint and trim ties a shed to the house.
- Light: clerestory windows give daylight and leave the walls free for storage.
- Foundation: the shed is built on a wood floor frame, which needs level ground.
- Old sheds: plan for taking the old buildings down and getting rid of the materials before the new one arrives.
Frequently asked questions
How big is this garden shed?
It’s 6 feet by 14 feet, which is 84 sq/ft (about 7.8 m²).
What is the siding?
It is 6-inch cedar channel siding, painted to match the house.
Do you need a permit for a shed this size in Delta?
At 84 sq/ft the shed is under 10 m² (about 108 sq/ft). Delta allows one accessory building under 10 m² without a building permit, but zoning, height and setback rules still apply. See Delta Shed Regulations.
Why replace several small sheds with one?
One building is easier to keep in good shape, easier to organize and often looks better than a few small sheds scattered around a yard.
What are clerestory windows for?
Clerestory windows sit high on the wall, so they let daylight in without using up wall space needed for shelves or hanging tools.
What can you store in a 6×14 shed?
A 6×14 shed has 84 sq/ft of floor space. It is long and narrow, so it suits tools, a wheelbarrow, bikes and ladders, with shelves along one wall.
More outbuildings to explore
Browse more Backyard Outbuildings, the shed and garage albums, read the Delta Shed Regulations, or see Maximum Shed Size Without a Permit.