10×10 Garden Shed in Port Moody

About this shed

This 10×10 garden shed in Port Moody was built to hold garden tools such as shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows. The site was too tight for a delivery trailer to get close, so the shed arrived as a prefab kit and was put together on site in about a day and a half. At 100 sq/ft it stays under the 107 sq/ft limit that the Port Moody shed rules use for buildings that don’t need a building permit.

Quick facts about this garden shed

• Location: Port Moody, BC
• Size: 10×10 (100 sq/ft)
• Design: Gable shed with craftsman upgrades
• Overhangs: Front and rear 12″; sides 6″
• Siding: LP SmartSide, custom body and trim colours
• Roofing: Asphalt shingles

Built on site from a kit

A drawn outline on the lot marked where the shed would go. A gravel pad was levelled and bordered with timbers, a plywood floor went on top, and then the walls and roof framing were put up on the pad.

Upgrades for wet coastal weather

The shed is a gable design with a few upgrades for the rainy coast: 2×6 rafters, 1×8 fascia, roof overhangs extended to 12″ at the front and rear, trim around the window and door, and a custom paint colour for the body and trim.

The shed has LP SmartSide siding, asphalt shingles, a 36″ steel door and a 30″ x 36″ window.

The finished shed

The finished shed has a window and door centred on the front wall, with teal siding and purple-red trim.

Why a gable shed suits a garden

A gable roof has two slopes that meet at a ridge. Rain and snow run off both sides, and the shape gives more headroom in the middle of the shed than a flat or single-slope roof of the same width. That extra height helps when storing long-handled tools, ladders and wheelbarrows. It is also a classic shape that fits most gardens and houses.

What a 10×10 shed can store

A 100 sq/ft shed gives enough floor space for shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, a lawn mower and a set of shelves along one wall. Hooks and a tool rail on the wall keep long-handled tools off the floor and make the space easier to use.

Prefab kits and quick assembly

A prefab kit is cut and sorted ahead of time, so the work on site is mostly putting the parts together. The pieces can be carried in by hand, which is useful when a delivery trailer cannot get close. In this case, the shed went up in about a day and a half once the pad and floor were ready.

Preparing the site

A shed is only as flat and solid as the ground under it. Before the kit arrives, it helps to:

• Pick a spot that people can reach with materials, away from overhead wires, trees and fences.
• Level the area and build a firm base, such as compacted gravel with timber borders, so the floor stays flat and water drains away.
• Check the setbacks from the property lines in your city’s shed rules.
• Leave room around the shed to open the door fully and to reach the walls for painting.

Keeping the siding in good shape

LP SmartSide is a primed engineered wood siding that is painted after it is installed. Like any painted wood product, it lasts longest when the paint is kept in good condition. Look the shed over once a year, repaint any worn spots, and keep soil and mulch from touching the bottom of the siding. Trim back plants that hold moisture against the walls.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Location	Port Moody, BC
Size	10×10 (100 sq/ft)
Design	Gable shed with craftsman upgrades
Delivery	Prefab kit, assembled on site in about 1.5 days
Overhangs	Front and rear 12″; sides 6″
Rafters and fascia	2×6 rafters, 1×8 fascia
Siding	LP SmartSide, custom body and trim colours
Roofing	Asphalt shingles
Door	36″ steel
Windows	One, 30″ x 36″
Porch and deck	None
Electrical and heat	None
Permit	Under the 107 sq/ft limit for a building permit in Port Moody

What to plan before building a garden shed

A garden shed is a simple building, but a few choices at the start make the build easier.

• Size and permit: in Port Moody a shed under 107 sq/ft (10 m²) does not need a building permit. Zoning rules such as setbacks and height still apply, so check with the City first.
• Access: if a trailer cannot reach the site, a prefab kit can be carried in by hand and assembled on site.
• Weather: longer overhangs, 2×6 rafters and painted LP SmartSide siding help a shed handle heavy rain.

Frequently asked questions

How big is this garden shed?

It’s 10×10, or 100 sq/ft (about 9.3 m²).

How long did it take to build?

The shed was assembled on site from a prefab kit in about a day and a half, after the gravel pad and floor were ready.

Why use a prefab kit for a garden shed?

A kit is cut ahead of time, so the work on site is quick. The pieces can also be carried in by hand, which helps when a trailer cannot reach the site.

What is LP SmartSide?

LP SmartSide is a primed, engineered wood siding. It is painted after installation, and it needs repainting when the finish wears.

What upgrades help a shed handle heavy rain?

Longer roof overhangs keep water off the walls, 2×6 rafters add strength, and painted trim and siding protect the wood. This shed has all of these.

Does a shed this size need a building permit in Port Moody?

A 10×10 shed is 100 sq/ft, which is under the 107 sq/ft limit used for sheds that don’t need a building permit in Port Moody. Zoning rules still apply, so confirm the details with the City. See the Port Moody shed rules and the maximum shed size without a permit guide.