There are many different sizes and styles of shed kits available on the market today. While functionally a lot of the styling has little or no meaning, in some cases it can dramatically change the intended use and/or storage space.
To make sure that when buying a shed kit you get the shed that is most applicable to your needs, we have put together this brief guide to the different styles of sheds you will run into. In most cases the main difference between them is going to be in the type of roof, and thus amount of headroom for a given wall height, that these sheds will offer.
There are other styles of sheds and variations that we haven’t covered here yet. Over time we will be adding more examples and critiques of these less common styles of sheds. We hope you find this guide helpful, and if you have any questions as to which style of shed would be best fitted to your situation, feel free to ask.
Ranch Style Sheds
The ranch style shed is perhaps the most simple type of shed that you can find. Generally with a square floorplan or close to it, the ranch style shed offers functionality and storage space first and foremost.
The exterior of the shed is simple and functional. Flat walls, occasionally with windows, are generally without detail. A single large door allows for easy access to the shed’s interior. The roof is sloped up to the center, and the eaves are minimal. Just enough to keep rain water from off the roof from flowing down the siding. The eaves won’t keep the siding dry though unless the rain is coming straight down.
These qualities give the ranch style shed an interesting combination of strengths and weaknesses. While the eaves don’t give the siding any real protection, the siding itself doesn’t have any decoration or artifice that would allow for the moisture to seep in. As long as you keep the siding well protected with a water and UV protective sealant, stain, or paint, there shouldn’t be any worries about rot or mildew forming like there can be with more ornate sheds which have moldings and other decorations that moisture can seep behind.
Barn Style Sheds
The barn style shed is a lot like the ranch style in most respects. Usually the exterior details are kept to a minimum. The biggest difference, an in many cases the only difference, is in the roof. Rather than having two planes as with a rach style shed, the barn shed divides the roof up into 4 planes.
The shape of the roof is essentially half an octagon, though sometimes two of the planes are extended and so the sides wouldn’t be equal. Also the angles of the planes may not always be 45 degrees from each other like they would in a true octagon.
Because of the difference in the roof, barn style sheds offer more headroom than their ranch style counterparts. Often it’s enough extra headroom to allow for a loft or overhead storage in fact. This extra space comes at a price though, as the roof has more surface area, and the front and back walls do as well. Still, it is often a cost-effective way to add more storage space to a shed given that the ratio of space to structural components is greater than with other styles of sheds.
Lean-To Style Sheds
The lean-to shed is the simplest type of shed structure you’re going to find. Generally this shed looks like half a ranch style shed, with only one plane for the roof. Often these types of sheds are more rectangular, though not necessarily. The reason they tend to have one dimension increased relative to the other is that they are designed for tight or narrow yards where they will be placed up next to a wall or fence.
This is where the moniker “lean-to” comes from, as originally these are the types of storage that you’d find actually built onto an existing wall or fence. The shed’s structure would thus actually “lean” on to the existing structure.
Modern lean-to style sheds are stand-alone structures in most cases though. They have 4 walls, even on the side that would be nearest to the existing structure. This means they can be installed even when not in full contact with the existing structure, and so allows for much more flexibility of placement.
