Disadvantages of Sheds

i too would be interested, but from the other side. Is it your contention that the building of a shed attracts rodents somehow? That if i normally maintain my home and property, that once a shed is built, i will stop?

I always thought that the poor storage of a food source/water source attracted rodents, not the structure itself, for example.

I believe if there are codes of what kind of shed can be built, a shed is a plus. If all outside maintenance is done by the association a shed will not be necessary. If you live in a HOA where the HO cuts and cares for their own yard, IMO a shed is necessary....I have read many post which want cars parked in the garage...with a mower, weedeater, lawn chairs, gas cans, etc placed in the garage there is no room for the car(s)....Our association allows sheds but have not enforced the code, so we do have some ugly metal rusting ones. We had ours build on site out of wood and it is very nice with windows and flower boxes at the windows. It was a necessity, here in Flordia we also have a generator to store. These things need some place to go.

BarbaraB5: You will need to determine IF when you state the HOA does not allow them, you mean the official documents actually restrict installation of a SHED. If so, then the community residents, to change, would have to create an amendment to the docs.

A shed can offer many advantages to an owner for storage of seasonal equipment needed, or even for overflow which does not fit elsewhere. However, a shed can also be an eyesore to view if not built appropriately, it can block another neighbor's view, and uppermost, can restrict grassy areas for the landscapers which would otherwise be easier for them to navigate.
For these reasons, IMO, a shed would impact property values.

HaroldS: I guess I touched on another nerve. In 'our backyard' which is not ours at all, it is common ground, it would be highly impractical, unsightly, and block any nice views owners have of the large trees and grassy areas across the street. So, to answer your question, it would be nigh on to impossible for our landscapers to navigate their very wide mowers around and in between sheds. Our documents do not allow them.

I think that this is one of those situations that there could be no one answer. A shed in the back yard of a neighbor who has a sweeping view of a golf course or a lake, might be pretty angry if his neighbor put up a shed that blocked his view. Some back yards, it wouldn't matter. Down here in Florida, people pay hefty premiums for lots with views so that is 1 scenerio that says,-- no sheds.

I agree with "what people should do when there is no basements and have the garages full of vehicles?" My husband is a collector of "good stuff" and he is always looking for creative ways to stash it because we are not allowed to have any outbuilding of any type. I make him purge his good stuff once in a while and I am suprised how much room suddenly appeared. But I guess that an association cannot order someone to clean out their stuff so that they have room for other stuff and a shed might be the only answer but only with certain restrictions. How many hunderds of sheds have we all seen that are either leaning, rotting or rusting away and are definitely an eyesore.

With all due respect....I already know the arguments FOR sheds. I wanted some cold, hard facts about the disadvantages of having sheds. I already have my own opinions about how they look, or should I say, CAN look.
Yes, our HOA would have strict guidelines about type and color match to your house. I liked someones's comment about "the more space we have, the more we fill it."
Our homes are between 2400sq. ft. and 3600 sq. ft. with 2 and 3 car garages, plus full basements. When is enough, enough?!! And I know what will happen....sooner or later, you grow out of the shed, too, and then you start leaning your lawn chairs and extra lumber along the sides of the shed.
I really wanted to know if they really devalue the properties, if they really attract rodents, rabbits and the like. We are in cold, cold Chicago and the animals are seeking someplace warm to go and then to have their babies in. Would you want your 2 yr. old to go into your shed that's infested with mice and the like?
I don't need anymore argument FOR sheds. I've heard it all here in my own neighborhood.
Thank you for your time.

DJ - she's dismissed us, and apparently has decided what she already wants, so we're not needed in this thread anymore.

BarbaraB5: It is sometimes like 'this' depending on whose reponse you are reading....

A few negatives were mentioned for you on sheds. But, I have another resource for you. Go to your local municipality, explain the situation and find out the codes and standards for erecting a shed. Now, if one would want a
temporary structure made of steel which will eventually rust, that is one type. But, if one wants to put in something which is structurally sound and "in keeping with the surroundings" (same finish as on the home unit), that is another story entirely. Obviously, these cannot be erected on common ground and would probably require a permit. That's all I've got for you....

Donna, why one or the other. My glass is both half empty AND half full!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

On the other hand, a very large shed, built in the middle of a yard, or up against the edge of another neighbor's yard, painted red, or some other color that doesn't fit with the general construction, or that has a barn-style roof, or a flat roof (no pitch), or that is built of aluminum that will easily dent and bend.

Yup, that next to someone trying to sell would impact what they could get for their property.

Our HOA originally did NOT have sheds allowed. We did alter our CC&Rs to allow for sheds, however, they were very strictly controlled by the arch comm in terms of SIZE, LOCATION, MATERIALS, and CONSTRUCTION.

They could not be Home Depot or Tuff Shed "kits." The pitch has to match the pitch of the main home, they have to be placed within 20 feet from the rear of the house and must not be able to be seen from directly in front of the house. Lots that are oddly shaped can get special placement waivers.

No metal construction, no metal roofs, concrete footers are required. Colors are restricted as well.

We did just recently amend the guidelines to include certain composite materials as acceptable.

And a home can only have ONE outbuilding, and it must be either a shed, poolhouse, gazebo, or playhouse. One cannot have all four, or even 2.

However, resin buildings that are generally under a certain square-footage, usually the type that will just fit a lawnmower, for example, more of a closet size, ARE allowed as long as the placement is up against the rear of the house and again, can't be seen from the road if standing directly in front of house.

Those types of storage units can be up to 7-feet in height, though most fit behind the average privacy fence.

This is the largest one we allow before we classify one as a storage shed that is controlled for construction, placement AND materials. Otherwise, we just need to sign off on placement for these:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=19218-1217-FG374601OLVSS&lpage=none

Old.

This is an old post and it appears someone pulled this up to do some free advertising. That's against posting rules, so stop it.

As Sheila mentioned, this is a 20 year old thread. The original posters are probably all gone from this board by now.