Build Guides & Resources
Backyard office, studio and shed building guides
Written by a practicing architect: what a permit desk actually asks for, what a build really costs, how to pick a foundation, and how to read the drawings when they arrive.
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Building Library
Every guide, by topic
Planning
How to choose a backyard office or shed plan
Match the footprint, layout and roofline to how you will actually use the building.
Where to put a backyard office: sun, drainage, access and setbacks
Position is the one decision you cannot revise after the foundation goes in.
How to read shed and backyard office construction plans
Floor plans, elevations, sections and schedules, explained in plain language.
Building
Shed and backyard office foundations: skids, piers or slab
How to pick between the three, based on your site, soil, climate and budget.
Can you build a backyard office yourself?
What the build actually asks of you, stage by stage, and where most people bring in help.
Best siding and roofing for a backyard office or shed
Cladding, roofing and trim choices that suit your climate and still look good in ten years.
By Building Type
How to build a backyard office you can use year-round
Insulation, power, internet and light — the four things that separate an office from a shed with a desk in it.
Golf simulator shed size: how much room do you need?
Width, depth and ceiling height for a backyard simulator bay — and how to check a building will fit yours.
Backyard gym shed: size, ceiling height and flooring
What a home gym actually needs from a building — floor area, headroom, flooring, ventilation and power.