Shed Upgrades: Valuable Options and Add-Ons to Consider

Updated By Dina Taylor

A portable shed may start with a simple need: more room for the things you need to store. But how you plan to use your storage shed should shape the building you choose, right down to the floor, doors, and windows.

Storage shed upgrades can make home organization easier and improve the functionality of your building. Depending on how you plan to use your shed, upgrades can also prepare the building for heavier equipment, future projects, or other storage needs.

Even shed design choices, like choosing the perfect shed color, can help make the finished building feel like it belongs on your property. Before exploring storage shed upgrades and add-ons, start with the foundation for those choices: your shed style.

Choose Your Shed Style

The shed style you choose provides the foundation for many of the upgrades and add-ons available for your portable building. Start with a building style that fits how you plan to use your shed.

Some popular building styles include:

• Lofted Barn: A gambrel roof-style storage building with up to 8ft of loft included for overhead storage and better use of vertical space.
• Utility Shed: A traditional gable roof-style storage shed with generous wall space for shelving, tools, and everyday storage.
• Single Slope Shed: A lean-to-style shed with a taller front wall, well-suited for smaller yards and flexible window placement.
• Side Gable: A side-facing gable storage building that positions the primary entry along the longer side of the shed, providing a different layout for access and interior organization.
• Double Wide Utility: A wider storage building with an open interior designed to accommodate larger equipment and greater storage needs.
• Specialty Buildings: Greenhouses, Animal Shelters, Cabanas, and other purpose-built designs provide options for more specific property needs. Available upgrades and add-ons can vary by building style.

Once you’ve chosen a shed style that best fits your needs, you can narrow down the upgrades and add-ons that support how you plan to use the building.

Which Shed Upgrades Are Worth Considering?

The best shed upgrades depend on what you plan to store, how you plan to use your shed, and the building style you choose. As you customize your storage building, consider three main areas: building style packages, foundational upgrades, and functional add-ons.

Building Style Packages

Building style packages combine multiple shed features into one upgrade, helping you customize your storage shed for specific needs such as equipment access, covered porch space, or architectural detail.

The Garage package makes it easier to move lawn mowers, ATVs, and other large equipment in and out of your storage building. The package includes a wide, lockable roll-up door, a solid walk-in door, a 2×3-foot window, 12-inch on-center floor joists, and a diamond plate threshold. Utility Sheds with the Garage package also include 8-foot walls.

The Vaulted Gable is a shed upgrade that creates a full-height, open front porch on a Utility Shed with the Playhouse Package. The design uses painted wood posts and beams with a crow’s foot architectural detail to give the porch a more open appearance. This package is available only on painted Utility Sheds up to 12 feet wide, with a porch depth of up to 4 feet.

The Gable Dormer package offers an upgrade to Utility Sheds that adds natural light and architectural detail to the building. The Gable Dormer adds dimension to the shed’s roofline and includes an 18-inch octagonal window for additional natural light. Additional Gable Dormers can be added to the second side or to longer buildings.

Foundational Shed Upgrades

What you plan to store in your shed should influence the flooring, framing, roofing, and protective options you choose. These foundational shed upgrades are important to consider early, especially if you plan to store heavy equipment, use the shed for long-term storage, or make future improvements.

Upgrade shed flooring for heavier storage. Flooring upgrades can increase weight limits for storing heavier equipment and other items. Available flooring options include upgrading 5/8-inch Treated Square Edge or Engineered Tongue & Groove flooring to 3/4-inch or doubled 3/4-inch options. You can also choose 12-inch on-center floor joists or 2×6 floor joists based on what you plan to store.

Choose shed framing based on how you’ll use the building. Available framing upgrades include 16-inch on-center studs and trusses for treated buildings and 16-inch on-center trusses for painted buildings. Choosing framing options early allows you to plan the shed’s structure around its intended use.

Consider roofing and protective barriers. Residential-grade architectural shingles carry a 30-year limited warranty and can help coordinate your shed with your home or other buildings. Additional shed protection options include House Wrap and Roof Tar Paper, along with radiant heat barriers such as Tech Shield and Silver Tech. Available options vary by building material and location.

Functional Shed Add-Ons

Once you’ve planned the structure of your backyard shed, functional add-ons can make the building easier to access, organize and use every day. Consider the equipment and items you’ll move in and out, your storage and organization needs, and how you plan to use the shed.

Make equipment access easier with a Rampage Door. The Rampage Door creates an extra-wide, low-profile opening for moving riding lawn mowers, ATVs, motorcycles, golf carts, and other large equipment in and out of your storage shed.

Spring-loaded lift assistance makes the door easier to open and close, while the low threshold provides convenient drive-in access. The Rampage Door must open and lie flat on level ground for proper operation.

Add shed windows and doors for natural light and convenient access. Additional windows can bring natural light into the building and provide ventilation when opened, while different door options can make it easier to enter the shed and move stored items in and out. Window options include different sizes and single- or double-pane designs.

Improve shed storage and organization. Workbenches provide a dedicated work surface with storage underneath, while three-tier shelves use vertical wall space for additional storage. A Peg Board can also be added above a workbench to keep hand tools, extension cords, gardening supplies, and other frequently used items organized and within reach.

Bring Your Shed Design Together

A storage shed doesn’t have to be an afterthought in your backyard. The right shed upgrades and add-ons can make home organization easier, provide a place for equipment, and help your building better fit your property and storage needs.

Old Hickory Buildings & Sheds gives you the flexibility to choose shed upgrades and add-ons based on how you plan to use your building. With the 3D Builder, you can customize your storage building from anywhere, exploring building styles, colors, doors, windows, and available add-ons as your shed design comes together in real time.