Left: OHora
installed windows
in each side of
his shed to let in
ambient light and
make the space feel
bigger.Top: The shed
required two
additional 20-amp
fuses in OHora’s
fusebox, one for
lighting and work
equipment, one
for the AC/heating
units.Above: During
winter, OHora puts
his heater on a
timer so the shed
is already warm by
the time he enters.Right: Vents at
opposite ends of
the shed regulate
airflow and
moisture. These
were stock with
the shed’s designs,
from Waterloo
Structures in PA.52 March/April 2021
BEFORE YOU BEGIN, INSPECT your
shed (see sidebar). Then you’re
ready to tackle each aspect of
the conversion:
Shed Size and Location
Many office cubicles measure
just 6x8 ft., but a shed should
be at least 8x10 ft. to accommo-
date a comfortable workspace.
A 10x12-ft. shed is a near-
perfect size—if you have a shed
or barn larger than 14x20 ft.,
partition off the interior to
keep half for storage.
If the shed is close to your
house, it’s easier and cheaper
to run electricity. But you can
still convert a shed on the far-
thest corner of your property.
Power
Often the biggest—and most
expensive—challenge is
supplying the shed with elec-
tricity. An electrician can tap
into your home’s main electri-
cal panel to run new circuits
out to the shed. That typically
requires digging a trench at
least 18 in. deep to bury an
underground feed. If that’s not
possible, your electrical sup-
plier can pull power from the
nearest utility pole.Tip: To h e l p t h e e l e c t r i c i a n
design the right home-office
electrical system, give them a
list of all the electrical equip-
ment you intend to use—or
might use in the future.Plan on at least two circuits:
one for general needs such as
lighting and outlets for accesso-
ries, and another for sensitive
equipment like computers,
routers, and modems. You may
need additional circuits for
your heating and cooling, but
an experienced electrician will
pinpoint your requirements.Lighting
To light your immediate work
environment, install LED
fixtures on dimmer switchesas task lighting. These are
compact, affordable, and
energy-efficient, and they pro-
duce clean, white light. For
ambient lighting throughout
your shed, use upward-facing
torchère-style f loor lamps to
brighten up the office with less
monitor glare than recessed
lights. For your computer
workstation, consider a porta-
ble, adjustable LED desk lamp.Windows
Most sheds have small win-
dows that admit little light and
do a lousy job of blocking out
cold drafts. Replace the shed’s
windows with energy-efficient
insulated-glass windows at
least 32 in. wide x 36 in. tall.
Vinyl windows are affordable
and virtually maintenance-
free, but vinyl-clad wood
windows pair low maintenance
with a natural wood look.
A skylight will also brighten
an office. They can be either
operable (can open for airf low), JESSE^ SOUTHERLAND