Sheds, Garages, Cottages & More

Outbuildings for

Historic Homes

Outbuildings

●Definition: A detached building subordinate to a main building

●Range from small, rustic, poorly built structures to large, elaborate, high style buildings

●Early uses for Florida outbuildings concentrated on separation of functions

Typical Florida Residential Historic Outbuildings

● Farm uses○ Livestock○ Agriculture

● Detached Kitchen

● Outhouse● Carriage House● Pump House● Laundry● Servants

Quarters● Chapel

● Storage● Garage● Garage

Apartment● Guest House● Tool Shed● Potting Shed● Workshop

Common Historic Uses, no longer needed

● Outhouse● Pump House● Carriage House● Laundry● Servant quarters● Barns, chicken coops, stables, etc.○ Change in property use○ Change in farming techniques

● Business uses○ Tarpon Springs sponge drying

sheds

Can often be adapted to new uses due to the simple nature of the structures

Common Outbuildings Still in Use Today

●Garages●Garage Apartments●Cottage/

Apartments○Accessory Dwelling Units

●Sheds○Storage○Workshops

Why Keep a Historic Outbuilding?

●Part of home’s history●Adds depth to neighborhood character●Designed to complement home●Adaptable to many uses●Extra space!●Zoning●Setbacks

Why would you need an outbuilding today?

● Storage○ Lawnmower, tools, sports equipment, motorcycle,

boat, etc.● Home Gym/ Yoga Room● Guest House/ Rental Unit● Pool Cabana● Outdoor Kitchen● Screen Room● Play Room● Pub Shed/ Entertaining Space● Man Cave/ She Shed● Home Office

They’re cute!

They’re trendy!

Garages●Natural evolution from the

carriage house●First distinguished as a separate

type of outbuilding in 1912●Detached due to fire concerns as

well as odors●Generally set to the rear of the

lot○ Subdivisions designed w/

alleys○ Bungalow/ Pedestrian Courts

●Designed to hold one or more vehicle

Early Garage Design● Available from mail order catalogs● Early garages had double swinging

doors○ Sliding track doors○ Overhead doors invented in 1921

by C. G. Johnson (Overhead Door Company)• Also invented electric garage

door opener in 1926● Can match the main house or be

different architectural style● Wood, metal, brick, stucco all

common

Mail Order Garages

Garage Apartment/ Cottage Apartment

●2-story Garage Apartment w/ parking below and apartment above●Common in 1920s boom-era Florida suburbs●Cottage Apartments ○typically 1-story

●Servants, nanny flats, rental●Mission, Mediterranean Revival, Craftsman, Tudor, any style

Cottages/ Tiny Houses

● Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADUs)● Rental Units● Granny Flats/ In-Law Suites/ Students● Often allowed in Historic Districts

○ Design Guidelines● Zoning Codes● Building Codes

Tiny houses make good infill in historic

districts, too

Accessory Dwelling Units/ Tiny Houses

Zoning● Varies in each municipality● Is your project allowed?

○ Owner Occupancy ○ Kitchens

● Setbacks● Size● Occupancy (maximum)

What you can build on

a parcel

Cottages/ Tiny Houses

Building Codes - Statewide● Residential Building Code 5th Edition

○ Updated every 3 years● Permits● Life Safety issues

○ Structural, including wind○ Egress○ Fire Spread○ Health○ Materials/ Product Performance

● Min. Room Dimensions - Total size not given

Building Codes tell you how to build, not what

Home Office/ Man Cave/ She Shed

●Separate Work from daily life●Quiet/ Professional atmosphere●No commute

Sheds

●Definition: a slight or rude structure built for shelter, storage, etc.

●Can be adapted to many uses, but most commonly used for tool storage or gardening equipment

Designing a New Outbuilding

●Determine size appropriate for your use●Keep the outbuilding visually subordinate to the

main building both in size and detail●Plan the outbuilding location

○Use to block undesireable areas○Avoid low lying areas○Easy Access○Zoning setbacks○Avoid Trees/ Utility Lines

●Design Review

Designing a New Outbuilding

●Form○ Roof shape○ Roof Slope○Soffit/ rafter tail design○ Roof overhang○ Proportions

Designing a New Outbuilding

●Exterior materials○ Siding material, dimensions

●Paint in a complementary color scheme

●Doors and windows○ Mimic window proportions and

configuration○ Draw from details on existing

home

Designing a New Outbuilding

●Trim/ Details○ Window and door surrounds○Outriggers/ brackets○ Cornerboards○ Skirtboard

Designing a New Outbuilding

●Look around for design inspiration○ Neighborhoods○ Historic images○ Books○ Web

• Flickr and other photo sharing sites

●Think what would have been built during the era your home was constructed

Historic Shed

● Custom design based on main structure● Built in our facility with quality control● Use historically appropriate materials

and methods

Historic Shed

● Dismantled and reassembled on site

● Meets modern code requirements

Thanks from Historic Shed!