A covered side bay can keep a wheelbarrow, garden cart, or long-handled tools close at hand while leaving the enclosed shed available for other belongings.
The arrangement works best when the two storage areas serve different purposes. The main room provides enclosed storage; the side bay offers convenient access for items that can tolerate some outdoor exposure.
When comparing shed plans with side storage, check the usable space between posts, the approach route, and the roof coverage. A narrow strip beside the building can look useful in a drawing but become awkward once equipment is parked inside.
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Comparing shed layouts? Explore My Shed Plans and check the current design list and samples for a layout that suits your enclosed and covered-storage needs.
What Counts as a Side Storage Bay?
For this guide, a side storage bay is a covered area alongside the enclosed part of a shed. It may be open-fronted, partially screened, or open on several sides.
That differs from:
- A fully enclosed side compartment.
- A separate narrow shed nearby.
- An ordinary roof overhang.
- A porch primarily arranged for seating or entry shelter.
These options can look similar, but their usable space and construction requirements differ.
A roof overhang should not be extended into a storage shelter without a suitable design. A usable bay may require posts, beams, foundations, bracing, and additional connections.
If you primarily want a single-slope enclosed building, see our lean-to shed plans guide.
Decide What Belongs in the Covered Area
Begin with a storage list divided by exposure needs.
| Item | Side-bay suitability to consider |
|---|---|
| Wheelbarrow or garden cart | Often convenient if materials tolerate the exposure |
| Long-handled garden tools | Useful with secure, suitable tool supports |
| Empty outdoor pots | Possible if stored stably and protected as needed |
| Firewood | Requires airflow, suitable support, and stack planning |
| Bicycles | Consider wind-driven rain, corrosion, and security |
| Power tools and chargers | Follow manufacturer storage requirements; roof coverage alone may be insufficient |
| Bagged products | Check moisture, temperature, and label requirements |
Do not assume an item is protected simply because it sits beneath a roof. Rain can enter from the sides, and outdoor humidity remains present.
Keep supplies in the enclosed shed when their storage requirements demand it.
For a bay devoted mainly to logs, use our more specific firewood shed plans guide.
Measure Equipment in Its Parked and Moving Positions
A wheelbarrow occupies more than the outline of its tray. Handles extend outward, and you need room to grasp them and maneuver.
Likewise, a cart may fit between posts but need extra space to turn into the opening.
Measure:
- Overall width and length.
- Handle projections.
- Height in the intended storage position.
- Space needed to remove the item.
- Space needed for you to stand and handle it.
Avoid planning a bay where the first item must be removed to reach everything else unless that suits your routine.
Mark the proposed post positions on the ground and test the arrangement with your actual equipment.
Separate Roof Dimensions From Usable Bay Dimensions
A plan may describe the total covered footprint without stating the clear storage area.
Posts, bracing, wall thickness, and roof-edge details can reduce usable space.
For example, a hypothetical 4-foot-wide roofed strip does not necessarily provide a 4-foot-wide passage between the shed wall and the outer supports.
Ask for:
- Clear width between obstructions.
- Clear height beneath beams and bracing.
- The distance between posts.
- Roof projection beyond the storage area.
- The approach space outside the bay.
Our guide to reading shed plans explains how to distinguish overall dimensions from clearances.
Choose the Entry Direction
The way you enter the bay has a large effect on its usefulness.
Access from the front
Front access can align the bay with the main shed entrance and a shared path.
Check that a cart or wheelbarrow parked in the bay does not block the shed door or its swing.
Access from the open side
Side access can make several items independently reachable. Posts still divide the frontage, so compare their spacing with the equipment.
This arrangement may expose more of the storage area to rain and wind.
Access from both ends
A pass-through arrangement can avoid backing equipment out. However, it needs a usable path at each end and enough clear space along the full route.
Do not count an inaccessible gap beside a fence as a second entrance.
Compare an Integrated Bay With a Separate Shelter
An integrated design includes the enclosed shed and side bay in one coordinated plan.
A separate shelter may offer more flexibility in positioning and can avoid adding loads to an existing shed. It still needs its own supports, anchoring, drainage, and suitable spacing.
| Option | Potential advantage | Main planning question |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated side bay | Coordinated appearance and layout | Are all supports and roof details included? |
| Attached retrofit | Uses space beside the existing building | Can the existing structure accept the connection and loads? |
| Independent shelter | Can have its own support system | Is there enough space for access and maintenance between structures? |
| Separate enclosed shed | More weather protection and security | Does the additional enclosure justify its cost and footprint? |
Do not choose an attached addition solely because it appears to need fewer posts. The existing wall and foundation must be suitable for the loads transferred to them.
Looking for a coordinated design? Review My Shed Plans and assess the documentation for your intended layout. Confirm whether any side shelter is actually included in the selected plans.
Check the Roof Connection and Structural Details
A side bay is part of a structure, even when its walls are open.
The drawings should address the roof supports, connections, bracing, and anchoring. An open side does not mean wind forces can be ignored.
If the bay attaches to the shed, confirm where the connection reaches suitable structural framing. Siding, fascia, and decorative trim should not be assumed capable of supporting the added roof.
Also check how water is managed where the bay roof meets the main building.
Depending on the arrangement, the design may need a coordinated roof-to-wall flashing detail or another documented transition.
Our shed fasteners and connectors guide explains why connector models and fasteners must match the specified assembly.
Choose a Base That Suits the Equipment
The enclosed shed and side bay do not necessarily need identical floor surfaces, but their foundations must work with the design.
Possible bay surfaces include a prepared aggregate area, suitable paving, or a designed slab or framed platform.
Compare them against the intended use:
- Small casters may be difficult to move over loose gravel.
- An uneven surface can make a loaded cart unstable.
- A raised platform may require a ramp.
- A slab or paving area needs suitable drainage.
- Heavy stored items require adequate support.
Do not assume the walking surface also provides adequate foundations for roof posts.
See shed foundation options for the broader foundation decision.
Plan Where Rainwater Will Go
A side roof changes the runoff pattern around the shed.
Check whether water will fall across the bay entrance, collect beside posts, or drain toward the enclosed building.
Consider both roofs together. If the main shed roof discharges onto the lower bay roof, the receiving roof and drainage arrangement need to account for that flow.
In snow regions, the relationship between adjacent roof levels may also require specific design attention.
Use suitable gutters and discharge arrangements where specified. Avoid placing a downspout where it empties onto the main access path.
Our shed gutters guide covers collection and discharge planning.
Preserve Light, Ventilation, and Maintenance Access
A side bay can shade windows or restrict access to the wall beside it.
Before choosing the layout, check whether you can still:
- Open nearby windows.
- Reach vents.
- Inspect siding and flashing.
- Repaint or repair the wall.
- Access downspouts.
- Maintain required material clearances.
Do not attach storage racks across ventilation openings or crowd stored items against vulnerable wall materials.
If the bay roof darkens a workshop window, review your shed lighting plan before construction.
Consider Security and Future Enclosure
An open bay provides shelter, not the same security as a locked room.
Keep valuable items in suitable secure storage or use an appropriate security arrangement for them. Consider the attachment point as well as the lock itself.
If you expect to add walls or doors later, raise that possibility during design. Enclosing a previously open structure can change wind loading, drainage, and access requirements.
Do not assume a future wall is only a cosmetic addition.
For security planning, see our shed security guide.
Questions to Answer Before Selecting Plans
Confirm these points before ordering materials:
- Which items will use the bay?
- What are the clear dimensions between posts and bracing?
- Can each item enter and leave conveniently?
- Does the roof provide useful coverage for the expected exposure?
- Are supports, connections, and anchoring documented?
- Where will water from both roofs discharge?
- Can the main shed still be inspected and maintained?
- Does the complete footprint suit the site?
- Would a separate shelter or larger enclosed shed serve the purpose better?
Compare total project cost, including the base, drainage, hardware, and access improvements. A partially open area still requires substantial construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a side storage bay the same as a lean-to shed?
Not necessarily. A lean-to shed describes a single-slope roof style and may be fully enclosed. A side bay is a covered storage area beside another space.
Can I add a bay to an existing shed?
Possibly, but the structure, foundation, connection, and flashing need assessment. An independent shelter may be another option.
Is the covered bay included in the advertised shed size?
That depends on the plan or supplier. Ask for separate enclosed, covered, and clear usable dimensions.
Can I store a mower in an open side bay?
Check the equipment manufacturer’s storage requirements, weather exposure, security, and surface suitability. A roof alone does not provide full protection.
Can I enclose the bay later?
Only after reviewing the resulting design. Added walls can change structural and weather-management requirements.
Give the Side Bay a Specific Job
A side bay is most useful when it solves a clear storage problem: keeping bulky, suitable items accessible without filling the enclosed shed.
Measure the equipment, test the route, and choose a plan that documents the full shelter structure. Then coordinate its roof, base, and drainage with the main building.
Ready to compare shed layouts? Explore My Shed Plans, review the current offer and samples, and confirm the details included for your intended storage arrangement.
Resources
- Simpson Strong-Tie: What Is a Continuous Load Path?
- Simpson Strong-Tie: General Notes for Wood Construction Connectors
- Tuff Shed: Adding a Separate Lean-To for Garden Storage
Affiliate disclosure: Beginner Shed Guide may earn a commission when you purchase through affiliate links in this article, at no additional cost to you. Review the seller’s current product information, terms, and suitability for your project before purchasing.
Building disclaimer: This article provides general layout guidance, not structural design or approval for an addition. Roof supports, attachments, bracing, foundations, and drainage require project-specific details. Follow applicable local requirements and have additions or structural alterations reviewed by a qualified professional.