Frequently Asked Questions

SHED & OUTBUILDING Questions

What delivery options are available? Each custom shed is delivered and set by Historic Shed personnel or our approved subcontractor in Florida. Costs for delivery may vary depending on distance and degree of difficulty accessing a site. We are exploring shipping options for areas outside of Florida. We will post info when we move forward with this.

Do I have to take my fence down for delivery of my shed? Because we deliver our sheds mainly to established historic neighborhoods with large trees and lots of utility wires, we developed a construction process that allows us to break the sheds down into manageable size components that get quickly assembled on site. This allows us to navigate obstructions like fences, large trees, low branches and narrow alleyways that prevent delivery of fully assembled sheds. Usually this means your fence can stay intact.

Where can I see one of your sheds? Unfortunately most of our buildings are hidden behind fences so seeing one might be difficult. Also, since each Historic Shed™ outbuilding is custom built, we do not maintain an inventory of pre-built sheds at our Brooksville facility (but call us and you might be able to see some under production). However, we can provide both references and a some places to see our projects – with tips on which ones are easier to view. We are actively seeking local garden shops in the Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Gainesville area that would be willing to display our work and will post locations as they become available.

How long will my shed order take? Generally we can get your order produced and installed within 4 to 8 weeks, depending on our current work load. Sometimes we get backed up though and it can take a bit longer. Or, if your shed requires a permit or architectural review, it may take a while to get things coordinated. We will always keep you informed of the schedule if it changes.

Do I need to pour a concrete pad for my shed? Our Historic Shed™ storage sheds are built on a pressure treated frame that can be set directly on level ground, then tied down with anchor straps set in concrete. For uses other than storage, a foundation consisting of piers, stem wall or concrete slab may be required by building code. Some customers prefer to install a concrete slab for various site reasons as well. When this occurs, Historic Shed can arrange to pour the foundation or it can be contracted separately to our specifications.

Do I need a Building Permit to put a Historic Shed™ outbuilding in my yard? Maybe. Check with your local building department since requirements for sheds vary for each city. Some areas exempt storage sheds up to a certain square footage from permitting. If you plan to use your shed for a use other than storage, make sure you specify the use when talking to the building official.

For example, Tampa and Hillsborough County currently do not require a permit for storage sheds up to 150 sf, St. Petersburg and parts of Pinellas County up to 100 sf, but DeLand, Hernando County and Tarpon Springs requires permits for sheds of all sizes. (Please verify these with your local Building Department since requirements can change.)

Historic Shed provides all necessary construction drawings for our sheds. We are a licensed and insured Florida Building Contractor and can apply for all required permits.

Can you use fiber cement siding (HardiePlank) on my shed? While we will do our best to accommodate special requests, we prefer not to use fiber cement siding on our Historic Shed™ outbuildings. First, being purists, we prefer the look and feel of real wood siding for a true traditionally designed and built shed. Secondly, fiber cement siding is very heavy, which makes delivery and set-up more difficult and costly.

I live in a Historic District with Design Review. Do I have to get approval to use your products? Historic Shed can coordinate all necessary approvals with local preservation officials for you. Generally, outbuildings will require a level of review, but window screens, screen doors and lattice can usually be installed without going through the design review process.

Do I have to have a historic home in order to purchase a Historic Shed™ outbuilding? We can create a custom shed for any home, any style. However, we limit our designs to traditional architectural styles and materials which will be reflected in every shed we build.  All you have to have is an appreciation of our work.

What else do I need to know before I order my Historic Shed™ outbuilding? Check local zoning requirements to know where you can place your shed. We’d hate to install your shed only to find out that it is set too close to the property line and needs to move.

I love your sheds but live outside of Florida. Can I purchase plans to build my own? Unfortunately, with Building Code variations from state to state, it is not practical to provide plans for construction of your own shed.

Can you replicate a historic building from a photograph? (OK, not a Frequently Asked Question, but it has been asked) We will gladly design and build any traditional style small building. We maintain a catalog of historic details for reference as well as have experienced historic preservation personnel to make your outbuilding as historically accurate as possible. We will gladly take on any challenge to meet your small building needs.

OTHER Questions

When is payment required? We require a 20-30% deposit (varies based on order size and type) in order to begin any product order. Full payment is due when the product is delivered or picked up.

Will you ship Historic Shed™ (window screen/ screen door/etc.) Accessory Products outside of Florida? We will gladly ship any of our products to any continental U.S. destination. Shipping charges vary based on order size and location and are generally only economical for larger orders (i.e. more than 5 screens, 2 or more screen doors). Send an email with the delivery zip code and we’ll get a shipping price estimate for you.

Can I pay by credit card? We gladly take Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express, as well as checks and cash payment.

Do you offer financing? We have partnered with Florida-based Citizens State Bank to provide financing for your Historic Shed™ outbuilding. Email us for more information.

What is your privacy policy? We never share or sell our customer list. We want to keep you all to ourselves!

Is there sales tax? The State of Florida requires that we charge sales tax on items that we do not install on the main residence. Therefore screen doors, window screens, etc. that we install will not be charged sales tax, but if we ship or deliver the item within Florida, we are required to add the appropriate sales tax. This also means most shed sales, unless the shed will have electricity and water, will be charged the appropriate county sales tax. These aren’t our rules but we do have to abide by them.