Looking after a home garden in a busy city like Sydney can not only be a great hobby, but can also be therapeutic. Spending your weekends and summer evenings growing plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables can give you a sense of satisfaction. It can fuel a feeling of fulfilment and meaning that can keep your spirit up even when you’re having a bad day.
When you have your own garden, your tools and equipment can quickly accumulate. It’s not safe to store your garden tools and materials inside your house. Prolonged exposure to the fumes generated from the pesticides and fertilisers can be hazardous to your health. Your planting material can also attract vermin and contaminate your house. Best also to keep these items away from small hands.
And when these smelly items are moved into a garden shed it may be worth considering additional ventilation. Petrol cans are also a culprit of producing unwanted fumes.
The second advantage of ventilating your garden shed is to minimize condensation that occurs on cold mornings. The more air-circulation the better. This will stop the annoying water drips from the inside of the roof.
Therefore, most home gardeners should install a garden shed with some ventillation. They are much easier to manage and free up more storage space in your home. However, you need to implement several features to optimise your garden shed. These include lockable doors, air vents, storage options, windows, lighting, whirly birds and many more depending on your applications. This article focuses on how to ventilate your garden shed.
1. Improve Air Circulation
A good old whirly bird will shift a lot of air. It is easy to install and quite economical. One two or three will usually fit most roofs.
Alternatively passive ventilation such as sliding or louvre windows can keep the air in the shed fresh and well-circulated. They also let in light and adds atmosphere to your shed.
Good air circulation prevents the build-up of fumes from chemicals that you may have stored. It allows the constant inflow of fresh air to dissipate the odours in your shed.
2. Eliminates condensation
Good ventilation provides a way for moist air to escape from your shed. The difference in temperature inside and outside your shed can cause water to condense in your shed. The accumulated moisture can be absorbed by the structural components of your shed and begin to rot. This reduces the strength and consequent lifespan of your garden shed. It can also cause your tools and stored equipment to rust.
3. Prevents Fungal Infestation
One of the most significant challenges of a poorly ventilated garden shed in Sydney is the formation of mildew and mould. Mildew and mould are fungal organisms that grow on warm moist surfaces with poor lighting and air circulation. While mould forms on food, mildew forms on damp surfaces like walls, sinks and fabrics.
Inhaling mildew or mould spores can cause respiratory complications and other infections. It can also be quite difficult to eliminate these types of fungi once they infest your shed. They also have a distinct smell that can be present in everything you keep in your shed.
4. Temperature Regulation
If your garden shed is well-ventilated, you can enjoy working in it even on a hot summer day. As hot air escapes from the roof vents of your shed, a cool breeze is drawn in from the windows or wall vents. Also, the chemicals you store in your shed, my not do well under extreme heat conditions.
In the winter, you can use a space heater if you are working in a well-ventilated shed. The air vents bring in a constant cycle of fresh air without you opening the windows. This prevents issues such as dryness or the oxygen deprivation in the shed.
The type of ventilation you choose for your shed depends on your personal preferences and the shed design.
Read More:
Practical Ways to Improve Your Garden Shed Sydney
Difference Between a Garden Shed and a Work Shed