Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 5/25/2005

Question
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.  While the problem presented may be a small one,  I am hoping your insight may help prevent WWIII.  We just enlarged our outside patio so that it runs the entire width of our home which is wonderful but it took up the area where we keep our rather large and unsightly trash bins.  We truly do not have the room to keep them in the garage.  My husband's plan is to build a "box" that would match the backyard fencing and keep the trash bins in it.  The problem I see with that is that a big 8x12 outside box will not only take up a significant section of the backyard but will be ugly as well.  To add to that he wants one side of this box to butt against the backyard sidewalk.  I tried to explain that that will make the sidewalk much less usable because room needed just to maneuver the sidewalk will suddenly become a wall.  PLEASE if you have any suggestions that he might consider listening to I would very much appreciate it.  Reasons why butting the side of the box against the sidewalk from a male point of view would be wonderful and I would vow not to use it as ammunition.
Jane

Answer
Hi Jane - thanks for your question!

You're right, 8 x 12 is a large and potentially unsightly structure to have to look at in your backyard.  Your trash bins must be huge!

Something to keep in mind as your consider your options is that although the new enclosure serves your immediate purposes for hiding the bins, it may not be seen the same way by a future buyer, or your neighbors for that matter.  If the enclosure is uglier than the trash bins then you've accomplished nothing.

I do like the idea of the enclosure material matching the existing fencing - that will maintain some visual harmony in the backyard.  It seems the issues are location and size.

Is is possible to locate the structure so that it's less visible?  Obviously I can't picture your site so I can't suggest where that might be.  If the trash bins are on wheels, it might allow you to move the enclosure farther away, maybe someplace around the corner of the house.

Can you lower the height of the enclosure?  I assume there won't be a roof over it.  Since most of the time you'll be looking at it from a patio chair, can the fence around it be lower?

You might also consider changing the shape or configuration to make it less visible, or to incorporate it better into the overall patio plan.  For example, could one side of it have a built-in bench seat (that way you'd have your back to it).  Or could you use one "wall" of it to hang plants, or place plants on shelves, or install a trellis for a flowering vine?

Another solution would be to make it a little larger, and use the extra space for a potting shed/planting area.

Could the "floor" of the enclosure be lower than the yard, with a short ramp for hauling up the bins?  That would lower the height of the "walls".

With a little discussion and a lot of imagination, you ought to be able to find a way to make the new structure work for both of you!

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com
www.betterhomedesign.com