Wooden, metal and plastic sheds are popular backyard storage systems. They can be utilized as a workshop studio or a storage unit for your gardening tools or equipment. Homeowners luckily have plenty of options available to choose from to cater his storage needs. Sheds vary in size, structure and of course cost. Generally, backyard sheds are composed of a single room structure with a door. Whilst bigger sheds can look like miniature houses with windows, singled roofs and electric connection. If you are torn between metal, plastic and wooden sheds, consider the pros and cons of each.
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Wooden Sheds
A wooden shed is considered the most popular of the three types. This type is ideal as summerhouse or playhouse for kids too. Aesthetically-wise, wooden shed is the best choice since it offers visual appeal compared to the two counterparts. The fact that wood easily blends in to most backyard surroundings makes it a popular demand among homeowners and gardeners. Aside from that, wood offers flexibility too. Making changes, extensions and renovations if needed is possible with wooden sheds. With the proper wood treatment and maintenance, a wood shed is meant to last long.
Aside from its high cost, wooden shed has other drawbacks too. Among the three, if not properly stained, varnished or painted, wood is more susceptible from insect, termite, mold and mildew infestation. Wooden shed also requires more maintenance compared to metal or plastic shed. Homeowners with wooden sheds are advised to plant at least a meter away from the wooden shed wall to avoid the risk insect infestation and rot. Living in an area with monsoon season will weaken wood’s condition making them susceptible to rotting as well.
Plastic Sheds
This type is the most affordable option among the three. While it offers great qualities, plastic sheds’ durability is commendable. Plastic sheds made from high quality plastic may cost higher but homeowners can be assured long usage and with very minimal maintenance. Plastic sheds can withstand the problems that metal and wooden sheds owners usually encounters. Their structure resists moisture, humidity, insect infestations and rotting. Additionally, this type of shed does not require treatment or protective coating unlike wood and metal.
Plastic shed’s limited style or lack of visual appeal is its main drawback. Despite it’s durability most homeowners discount its great qualities in favor of a wooden shed’s aesthetic value.
Metal Sheds
Metal sheds and Metal Buildings are generally made from steel, iron or aluminum which attributes to their longevity and durability. Due to its material, metal sheds are fire and termite proof with superior resistance to bugs, mildew, mold and fungal growth. Security-wise, this type is a good investment as it offers high safety standards compared to its counterparts. Because of shed’s valuable contents like garden machinery – lawn mower, water pumps, generator etc., makes them the perfect target of thieves that every homeowners should take seriously.
As much as metal shed offer great security, it has its own drawbacks too like denting. This is particularly true with aluminum types. A thin metal roof may not strong enough to resist the heavy weight of the accumulated snow during winter season or debris. This is the reason why it is important to have a scheduled rooftop cleaning routine. Homeowners residing in hurricane-prone areas must take caution as constant heavy winds are powerful enough to topple over a metal shed made from aluminum material. It is recommended to properly treat your metal sheds or else it will attract rust after a few years of usage. Steel buildings on the other hand, are a great addition to any home. Many builders even offer custom buildings to fit your needs and space.
Featured images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: ilikesheds.com/
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: ilikesheds.com/
She wants to describe herself as green-thumb. Raised in Cornwall countryside, Carol Lee busied herself from gardening and later retreat herself into her shabby wooden shed for the much needed me-time. You can read here shed adventures here.
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I really like the fact that metal sheds are resistant to termites and mold, especially since I live in a fairly humid climate. Homes in my area tend to have pest and mold problems, so it would be nice to have a shed that will resist those common problems. Plus, that higher durability means that I won’t have to spend a lot of time doing maintenance work on the shed!
Over the past five years structural steel fabrication in Australia has declined at an annual rate of just under 1%… This has been influenced by the weak domestic demand related to the construction industry, volatility in steel prices which have raised costs and the introduction of the carbon tax” he says.
I personally love the blue wooden shed on this page it has great character. But lets face it Steel sheds can be a far superior shed compared to wooden ones. When we spend so much time in sheds doing jobs around the house. It is worth the investment to spend that little extra for a top quality shed that is comfortable to work in with good storage space for tools and machinery.
My brother recently purchased a home that has a very large yard. He is starting to accumulate tools and equipment for his yard, but he needs a place to store it all. I didn’t realize that metal sheds offer longevity and durability while providing security to its contents. That seems like something my brother could use right now.