Shed maintenance/protection

[NotAGolf]

I need a garden shed, but I'm not sure what material to get.

I'd like to put it right in the corner of the garden to maximise our grass area. However, putting it right in the corner, or even leaving ~1ft around the edges, means I won't have access to coat 2 of the sides of the shed, which puts me off going for the wood option as I think it needs regular maintenance to stop it from rotting.

I'd be worried about metal rusting over time, plus they look pretty flimsy.

Might a plastic one like the Keter Factor be a better option? They're a bit pricier than a wooden Tigershed jobby, but not by a silly amount. I've got one of the Keter storage boxes and it's ok, but the lid has bowed slightly over time, and the base isn't strong, so I'd be worried about floor standing racks in there, and they're not sturdy enough to hang anything on the walls.

Any suggestions?

 

[Deleted User 298457]

The metal sheds are galvanised - I fitted two at my mums place ~20 years ago and they are still as-new condition.

Wood can last a lifetime if it is on a proper base with guttering. It is the water splashes that rot it out from the bottom. My workshop is tanalised wood shiplap (albeit top shelf stuff) and looks brand new despite being fitted ~20 years ago. I phoned them up and asked what to do to protect it- they said nothing. I Barrentine'd it to be sure but it was going to fine without.

The plastic stuff seems OK but UV is what'll eat it eventually.

The key is getting a proper base (not something daft like pea gravel or soil) and stopping splash back (guttering/proper fall).

 

[sovietspybob]

i personally wouldn't get a wooden shed unless you can re-paint it on all sides, can you leave enough room to use a roller with a long handle?

Main thing with wooden sheds is to have them not standing in water, so don't put it on a concrete base as it'll just rot in no time. On a bed of gravel in those plastic gravel base things works really well.

 

[D-Ranged]

What are you going to be putting in it? Metal won't rust, but you run the risk of condensation dripping on the roof. So if you're putting anything metal in there, it could get damp/rusted.

 

[NotAGolf]

What are you going to be putting in it? Metal won't rust, but you run the risk of condensation dripping on the roof. So if you're putting anything metal in there, it could get damp/rusted.

Garden tools, lawnmower, chairs, bbq, that sort of thing. So yes, stuff that would go rusty if there's a condensation issue.

 

[j.col]

I have had a wood shed for nearly 20 years now and its still in perfect condition.
I used oil based wood preserver (metal tin) and gave the shed 2 coats inside and out before erecting it.
I only have about 600mm gap along 1 side and the rear, but every 5 years or so i use an extension pole and roller and give it another coat of the oil based preserver, its awkward but doable.
As above, water is your biggest enemy, especially at the base and run off from the roof.
I laid my shed on a slab base, then i used some old 50mm block pavers in rows along the floor joists with some dpc on top of the blocks, so the whole base of the shed is off the ground.
I have gutters both sides going into slim water butts, this keeps the water run off from the roof flowing down the side of the shed.
Using a bit of common sense and a wooden shed can last years.

My dad fitted a metal shed about 3 years ago.
It was a major pain in the *** to fit. The metal was paper thin and really sharp.
Tbh once it was all up it looked ok, but there were loads of air gaps under the eaves and along the base.
We fitted it on old 900x600x50 slabs (we call them council slabs) but we noticed when it rained, the run off flowed under the base into the shed.
We had to run a bead of silicon sealant around the whole base perimeter to stop the run off flowing into the shed.
We also found the sliding doors were very clunky and flimsy.
My dad regrets not getting a wooden shed, but i suppose if he had bought a better quality steel shed it may have been better.

 

[DXP55]

As above -whatever shed you buy make sure your base is at least 1" shorter all round just so water drops on ground not the base.
I jacked my shed up and put some treated battons undernearth - if they rot all I have to do is jack it up again and renew -Much cheaper than a new shed.
Also my summer house base is smaller than summer house and so far so good.

PS I have raised bases

 

[Richie]

I have a composite shed. No painting required shouldn't require any real maintenance. More expensive than wood for initial purchase but literally zero maintenance required so, over time, the cost is likely similar.

No need for a fancy base or for guttering or lifting it up. Mine is sat on bare concrete slabs and I have had zero issues. I only fitted guttering to get rainwater into a butt and also prevent the ground on one side from getting soaked with the runoff from the roof.