The right shed can offer you so much storage and a place to hide all your garden tools and instruments.
On top of that, if you choose the right one, it will make an attractive addition to your property.
There are many different materials available to choose from. Here are some of the pros and cons of plastic, wood, and metal to help you decide.
Plastic Sheds
Pros
- Easy to build
Plastic sheds are easy to construct, and they usually look neat and tidy when erected.
Almost anyone can put one together and you may be able to do it on your own.
The mold injection process of making a plastic shed means manufacturers have perfected creating each part of the shed down to a tee.
- Affordable
A plastic shed is a very affordable option, especially if you’ve been looking at wood and the prices are too high.
They are designed to last a long time and therefore they can be great value for money for storing your garden tools.
- Low Maintenance
Apart from a regular wash with a hose, there’s very little in the way of maintenance that a plastic shed needs.
Cons
- Visual Appeal
Many people are put off by the thought of a plastic shed as it’s not as visually appealing as a wooden one.
There are, however, wooden sheds you can buy that have a wood effect finish.
This is a good alternative for anyone looking for wood at a lower cost and is willing to go for plastic instead.
- Weight-bearing capability
Unlike wood, you need to consider the weight-bearing capability when putting things up on the walls in a plastic shed.
They aren’t as strong and can’t hold as much.
If you have lots of tools you’re looking to hand on the walls, plastic might not be the right material for you.
Wooden Sheds
Pros
- Visual appeal
When it comes to visual appeal, wooden sheds have to take the prize.
There are so many ways you can adapt it to make it perfect for your space and to fit the aesthetic of your garden.
- Customisability
Wooden sheds are so easy to work with when it comes to customization.
You can change the color as many times as you like, both inside and out. You can add shelves or hooks inside without too much effort.
They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
- Easy to repair
Wooden sheds are often the easiest to repair as you can remove and replace any individual slats that are damaged.
This helps to keep costs down and means that your shed can last you considerably longer.
- Durability
A wooden shed is very durable and incredibly strong.
When built well, they can face even the strongest of winds and other weather that might damage alternative material types.
Cons
- Maintenance
Wooden sheds probably require the most maintenance out of each of the shed types. After a short while, they will usually need to be painted or treated to make sure they stay in the best condition.
- Rot
Rot is a consideration when you’re buying a wooden shed. When wood gets wet, rot can creep in and can cause damage. You can use a rot repellent as part of your regular maintenance to help mitigate the risk caused by rot.
- Insect Damage
Insect damage is a bugbear (excuse the pun) for all wooden shed owners. If they get into the wood, they can cause it to break or rot away and will eventually require replacing.
Metal Sheds
Pros
- Highly durable
Metal sheds are probably the most durable of all shed types. There isn’t much that will affect them. You can put them in direct sunlight or even extremely cold conditions and there will generally not be any consequences as a result.
Metal sheds also require very little maintenance. There’s no need to sand, paint, or treat them.
- Rot & insect resistant
With a metal shed, you don’t have to worry about rot or insects causing damage.
That means there’s very little in the way of maintenance that you need to do which is great if you want something you can put in place and then not have to worry about.
- Most affordable
Metal is the most affordable material available on the market.
If you have a smaller budget or are looking for something to use for work, metal is going to be a great option for you.
Cons
- Easily dented
While metal sheds are durable and sturdy, the material can be quite thin which makes them prone to denting.
- Visual appeal
There’s very little that can be done to customize a metal shed in the same way you can with a wooden one.
If you do want to make some changes, you will probably need some industrial-strength tools to be able to do so.
As a result, they’re not very attractive. They’re made to get the job done rather than as a way of enhancing your garden.
Conclusion
Calling a custom shed designer can give you the perfect shed for your property.
