Storage sheds can be built from materials that might not be practical for larger buildings. Of course, they can be built from standard building materials as well. I have seen brick and stone buildings built for the sole purpose of storage, and while that is nice if it fits your overall look, and you are willing to spend the money, it is not necessary in most cases. There are cheaper materials available which can be coordinated with most other building materials and landscapes.

Plastic sheds

Plastic sheds can be molded, or extruded. Plastic sheds offer a measure of style and versatility, as well as an added level of durability for the shed buyer, and they can be watertight. The earliest plastic models suffered from ultraviolet rays which produced some brittleness and powdering, but newer generations have suffered much less from this problem. Plastic sheds can be made as horizontal boxes for storing small equipment like patio and pool tools, as well as standard gardening tools. They can be vertical buildings more akin to standard storage buildings as well.

Vinyl sheds

Vinyl sheds, are closely related to plastic sheds in material, and wood sheds in construction. They work well for common uses, and can be built to match most home siding without interfering with the overall aesthetic.

Wooden sheds

Wood sheds are excellent as garden sheds. They can fit into all types of surroundings from ultra modern to aged Japanese tea rooms for more detailed gardens, and as long as they are properly maintained, they will last a lifetime. Do not underestimate the need for maintenance. You should be prepared to clean and reseal the building once a year, or at least every 18 months.

Metal sheds

Metal sheds are durable and last a long time with little maintenance. Of the different types available, steel sheds with galvanized primed and painted sheet steel are some of the best values on the market. Many have as much as a 25 year warranty on rust through, and most will last much longer without problems. Minimum maintenance can easily expand the life of such buildings beyond that of their users.

Shed plans are easily available, so are kits, or if you are not the do it yourself type, the prices for such buildings are already pretty low.

What is the best shed material for you?

The best shed material for you and your shed depends mostly on what you want and need, and it’s intended use.  Do a little research, and find out what will work best in your situation before you jump in. You can find a lot of information right here on this site.

Share on Facebook

After you buy or build your storage building, there will still be a little work to do from time to time. There will come a time when you will need to perform maintenance and minor repairs. This section will guide you through the basic process and offer information on setting up a preventive maintenance program that will not eat all your spare time.

Whatever material your storage building is made of, it will last longer and serve you better with preventive maintenance checks and good maintenance practices. Maintenance is the life of your storage shed.

Storage shed preventive maintenance

First and foremost, prevention is the key to any good maintenance program. This should start at the very beginning of the process. Your choice of materials will set the pace for your maintenance needs in the future. Some materials are just more durable than others, but some of the less durable materials may be needed to fit some applications. Other preventive measures would include things like avoiding tool and equipment dings, dents, and damage which can compromise the integrity of the structure.

Storage shed materials

It is just hard to avoid the fact that galvanized and painted steel will outlast wood or composite sidings. It is not a sales tactic, it is just the truth. It is also true that such materials will require less maintenance over the extended life of the building than their wood and composite counter parts. These are just the facts. Knowing this to be true, makes choosing material based on ease and longevity a ‘no brainer”. However, ease and longevity are not the only factors in choosing a building or the materials used to build it.

Other factors may include, appearance, price, and local restrictions. Sometimes it may be necessary to blend an additional feature such as a shed with the home and landscape, and in such cases, wood may be the best choice. Budget restraints may make wood or composite siding the initial best choice, although the additional maintenance costs over several years will probably make the steel siding a more economical choice in the long run. Home Owners Associations seem to prefer wooden structures over metal structures, so if you have a HOA where you live, you may have little choice in the matter. Whatever the reason, wood and composite sidings will require a higher level of maintenance.

Metal storage shed preventive maintenance

Maintenance for metal sheds is simple. Once a year, or more often if you like, you should perform the following inspection and follow up:

Debris

Keep the top free of debris like tree limbs. Such things can cause a build up of organic materials that can add stress to the structure. Denting or sagging could result, and water damage could be a consequence.

Cleaning

Give the building a good cleaning to remove grime. Use a mild detergent with no abrasives.

Touch up

During the cleaning process you may have noted some scratches or dings to the siding. In such cases, let the spot dry completely, and then use a little oil based paint matching your color to touch up those spots.

Level

Check the building to be sure it is level. The first indication of this will probably be sticking doors. If the doors should become “sticky” between annual inspections, check the structure with a spirit level, and adjust it as needed.

Fasteners

Tighten or replace loose or missing screws. This will help to avoid water and wind damage. check with a nut driver and tighten as needed. The addition of a small amount of silica sealer to the threads of screws that were extremely loose may help to prevent this in the future.

Wooden storage shed preventive maintenance

Wood rot occurs only in the presence of moisture. There is no such thing as dry root, If wood is dry and rotting, water was present at some point to initiate the rot, and the rotting will stop once the moisture is removed.

Knowing this, we can understand that the most significant danger to a wood or composite structure is moisture, so preventing moisture is our main objective. This simply means, that we need to keep the wooden surfaces from being penetrated by moisture by sealing them with paint or sealer and caulk. Some woods are resistant to moisture damage, but even these will benefit from proper sealing.

Once a year, your wooden or composite structure should be:

• Inspected
• Leveled
• Cleaned
• Re-sealed

This is the best preventive maintenance possible. Special attention should be paid to any openings in the structure such as doors, windows, and vents, as these are usually the primary entrance points for rain or irrigation water, and the first places to show signs of damage. Look for discoloration around the frames of the openings, and seal with caulk or weatherstrip, whichever is needed. This should be done whether it appears to be needed or not. All joints should be re-caulked, and all surfaces should get a coat of paint or sealer. Shingles should be inspected and replaced if needed. Doing this consistently will add years of life to your wooden shed.

Vinyl storage shed preventive maintenance

All of the applicable points for wood and metal sheds should be taken into account with vinyl sheds. They should be cleaned, sealed, and leveled at least once per year.

Share on Facebook

What is involved in buying a storage shed? There are several factors, the most important of which is not cost, or availability, but what you need. Buying a storage building involves defining what the needs are, determining how much space is needed, determining available space, determining the best materials for the building, deciding on proper placement, and the actual process of buying a building with one of the many possible methods available.

Defining your storage needs

Ask yourself: What do I need? Do you need a little extra space to store a few gardening hand tools, or do you need a building large enough for a house full of furniture? Do you plan to work inside, or just reach inside for a rake or shovel? What will you need in the future? Answer those questions, and you will be on your way to picking the right utility building for you.

Determining needed space

If you need space for basic yard tools, an 6′x8′ small shed may give you ample space and more. If you are planning to store the overflow from your garage, you may need to pick a larger structure, and add a loft. If you know exactly what you want to store in the building, you can measure the items to get the number of square feet, or even cubic feet if they need to be stacked, and determine your need for space in that way. You could even set the items out the way you plan to store them, and then make your measurements. You should attempt to leave enough empty space to provide a path from the front to the back. The same is true for your lawn and garden tools. You will need ample space to store them and to access them without frustration. Whatever size you decide on, add an extra 10% for future growth.

Determining available space

Do you have space available for the building? You might want to get a measuring tape and some stakes to be sure. Take into account such things as landscape and mower access. Buying a building that will not fit in your yard could be a problem. One other spatial consideration is height. Some Home Owners Associations require that buildings do not rise above the height of privacy fences.

Determining delivery accessibility

If you plan to buy a pre-constructed portable utility building, you will have to get it into your yard. Fences, and other structures can present barriers. There is no better way to check this than by using a tape measure to be certain. Finding out that it won’t fit when the delivery crew shows up is a little late, and will cost you in the long run.

Deciding on placement

If you place the building too close to another structure, it might make mowing difficult or impossible. If the structure blocks sunlight to sun loving plants, they will suffer. If the shed sits atop an irrigation head, your irrigation will not function properly, and if it sits between your irrigation heads and a part of your lawn or landscape, some adjustments may need to be made. This could effect your choice of building sizes.

Deciding on the right materials

In most cases, the most durable material is the most desirable material, but in some situations this may not be the case. On case in point is communities with Home Owner Associations. HOA’s may require wood sided buildings, a regulation that needs to be reaccessed because those with painted steel are more durable and will last longer with less maintenance. There may be other cases, such as design considerations like blending the building in with the landscape.

The buying process

You can buy a storage shed in a number of ways.

1. You can purchase a kit online, or at most home improvement stores
2. You can have a building built on your property
3. You can have a building of your design built and moved onto your lot
4. You can buy direct from a builder off a lot

Buying a kit online, or at a hardware outlet will require payment up front, the prices may be somewhat less than buying a completed building. Having a building built at your home will probably cost about the same as having one delivered. If you plan to buy on a “lease purchase” agreement, this is probably out, since most suppliers will not lease a building that is built on site. If you buy from a small shed supplier, whether from a lot, or have one built to suit your needs, rent to own, or lease purchase may be a reasonable option. Beware that in most such programs you will pay almost double for the building. The dealers are not trying to trick you, they are just covering all the bases. Most dealers will tell you this up front. Even with this, rent to own can be a good option for a small storage building, and early payoff will save you money.

Some suppliers offer other buying programs, such as local bank financing, 90 days same as cash, secured credit card payment, and, of course, they will always take cash!

Share on Facebook

Your storage shed can be a handy place to toss a few things inside to get them out of the way, but if that is all you do with your building you are missing out on a good opportunity to improve your quality of life. With just a little creative thought and work, sheds can make your life a lot easier and less frustrating.

With that in mind, we thought we would offer a few tips on getting the most from your storage shed.

1. If you plan to use your utility building for storage, adding shelves or a loft will give you a lot of extra space without taking up more floor space. It can be done pretty easily with pre-built shelf kits, or just a little ingenuity on your part. Two 2×4′s screwed to the studs with a piece of plywood for a shelf or loft is really all you need for storing light materials like Christmas decorations.
2. Leave some space for aisles. This can save you a lot of frustration when you decide that you actually need that old TV in the very back corner for a video game monitor.
3. On the subject of boxes, color coding them before you store them, and keeping a list in the shed can be really helpful when you need something. You can get some colored adhesive dots, and put a number on each to match your list.
4. If tool storage space is what you need, consider magnetic strips for steel handled items, or installing a pegboard with pegs for them. For larger tools like rakes and shovels, a peg system works well, and, in a pinch, a small 30 gallon drum, or heavy trash receptacle can be used to keep them with the handle down so that you have less tangling. A section or two of large PVC pipe can also be attached to a wall stud with the top about 3′ from the floor to get similar results.
5. If you are going to store heavier lawn equipment like gasoline powered mowers, consider buying, or building a ramp to make getting them inside easier. Ramps are cheap and easy to build, and whatever effort you put forth to get one, will be save a thousand times over, and you will have fewer backaches.
6. If you plan to do light work, like sharpening tools, or potting plants in your storage shed, you can easily install a work bench in most shed types, and most dealers will build one for you for a small fee as well.
7. If your sheds purpose is as a garden shed, adding a slatted potting bench can be a very valuable addition. Some extra shelves for holding plants as you pot them, or let them harden off will maximize it’s usefulness.
8. Adding an electric line to your storage shed can give you that little bit of extra light you need to do your work or find your stuff. Be sure to follow local ordinances with all electrical installations. Even if your local ordinances won’t allow you to wire your shed for electricity, or if you want to be more environmentally friendly, you can still have lighting by purchasing a solar powered lighting unit. There are many available.

This is not an all inclusive list, and I am betting that you can come up with more ideas to maximize the benefits of your storage shed. Just be creative, think outside the box, and you can find other ways to use your storage building to solve some of your chronic and frustrating common problems without spending an arm and a leg.

Share on Facebook

If you need outdoor storage, there are a few options. The most obvious, and straightforward are; buying, or building. There are also 2 related options, buying storage shed kits, which is the best and worst of both worlds, or hiring a contractor to build a shed for you. The question is this: Should you buy your storage shed, build it yourself, buy a storage shed kit to put together yourself, or hire a contractor to build a storage building for you?

The information here should help you decide which method best suits you and your needs.

Buying storage sheds

There are thousands of places to buy storage buildings, and there are several ways to do it, including cash, bank financing, or rent to own, but is buying your best option?

Advantages of buying a storage shed

The advantages of buying are pretty obvious. The building is ready to use once it is set up on your property, and it usually comes with a material and workmanship warranty for your protection. If you don’t have time to build, or if you feel you lack the skills or tools for such a project, this may be your best option.

Disadvantages of buying storage sheds

The disadvantages of buying a storage shed are also pretty obvious. The cost will probably be higher, which can be a big concern for those of us who might be on a pretty tight budget. There are also the delivery considerations. If you have a lot of obstructions, or a fence with a walk through only gate, you will have to remove the obstacles, and remove a section of fence for the delivery truck, or reconsider the building option.

Building storage sheds

Building utility buildings is not beyond the ability of many homeowners. It takes some knowledge and a little skill with a few basic tools, and a good set of plans. If you have had even minimal experience in basic construction, and are reasonably good with hand tools, and the hand tools you need, a good solid plan will help you through the rough spots. The plan is all important for several reasons. It will allow you to know what tools and materials you will need ahead of time, and it will keep you from wasting the material once you have it.

Advantages of building your own storage shed

The biggest advantage of building your storage building yourself is probably the cost. If saving money is your goal, you can save quite a bit by doing it yourself. Other advantages include the pride of building something for yourself, and complete creative control over the creative and building processes.

Disadvantages of building your own storage shed

The disadvantages of building for yourself, are of course, the work involved in gathering materials, and cutting, fastening, painting, and caulking. You will also have no warranty other than what the material supplier provides.

Buying and assembling a shed kit

Storage shed kits are one great option for the homeowner needing storage. There was a time when many of these kits were so difficult to assemble that building from scratch was a better option. That has changed. Most of the shed kits available from reputable companies today are far easier to work with than their predecessors.

Shed kit advantages

The advantages of using storage shed kits to build your small storage building are that they can be shipped or hauled to your location, and that you don’t have to worry about getting them inside your fence, since this can be done a parcel at a time. They will also be less expensive than prebuilt storage buildings, or having a contractor build one for you.

Disadvantages of building with a shed kit.

Storage shed kits do require some labor, and can be a little frustrating at times, depending on the type of kit you buy, and the numbers of parts and clarity of the instructions. If the thought of trying to figure out how to attach “tab a to slot b” is enough to drive you to drink, you might consider one of the other options.

Have your shed built on site

Contractors and storage building suppliers will often build on site. What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking this course of action?

Advantages of contractor building on site

The advantages of contractor building on site are: Avoiding the labor of building it yourself, and having a warranty for the material and workmanship. These are, of course, the same advantages as buying a prefab shed, but you won’t have to remove your fence to get the building in place.

Disadvantages of having a contractor building on site

The main disadvantage of using this method is the cost. It will probably cost as much, or a little more than buying a utility shed directly from a supplier and having it delivered, but if you don’t want to build it yourself, and don’t have a clear cut way to get it into your yard, it could be the best answer.

Consider all of your options before you take any other step, and the experience of storage shed ownership should be a pleasant one, without the hassles of trying to change horses in mid stream.

Share on Facebook

When the time arrives for a new utility building, storage building, shop, or garage, there are a lot of options. In fact, there are so many possibilities, that the process can become mind boggling! Let’s break things down to the essential elements, and make the job of selection a little easier:

Building size

The size of the building you need is one of your most important initial concerns. Size should be determined based on needs and available space. If you need more space than you have available for square footage on the ground, design comes into play. You may need to purchase a building with enough headroom for a loft to make up for available space on the ground. Whatever your space needs, it is a good idea to add about 10% or more to your final figure to allow for growth. Once you have determined the size, your next concern will be building material.

Building materials

There are several building materials available to the modern property owner, but there is one that stands out above the rest in all areas. Steel. American industry is built on steel, and there are good reasons.

Steel is comparatively inexpensive. Per square foot, it is one of the cheapest alternatives on the market. If you factor in durability, longevity, and design factors steel will always come out on top. Modern galvanizing and coatings assure a long, virtually maintenance free life for steel buildings, saving you the cost of maintenance, and the expense of rebuilding after a few years.

Building design

With the innovations in modern modular building technology, you can design, build, and buy steel buildings online to perfectly meet your needs, and it is easier and less expensive than you might imagine. There are tools available which will allow you to design your own building, choose colors, and get a price for the completed package without ever leaving your chair!

You will be given choices, like the outside wall height, roof type, overall shape and size of the building, door types and numbers, window options, anchoring type, additional bracing, anchoring type, and colors. With the software used by companies like Barns.com, you can build the building online, and get a quote without any hassle. Be sure to look beyond the question boxes, and check out the side bar for other options when you reach the build online page. This will increase your options.

Buy steel buildings online now

Share on Facebook

Storage

Storage has always been a necessary part of life, and this necessity has led to many innovations, including larger living quarters with indoor storage, off site storage, and backyard storage or outdoor storage buildings.

Home or public storage

With our increasingly mobile society, extra storage has become more important than ever, and with so much downsizing due to economic difficulty, indoor storage has become less of an option. This leaves either storage off site, which has the downside of being some distance from the home, which requires travel time and expense, and rental cost, or the use of sheds and outdoor storage buildings.

Garden sheds

Garden sheds can make life a lot more convenient, while protecting your lawn and garden equipment and other items that might otherwise end up taking up the space in your garage that your car should occupy.

Storage building uses

There are any other advantages to owning your own storage shed, and there are many ways to use them to solve other problems around the home and workplace, and many opportunities to improve the families lifestyle. Utility buildings like storage sheds can serve many other purposes like exercise rooms, workshops, office space, game rooms, and business storage for those of us who work at home.

Share on Facebook

Metal Garages

Traditional garages are built into, or onto a home. They rarely serve the purpose for which they were originally intended. Most garages are being used for storage, or extra rooms of some kind, and in many ways, this is for the best. Think about it: How smart is it to park a fossil fuel powered, internal combustion engine vehicle inside your home?

Unconnected metal garages

Today a lot of people are opting for an unconnected garage a short distance from the family home, and that is often a metal garage. Metal garages can be created in a lot of shapes and sizes, and the simplest of them can be very affordable, while the more complex metal garages are, at worst, a great value.

Steel garages the metal of choice

The metal of choice for a garage, a carport, or a shop is steel. Galvanized steel frames, and galvanized, painted sheet metal will last for many years, and provide attractive, durable service.

Metal garage uses

The uses for such steel garages or shops are nearly endless. Workshops, offices, storage, and even housing is not out of the question. Garage type metal buildings are being built as homes, and as the basis for stores of every type throughout the country.

Indeed, many home owners are replacing composition shingle roofs with steel roofing when it is time for a change. It is only a matter of time before builders and homeowners alike extend the steel siding to the rest of the home.

Share on Facebook

Shopping for your utility building

How do you get that just right utility buildings? Go shopping. You don’t have to climb into the car and drive all over town to start this.

You can do it from the comfort of your own home. Search the Internet for buildings like the one you know you will need. Search locally by adding the name of your location. For instance, if you live in a town known as “Example”, search for “utility building Example My State”. Don’t add commas between the words. that will cause the search to serve up results for utility building, and results for Example, and results for My State, all separately. Look through the results of your search. There should be at least some results for utility building businesses close to your area. click on the results, and see if they have what you are looking for. Continue to click on the results until you have the results you are looking for, even if it takes several pages of results to find what you need. Collect the phone numbers and addresses of the most promising dealers. If at first you don’t succeed, try a different search for a different group of words.

Telephone shopping for utility buildings

There is also the good old fashioned phone book. Use it to find local utility building dealers, and call about details. You are already armed with the facts about what you need!

Looking at utility buildings

Now, hop in the car, and take a look at the buildings that you have discovered. There is a good chance that exactly what you are looking for, is setting somewhere on a local lot! If it is not, many dealers can have a utility building custom made for you in short order. In most cases, you will not be charged much, if any, above what the building would cost if it were already setting on a lot.

Deciding where to locate your utility building

Your utility building should be placed where it can be reached easily, and where it does not interfere with lawn and landscape practices. we also need to think about the irrigation system, and how it will interact with the utility building. Some irrigation adjustments may be needed.

Getting your utility building to you

Most buildings are built at a factory like facility, and then delivered to the locations where they are to be displayed and sold. When a utility building is sold on a lot, it will be picked up at that lot, and hauled to it’s new home. That is not the only way it can be done though. A utility building can be built to meet your specific needs, and hauled directly to your place, or they can be built on site. On site building normally requires an on site fee, but this will be partially offset by omitting the cost of a delivery fee. There is always a cost for delivery.

When a dealer tells you that they do not charge for delivery, that simply means that they have figured the cost into the utility building in other places. Free delivery is a gimmick. Look at the quality, and the final cost, and that will determine the buildings true value.

Free utility building delivery?

If you buy a building it will have to be delivered to your site, or built on your site. As for delivery, don’t be fooled by claims of “no delivery fees”! You will be charged a delivery fee, whether it is included in the cost of the building, or charged separately. Fuel and labor are not free, and the cost will be passed on to you in one form or another. If you are looking at two or more companies, free delivery claims should not be the deciding factor. The deciding factor should be value.

What you need to determine is the value of the utility building, and that will be determined by the buildings long term suitability, and the final price. A building made of inferior materials, with poor workmanship will cost you a lot more in maintenance down the road, free delivery or not!

Delivery and placement planning

As for the actual physical delivery, there are a few things that will need a little attention:

• You will probably be asked to give directions when you make your purchase.
• You will also be asked about the surroundings and final placement, and how the building should be oriented on the truck for proper placement.
• Being certain that the route to your house is clear of low hanging limbs or lines will be of tremendous help to your delivery driver.
• Plan for such things as fences, gates, or any other impediments to delivery.
• Know the exact spot where you want your building to be placed ahead of time.
• The delivery crew will level the building on the spot, but the ground should be reasonably level before delivery.

Financing utility buildings

Portable utility building producers and dealers want to sell buildings. That is why they are in the business. For that reason, most will have several financing options available. Of course, everyone loves cash. Most will help you to locate a loan source, and there is also the rent to own option, and some dealers offer ‘90 days same as cash”.

See also: Storage Building Placement

• Renting Or Owning Storage Space
• Choosing The Right Storage Building
• Portable Buildings Need And Uses
• Utility Building Shopping Buying Placement

Share on Facebook

A few notes about building delivery

Sheds can not be zapped into existence, or zapped into your backyard. They will not drive themselves to your place of residence when you buy them. This is important to take into account. If you are buying a storage building for delivery, there are a few things you should consider.

Free Delivery?

I know there are a lot of manufacturers who offer “free delivery”, but don’t let such offers be the deciding factor in choosing a building. In the first place, pick out the building you want, with the accessories you need, made with the materials you desire, determine the cost to get the building to your place and then compare apples to apples. There is really no such thing as free delivery, the cost of the delivery is calculated into the cost of the building at some point. There may also be a permit fee in some areas.

Don’t expect next day delivery

The delivery of a storage shed will probably not happen over night. If your storage building is built especially for you, it will take a little longer still. I say this to let you know that if you want a storage building in your yard next month, you should buy it today!

Delivery methods

If you buy a storage building, you will need to have a way to get it to your home. The standard means of doing this is on a truck or trailer. In most cases, the supplier will supply this service.

Storage building delivery directions

You will need to give clear directions to your home so that your delivery team can get your building to you easily. Drawing a map would probably be a good idea. You will also need to tell them how it will need to be loaded in order to off load it in the right position.

Obstacles to storage building delivery

You should become aware of any potential obstacles to delivering your storage shed. Low hanging power lines or communication lines, narrow gates, and other such problems could slow or halt your delivery. It is better to know about these problems ahead of time so that the proper arrangements can be made to solve the problem.

Delivery problems with your site

Be sure that your own property is ready for the delivery of the building as well. Make sure that the spot you have picked out is accessible, clear of any debris, and reasonably level. If weather conditions can make your location unavailable, let your storage shed company know as soon as you are aware of this. It could save you and your delivery people a lot of frustration and heartache.

Share on Facebook