Metal sheds...

amfisted · 20 Feb 2018

I have a Keter plastic shed in my garden which is 78 inches by 120 inches. It was inherited when we moved in here, and was almost certainly obtained second hand by the previous owner, so its got a few years under its belt. Its got a proper plastic floor and is laid on a decent concrete base. However, its starting to look a bit sad, starting to smell a bit mouldy and I've never been particularly confident that the stuff in there is secure. So much so, that I've put a wooden frame inside to support it and to reduce the chances of someone getting at my stuff by cutting the plastic walls open with a penknife.

I'm now thinking of replacing it with a metal shed of roughly the same size, and I'm seeking recommendations for makes/ suppliers, if anyone would be so kind? There are plenty of metal sheds for sale online that look very pretty in the pictures, but there's no substitute for hands on experience when it comes to this sort of thing.

Thanks in advance.

amfisted · 21 Feb 2018

Main things being quality of construction, ease of assembly, security of the doors, length of manufacturer's warranty etc. All things I could find out for myself by going out and looking at examples, but I'd still like to hear about the experiences of others, if you please.

scbk · 21 Feb 2018

I assembled a metal shed for a friend of a family member. It needed a full base as didn't have a floor. Was a nightmare to put up, hundreds of pieces and small fiddly screws. Not much headroom. Not secure. Damp inside due to condensation and the lack of a floor. I'm sure it looked nice in the catalogue but it didn't work out well.

Best off with a quality wooden shed IMO

oldbutnotdead · 22 Feb 2018

Always going to hit condensation issues with tin sheds and noise (the racket the rain makes bouncing off the roof and walls is really annoying). As above, decent wooden shed every day, think mine was a Walton, been up for 12 years now, only maintenance has been throwing that cheap brown timber preservative at it every 3 or 4 years and replacing the roofing felt when the wind ripped it off. Still wind and watertight

amfisted · 22 Feb 2018

Thanks both for your responses. Condensation is also an issue with the plastic shed, because in cold winter weather droplets of water always form on the underside of the roof, and I have to keep items which are susceptible to damp covered up to avoid damage from internal rainfall. I hadn't thought about the noise of rain hitting the roof, so fair point.

I suppose the best thing to do is go and look at some metal sheds and compare them with wooden ones. I've never actually been up close and personal with a metal shed, but I get the distinct impression that the metal is not particularly sturdy and unlikely to resist a determined attempt to force the doors. Wood can rot of course, but as you point out, OBND, with some basic maintenance you can keep a wooden shed shipshape for many years. Plastic needs virtually no maintenance except the occasionally blast with a jetwash to remove mould stains, but the walls of a plastic shed are woefully flimsy and definitely need internal reinforcement.

big-all · 22 Feb 2018

wood will not rot in normal use
it will only rot when about a constant 19% moisture
this tends to happen where moisture is held at ground level or by build up off debris or in the shade
wood can be dry then soaking then at a constant 19% but as long as its cycling every few days its not a problem

amfisted · 22 Feb 2018

Thank you for that detailed and interesting reply. I was previously under the impression that choosing a wooden shed over plastic or metal would be a backward step, but now I'm far less sure.

oldbutnotdead · 22 Feb 2018

Don't bother with the cheap wooden sheds at your local DIY shed- they're really really flimsy. If you're a cheeky sort, have a look at your neighbourhood with Google Maps (set to satellite), see who has a nice-looking garden shed and go and chat them up

. Or do it old-school if you can see peoples back gardens from the street or back lane without looking too suspicious.....

And then for your amusement price the materials for building a small block building- there won't be a massive difference (if you ignore how long it'll take you to build the thing)

Keithmac · 22 Feb 2018

I bough a YardMaster metal shed, 4m x 3m about 10 years ago.

It's bolted to a decent concrete base (50cm thick iirc).

Security wise, I lined the inside of the doors with thick ply to strengthen them up and had a pair of metal handes made that are padlocked together (supplied handles were just plastic).

Condensation was an issue in winter, I cut some letterbox sized holes near the top of the side panels and covered with metal grills and it's bone dry inside now.

The bolted down wall rails have had a bead of sealant applied aound the outside perimeter to stop water ingress but I did this as belt and braces rather than necessity.

I've got no complaints at all, still rust free and solid after 10 years!.

amfisted · 23 Feb 2018

I understand the value of reinforcing a shed and I've done it with this plastic unit. Its possible to cut your way into a plastic shed with a sharp knife, so I thought it important to put a wooden frame inside to provide an additional barrier against intrusion. The frame is also handy for hanging tools and other items inside the shed.

I've seen metal sheds in this neighbourhood but there don't appear to be any wooden examples I could investigate, which is a shame. I'd need a shed at least 6 x 8 to accept all the stuff I'm already storing, and I'll have to wait for better weather because the contents would need to be left outside between dismantling of the old shed and erection of the new.

I have had some experience in dealing with condensation in the house so I can appreciate the principle of adding further ventilation to a metal shed to reduce problems.

More food for thought, so thanks again.

EdTurtle · 4 Mar 2018

I had a job lot of bricks free of charge, so i built a brick one... My advice would be to look around for people giving away bricks (seems to be a few round here). If you cant get enough to build four walls, build three out of block (paint or render) then build the front in brick (or the side(s) that you see the most), or even build the corners in brick and fill in with blocks. OR, just build it all in block. I also managed to get some old ceiling joists from the dump, so used these and slates and i have a nice looking roof as well. Much better than wood.

How long are you going to live there?

amfisted · 4 Mar 2018

Probably not long enough to make it worthwhile building a shed out of bricks, but thanks for your contribution anyhow. ;0)

EdTurtle · 5 Mar 2018

I'd still price it up though, might surprise you, could potentially add value to the house when you sell if its a decent job etc

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Metal sheds...

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