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The Best Shed Material (Cost, Durability, Appearance, & More)

The Best Shed Material (Cost, Durability, Appearance, & More)

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It’s important to have a shed so you can store tools and other things outside. You need a handy place to put your yard tools as well as your mower.

If you don’t have one, it’s likely going to be worthwhile to build one. Perhaps you’re thinking about building your own shed sometime soon.

This makes you wonder what the best material is to use. When you want to make one that will stand the test of time, what material should you use to build it?

Read on to learn about the best shed material options. You’ll learn about the common choices so you can make a shed that will stand on your property for many years to come.

Don’t simply buy the most affordable material and build a shed as fast as you can. It’s worth it to think about your options so you can make informed choices.

Are Wooden Sheds Good?

The traditional choice when making a shed is to build it out of wood. This is indeed a very good option that can work out nicely.

One good aspect of building a wooden shed is you can make it look really good. It’s easy to customize wooden sheds by painting them or staining the wood in certain ways.

It’s common to paint a wooden shed to match up with the color of your home. This is going to look fantastic if you do everything right.

You might even be able to make the roof look similar to the roof on your home. If you have good carpentry skills, using wood as the material for your shed will be a solid choice.

Of course, there are some downsides to using wood for sheds. Firstly, wood is going to be the most expensive material to use by far.

You’ll need to spend a bit of cash to get high-quality wood if you want to go this route. Also, wood is vulnerable to certain things.

Harsh weather can cause wood to decay over time. This is why it’s best to treat the wood to protect it from the elements.

You’ll also want to spray the wood to protect it from insects. It’s important to keep termites and other such pests from making a meal out of your new shed.

Are Metal Sheds Good?

You might be thinking about getting a metal shed. It’s common for people to build sheds out of galvanized aluminum or steel.

There are many positive aspects of making sheds out of metal. These sheds are incredibly durable and they don’t cost a lot of money either.

You can buy a metal shed that’s already made if you want to. Otherwise, you can buy the metal that you need to build the shed yourself.

It’ll be less expensive than building a wooden shed by quite a bit. For many, getting a metal shed is going to be the most cost-effective option.

Sadly, there are some significant downsides to using metal as the shed material. Metal sheds have the potential to rust over time.

Exposure to rain and snow can negatively impact the shed. Also, the metal could become dented if you bump into it with your mower or have other accidents.

Despite this, it’s easy to see why metal is an appealing shed material. It could be the perfect choice if you’re on a budget and you want a durable shed that will get the job done.

Are Vinyl Sheds Good?

Vinyl sheds are somewhat new compared to wood and metal sheds. You might also find these sheds being sold as “resin sheds” or “plastic sheds.”

These sheds are becoming quite popular due to how versatile they are. You can build a very strong vinyl shed that is going to be even stronger than a wooden shed.

You’ll get a strong shed and it won’t be anywhere near as heavy as a true wooden shed. You also don’t have to maintain this shed in the same way as a wooden shed.

Unlike wooden sheds, vinyl sheds won’t crack over time. They’re resistant to cracking and they also don’t get stained easily.

It’s easy to clean vinyl sheds and keep them looking nice. They’re overall harder to damage than wooden sheds.

As you’d expect, vinyl sheds aren’t perfect. You knew there would be a downside when you heard that vinyl sheds are lighter.

Simply put, vinyl sheds aren’t capable of holding as much weight as wooden sheds or metal sheds. If you’re looking for a shed that has significant load-bearing power, it’s better to build a wooden or metal shed that will get the job done.

Vinyl sheds are certainly good when you’re using them as intended. Just don’t expect them to be quite as capable of bearing weight as metal or wooden options.

Which Material Is Best?

Choosing the best material is really about what you want to accomplish. Each of the three major options will be viable when you’re building your own shed.

Wooden sheds will likely be the best option overall. If you treat the wood to protect it from the elements and insects, it’ll last for a very long time.

Also, it’ll look aesthetically pleasing if you stain it or paint it. Wooden sheds have the potential to be used for decades if you build them well enough.

Metal sheds are also very practical. These sheds are preferred by people who don’t want to spend a lot of cash.

If you’re trying to build a shed that will be very durable, metal is a perfect choice. It might rust as the years fly by, but that’s just something you’ll have to accept.

Metal sheds will also sometimes become dented. Be careful not to harm your shed and you likely won’t have many issues with denting.

Vinyl sheds make sense as well because they’re like a middle option. They’re less expensive than wooden sheds and they’re more durable in certain ways.

They just can’t hold as much weight as wooden sheds or metal sheds. If you don’t need the shed to hold a lot of weight, going with a vinyl shed might be the perfect choice.

Examine your situation and pick the shed material that makes the most sense for you. Then you’ll be able to build the shed of your dreams with full confidence.

Tips for Building a Shed

If you’ve never built a shed before, you might be a bit intimidated by the process. Perhaps you’ve never considered yourself to be a handy individual.

Building a shed isn’t that hard so long as you’re following a plan. The most important aspect of building the shed is to measure everything properly.

Below, you’ll get some handy tips that will make building a shed a bit simpler. It’s helpful to get this information before you get started.

Take a deep breath and prepare yourself to build the best shed that you can. It’ll be a good experience and you’ll be proud of yourself when you’re finished.

Pick a Good Location

Start by choosing a good location for your shed. Ideally, you want to choose a dry spot for the shed.

If you plan to make the shed out of wood or metal, you don’t want the water to become a big problem. Scope out your yard and pick a good and logical location for the shed.

Next, you’ll need to build the foundation. For a simple shed, you can make a concrete foundation that will stand the test of time.

Air Circulation Matters

Air circulation is something that you need to consider. Design the shed so that it will have good airflow.

Air flow will prevent many issues with mildew and excessive moisture. Take your time to do things right.

Double-Check Measurements

When cutting wood or other building materials, it’s imperative to get the measurements right. This is why you should double-check your measurements.

Professionals often use the cliché “measure twice, cut once.” This is a good thing to remember when you’re trying to avoid costly mistakes.

Taking things slow and measuring things properly will help you to avoid wasting building materials. Don’t be in a rush to finish the job.

You Can Hire Someone to Build a Shed

What if you don’t have time to build a shed yourself? Not everyone has a lot of free time after work to tackle big projects like this.

If you’re short on time or if you simply don’t like having to build things, you can hire someone to do the job. Local carpenters will be happy to build a shed for you.

You should be able to find a respected local business that can build the shed that you need. Most businesses will work with multiple materials and give you a choice of what type of shed you want.

Some businesses even build sheds ahead of time and then install them on your property. This could be a good way to get what you need in a short period of time.

Don’t think that the only way to get things done is to build the shed yourself. When you don’t have the time or the skills to build a shed, it’s better to turn to professionals.

Are Prefab Sheds Any Good?

What about buying prefab sheds from a company? Are those going to be as good as sheds that you build yourself?

If you’re good at building sheds, it’s likely that building a shed yourself will be better. However, prefab sheds can be good options for many people.

These shed options are already built and ready to be delivered to your property. They’re typically going to cost somewhere between $800 and $4,000.

This might sound like a lot of money, but it can be more affordable than building your own shed. The downside is that it likely won’t stand the test of time the same way as a custom shed.

For this reason, you should only go with a prefab shed if you’re on a budget. If you have a bit more cash to spend, it’d be better to hire professionals to build you a great custom shed that will live up to all of your expectations.

Don’t let this make you shy away from prefab sheds completely, though. They’re good options for people who don’t need very large sheds.

It’s especially appealing if you don’t necessarily care if the shed is going to last for decades. Just temper your expectations a bit.

You can find simple prefab sheds being sold at major hardware store chains. Go check them out yourself and see how you like them.

Final Thoughts

After learning about the various options for shed materials, it’ll be easier to make a choice. If you want to build your own shed, it’s going to come down to choosing wood, metal, or vinyl.

All three options are viable and you might lean in one direction or another depending on what you want. If you want to keep your costs low, it makes a lot of sense to go with metal as the shed material.

Metal is very durable and it’s not going to cost too much cash. It can be dented, though, and it might even rust over time.

Wood is durable and it has the potential to last for a long time. It’s pricey, though, and this can make it less appealing to people who don’t have much money to spend.

If you treat wood to protect it against insects and the elements, it might be the best shed material. It’s certainly going to be the most aesthetically pleasing option available to you.

Vinyl material is more affordable than wood, but it’s a lot lighter. The light nature of the vinyl can be good in some ways, but it can’t bear as much weight as either wood or metal.

Despite this, it’s a very durable material that is resistant to damage. It might be perfect for your yard if you’re not planning to make it hold a lot of weight.

Make your final decision only after examining each shed material. Consider your budget as well as how long the shed will last.

You should feel happy with your decision at the end of the day. You might even decide to have an expert build your shed for you instead for the sake of convenience.

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