4 Main Types of Material Used to Build Sheds

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There are some benefits to building your own custom shed instead of buying one ready made but there are also some disadvantages. You can buy cheap garden sheds at large hardware stores, but they’ll never be exactly what you want and need. The only way to get precisely what you are picturing is to make it yourself, but even then, things can go awry. When building your own shed you can make everything from cedar sheds to vinyl sheds, in any shape and size that you want.

There is a lot of option whether you are going to make your own shed and buy one. You can choose everything from design, color, material, shape, storage placement and more. If you know what you are looking for and can’t find it already made but don’t want to make it yourself, you do have the option of having a company custom make your shed for you to your exact specifications. Let’s take a look at the most common materials that are used in shed building and find out which one would work for you.

Wood
Wood is definitely the most common type of material. This is probably because they look the nicest. They fit well in gardens among trees and flowers. However, the problem with using wood is that it can get pretty pricey. It also can cause some difficulty in using if you don’t know exactly what to do with it. When you are constructing a wood shed, you also need a very strong foundation before even starting on the shed so this can make the whole project take more time and cost more money. Wood is also susceptible to fungus, rot and warping so you need special protection in order to make the wood last longer.

Metal
While metal sheds are a lot less expensive than wood, they do tend to rust over time. Aluminum does not rust but it is a little more expensive. Metal sheds are great because you don’t have to worry about fire damage or insects eating away at it. on the other hand, they don’t have a very welcoming look to them and have a lot of sharp corners. If you have children playing in the yard, this could be a danger zone for them. If you live in a particular hot climate, it could also mean that the material will scorch your skin if touched during the summer.

Plastic
Plastic is the cheapest material that you can find on the market. It’s lighter weight and even tougher than wood. There isn’t a lot of upkeep involved in a plastic shed and it is more resistant than you would think. There’s no needed for protective coatings against insects and rot. However, plastic sheds don’t really leave a lot of room to creativity when it comes to designing or decorating so they can tend to be a little bit of an eye sore.

Vinyl
Vinyl sheds are probably your best option. Vinyl is stronger than plastic and even metal. Building vinyl sheds is not incredible hard because the material is very easy to work with. The negative side here is that vinyl can get pricey. However, vinyl sheds will be able to stand up against weather and insects and all kinds of things that come against it. They can also look pretty nice sitting by your house. You just have to be willing to pay a little extra for the good stuff.

If you do decide to build your own shed then choosing the material is only one of the steps in a long process. It can be cumbersome and difficult to custom build anything for yourself, especially if you are not a trained expert in the equipment you are building. If you have any doubts, the best thing to do really is to look into buying a shed. If you think that will be to expensive, there are places that will allow you to follow a rent to buy plan by making low monthly payments.

Think about what you really want and what your budget is before you decide how you are going to get your shed. You may find that a different option from your original thought will work better for you.