It’s that time of year again when you need to pack away seasonal decorations. As you heft another box of wreaths and candle holders into your shed, you realize you might have overdone it on your last trip to Hobby Lobby.
Time to get a new shed!
Or maybe you don’t have a shed, and you’re considering getting one to deal with your storage problems. Either way, this is a good time to discuss choosing the right material for your new storage shed!
At Weaver Barns, we aim to provide you with a storage shed that uses the same quality materials you would expect to see on your house, giving you a building that adds beauty and value to your property. In this blog, we’ll talk about the materials commonly used to build sheds, along with some pros and cons of each.
Why Get a Shed?
The storage shed is the quintessential accessory for the average American’s backyard. It can store your lawnmower and garden tools, swap out your Christmas yard decorations for backyard furniture when the weather gets warmer, and dry out your muddy mountain bike.
There are other uses for a shed besides storage. With some customization, you could turn it into an outdoor workshop, a home office, or even a guesthouse. Use your shed as a repair shop for everything in your house! Write the next Great American Novel! Spend the night there because you gave your wife a vacuum cleaner for Christmas! (hint: don’t).
No matter what you use your shed for, you must choose the right materials, not just for durability but for looks as well.
You’d be surprised how well a shed blends in with the rest of the home when you choose the right colors, style, and materials.
We’ll divide the shed into its major components—roof, siding, foundation, doors, and windows—and explore popular materials used in shed construction.
Roofing Materials
The roof protects the interior from the elements, keeping its contents dry and covered. The two most common roofing materials for sheds are asphalt shingles and metal.
Asphalt shingles are a popular choice for shed roofs. They come in various colors and styles, making it easy to match your shed with your house or garden's aesthetic. Asphalt shingles are relatively inexpensive and widely available—you could even use the same shingles on your house's roof!
Shingles are also easy to install, making them a good choice for DIY projects.
Metal roofs, typically made from galvanized steel or aluminum, are another popular option for shed roofs. They’re highly durable and withstand harsh weather conditions, including rain and snow. They’re also low-maintenance—like their larger house counterparts, they require significantly less maintenance than asphalt shingles and can last for decades. They’re also non-combustible, providing added protection against fire.
However, a metal roof can also be noisy unless adequately insulated, so it might not be ideal for an office or guesthouse during heavy rain or hailstorms. There’s also a matter of aesthetics—while available in various colors, the industrial look of metal may not suit all preferences, especially in a garden setting.
Now that we have a roof, the shed will need something to enclose its contents. Let’s discuss siding.
Siding Options
The siding of your shed affects its appearance, durability, and maintenance needs. Common materials include wood, metal, and vinyl.
Wood Siding
Wood is a popular choice for garden sheds with its warm and traditional appearance that blends well with natural surroundings. Wood can also be painted or stained to match your desired color scheme, and compared to metal or vinyl, it offers better insulation—ideal for that home office, studio, or guest house (but make sure you minimize air leakage!) It’s the perfect shed material for those wanting to be closer to nature—a Hobbit would build their shed out of wood!
Being closer to nature also means having to deal with nature, however. Wood requires regular maintenance, including regular repainting or staining to prevent rot and insect damage. Wood is also susceptible to weather damage if not correctly maintained and risk of wood’s worst enemy—moisture—damaging the wood, or worse, causing mold growth. High-quality lumber can also be expensive, making frequent upkeep much more essential to protect your investment.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is a synthetic option that has gained popularity due to its low maintenance and versatility. It’s very easy to maintain—vinyl does not require painting. It comes in various colors and styles (including the appearance of wood) and is resistant to rot and insects. Vinyl is generally more affordable than wood or other materials and relatively cheap due to its wide availability and use in most home construction.
While durable, vinyl can crack or warp under extreme temperatures. Vinyl siding is best used in cooler climates or under ample shade. Vinyl is not biodegradable, and while it can be recycled, you must follow disposal protocols to ensure proper disposal. Vinyl also has an artificial look, and while people have gotten creative with making their vinyl sheds look at home in the garden, it still looks like plastic.
Metal Siding
Metal siding, like roofing, is made from galvanized steel or aluminum, known for its strength and durability. Unlike wood, metal siding is resistant to rot and insects and requires minimal upkeep. Bonus: It’s also fire-resistant, which is helpful if you live in an area prone to grass fires.
Metal siding also has a sleek, modern look that can complement contemporary settings.
However, metal siding is expensive to buy and install. It also provides poor bracing, so metal siding sheds tend to have more issues with flexing out of square. This can lead to issues with doors and windows not working and more.
Plus, its sleek, modern appearance may not be for everyone, either—blending it with more natural surroundings is more challenging. Metal siding also has one drawback that wood and vinyl do not: it can get hot in direct sunlight, potentially affecting the interior temperature. Rubber and plastic items and products, such as buckets, rubber tires, and items attached to adhesives, can degrade or melt in the heat.
Foundations
Two popular options for foundations are gravel bases and concrete slabs.
Gravel bases level the ground and lay down a thick layer of compacted gravel. The gravel forms a stable foundation for your shed and allows for proper drainage, similar to a French drain. Gravel bases are simple to build, making them a great DIY project, though they will require a lot of planning and labor.
Concrete slabs, installed adequately with proper drainage, won’t shift and will easily support the weight of your shed for more than 50 years.
The two disadvantages to a concrete foundation are that it is the most expensive option, and you have to commit to the shed’s location, as there’s no moving it once that slab’s set!
Preparing the foundation is an important step, and you can read more about it here.
Doors and Windows
Doors and windows are essential for accessibility and light, and choosing the right materials affects the functionality and appearance of your shed. If you use the shed as a workshop, office, or guest house, windows are essential for allowing natural light in and providing additional ventilation.
Wood Doors
Wood doors offer a classic look and can be customized with paint or stain. Wood is an excellent insulator compared to metal, so you must ensure a good air seal to keep the elements and bugs out.
Like wood siding, however, your door requires regular upkeep to prevent warping, rot, and bugs. Inspect it regularly and repair it quickly when needed, as any damage to the wood will likely spread over time if ignored.
Metal Doors
Metal doors, conversely, are sturdy and require very little maintenance since they won’t rot or get eaten by bugs. A metal door offers better security against break-ins, making you feel more confident about keeping your new riding mower inside.
Again, metal does not insulate well unless you use additional insulating materials, and the industrial look isn’t for everyone.
Speaking of home offices, let’s explore windows to let some light into that shed!
Glass Windows
Glass windows are the old-fashioned way of doing things, providing excellent visibility and natural light penetration.
Glass is also famously fragile, so you may need frequent replacement over the years, especially if you like to play ball in the backyard. It’s also not great at insulation, unless you opt for the more expensive insulated glass.
Polycarbonate Windows
Polycarbonate sheeting is a high-tech solution for your window needs. It’s highly durable, impact-resistant, and easier to handle and install than glass, especially since it won’t shatter if you drop it during installation. It’s strong enough that advanced versions of this polymer are used in fighter jet canopies. If it’s strong enough for the US Air Force, it’s strong enough for you!
Consumer-grade polycarbonate may not offer the same clarity as glass, and due to the complexity of its manufacture, it can be more expensive. Cheaper polycarbonates might develop a yellow tint after exposure to excessive sunlight. However, consider it if you have concerns about flying debris or impacts.
Other Things to Consider
In addition to materials, there are a few other things to consider regarding building a shed:
Budget: Building a quality shed is expensive, especially if you consider adding features such as premium materials, insulation, and electrical outlets. Fortunately, there are options to reduce costs, from financing to rent-to-own programs.
Regulations: Unfortunately, you may have to ask for permission from your local HOA to build. To make life easier for everyone, consult with your HOA when planning the shed, keeping them informed every step of the way. The consequences of ignoring the HOA can be expensive and stressful.
Security: If you store expensive items like a high-end lawnmower, consider beefing up your shed's security. There are many ways to deter theft, from strong locks to security systems.
Size: One last thing to consider is size, and we’ve got a blog just to help you choose the perfectly sized shed for you!
Conclusion
We hope this blog sheds some light on building a shed! Building a storage shed is an investment that will last many years, so it’s a good idea to take things one at a time and consider all aspects of the building material to ensure that you build one that fits your needs.
At Weaver Barns, we’re ready to help you! Using customization options, we’re here to provide you with the perfect storage shed for your backyard. We even have rent-to-own solutions to help offset the cost of the shed.
Contact us today, and let us be your storage shed provider!
