When designing and building a shed, it’s important to take steps to make it sturdy. This will help to protect the contents of your shed from rainwater, pests and thieves for years to come. Below are just a few different ways to make sure your shed is built to last.
Choose The Right Location
The first important step is to choose the right location to build your shed. Ideally you want to choose a location with good drainage where water won’t pool on the ground. You should also be wary of overhanging trees – you don’t want falling branches to damage your shed.
Start With A Sturdy Base
Every shed needs a solid foundation to prevent subsidence. This is particularly important with heavier sheds, which will quickly start to sink into the ground. You can buy shed bases in a variety of different materials. Plastic bases are often easy to install and offer good drainage, while concrete foundations are better for heavier sheds.
Invest In High Quality Materials
Sheds can be built from many different materials. Whatever material you decide to choose, it’s important to make sure that it is high quality. When building a timber shed, consider options like teak and pine, which can offer long-term resistance against insects and rot. When considering a metal shed, consider galvanized steel or aluminium to reduce corrosion. Sheds can also be made from bricks for added durability.
Protect Wood From The Elements
While some woods are more resistant to rot than others, almost all timbers will require some kind of treatment to stop them decaying. Buying wood that has already been pressure treated can help to protect it against rot. You can also apply additional treatments like wood oil or waterproof paints. These protective layers will need to be reapplied every couple years.
Consider Reinforcing The Walls
You can reinforce walls by additional materials like plywood sheathing to the exterior. This can provide more strength. It may also be possible to prevent sagging by using diagonal braces, while using metal plates on wood joints can prevent splitting.
Opt For The Right Roof
Roofs take a lot of punishment from the weather and therefore need to be made from durable materials. While felt is a popular cheap roofing material for sheds, a much more longer-lasting alternative is EPDM rubber. This material is completely waterproof and highly resistant to UV damage. Other materials like steel, asphalt and timber can be used for shed roofing, but it’s important to consider the weight of these materials and make sure that the walls are sturdy enough to support them.
Ventilate Your Shed
A good shed needs to be well sealed against the elements. However, it’s recommended that you allow some ventilation so that moisture in the air can escape. A lack of ventilation can lead to moisture build up inside your shed, which may lead to your shed rotting or corroding from the inside out. Vents and windows are good ways to maintain airflow through your shed.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.