You have found your “just right” shed, financed it in a way that doesn’t blow the family budget, carefully planned the placement of the building so that it doesn’t cause problems with your lawn, landscape, or maintenance activities, and have it assembled, delivered, or built safely and securely in your own back yard! Congratulations! That may have seemed like a lot of work, but the work isn’t over yet.
Storage shed maintenance
With anything you buy or build, there is always some maintenance involved. Storage buildings are no exception. Some storage sheds, particularly the painted metal buildings, like steel storage sheds, are pretty easy to maintain. Some, like wood or composite wood type materials require a little more maintenance to stay in good condition and protect your belongings for the long term. We recommend making a checklist, and setting up a schedule to check the things on your list. This may seem like a lot of time, but it will only take a few minutes each month, and can save you a lot of time and money on repairs and losses as the building ages. When you find something that needs to be done, set a time to repair it, get whatever materials you need, and do that little job before it becomes a much larger issue.
Common storage shed maintenance practices
There are some maintenance practices that are common to all types of buildings, one that is often overlooked is leveling.
Leveling
If your building is set up on blocks, you may need to level it up on occasion. If you notice sticking doors or windows, or separations, it could be that the building is slightly out of square because it is no longer level. Checking for level can be done with a common “spirit level”, and any problems can usually be corrected by driving a tapered “shim” under the low area until the spirit level bubble is centered.
Cleaning
Dirt and grime can cause a building to age prematurely, periodic cleaning with mild detergents, and no abrasives will make it last longer, and look better throughout the life of the building.
Moisture control
The elements are the enemy of most building materials. Moisture can cause rust, corrosion, and rot. Keeping your storage building sealed against moisture is one of the most important activities for you buildings longevity, and the safety of it’s contents. Make sure that all fasteners are snug, all joints are sealed, and all weatherstripping is in good working condition.
Metal sheds
Metal buildings require little maintenance, usually consisting of periodic cleaning, “snugging up” fasteners, checking for leaks and applying a little silicone sealer when and where it is needed, checking door and window seals, and replacing weatherstripping where needed, and a little touch up paint if you do find a scratch or nick. For cleaning use a mild detergent, and rinse thoroughly. Do not use abrasive cleaners as these will thin the protective coatings.
Vinyl and plastic sheds
Vinyl requires little care, like painted metal, periodic cleaning, fastener checking, and properly sealing seams, joints, and doors and windows will be the major issues. As with metal buildings, use a mild detergent, and no abrasives.
Wood and wood composite sheds
Wood building maintenance is a little more difficult than other types of buildings, and the problem is almost always the same: Keeping moisture out. In high humidity, wood takes on moisture and swells, when the humidity is lower, wood releases moisture and shrinks. This constant swelling and shrinking can have an adverse effect on your building. When wood gets wet, and stays wet for a time, it is susceptible to fungus and other elements that can cause rot. There is no such thing as “dry rot”. If wood has rotted, it was exposed to moisture at some time. The goal for maintaining any wood structure is to keep the moisture out. That is what paint, wood sealer, and caulk or for. The same practices required for other building materials apply to wood and composites, but they will also need to be resealed or painted at least every 18 months, and preferably every year for maximum longevity. Check all seals and seams, and caulk as needed. Check the weatherstripping and replace as needed.
These practices will only require a little time, but will increase the longevity of your building, and save it’s contents from unnecessary damage.
A selection of articles for maintaining a shed:
