Metal Garden Shed

My parents had a metal garden shed out behind the house. It was unimpressive and utilitarian, and its sole purpose was to house the snowblower and the lawnmower. But these garden buildings have come a long way over the years, and now you can get them in designs previously only seen on wood or vinyl sheds.

For example, some places sell them with windows and faux siding. Ooh la la! So the selection has expanded and people (people like you) are curious about options. Here's a quick look at things to think about when you're considering a metal garden shed.

Sheds of Steel

Metal garden sheds are strong. They tend not to fall down or get blown over - provided you've anchored them properly to a foundation of sorts. So make sure you anchor them properly to a foundation, which will also help control the dampness by keeping it up off the ground. They are more weather-proof, especially in the cold and snow. They don't warp with moisture the way wood does. They may rust, but there are products and paints out there now that can prevent rust and keep the shed looking new.

Metal structures can usually handle heavy loads of snow, although it does depend on where you live and how they're designed. We lost a greenhouse once to a serious snow load - the entire thing collapsed under the weight one winter when we weren't heating it. Luckily, that was right after we decided to stop running a greenhouse business. Unluckily, we were planning to sell the greenhouse structure before it collapsed.

Importance of Design

Almost every metal garden shed you look at will have the same list of pros and cons associated with it from a physical construction and strength point of view. The real distinction between a good garden shed and a mediocre one is design and aesthetic. The higher quality garden sheds have often given more attention to design, which can lead to a better utility as well.

For example, a building that has included some sort of window in its design means that the shed will have better ventilation and better temperature control. Plus it will be safer for using for purposes other than storage, such as letting it double as a potting shed, a greenhouse or a workspace. You can't let your garden shed be a playhouse if your kids will be breathing in noxious dust and chemical fertilizers.

Value

A metal garden shed can prove to be more cost effective over the years because of the low maintenance requirements. It can also be more environmentally friendly if originally made of recycled materials or if you make sure to recycle the metal when you replace it. If you're looking for a simple, low-fuss out-building to store your yard equipment and gardening tools, then a metal garden shed is likely your easiest option to erect and to maintain. If you're looking for something more quaint and romantic than that, shop around for a good design and you might just get the best of all worlds.

This is the ultimate in garden sheds and it could be used as playhouse (note the skylights) as well as more mundane tool storage. :-)