Plastic Garden Shed

There are, as with all things in life, advantages and disadvantages to having a plastic garden shed. They largely vary according to what kind of plastic, the quality of construction, and whether or not you're particularly concerned with the sense of genuine craftsmanship and pride that comes from constructing an elegant timber frame and shingling with cedar planks that will require your constant care and attention.

Yeah, that's a nice dream. But sometimes, it just isn't going to happen.

Plastic Good or Plastic Bad?

According to my wise sources, most of the plastic garden sheds on the market are made of something called uPVC or Rigid PVC. Apparently this refers to a thermoplastic (melts when heated - like many plastics - and hardens into a nice glassy, durable substance) polymer (something with big molecules - I'm simplifying a bit).

Typically, PVC sheds are durable and light, and given the great advances technology has brought us, are less likely to do that brittle, flaking thing where you get plastic splinters in your fingers. However, some cheaper ones might still be prone to that, and also to fading, so make sure you double check any guarantees associated with the shed you're purchasing.

Plastic versus Metal or Wood

Metal sheds sometimes have temperature control problems, depending on their ventilation and construction details. They also may require more maintenance to avoid rust, and some are not very durable - note the product reviewer who complained that her metal shed had snapped like a twig under a snowfall.

Wood garden sheds require more maintenance, although we had one that lasted 30 years and I don't remember doing anything special to it other than making sure the roof stayed tight (a few nails here and there). Theoretically wooden sheds also take a bit more expertise to build.

Plastic garden sheds on the other hand are usually modular or easy to assemble in panels. They won't rust, rot or get eaten. Plastics today are often very durable, and some kinds of plastics like vinyl (PVC being an example) can be very tough and withstand serious elements. The reality is that people build their houses out of these materials now and the quality is much higher than it used to be.

Potential problems to look out for

A few things to watch for in a plastic garden shed are the quality of materials and guarantees associated with that material. How long will it last? Does it have a warranty? What kinds of weather is it guaranteed to stand up to? Are there proper ventilation systems built into the panels?

As someone who likes to start new projects all the time, I also think about the fact that when I buy a plastic garden shed, I may not be able to modify it the way I would like. I've seen the wooden potting sheds with the porches, and the windows and the moveable shelving units, and I like the flexibility that designing and building something unique to my garden can give.

I'm a bit biased towards authentic experiences, but I don't sneeze at cheap, easy solutions when I find them, and sometimes a plastic shed can be just that.

You can check out some plastic garden shed options here