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Building A Garden
Shed — Comparing Cedar, Vinyl, and Metal Garden
Sheds
When it comes to
building a garden shed,
your options in size and design are about as
limitless as your imagination. However, your choice
of materials usually comes down to three: wood, PVC
vinyl, and metal.
Each type of material has its own advantages:
 | Wooden Garden Sheds—Possess a great natural
look, strength, and visual appeal that blends
easily with almost garden environments. Over
time, wood is at risk of rot, mold and mildew,
water seepage and so should be finished, sealed,
or treated for protection. Cedar has inherent
natural preservatives which slows down the
decay, Wood is also a low impact material that
will show dents and general wear and tear. Wood
is also susceptible to termites and other
infestations. |
| Vinyl Garden Sheds—Highlighted by easy-care
and low maintenance, superior strength, and
quick assembly. PVC resin is a durable material
with better impact resistance than wood. Vinyl
is a also good heat deflector and slightly
cheaper than the wood. The tradeoff is in looks.
Vinyl is not considered as visually appealing as
wood in a garden setting. |
| Metal Garden Sheds – The best choice when
permanent strength is the number one
requirement. While metal sheds run the risk of
rust over time, good quality products are
pre-painted galvanized steel and come with a
limited time no-rust guarantee. Metal sheds are
also rot and rodent-free, and have no cracks or
warps. |
You should also consider carefully what you plan
to use your shed for, so you can judge the style,
durability, and cost differences of each type of
material effectively. In short, if your primary
concern is style and looks, choose wood. If cost is
a factor, choose vinyl. For ruggedness and strength,
choose metal.
Here’s a checklist of considerations:
| Where will the shed be located? – For
example, a shed that is in plain site, or acts
as a focal point in the garden should look
stylish, and blend in with its surroundings |
| Is the shape and design you want available
in different materials? – For example, do you
envision a salt-box, with gently sloping
back-roof, a hip roofed shed, a gable roof? |
| Do you want a custom shed? - Use
shed design
software to create your own shed plans. |
| What can your budget afford? – In addition
to the type of material, consider self-assembly,
DYI kits (cheaper) versus professionally
installation (more expensive) |
| Which shed will last the longest, or have
the least cleaning and maintenance? – Vinyl
sheds can be hosed or scrubbed down. |
| What are the custom shed design options,
upgrades or conversion possibilities? - Think
about what you may want to use the shed for in
the future. For now, you’re content with a
storage space for gardening implements and
tools, but perhaps down the road you may want a
studio or workshop. |
For more information on building garden sheds,
please read this article on
building a barn style
of shed.
[more articles] |
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