Everything You Need To Know About Sheds - Questions & Answers
What is a Shed?
By Definition: A shed is a small structure, either freestanding or attached to a larger structure, serving for storage or shelter.
What is a shed used for?
Small sheds are used to store home and garden tools and equipment such as push lawn mowers, lawn tractors, and gardening supplies. In addition, sheds can be used to store items or products that are not suitable for indoor storage, such as gasoline, pesticides, or herbicides.
Larger sheds provide more space for engaging in hobbies such as gardening, small engine repair, or tinkering. Some sheds have small porches or include furniture, which allows them to be used for relaxation purposes. In some cases, teleworkers and homeworkers in general who live in mild climates use small- to medium-sized wooden garden sheds as outdoor offices.
Are they all the same?
Sheds vary considerably in construction and size, from small with open sides with tin roofs to very large wood framed structures with shingled roofs, windows, and electricity.
What material is better?
This depends on the use, need and finish you have or want for a shed, some materials will fit your needs better and provide lasting results.
Here are some characteristics depending on shed material:
Wood Sheds: Wood sheds provides strength and beauty that no other shed material can provide. Wood storage buildings are strong enough to withstand demanding wind and snow loads.
Plastic Storage Sheds: The clean lines, neutral colors and over all utility of these Plastic Storage Sheds fit the outdoor environment and provide an attractive backyard storage solution.
Metal Storage Sheds: These storage sheds are made of 100% galvanized steel with a double baked-on polyester enamel finish. These sheds come with heavy duty, hot-dipped galvanized steel frame parts.
Where are the sheds delivered to? Can they be sent to my home?
Depending of the Company you buy from and your location shipping could be available. You have to take into account that while some companies will ship for free, many of them will charge you for shipping.
Do suppliers assemble the sheds?
No, this are homeowners kits, the shed arrives at your home ready to be assembled by you in the case of small sheds. Instructions are made simple for an average homeowner. In the case of larger sheds the companies that sell them usually include the assembly part or you will have to hire local contractors to do it.
Can the shed be painted?
Most of the companies that sell sheds sell them already with the color they will have, but in case of wooden sheds it is much easier to change colors, when dealing with other materials you would have to consult an expert on the matter because of the type of paint that can be applied to that particular material.
How long does a shed take to assemble?
Assembly varies depending on the size of the shed, whether you have a foundation and your personal skills on the matter but in general it can take from 2 hours to a couple of days. You should always take into account that this is not a one man job, for most sheds you need at least another person to help you.
Can I dismantle and build it again?
You can tear down the shed and build again. You would need additional plugs, pins, and washers.
What surface do I build the shed on?
Depending on the size and location of the shed you might need or not to make a foundation. In either case you need a leveled surface on which you can build the shed. When a foundation need to be made the floor can be a leveled concrete pad or you can build a foundation with 2x4 wood and lay a plywood floor on top.
Do the sheds come with a floor?
It depends on what the supplier company offers but it is a crucial question to be made beforehand.
Can I build the shed on an existing concrete pad?
Yes, you can build the shed on an existing concrete pad provided it's level.
What is a foundation kit for? What is it made of?
A foundation kit is a material set with instructions on how to build a foundation.You can get a galvanized steel foundation kits that elevate the shed off the ground about 2". It provides a level structure on which the floor can be laid. It's a quicker and easier solution than building a wood foundation with 2x4's and plywood.
Does the supplier have a warranty? How Long?
This is another crucial aspect in which you have to be very clear on. All companies will offer warranty but the trick is in the details. You need to be clear and satisfied with what they cover in the guaranty because almost none will cover damage made by you while assembling but almost all will cover material or structure damage due to fault on their behalf, please be very clear on what the guarantee actually covers. Most guaranties will only cover for the original purchasing client, so if you moved to a new house with a shed you will probably not be covered with a guaranty; also the suppliers will not cover color degradation due to environmental issues.
Can the shed be setup on either side of my home?
Depending on the size of the shed you should be able to place it anywhere you prefer but some styles will limit this, considerations for this are the visual aspect and practical setup.
Can the door be placed on both sides of the shed?
Although some designs will allow for this usually doors only fit on one side and accordingly will open in different directions based on which side of your home you install the shed.
Do all sheds come with windows?
No, this is something that depends on the design you buy. Some designs allow for you to include windows but you have to ask your supplier for it. Take into account that windows let light in and when open provide air circulation.
Does the window fit all sizes of sheds?
Many suppliers have some sort of one size fits all but again this will depend on style, finish and size of the shed.
How many windows can I have per shed?
Normally you can fit at least 2 windows per shed or one in every panel but this can vary depending on size, finish and style.
Do windows come with the sheds?
Some supplier will send them separately and some will include a final budget with windows. You need to ask your supplier.
Does the shed leak?
A well design and assembled shed should not leak but after installing the roof you will need to apply silicone along the running edges of the roof ridge caps and around the washers on the roof plugs. To avoid seepage around the bottom of the shed, apply silicone to the outside base of the shed along the bottom.
What is better to Buy or to Build?
It all comes down to your time and budget. I would rather build myself and save a lot of money, besides it is a very nice family project… but at the end it is your decision.
By Definition: A shed is a small structure, either freestanding or attached to a larger structure, serving for storage or shelter.
What is a shed used for?
Small sheds are used to store home and garden tools and equipment such as push lawn mowers, lawn tractors, and gardening supplies. In addition, sheds can be used to store items or products that are not suitable for indoor storage, such as gasoline, pesticides, or herbicides.
Larger sheds provide more space for engaging in hobbies such as gardening, small engine repair, or tinkering. Some sheds have small porches or include furniture, which allows them to be used for relaxation purposes. In some cases, teleworkers and homeworkers in general who live in mild climates use small- to medium-sized wooden garden sheds as outdoor offices.
Are they all the same?
Sheds vary considerably in construction and size, from small with open sides with tin roofs to very large wood framed structures with shingled roofs, windows, and electricity.
What material is better?
This depends on the use, need and finish you have or want for a shed, some materials will fit your needs better and provide lasting results.
Here are some characteristics depending on shed material:
Wood Sheds: Wood sheds provides strength and beauty that no other shed material can provide. Wood storage buildings are strong enough to withstand demanding wind and snow loads.
Plastic Storage Sheds: The clean lines, neutral colors and over all utility of these Plastic Storage Sheds fit the outdoor environment and provide an attractive backyard storage solution.
Metal Storage Sheds: These storage sheds are made of 100% galvanized steel with a double baked-on polyester enamel finish. These sheds come with heavy duty, hot-dipped galvanized steel frame parts.
Where are the sheds delivered to? Can they be sent to my home?
Depending of the Company you buy from and your location shipping could be available. You have to take into account that while some companies will ship for free, many of them will charge you for shipping.
Do suppliers assemble the sheds?
No, this are homeowners kits, the shed arrives at your home ready to be assembled by you in the case of small sheds. Instructions are made simple for an average homeowner. In the case of larger sheds the companies that sell them usually include the assembly part or you will have to hire local contractors to do it.
Can the shed be painted?
Most of the companies that sell sheds sell them already with the color they will have, but in case of wooden sheds it is much easier to change colors, when dealing with other materials you would have to consult an expert on the matter because of the type of paint that can be applied to that particular material.
How long does a shed take to assemble?
Assembly varies depending on the size of the shed, whether you have a foundation and your personal skills on the matter but in general it can take from 2 hours to a couple of days. You should always take into account that this is not a one man job, for most sheds you need at least another person to help you.
Can I dismantle and build it again?
You can tear down the shed and build again. You would need additional plugs, pins, and washers.
What surface do I build the shed on?
Depending on the size and location of the shed you might need or not to make a foundation. In either case you need a leveled surface on which you can build the shed. When a foundation need to be made the floor can be a leveled concrete pad or you can build a foundation with 2x4 wood and lay a plywood floor on top.
Do the sheds come with a floor?
It depends on what the supplier company offers but it is a crucial question to be made beforehand.
Can I build the shed on an existing concrete pad?
Yes, you can build the shed on an existing concrete pad provided it's level.
What is a foundation kit for? What is it made of?
A foundation kit is a material set with instructions on how to build a foundation.You can get a galvanized steel foundation kits that elevate the shed off the ground about 2". It provides a level structure on which the floor can be laid. It's a quicker and easier solution than building a wood foundation with 2x4's and plywood.
Does the supplier have a warranty? How Long?
This is another crucial aspect in which you have to be very clear on. All companies will offer warranty but the trick is in the details. You need to be clear and satisfied with what they cover in the guaranty because almost none will cover damage made by you while assembling but almost all will cover material or structure damage due to fault on their behalf, please be very clear on what the guarantee actually covers. Most guaranties will only cover for the original purchasing client, so if you moved to a new house with a shed you will probably not be covered with a guaranty; also the suppliers will not cover color degradation due to environmental issues.
Can the shed be setup on either side of my home?
Depending on the size of the shed you should be able to place it anywhere you prefer but some styles will limit this, considerations for this are the visual aspect and practical setup.
Can the door be placed on both sides of the shed?
Although some designs will allow for this usually doors only fit on one side and accordingly will open in different directions based on which side of your home you install the shed.
Do all sheds come with windows?
No, this is something that depends on the design you buy. Some designs allow for you to include windows but you have to ask your supplier for it. Take into account that windows let light in and when open provide air circulation.
Does the window fit all sizes of sheds?
Many suppliers have some sort of one size fits all but again this will depend on style, finish and size of the shed.
How many windows can I have per shed?
Normally you can fit at least 2 windows per shed or one in every panel but this can vary depending on size, finish and style.
Do windows come with the sheds?
Some supplier will send them separately and some will include a final budget with windows. You need to ask your supplier.
Does the shed leak?
A well design and assembled shed should not leak but after installing the roof you will need to apply silicone along the running edges of the roof ridge caps and around the washers on the roof plugs. To avoid seepage around the bottom of the shed, apply silicone to the outside base of the shed along the bottom.
What is better to Buy or to Build?
It all comes down to your time and budget. I would rather build myself and save a lot of money, besides it is a very nice family project… but at the end it is your decision.