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Metal Sheds, What Do You Think

Discussion in 'Poly-Tunnel Gardening' started by weedaway, Oct 11, 2020.

  1. weedaway

    weedaway Gardener

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    Hi

    I noticed there were some threads about metal sheds but they were posted some time ago and if I bring up an old thread I might be ridiculed as I have been on other forums in the past.

    I am thinking of getting one for the new lawnmower.

    So, here is my question.

    Do you have one or just have an opinion of them, what do you think please.

    Trish


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  2. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    Flat no from me - terrible experience with a metal shed that we simply could never seal or make even remotely dry. So much stuff got destroyed, and hundreds of pounds (well over a thousand in fact) were wasted on one of these monstrosities.

    I now have a really good, thick timbered wooden shed bought from Project Timber and it has so far been excellent. I did need to upgrade the felt on the roof, and have treated/painted it just this week in fact, but other than that.... everything is dry at least.
     
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I have a metal shed very similar to those images Trish. The good thing is was very cheap and I use it to store my lawnmower and other garden tools. Mine never leaks but it has a terrible problem of condensation inside, it drips down particularly in the winter. All my stuff has to be covered otherwise it goes rusty.

      Mine is also very flimsy, when it was delivered it came in two parcels both were so light I could carry them on my own. Not what I was expecting. Being so flimsy it dents easily and the sliding doors buckle.

      It has lasted 10+ years but I will replace with a wooden one soon.

      My mistake was buying without seeing.
       
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      • SandyNI

        SandyNI Gardener

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        I have a large metal shed and absolutely love it. It's brown and cream to match in with the house. I'm on an exposed hill and regularly have gale force winds.... It still looks brand new and is totally water tight. Every year I give it a blast with the power washer to clean it up. It's been in situ for 5 years now.... and while my neighbours are struggling to maintain their wooden ones, mine is very low maintenance.
         
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        • SandyNI

          SandyNI Gardener

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          PS.... mine doesn't suffer with condensation at all. Mind you... it cost just shy of 2k.
           
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          • WeeTam

            WeeTam Total Gardener

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            Nightmare to assemble,but watertight except for roof condensation. Fit a vent sorts condensation out.
            Going to repaint mine soon.
             
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              Our shed has been in place now for 14 years with no problems at all. It seems to be different from the one you show as ours has horizontal looking slats. Although it appears to have individual slats it is actually in sections.

              No leaking, no condensation (but I think there may be a very slight gap where the roof meets the walls - shall have to look) but it really needs two people to erect it. You need a good flat base for it, preferably paving or concrete, and then I put in a floor that fitted level with the aluminium frame. I made that from marine ply. I then searched on our local media for anyone wanting to get rid of some lino and put that on top of the ply. I got it from two households and in four pieces. It certainly doesn't match in colour :heehee: but does a good job - easy to clean (but haven't bothered to clean it for years :noidea: - just give it a sweep near the entrance.

              We chose metal because rats kept eating through the walls and floors of our wooden sheds. It was also quite a bit cheaper than wood.

              We ordered it with two transparent roof slats (no windows) that give enough light.

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              • weedaway

                weedaway Gardener

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                Looks very nice and sturdy.
                 
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  It's not as solid as a wooden shed, thin metal walls, but certainly sturdy enough.
                   
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                  • JR

                    JR Chilled Gardener

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                    A quality wooden shed is hard to beat but most of the readily available one's from diy outlets are rubbish.
                    My shed is around 50 years old and still in perfect condition.
                    It's made with one inch thick tongue n groove treated timber.
                    The long life is achieved by getting rid of the felt roof and fitting one made from EPDM rubber with deep overhangs.
                    Once the roof leaks on a shed it's soon ruined.
                    I fitted a dp liner on the LH fence side because it was hard to paint on that side.
                    I reckon this shed will see me out..
                    I guess with sheds it's like most items, seek out the best quality one you can find whatever it's made of.. (buy cheap, buy twice)
                     

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                    • weedaway

                      weedaway Gardener

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                      I do love all of your very varied opinions, :blue thumb:

                      If one intends to stay for many years into the foreseeable future I would agree, but as in my case I am not sure about anything any more so I am looking at sheds which will house a few garden tools and lawn mower at an inexpensive price, if I thought I was going to stay here for the rest of my life, as was planned, I would more than likely have a block/brick built shed which would see me out.
                       
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                      • Graham B

                        Graham B Gardener

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                        I used to have a metal shed (12 years ago, in a previous house/life pre-divorce). I bought it to keep a PA system in, on the grounds that a metal shed was probably harder to break into than a wooden one. This entirely depends on having decent bolts and hinges though, because the weakest point on all sheds is the door. And for a metal shed you also need to make sure it's solidly bolted down. A shed is only ever going to stop fairly casual thieves though - if they really want in, they'll get in.

                        The main thing which affects lifespan for wooden sheds though is wood treatment. I've currently got a wooden shed for my gardening stuff, because like other folks here I prefer the look of it. I painted it with 2 coats of Cuprinol Garden Shades. That was 6 years ago, and the colour hasn't even faded. Very recommended.

                        The other thing you do want for longer life is gutters. If you don't, the rain runs off and splashes on the ground, and that's less good for the wood near the ground which gets splashed.
                         
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                        • shiney

                          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                          Agree with this. :blue thumb: The metal floor struts had holes for bolting down. We bolted them straight into the paving.
                           
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                          • weedaway

                            weedaway Gardener

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                            My thoughts of a metal shed was that it should last longer than a timber one.

                            I am beginning to wonder if a metal shed is too flimsy for the job.

                            but I do like yours @shiney :dbgrtmb:
                             
                          • shiney

                            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                            Ours is now 14 years old and looks just as it did when bought. We don't need to do any maintenance on it at all.
                             
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