Anatomy of a well built storage shed

So you have decided to buy a storage shed and finally use the garage to park cars? Choosing a storage shed can be quite confusing. The market seems to have been flooded with barn builders and retail stores claiming to have the best quality and price. So who do you believe? We will try to give you some tips to look for in your search.

The construction of storage buildings varies from place to place. Any building can be made beautiful with a good paint job and inexpensive options. The real test of a well-made storage building is in the construction and the quality of the materials used. Here are some tips to look for when out shopping.

Floor Systems – Since most storage sheds are designed to be in direct contact with the ground, make sure all floor construction is made of treated materials. Do not accept that only the corridors are treated, all the floor joists and floor coverings must also be treated materials. Building codes in most areas require any wood within 24″ of the ground to be treated. Many companies build their sheds without joists or treated decking. Regular plywood or even OSB flooring is unacceptable.

Framing: Ask which floor joints are centered on. Any gap between floor joists greater than 16″ on center is a problem. Make sure all walls are framed with full 2×4 studs. I have seen barns framed with 2×3 joists and while it may look good on the floor from the showroom, it will be a problem one day.. Does your barn have a ridge beam? A ridge beam is a structural member at the top of the building that the beams run from. , without a structural ridge beam. Also pay attention to joist spacing. Framing on 2′ centers is acceptable as long as layer clips are installed. This is a code requirement in most areas. Layer clips are small metal inserts that They must be installed at the butt joints of the roof deck, between each joist, they are used to prevent the deck from sagging between the joists.

Roofing – Make sure your barn has sat on top of the roofing sheets. Many barns are sold without this protective base. In many cases it is sold as an option or an additional charge.

Drip edge is another essential that many storage shed companies offer as an option. We consider this to be a very important feature. Drip edge is a small metal strip that goes over the edge of the roof deck and is made to prevent water from running under the shingles.

Ventilation – Almost all storage sheds come standard with metal gable vents, and they should! But many do not include a ridge vent. The purpose of the vents is to allow airflow through the roof system and prevent premature deterioration of the shingles. Most storage sheds are not built with much overhang, which in your home allows air to flow through the attic space. A ridge vent becomes the only way, working with gable vents, to create this positive airflow through a storage shed roof system.

Siding: The most common siding is wood veneer siding. This is fine and gives you the option to paint to your liking. In my opinion, the best storage shed siding is Louisiana Pacific Smart Panel Siding. It is a structural grade composite sheet siding that has a useful life of 30 years. manufacturers warranty. Plywood-backed siding is another option, but it lacks the long-term durability of Smart panel siding. In my area we have seen an influx of pressure treated T11 siding, and while the thinking is that pressure treated siding should last longer, the product has virtually no warranties. My experience with treated T11 is that within 2 years it will turn a very ugly gray color and require painting. This will be difficult to paint. Another reason to avoid these plywood-backed siding is that since storage sheds are built relatively low to the ground, they tend to absorb moisture around the bottom edges and rot prematurely.

Doors: The first thing that gives you problems in a shed are the doors. Look for double frame doors. Doors that are framed inside and out are much less prone to warping. Also take a good look at the hinges. Many times the life of the doors is related to the strength of the hinges.

Storage buildings are very useful and practical solutions and meet a variety of needs, but they are also an investment in your home and landscape. Do not accept low-quality products. If you look around and do a bit of price comparison, you’ll find a quality building. Built with quality materials and properly maintained, your building will last a lifetime.