Regardless of the size of your lawn or your garden, one of the elements you need to include in your plans is a shed. If your garden does not already include a shed, the added convenience once you add one will cause you to wonder how you got by previously. Sheds also provide a place to keep your tools safe and organised, as well as providing a location to store various garden and lawn products that you don’t wish to have in your garage.

Sheds are traditionally constructed from one of four materials; wood, plastic, vinyl, or metal. Of the four, plastic is one that warrants serious consideration.

The major advantages of plastic sheds are:

  • Cost
  • Durability
  • Convenience – both in terms of maintenance and assembly
  • Size and shape
  • Portability
  • Functionality

Advantages of plastic sheds

Cost

Most plastic sheds will cost more than vinyl, but less than those made of wood or metal. Not only is the initial price lower, the maintenance costs are substantially less as well. Wooden sheds require treatment to prevent rot and termites. Metal sheds need to be cleaned and sometimes painted to inhibit rust and corrosion. Plastic sheds can be easily cleaned with everyday cleaning products.

Durability

At one time plastic sheds were primarily constructed from inexpensive PVC. These sheds had a somewhat deserved reputation as being only a short-term solution to storage needs. Of course all plastic, they were immune to rust, mould, and corrosion but their useful life was somewhat short. However with major companies like Duramax, Rubbermaid, Lifetime and Keter, entering the field, most plastic sheds are now made of high-tech and high impact polypropylene. They are treated to resist fading from the sun. The material frequently has steel reinforcements, which not only make them stronger but better able to withstand the elements even in areas with rather extreme seasonal differences. These advances mean that sheds with ten-year warranties are common.

Ease of Assembly

Erecting a metal or wooden shed is often a job best suited to professionals. Plastic sheds are easier to assemble and do not require special tools, building experience, or specialised knowledge. In fact most people are able to do the job themselves with the tools normally found around the house. The fact that the material is light-weight means that less manpower is required to move the pieces into place as well.

Portability

The lightweight nature of plastic sheds made them a perfect solution for people who are leasing a home or who wish to change the layout of their yard or garden. Some of the sheds can be moved intact, and they can be easily disassembled and rebuild in a new location. If you live in an area that frequently has high winds, you may wish to anchor the shed to the base. Many designs feature pre-drilled holes just for this purpose.

Flexible design possibilities

Plastic sheds offer design possibilities often not available in their wood and metal counterparts, and work especially well for odd-shaped areas and options like skylights, windows, and gutters are available. Door placement is usually customisable as well. Many plastic sheds are available in modular kits, which is a major plus for those whose needs change. The modular units can easily be expanded. Add-ons like additional shelf, peg boards, and specialised tool areas are easy to find and are made to work with the existing shed. The unique range of sizes and shapes also make them ideal for those that wish to have a shed to hold tools, garden chemicals, or even pet food in an inside location such as a garage or sun room.

Plastic sheds are also available in a wide range of colours, which makes it easy to select one that fits into your overall landscape design and the surrounding environment.

Functionality

Plastic sheds offer a wide range of functionality. They can be used to store plant food and fertiliser in the spring and summer and just as easily serve a home for plants in the winter months. They not only keep tools and lawn and garden equipment in an organised convenient location, they are sturdy enough to provide protection from not only the elements, but from theft as well. They are waterproof and do not hold heat to the degree of the others and are frequently used as playrooms or even outside offices.