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How to Solve the Most Common Problems with Your Garden Shed

A garden shed used to be one of the most underrated buildings in Australia. However, recent developments in real estate have elevated the humble garden shed into a potential gold mine that can add significant value to your property.

Fortunately, building a shed today is not as complicated nor as time-consuming as it used to be. Nowadays, the best sheds can be purchased through a hardware store or online. This makes sheds widely available to homeowners. However, even with their proliferation, homeowners face similar construction problems when building a shed.

Even with careful consideration, even the best sheds in the market are prone to these challenges:

Garden shed problem

Water leaks

It is obviously not much of a problem during summer, but you will experience a huge disadvantage come the winter and rainy seasons. With a newly built shed, there is a high likelihood that improper roof installation is the main cause of your leaking woes, although it is also possible that a poor foundation or unpainted walls are the main culprit.

If the leak comes from the roof, it might be a matter of miscalculation in the slope as this could lead to open seams and blow-offs (for apex- or gabled-roof sheds). For flat roofs, the absence of quality membrane will cause it to leak.

Building your shed on bare ground can also lead to serious consequences as the groundwater can potentially seep through and destroy your foundation, regardless of the materials used. Even concrete can degrade if it is left in contact with water for too long. Using a rebated concrete slab can keep groundwater out. You can also apply some specialised floor coating or waterproofing sealants to improve your floor’s water resistance.

Similarly, you will need to apply waterproofing paint on your walls to reduce the risk of leaks. If you think any of these solutions are too much of a hassle, you can always purchase a high-quality garden shed, with which you won’t have to worry about poor construction.

Keeping pests out

It is difficult to keep pests like rodents and insects from gardens and backyards. It won’t be long before they find their way into your precious shed. After all, sheds are the perfect breeding ground for these creatures, as they offer everything that insects need to survive: food, water, and shelter.

Termites are a major problem for sheds made of timber, although some termite species can also infest bricks and stones. Cockroaches, spiders, rats, and mice can also thrive, regardless of the material you use in your shed.

Plastic and steel sheds are good in keeping the little critters away whilst timber needs some special coating to repel the same. Unfortunately, even with plastic and steel sheds, pests can still find their way through cracks and holes. Windows and doors can also serve as a gateway for these creatures, if they are constantly left open.

Of course, the best defence against pest infestation is to keep your shed organised and clean. Remove any item that might serve as a food source (i.e. old boxes, untreated timber, etc.) and regularly check your shed for any crack. You can also call a professional to get rid of these pesky creatures.

Repair and maintenance

Technically speaking, sheds can be categorised by the material used in their construction: plastic/resin, steel, and timber.

Plastic sheds are well-known for their affordability and their uncomplicated maintenance. The downside of purchasing them is that they are considerably weaker compared to steel and timber sheds. This means that a plastic shed might not last long if exposed to the harsh Aussie weather. Timber, on the other hand, is the most aesthetically pleasing, yet it requires constant high maintenance to last long.

If you want to get your money’s worth, then buying a steel shed is not a bad idea. It gives you the best of both worlds. It is durable and can withstand excessive cold or heat. It also requires little to no maintenance. Most steel shed manufacturers also offer limited customisations to their customers.

Poor lighting and ventilation

Another common problem with garden sheds is poor lighting and ventilation. Both factors can duly affect the way you work inside your garden shed. For lighting, you can choose either natural or artificial light. The advantage of maximising natural light is that you will spend less on electricity, not to mention the fact that it is eco-friendlier. There are a couple of shed features, like windows and skylights, that you can add to produce the optimum use of natural light. You can even use translucent GI sheets as roof to increase the amount of natural light without adding much to the construction cost.

However, bear in mind that too much natural light can also be a problem during summer. You can opt to use light pastel colours for your garden shed’s interior paint to improve the light’s efficiency.

For ventilation, adding windows would be a great idea to ensure that there is fresh air circulating inside your shed. You can also use extended eaves, ridge vents, or wall shutters to improve air movement.

Guttering

The best way to avoid the most common guttering problem is to build your garden shed away from trees and other potential blockages that can eventually lead to water leakage. However, choosing the wrong material for shed gutters can be equally inefficient. As much as possible, avoid installing steel gutters which are prone to rust and corrosion over time. Plastic gutter is a better option as they are lighter, easier to work with, and are fairly durable. You should also consider fitting some gutter guards to protect it from potential blockage like fallen leaves and other debris.

If you feel that dealing with these problems is a hassle, just purchase your garden shed from EasyShed. We offer affordable, quality sheds that can last long. With EasyShed, you don’t need to worry about anything else. Just place your order and we will do the rest.