Shed, derived from the middle English word schudde, means “hut” or a separate mini-storage / roofed structure for storing garden tools, bicycles, potted plants, animals, motorcycles, and power tools; it can even be your mini house or children’s play house. Many Australians engage in home renovation projects as the trend today is to build houses that are eco-friendly, energy saving, and cool. In your typical Australian home, depending on your budget, you might have a spacious lawn, a front garden, a patio, a shed, and a mini garden.
A shed, which looks like a tiny house, not only serves as a complementary design to your home but also functions as an extension of your house, offering comfort and protection. When you choose sheds for sale, you will soon find that they aren’t made equal – some are expensive but after owning them for months, you may find that the quality does not live up to the sale price. When looking to buy small garden sheds, it can be helpful for you to know the things that make for the best cheap yet quality sheds. The best type of sheds can be categorised according to features and types.
A Shed’s Best Features
Lightweight
The advantages of a lightweight shed are their ease of storage, assembly, and disassembly. Assembling a shed with components with significant weight will leave you with aching joints.
Shed materials that are lightweight include high-density polyethylene plastic (HDP) – the same plastic used for lightweight and strong water containers and plumbing pipes. The second, and most popular one is galvanised steel and aluminium, which has the added benefit of being corrosion resistant. The third is a fabric that is framed with steel or HDP poles on each side.
Easy to assemble
Since you will receive your shed in a dissembled form, you should receive instructions that are straightforward and easy-to-follow. An ideal shed is made of parts that are easy to fit together, yet strong enough to support the whole structure. Building such a shed is like building a large-scale Lego without the complexity and peril of trimming, sanding, cutting, and sawing of timber. A do it yourself (DIY) friendly shed has the wall panels, fibreglass skylight, hinged or sliding door panels, concrete fixings, roof panels and guttering/edging – all cut to size and easy to drill.
Made of strong material
The following four qualities make for an ideal material for sheds: rust-resistant, non-flammable, water-resistant, and fungi-proof. Materials such as HDP plastic, polyvinyl plastic, fibreglass, galvanised steel, glass, and steel share each or all of these qualities. On the other hand, timber, while a common and strong material, has many drawbacks.
Material |
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Cons |
Aluminium (with aluminium oxide coating) |
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Fabric |
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Fiberglass or Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) |
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Galvanised Steel (steel, iron) |
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High Density Polyethylene or HDP Plastic |
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High-tensile strength steel |
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Polyvinyl Plastic (PVC) |
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Timber |
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Things to Consider when Choosing Sheds
Secure
Security is a serious business that you must consider when buying sheds, especially if you are using them to store highly valuable power tools, bicycles or other equipment. Secured sheds should have a high-quality padlock that is resistant to bolt cutters, hammers, and steel saws. An ideal padlock could be made from a strong alloy and have a large shackle that is difficult even for the most determined thief. In addition, the bolt should be tamper-proof, probably made of solid carbon steel or chromium.
Weatherproof
A shed must be able to resist strong winds, sunlight, rain and snow, all of which can weaken the shed’s structural integrity. Rust-resistant materials such as galvanised iron or HDP plastic makes a shed impervious to constant weather changes. Galvanised steel, stainless steel, and polymer- coated nuts, fasteners, and concrete fixings can add to the shed’s weatherproofing.
With interior accessories
The ideal shed should have available accessories that can extend its storage function or space-saving features such as the following:
- Fibreglass skylight, which can save electricity during daytime, as it uses natural sunlight for illumination
- Hanging hooks such as J hooks, which can support cables, hold garden tools, or organise electrical equipment
- Anchoring kits, which provide extra support for stable shed foundation
- Tool holder, which organises your garden tools such as shovel, spade, hoe, hand fork, and rakes
- Louvre window unit, which allows ventilation and natural lighting
- Flooring system, which levels the floor and covers up any sand, soil, or rough surfaces
- Shed ramp, which allows for easy access to a bicycle or other tire
Made of durable material
As mentioned earlier, a shed must be resistant to many things like rust, fire, water and fungi. There are many available materials today, produced by great technology, which can make your shed quite impervious to harsh weather. You can also use timber due to its hardiness; however, it can be difficult to assemble and is prone to timber rot, fungi, fire, and termites. Depending on your needs, a strong material with quality build from the manufacturer makes for the ideal shed
Protected with lifetime warranty
Lifetime guarantees ensure that your product would be replaced or repaired, provided that it isn’t subjected to voidable conditions, such as misuse of the product or change of mind. Whilst a manufacturer or supplier guarantees that the product is free from defects, a lifetime warranty on a small garden shed gives you the peace of mind, as you know that you can return it or have it repaired if it has factory defects.
Provides ease of access
Regardless of shed design, type and dimension, it should provide ease of access and a door height that fits any person’s height or any equipment length (rake, shovel) and prevent the accidental scraping or denting of the equipment or the shed entrance. Ideally, a sliding door can provide this ease of access.
Made of high tensile steel
High tensile steel is mostly made up of chromium, manganese, carbon, and other base materials. Its advantage is that it withstands stress or being pulled apart, which means it can offer more protection against strong winds; accidental bumps from garden tools; or stray animals; and warping due to rapid changes in temperature. Applied to sheds, high tensile steel ensures that your shed can last long even in harsh weather conditions.
Has a sloped roof
This prevents water build-up when the rainy season comes. It also allows for easy ice removal. Water build-up is one of the major causes of water leaks or stain in roofing. It can also serve as a harbourage for mosquitoes and other water-dwelling insects.
A sloped roof makes it easier to remove sleet or snow build-up during winter.
Has interior shelving
A shed with this accessory can optimise space, as it will enable you to organise all your things like your pottery and garden tools (pruning shears, cultivator, pruner, trowel); paint tools (paint cans, paint brushes); and power tools (drill, circular saw, and nail gun).
Spacious
Being spacious is not only about the size, it is also the shed feature that allows for optimised space. For example, in a gable shed with its headroom space created by the sloped gable roof, you can optimise the space by placing a loft board that is either partial or full. You can then place a square opening for ladder access when you opt for a full loft board flooring. Use such loft board to store pails, plastic containers, buckets, and other lightweight stuff.
Different Types of Sheds
Gable Shed
This shed has a gable, which is the triangular part of the wall that starts from the eaves to the roof peak. A gabled shed has a roofing that is sloped/pitched from 9.5 degrees up to 45 degrees. It looks like a shed with the letter “A” on the top or more like a common house.
Gable sheds are ideal as garden sheds, as their sloped pitch can prevent water or snow build-up. They are stylish and look like a traditional house, which provides extra space for storage in the attic. Its disadvantage is that it is more prone to strong winds because it exposes more surface area to the wind and flying debris.
Off-the-wall shed
This shed is attached to the wall, which can also be the side of the house or a wall fence, and which serves as the shed’s back wall. It is ideal for tight or limited spaces. It is less expensive than other types and has a strong back wall support from the wall on which it is attached.
On the other hand, an off-the-wall shed is also subject to the structural integrity issues of the adjacent wall. Concrete or brick wall problems such as cracks, damp, mildew, moisture build-up, algal bloom build-up, and water damage can ruin your shed experience.
Flat sheds
By its name, flat sheds have flat roofing instead of the sloped or pitched roofing of other gambrel and gable sheds. Flat sheds provide extra space on the roofing and are inexpensive compared to other types such as the storm shed. When you don’t want snow or rain water to build up in your roofing, then a flat shed is not the ideal type.
Skillion shed
Also called the mono-pitched shed, it has a single slope or pitch on the front side. You may want a skillion shed if you want to accommodate tall people and long garden tools; if you’re buying a shed on a budget; if you want to create extra space in the headroom or install skylights; if you appreciate a stylish or minimalist design; and if you want to prevent roofing snow or water build-up. If you live in a place that is prone to strong winds or storms, then this type of shed can be your bane.
Gambrel shed
Similar to a barn shed, this type has a two-side sloped roofing. It consists of symmetrical rafters on both sides and a ridge board in the centre. It has more head room for tool or container storage and prevents snow and water build-up, which leads to fungi or algal growth. It is stylish and reminiscent of Dutch style roofing. One of its disadvantages, though, is that it is not designed for strong winds, owing to its large surface area. It also requires more waterproofing than flat or gable sheds, as it has more ridges.
Storm shed
Built to withstand storms, sheds of this type can withstand wind speeds of up to 316 kph. It has the following advantages: the frame, ridge, and structure are strong enough to stand against repeated wind stresses and any solid flying objects caused by strong winds; the gable roof design gives more headroom; and it sports a modern and stylish design. The drawback of this shed is that it is more expensive than flat and gable sheds.
The Best Provider of Garden Sheds: Easy Shed
Your small garden sheds can protect your garden tools, bicycles, and power tools; extend your home space; organise your home renovation tools; and add an extra level of protection against storms, severe snowfall, and other natural calamities. There is no perfect shed, but when the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, then you’ve got the best shed for your needs. If you’re looking for the best sheds for sale, visit EasyShed.
