Metal Sheds - Everything You Need KnowMetal sheds are some of the most common storage sheds available. Typically, these sheds are used for storing items such as tools, garden supplies, outdoor furniture, sporting equipment, bicycles, and other items where heat and cold really wont affect the items stored within them. A problem when you first start looking at these sheds is that they can all seem the same. For example you may want to know, 'Why does an Asgard Centurion shed cost almost four times as much as one of an equivalent size and appearance, 'The Rosedale' by Emerald sheds?' The answer is, that each of the metal shed companies specializes in an area of the market whether that is price, security, longevity, style etc.
To determine what you want from your new metal shed use the factors below to help you get the best deal.
ColoursWhen you are considering a metal shed for your garden you may find that your colour choices are not exactly varied. Some manufacturers use only one standard colour for their sheds while others do offer you a selection. Of course, if the shed you want comes in a less than appealing colour, you have the option of asking the manufacturer what painting it yourself will do to the warranty if there is one. The colour of your shed may fade over the life of the shed, so knowing where you stand when it comes to painting is a good idea. Metal Thickness and corrosion resistanceMost metal garden sheds have an internal frame with sheet metal panels covering it on the outside. Each shed manufacturer uses a different framing system and thickness of metal for the walls. Good quality panels ahould be galvanized metal an often have a paint, powder, or plastic PVC coating, which contrribute to the rust resistance and give it a nice, finished look. The life of the shed depends on atmospheric conditions and will be reduced in coastal and heavily industrialized areas. Salt from the sea air and chemicals from manufacturing plants reduce the time to first corrosion compared with sheds in less corrosive atmnospheres.Of course, metal thickness is important for security. It is a lot easier to damage or break into a shed with walls 0.25mm thick than one with 1.2mm thick walls. GuaranteeMetal sheds come with a range of guarantees. These guarantees vary from 10 to 25 years and cover a wide variety of things that pertain to your shed. Roof StylesMetal storage sheds, like wooden sheds, also come with varied roof styles. Pent roofs slant in only one direction, reminding you of a lean to shed. Gabled sheds have a standard peak like a house and the roof slants in both directions.Metal storage boxes fit alongside your garden wall or along your house and are great for storing things like bicycles and items that a full blown shed is a bit too much for. Locks and SecurityAll metal storage sheds come with some type of locking mechanism. Many of them use key locks with top and bottom door latches. This three pronged system makes your shed extremely secure and makes it harder for people to break into and steal your stuff. Once again, each manufacturer of metal sheds uses their own method of securing and keeping your shed safe, with different security features and lock-sets that they prefer. If being able to lock your shed is a priority, take a look at a variety of different metal shed locking options before deciding which one to purchase. Door StylesThere are three common types of door; sliding doors, rolled doors similar to that of a garage door, or standard hinged units. Each has their pros and cons, but the main priority is that the door opens wide enough to allow you to maneuver your items in and out of your shed, that is is robust and reliable and can easily be secured. It is more common to find sliding and hinged doors on standard sheds and roller doors on larger units that can accommodate the space the door will take up. AccessoriesYou can easily accessorize your shed to fit whatever use you have for it. They can be manufactured complete with windows and skylights that reduce the need for electricity to be run to the shed from the main house. Many come ventilated to allow the free movement of air in the shed, and you can equip it with shelves and other storage devices that easily secure to or hang from the roof and wall framing. Floors and FoundationsOne thing you will need to consider is the flooring for your shed. Metal sheds need to be bolted down to some form of foundation. A concrete slab is probably the best foundation and flooring your shed could have. An alternative is to construct a stell and plywood sub-floor supported on patio slabs or blocks. No matter what you use, your foundation or flooring should be designed to provide your shed with protection from ground moisture below which can cause condensation problems inside your shed.Metal sheds have long lives, and are a great solution to your storage needs, especially when heat and cold factors do not need to be considered.
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