Storage building environments

A back yard can be a harsh environment for a structure of any type. Most suburban lawns have irrigation systems, and are to some degree shaded, fenced, or otherwise enclosed. A canopy of moisture releasing foliage above, and an enclosure full of green grass that needs water everyday creates a hostile environment for wooden structures. A wooden storage building may look great for a while, but it requires maintenance to keep it looking that way.

Storage building alternatives

It all boils down to what you want more. A wooden, or composite wood type shed will involve a lot of maintenance. It needs to be painted or treated on a regular basis, or moisture will destroy it quickly. A galvanized, and painted steel clad structure will last 20 or 30 years before needing anything more than a basic cleaning. There are a lot of choices in colors and styles these days, and some of the metal buildings are just as attractive as the wooden ones.

Variations in wood sided buildings

Not all wooden structures are created equal, and some will withstand the test of time better than others. Structures made of marine grade plywood or cedar can be quite durable, but even these will need periodic treatment if you intend for them to be around a while. To maintain these, various waterproofing stains and sealers will need to be brushed or sprayed on, which is somewhat easier, and less expensive than yearly painting. Wood composite buildings will have to be painted and sealed on regular basis to last over the long haul.

What’s the best choice?

So, what is the best choice for siding for a storage building? In the long run, galvanized and painted steel will out perform all other siding materials, including wood, wood composites, aluminum, and the various plastics on the market, including vinyl. They do not have to be unattractive, the color and style choices today are numerous, and you can find a combination that perfectly matches your outdoor decor.

Related issues:

Composite shingles

I have been in a lot of  back yards, and I have seen a lot of storage buildings, and I have never seen a storage building with composite shingles, that wasn’t going bald! This has held true throughout a 30 year career in landscape maintenance related work.

Doors

In the same vein, I have rarely seen a wooden door that was not sagging in an outbuilding.

Delivery fees:

Do not make any mistake about it. You will pay a delivery fee when you buy a portable building to be delivered to your property! I don’t care how many times you hear or read the statement “Free Delivery”, it is simply not true! No one works for free. The trucks don’t run on air, and you will be charged for it. It will be figured into the cost of constructing the building, or in some other way, but you will be charged a delivery fee whether or not it is on the paperwork.

Storage Building Siding Materials

I heard this the other day: “Wood is better than metal as a siding, because it is heavier and will keep the building from blowing away.” The first time I heard that one, I could hardly contain my laughter! While the weight part may be true, using it as a rationale for wood over metal is almost laughable because metal siding has so many other advantages. Besides, if you plan to put anything into your building, the weight of the contents is enough to hold it in place, and if you live in a location where wind is a problem, you should consider securing the shed with anchors, no matter what material is used for siding.

Need to know where to buy storage buildings in East Texas?

We can answer that question, and many more! Some people call them storage buildings, some call them storage sheds, at other times they may be called tool sheds, storage barns, portable buildings, or even portable storage buildings or barns, or sheds. They may be best termed “portable utility buildings” because they can serve so many varied purposes. Whatever you choose to call these buildings, or whatever you choose to use them for, they can be very useful, and you can find a lot of useful information about them, and how to use and maintain them on this site.

Call: 903.504.3938

Storage  Buildings Wood or Metal Siding?

What is the best material for use as siding for a portable utility building? Well, you will have to come to your own conclusion, but we have some thoughts on the issue. We think that a utility building should be built with utility in mind. How a building looks over it’s lifetime is important, and so is it’s lifetime. How long the building survives the elements is a part of it’s overall value. The cost of buying a storage building compared to the cost renting storage space makes the average building a good value, but the longevity of the building can make it a great value!

We hear a lot of questions about the best type of siding if you are buying a portable storage building or storage shed. This is written from a very practical perspective. It looks at storage from the perspective of what you must do to maintain your building.

Wood is a wonderful material. It can be cut, shaped, and fastened in an incredible number of shapes and sizes, and for an incredible number of purposes. It provides most of our home furnishings, and most of our homes framing. As I said it is a great material for building, and for making the things that go inside our homes, but it is not always the best material for building the outsides of our homes.

Wood looks good. Well, at least it looks good for a while. Wood exposed to the elements, however begins to look bad pretty quickly, and what is worse, is that it’s structural integrity is soon compromised!

Without human intervention, wooden structures soon destroy themselves. Human intervention in these situations involves cleaning, painting or staining, and doing so regularly. The best procedure is to clean, paint, or stain the building once a year, or at least once every 18 months. The average cost for such a procedure is about $500.00 per year!

That is why we suggest the purchase of a metal clad building. Most metal siding will last in good conditions for at least 25 years, and is pretty much maintenance free. The cost for such buildings may be a little higher, but the value is much greater.

If you have a different perspective on this issue, please feel free to respond in the comments, or email us with your response and we will be happy to publish it here.