How to maintain your shed

How to maintain a wooden shed

A wooden shed is a popular choice for many reasons: they look great, are available in almost every shape and size you can imagine, and can last for decades if looked after properly. Here’s how!

1. Use a shed base

Unless you want a soggy shed which is prone to rot, grab yourself a shed base to raise it off the floor and provide protection from rising damp. You’ll get so much more value from your shed this way and it’ll look better too!

Check over your shed base on a yearly basis and clear any debris that may have built up.

2. Keep it clean

Anything that’s kept outside is bound to get dirty eventually. You can use a sponge and water to clean your wooden shed, or use a pressure washer on its lowest setting.

3. Treat the wood

You should use a high-quality shed paint or stain once a year. Not only will this nourish your wooden shed, but it also gives it an injection of colour! Specialist wood paint from brands like Thorndown have translucent colours so you can still see the natural beauty of the wood underneath. Alternatively, you could go with a clear wood varnish.

Most wooden sheds arrive pre-treated; either dip treated, or pressure treated. It’s never a bad idea to give it a once-over with your shed paint within the first couple of months of owning, and topping up yearly after that.

Simply grab your paint brush and get to work! For a full run-down, check out our blog on how to paint wood.

4. Keep an eye on plants

Cut back any overgrown wild plants to stop them from getting carried away and stifling your shed. Having a couple of potted plants around your shed is a great way of dressing it up a little, but be careful not to go overboard; too many obstacles could reduce airflow and stop your shed from drying out properly after wet weather, leading to damp and mould issues.

5. Check the roof

Grab a ladder and inspect your shed roof for any moss, fallen leaves, or twigs which can absorb water and stop it from running off, which could lead to leaks! After a while, your shed roof will probably need to be replaced with new felting or roofing, depending on the shed.

How to maintain a metal shed

A metal shed is significantly lower maintenance compared to a wooden shed. Although the task of painting your shed can be quite therapeutic, the hardwearing nature of a metal shed means it’s much easier to look after, and brilliant for protecting higher value items likes bikes or power tools.

You can clean your metal shed with water and a sponge, or a pressure washer on its lowest setting. You can paint your shed with specialist metal paint, but also look out for rust on the walls or fixings; aim to deal with these as soon as you spot them by using a rust remover before priming and re-painting.

The only downside to metal sheds is heat, so try and keep it well-ventilated in warm weather which should help you keep on top of rust.

How to maintain a plastic shed

Looking after your plastic shed couldn’t be easier: keep the outside clean, make sure all the fixings are tight, and check the roof for debris. Like metal sheds, proper ventilation is important for the health of your plastic shed and anything that’s inside it; it’s as simple as keeping the door open if you’re out in the garden on a nice day.

Keep in the inside clean

Wood, metal, or plastic, chances are you’ll spending quite a bit of time going in and out of your shed. Use a garden brush to sweep the floor of your shed, getting rid of dirt, dust, and wayward compost that you brought in!

Check the walls and ceiling inside your shed and dust away any cobwebs.

Organise your shed

Keep your shed well organised to keep it looking tidy, remove tripping hazards, and make it easier to find whatever you need! With wooden sheds, you can easily install shelves or hooks on the inside to help you keep your garden hand tools close by and easy to grab.

With metal and plastic sheds, drilling holes in the wall isn’t so easy, so try using storage boxes or tool cabinets to help you stay organised?

Install guttering

Adding some simple guttering to your shed is a worthwhile upgrade to control water run-off and prevent rising damp. Not only that, but you could also install a water butt for an easy way to collect rainwater for using on the garden. This will save you money on water bills, and plants also prefer rainwater to tap water. Result!

You can install a gutter on any shed, but they’re particularly good for pent sheds as you only have to attach guttering to one side.