You Can Choose A Polyethylene Shed!

I must admit that I am smitten. Smitten as in a recent visit to a local big box retailer which put me in front of the nicest looking shed that I’ve ever found retailing for under one thousand bucks.

Made from high density polyethylene (heavy duty plastic), it isn’t wooden but it is solid, durable and likely to last well beyond its 10-year limited warranty. What’s more, for the most part it snaps together, making it easy to build. Steel reinforcements placed along the top of the ceiling help to ensure that your shed can withstand some of the harshest weather conditions.

Building A Garden Shed

The brand isn’t important because I’ve found similar sheds from other manufacturers sold elsewhere, but the concept is important because it proves that you can find a reasonably priced shed that isn’t made from aluminum.

When shopping for a polyethylene shed, you’ll want to make sure that it has the following attributes, otherwise you might find that it fails to meet your needs:

Decent Footprint — Any shed that is less than 8×8 isn’t much help for me, but the one I like is 8×10 and is eight foot tall at the center. This means that the door opening is at least 7′ tall, tall enough except for the occasional NBA player.

Windows & Doors — Two doors are better than one, especially if they widely swing open and have steel hinges. Windows are important too, especially if you plan on using your shed as a work area too. Shatterproof is a must while skylights invite in plenty of sunlight. Look for a door with a padlock loop and deadbolts especially if you have expensive equipment you want to keep on hand.

Ventilation — There has to be a way to vent the shed, therefore I look for built-in screened vents on each side of the unit to make sure that air can flow in and out freely. In most cases you’ll want to work in your shed with the doors open, but adequate venting will ensure that airflow will not be restricted whenever the doors must be closed.

Flooring — Though my current shed, the rusty aluminum one, is still standing the floor rotted away years ago. In its place is a wooden floor, but it has largely disintegrated too. My requirement of an HDPE shed is that a floor be included, preferably one made of the same materials and can be snapped into place.

Durable — I understand that HDPE is a superior material, but it also needs to stain resistant, easy to clean, and resist fading and cracking. With our children’s play equipment, we always purchased the most durable products especially equipment that can be hosed down, cleaned off and won’t fade over time.

Finally, if you’re looking for something to keep around a long time, you may want to create a pad area which can include wood, gravel, cement or asphalt, a level section of the yard offering a semblance of permanence for your garden shed.

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Tags: building a garden shed, garden shed, garden shed designs, HDPE, outdoor shed, plastic, polyethylene, shed, yard