How to Decide Between a Metal Shed vs. a Wood Shed

When you decide to build a shed one of the first big decisions, you’ll need to make is whether you go with a metal shed or a wood shed. Each shed building material comes with its own pros and cons. There really is no wrong or right answer either. You need to decide what works best for you. To help you make this decision, here is a guide on how to decide between a metal shed vs a wood shed.

Tips on How to Decide Between a Metal Shed vs a Wood Shed

A few benefits of both a metal shed and a wood shed will help you clear your thoughts about which one to choose from both and on the which basis.

The Benefits of the Metal Shed

One of the biggest reasons why you’ll want to go with a metal shed is because it’s durable. Metal is able to hold up better than wood and it doesn’t require the kind of care you might need to dedicate to the wood shed. Metal is a bit more forgiving and you can add a number of features to your metal shed you might not be able to add to your wood design. Metal sheds also come with all kinds of color options. In fact, you can get your shed in just about any color you might want.

You are no longer required to go with the bland gray or brown shed, which was a common look for older shed designs. Modern sheds can be designed to come in any color. 

Metal sheds are often easier and less expensive to repair. You won’t need to replace shingles, which is something you’ll likely need to do from time to time with a wood shed. Now, when you replace shingles on a wood shed you’ll only need to do a few at a time, and even re-roofing a wood shed isn’t all that expensive, but it is something you’ll probably need to do (some replacements every once in a while and a new shingle roof maybe every decade or so). With metal, you won’t need to patch or replace anything, and even if you need to replace the roof it is a faster process as you can add a new roof in an individual metal strip instead of small, shingle pieces. 

The Benefits of Wood Sheds

There really is nothing like wood in terms of how it looks. If you already have a wood picket fence and wood flower boxes around your property a woodshed will seamlessly blend in with the rest of your property. In these instances, a metal shed won’t look the part because the build material will stand out. 

With a wood shed design, you can easily add a second floor. Maybe you want your shed to be more than just a storage option. Perhaps you’re interested in a she-shed or a studio where you can work on your craft while also storing your materials. You might not have the kind of square footage in your yard for all this, but with a wood shed, you can easily add a second floor. This is not as easy as a solution when it comes to metal. 

The Cons of a Wood Shed

You will need to perform some additional upkeep with your wood shed. This is to protect it not only from moisture but also from insects that might be hungry for some wood to munch on. It isn’t difficult to protect your wood shed, so this shouldn’t be a major deterrent if you’re considering it. You can apply a sealant and protector onto your wood shed and this will go a long way in preventing your shed from deteriorating. The same sealant that protects against insects will protect against water damage. You will want to shovel snow off the roof of your wood shed if it is heavy, just to help prevent any kind of excessive damage from the snow that might linger for long periods of time, but this can be done rather easily.

These are the pros of a metal shed and a corn shed. But how to decide between a metal shed vs a wood shed does not only depend on the pros, you must also know the cons of the same as mentioned below.

The Cons of a Metal Shed

Metal sheds are durable and, when protected, will not rust. With metal sheds, you are not able to change the color of the shed as easily as you would a wood shed. With wood sheds, you just sand down any loose paint and then paint it the new color. With metal, it is not as easy. Regular paint will not stick to metal like it will wood because metal doesn’t have the pores of the wood (which is also why it is so durable when exposed to water). There are magnetically charged paints that will easily attach itself to metal, but this is a bit more of a process, so it is something to keep in mind if you think you might change your mind with regards to your paint color. 

Another thing to keep in mind is the sound rain makes when striking metal. It will be louder than the sound of rain on shingles or wood. Some might find this sound relaxing, while others might not like the sound of rain on metal. If you’re not going to be spending much time inside of the shed this might not be anything you need to worry about. However, if you have a bedroom window that is near the shed you might hear the sound of water on metal when it rains hard. It’s minor, but you’ll want to think about it. 

Help With Your Storage Shed Project

When it comes to building a new shed it is all about deciding on what works for you. Both metal and wood sheds offer a number of benefits, it just comes down to what benefits interest you and work with what you’re looking to accomplish. If you’re still not sure which of the two building materials is right for you don’t worry, all you need to do is ask a professional. 

So now you might be clear about how to decide between a metal shed vs a wood shed. At Barnyard Utility Buildings we are here to answer all of your questions and help direct you to the right shed material, size, and design. So, whether you have questions regarding metal vs wood storage shed options or are ready to make a purchase, our staff is here and ready to help. Give us a call at your earliest convenience.

Proudly serving customers across North and South Carolina including Charlotte, NC, Belmont, NC, Indian Land, SC, Spartanburg, SC and beyond.