Metal Shed; good or bad?

[Rob-J]

Intro: I need a place in which I can store my tools, both electrical and hand. Having thought about something around the size of a large wardrobe, which I was going to build (out of Wood), I then thought why not expand the build so that I can have a compact workshop, apx 1.8m High, 2.4m Wide and 1.5m Deep. Depending on the type of Wood, I think I could get the materials for about £300. Then, of course, I have to prep, paint, and build it.

I've just come across this:

Metal Garden Shed 8 X 4ft Outdoor Yard Storage Tool House

My question: has anyone had any experience with this type of shed, and would you recommend it?

The advantages are that it's way less trouble and it's not as expensive. But what about the downsides?

Comments and advice welcomed and appreciated.

 

[gaz1]

dont unless you want wet through tools

 

[Rob-J]

dont unless you want wet through tools

Humm... are they that bad? I certainly don't want a life-times worth of gathering some very nice kit together, just to have it all junked!

Thanks for your comment.

 

[frank horton]

My good friend bought two for her off grid storage.....I did warn her but money was tight....!!!!
They were so bad she decided that they had to go back.....all the sheets were so thin and the frame was bits of slighty thicker bent bits which really couldn't hold it all together....
She got 1/2 her money back and that was it.....
In the end I built her a wooden frame, using the roof sheets to increase the footprint size.....
buying new roofing sheets locally she now has 1/2 a decent shed......
Another thing the orig roof sheets only had a 15mm overhang, no use at all....
Now when she needs another shed we make it together.....
In other words DONT, unless u can see one ready built......

 

[BrokenBiker]

Humm... are they that bad? I certainly don't want a life-times worth of gathering some very nice kit together, just to have it all junked!

Thanks for your comment.

They are if you just build it and call it a day...I put a 300w greenhouse heater in mine and it's bone dry

 

[Bornfree]

Humm... are they that bad? I certainly don't want a life-times worth of gathering some very nice kit together, just to have it all junked!

Thanks for your comment.

Unfortunately they really bad for condensation unless fully insulated or heated as above

 

[droopsnoot]

There are other comments here: https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/metal-sheds-dont-we-just-love-them-not.147991/

 

[Rob-J]

Ah... my bad.

Note to self: Use the search before you post! As likely as not, the question has already been asked and answered.

Having slept on this and read the comments here (with thanks, guys) as well as the thread that has been kindly linked by @droopsnoot I think my funds would be better invested in the wooden build that I'm planning.

The design is coming together, but I will be asking for some feedback on that, as and when it's presentable.

Thank you for all the comments; it's always a help to bounce an idea off of other like-minded people.

 

[scotb]

got one 2 yrs ago, bought another one with missing parts to extend to 7 ft high. used 3/16 repair rivets to build as the screws were crap. sealed all the roof fixings with butile tape, never leaks, no condensation. we keep a chest freezer in it so assume thats warm enough to keep the condensation at bay. fitted a 19mm ply floor as well.

 

[Divingdad]

Bloke on the next allotment to me put one up for tools, chairs etc. First gale and it traveled several plots away totally mangled.

 

[dave h 2]

You only need to insulate the roof to prevent the internal rain. Condensation on items stored in there is a different issue.
The paint will fade unevenly as my neighbour found out.

 

[Bouledogue]

They are truly terrible things. Had one many, many, years ago as a stop-gap during a build. Would be better storing your tools in a pond.

Build it out of wood (or buy a wooden prefab.).

 

[gaz1]

if your going to use the reference of metal shed use factory reference insulate a metal frame

Post in thread 'Buying or not a steel shed'

Mar 19, 2025

this is light guage steel garage it also uses insulated panels

as goes for insulation a normal roll will do

its just that white plastic sheet thats needed first before the insulation unless your going to board the insides

this one shows both insulation rolls and insulation boards with extra info

• gaz1

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Bought my 'YardMaster' shed in the mid eighties, plopped on a bit of concrete base: shifted up the garden twenty years back on a sled of ali channel and now sits on a bit of mud (no base). Never had any issues with condensation or bits falling off, and it's full to the brim!
OP that mocked up pic with the huge spade doesn't look great: Internal sliding doors could be a pain if bits fall from shelves and wedge the doors.
I do know of a unbranded 6x6 that came from Argos decades ago which is also full of stuff and sits atop of mud on four paving slabs at each corner which is also bone dry inside. This shed was being offered free of charge with all the contents but difficulties arose after probate kicked in. I guess the moral is 'go and have a feel' before just pushing BIN!

 

[Melvyn Best]

The local charity shop has one as an extra store, they often have to dump donated items due to them being soaked. They won’t get rid of it as it was “donated” and a wooden one would cost them money ,but they have had to dump stuff that would have sold that totalled way more than a new shed

 

[Misterg]

has anyone had any experience with this type of shed, and would you recommend it?

A house down the road from us got one just like that in their front garden. First decent storm we got destroyed it. Their stuff was still in one place, but the shed was a crumpled and torn mess on the ground next to it.

The metal isn't much thicker than tinfoil.

 

[Bullet2012]

simple response is. Bad

 

[tigdlo]

I had a tin shed, it was poor for condensation and humidity. Sadly £300 doesn't go very far for a shed nowadays, I wouldn't know what to recommend to buy but if I was building a shed that size I would probably spend £600 to £1000 depending how insulated and dry it needed to be.

My shed is a 3x2 frame, sheathed in 11mm OSB and a damp proof membrane. The outside is battened vertically in 2x2 and clad in cheap feather edge so it overhangs the base. The roof is battened, damp proof menbrane, counter battened and tin sheets overhanging 300mm back and sides and 900mm at the front so I can open the door when it's raining without the inside getting wet, I may make it a porch in the future. Inside is celotex and plasterboard.

If I build another I would simplify and make it cheaper and it would be just as good, the osb would be on the inside and insulation on the outside held in by the membrane, then batten and cladded.

 

[Rob-J]

@tigdlo

Thanks for the insight. My plan is to use 38mm x 63mm CLS timber for the framework, and 9mm MDF for the walls. Obviously this will all need to be prepared and well sealed, and I've done a lot of reading on that very topic. I'll then construct it in sub-assemblies.

The floor is still in the research stage (but I'm thinking loft floor panels, again, prepared and well sealed) as is the roof.

I've also learned that ventilation is most important, which is a part of my plans; possibly two vents at the rear, just above floor level, and another two at the front, just below the ceiling, which should allow for good air circulation.

This is all getting a little off topic for this thread, but that's the basic outline.

Your post has given me some more ideas, so thank you, once more.

 

[tigdlo]

I would avoid MDF and loft flooring, OSB3 is made for the job. If it's dry enough there is a weather resistant chipboard flooring with a grey coating on one face but I have no idea if it's suitable long term as it's for temporary weather exposure for house building.

Treated 70x45 carcassing may be a better choice than 63x38 cls, price up the job at a proper builders merchants, design around available material sizes to reduce waste and you will find it's cheaper than DIY type suppliers.