Metal storage shed

[illusion]

I am thinking about importing a shed from the the US (we dont have sheds like that at home).

But how is the overall quality of this metal sheds that is sold??? (been looking at a manufactor called Arrow) It is just goin to be used for lawnmower, toys bicycles etc....

Hoping someone could educate me on this...

I could build one from wood, but that would cost about twice the amount..

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I don't know how far away from the U.S. is home but the metal "sheds" for lawn mowers, etc aren't worth exporting. Are you talking about huge metal BUILDINGS, or sheds?

 

[Torque1st]

You don't say where you are from but by the time you assemble one of those metal sheds you will be cursing yourself for not using wood. You will be money, time, and utility ahead just building with local materials. The small metal sheds are terrible.

 

[bad_idea]

I have a 8'x10' metal shed made by Arrow. I have had it for 1 year and it is already beginning to rust. They are typically good for 10 years before they are rusted horribly. I have problems with water coming in under the door when it rains. It is a nuisance to hang things from the walls (shovels, pruning shears, etc). It really is an eye sore, it doesn't look very good in the backyard.

That being said, it was fairly simple to put together with limited tools. At the time I didn't have the time, tools, or skills to build a quality wooden shed. It keeps the mower out of the weather.

 

[illusion]

I don't know how far away from the U.S. is home but the metal "sheds" for lawn mowers, etc aren't worth exporting. Are you talking about huge metal BUILDINGS, or sheds?

Talking about sheds in the size like 10x14, far away is scandinavia...

You don't say where you are from but by the time you assemble one of those metal sheds you will be cursing yourself for not using wood. You will be money, time, and utility ahead just building with local materials. The small metal sheds are terrible.

The metal shed is cheaper even if i have to pay shipping and its faster to put up then a wood shed. If I am going with wood I would make my own shed, not premade kit.

But if you guys thinks its bad quality on them, then I`ll stay away. They justed seemed very nice...

 

[Torque1st]

The metal shed is cheaper even if i have to pay shipping and its faster to put up then a wood shed. If I am going with wood I would make my own shed, not premade kit.

Putting up a metal shed is tedious. Think about hundreds of little screws, nuts, and bolts which go through holes that don't quite line up... -Use wood, it's really faster.

If a metal shed is damaged it is done for. A person can repair a wooden shed.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Build your own wood shed.

 

[p_mori7]

Consider snow loads. Here in Canada, we see many that are all dented & bent because of heavy snow on the roof.

 

[buildmyown]

Put up that exact 10X14 Arrow shed a little over a year ago. Picked it up at my local Lowes on clearence for $200. My original plan was to build a wood frame similar to a poll bar and use the metal from the kit to side it and do a regular roof, but ran out of time and needed something quick for some overflow storage. I like to refer to it as the erector set from hell. Took about 2 weekends to put it all up working by myself with a helper it could easily be done in a weekend. That also included leveling 3 yards of crushed stone and building a wood floor/platform. All was good and it survived our winter 2 years ago when we had over 6 feet of snow but i did clear the snow off twice by the end of the winter the snow was up to the roof of the shed. A limb fell on one corner during tropical storm Irene and another during a wind storm at least they both hit almost the same spot. Some time with a block of wood and a hammer got it looking ok again. It does leak a little but for what i keep in there its no big deal. Would i do it again only if i really had to this will be replced with a wood shed of about the same size when this one rots out or with the way its goinf gets hit my another tree.

Here is a quick right up i did for another site im on with some pictures.
Someone shoot me 5,000 or so misc screws nuts and bolts 200+ hand pulled rivits and 20 or so man hrs and its almost done just the doors and a few other odds and ends. I should have just stick built it would have been done in a fraction of the time.

Started Tuesday spreading and leveling 4 yards of 3/4 stone

A few hours Thursday framing and leveling the base

Friday a few hours assembling to damb hot for much more

Saturday Sunday and today assembling

 

[illusion]

I can see that, most of you dont like them ..

All the screws,bolt etc doesnt bother me much, sure I will curse like crazy doing it..

But is it useless?



Buildmyown: That was the shed I looked at..


Any good shed designs out there,if I where to go with wood...

 

[onewaydave]

Illusion, I can only support the other negative opinions. A more costly but better solution would be to go to one of the metal buildings and get something downsized. It would be engineered, heavier metal and would last for many years. Another option being done here in the US is repurposing shipping containers and van bodies. They can be done to look just as nice. You might also find something in military surplus, if you have that option.

Lastly, consider building your own metal building. If you can import that cheap shed, can you not import the needed material to build something? It could be a mix of wood and metal or all metal.

Dave.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Any good shed designs out there,if I where to go with wood...

Try searching Google.

Somebody posted a link to a site once that had some plans but I can't remember what it was.

 

[5lima30]

I don't know if you have snow or significant winds where you are located? If you have either I think that you will very dissappointed! Have you considered building or buying one that is conventional "stick" framed and then siding it with the galvanized metal roofing/ siding. Those type sheds seem to be much more durable and are relatively inexpensive.

 

[Basstracker34]

Get a plastic shed. No rust. I've got a 7x7 from lowes and it's been great.

 

[illusion]

Thanks for all the constructive comments..

Looks like I have to look into wood again , I have built one before.
There is no tradition of using metal sheds or garages here, moustly everything is built with wood..

Price wise it sounded like a good idea, as wood would be twice the price.

At least it was a good idea to ask before I got it...

And yes we got snow here...

 

[Torque1st]

I can see that, most of you dont like them ..

All the screws,bolt etc doesnt bother me much, sure I will curse like crazy doing it..

But is it useless?



Buildmyown: That was the shed I looked at..


Any good shed designs out there,if I where to go with wood...

Not entirely useless but this said it best:

I have a 8'x10' metal shed made by Arrow. I have had it for 1 year and it is already beginning to rust. They are typically good for 10 years before they are rusted horribly. I have problems with water coming in under the door when it rains. It is a nuisance to hang things from the walls (shovels, pruning shears, etc). It really is an eye sore, it doesn't look very good in the backyard.

That being said, it was fairly simple to put together with limited tools. At the time I didn't have the time, tools, or skills to build a quality wooden shed. It keeps the mower out of the weather.

My metal 8x10' took two weekends to build. One weekend for the foundation and another weekend with two helpers for the shed. I did manage to incorporate some wood shelves and racks into the build over the next weekend but the racks were never satisfactory so hanging things was always a problem. There is no structure to fasten anything to in a metal shed. Structurally they are about as solid as a camping tent.

It took another weekend to clear it away after a tree limb fell on it. Those inaccessible screws in wrinkled metal showed themselves to be a true nightmare then. I replaced it with a stick built wooden shed.

 

[illusion]

looks like I am back to the 2x4 again..

 

[buildmyown]

They work for storing stuff that is not valuable and needs to stay dry. I use it for storing my lawn tractor yard tools and sesonal stuff like the grill and patio furnature. To keep the tools some what neat I use an old trash barrel and just throw everything in there. I also use it store my summer wheels and tires for the winter and vice cersa in the summer.

 

[BBQ&Love]

Don't store anything in them if it needs to stay dry. It doesn't hurt a mower to get wet so it's ok for a mower or similar stuff. Pure **** though.

 

[ietech]

I have a 10' x 10' Rubbermaid shed --- I installed it 6 yrs ago and have had zero problems -- it has stood up even when the fence next to it 40' of it blew down. I know I live in Sacramento which has pretty good weather -- But we ocassionally get horrific rain and 60 to 70 MPH wind gusts.

I would go with Rubbermaid again if necessary. Just a thought.

It probably is not a 20 or 30 year solution but has given me good service.

I don't know about the ones they make that are larger but I would take a chance on thier products again.

Edit - No condensation on the interior EVER Summer or winter. No Rust or mold and mildew


No I am not a Rubbermaid rep I just really appreciate the value that I got from them

 

[bad_idea]

To keep the tools some what neat I use an old trash barrel and just throw everything in there.

that is my new favorite quote.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Buy an Ocean Container. Build a pitched roof to fit on top of it.

Charles

 

[illusion]

They work for storing stuff that is not valuable and needs to stay dry. I use it for storing my lawn tractor yard tools and sesonal stuff like the grill and patio furnature. To keep the tools some what neat I use an old trash barrel and just throw everything in there. I also use it store my summer wheels and tires for the winter and vice cersa in the summer.

Thats what it would be used for..!

Buy an Ocean Container. Build a pitched roof to fit on top of it.

Charles

Actually they sell some containers that is meant for storage. They come flat and you put them up in 5 min. Been looking really hard at them for a while, but with a roof I end up with the same price as building a wood shed.

Trying to look at it price vs quality vs time..

http://www.quickbuild.uk.com/demountable_containers.htm

 

[illusion]

I have a 8'x10' metal shed made by Arrow.

And what do you think about it!

 

[SGKent]

we had one metal one that came with the house. Everything inside was damp. When we went to get rid of it all I had to do was push on the corners to collapse in inwards. Frankly they are junk once a few seasons have passed. It would be different if you had heavy gauge galvanized steel but these are about the thickness of a tin can.

 

[mmb617]

I've had two 8x10 Arrow metal sheds in the past. I only got them because they were free. Even at that price they weren't a good investment. They rusted big time in short order and the roof collapsed on one of them when we got a heavy snow.

On the other hand I have a wooden shed that's been standing for 30 years. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm glad to see you are shying away from the Arrow sheds. Every single one I've seen is rusting inside a of a year or three and in ten they have rusted to uselessness. Besides that you cannot seal them against bugs, small rodents, etc. moreover I've had skunks and other critters dig nests under the wood floor (and on one case through the bottom of the ****** floor...)

By the way, the best way to get such a critter to leave is to dust heavily with cayenne powder. They tend to live by their noses and the don't like it much....

 

[illusion]

I should have put up a pole on this, but I feel i know where that would be going...

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

 

[upndown]

I have seen many rusted arrow sheds even here in Arizona!! people are always giving them away... pictures always have rust or dents

 

[NewShockerGuy]

I have a 10' x 10' Rubbermaid shed --- I installed it 6 yrs ago and have had zero problems -- it has stood up even when the fence next to it 40' of it blew down. I know I live in Sacramento which has pretty good weather -- But we ocassionally get horrific rain and 60 to 70 MPH wind gusts.

I would go with Rubbermaid again if necessary. Just a thought.

It probably is not a 20 or 30 year solution but has given me good service.

I don't know about the ones they make that are larger but I would take a chance on thier products again.

Edit - No condensation on the interior EVER Summer or winter. No Rust or mold and mildew


No I am not a Rubbermaid rep I just really appreciate the value that I got from them

I have read reviews saying that the inside of these plastic sheds gets WAY hotter than say a wood shed? Any experience with them?

Every plastic shed I have seen you can see "gaps" or light comnig through all the seams... which makes me question the water tightness of them...??

Thanks,
-Nigel

 

[DIYKiah]

This may have already been said, but the cost of exporting a metal building might get pricey? (Never had experience per say but a hunch would say that it wouldn't be worth exporting something like that..)

 

[ietech]

I have read reviews saying that the inside of these plastic sheds gets WAY hotter than say a wood shed? Any experience with them?

Every plastic shed I have seen you can see "gaps" or light comnig through all the seams... which makes me question the water tightness of them...??

Thanks,
-Nigel

[/I]

I have never seen any light and have I ever had a leak.

As far as hot - yes it is slightly hotter on a hot day as it is gray not bad tho, altho it is under a huge tree and does not get direct sun.

It is made OF 2" thick interlocking blow molded hollow panels thus there is hardly room for air to leak. When I pull on the door to open it there is a slight vacuum resistance,

I have had metal, wood, and the plastic one I still have. I FAR PREFER the plastic.

 

[Perryk]

Put up that exact 10X14 Arrow shed a little over a year ago. Picked it up at my local Lowes on clearence for $200. My original plan was to build a wood frame similar to a poll bar and use the metal from the kit to side it and do a regular roof, but ran out of time and needed something quick for some overflow storage. I like to refer to it as the erector set from hell. Took about 2 weekends to put it all up working by myself with a helper it could easily be done in a weekend. That also included leveling 3 yards of crushed stone and building a wood floor/platform. All was good and it survived our winter 2 years ago when we had over 6 feet of snow but i did clear the snow off twice by the end of the winter the snow was up to the roof of the shed. A limb fell on one corner during tropical storm Irene and another during a wind storm at least they both hit almost the same spot. Some time with a block of wood and a hammer got it looking ok again. It does leak a little but for what i keep in there its no big deal. Would i do it again only if i really had to this will be replced with a wood shed of about the same size when this one rots out or with the way its goinf gets hit my another tree.

Here is a quick right up i did for another site im on with some pictures.
Someone shoot me 5,000 or so misc screws nuts and bolts 200+ hand pulled rivits and 20 or so man hrs and its almost done just the doors and a few other odds and ends. I should have just stick built it would have been done in a fraction of the time.

Started Tuesday spreading and leveling 4 yards of 3/4 stone

A few hours Thursday framing and leveling the base

Friday a few hours assembling to damb hot for much more

Saturday Sunday and today assembling

I have this exact shed. Its a *************. When its time to be gone I will crush it small enough to get it through my gate and will NEVER waste time/money on a metal shed again.