Metal Shed

[illmatyk]

So after about 14 or 15 years in the dealership business I got out and I've brought my toolboxes home. I've got limited space so I'm thinking if getting a 10x12 metal shed from Home Depot and plan to cement the ground where I will put it. What things can I do or add to help keep moisture out? Anyone have done something like this before?

 

[Bluejoe]

Well I would place a moisture barrier first like heavy duty plastic or some other material then rock and pour cement. I just got done building one of those plastic sheds on a platform.

 

[driftpin]

Several things come to-mind. You're in a high-humidity area, the building will probably sweat, and your tools will soon rust, I believe. A heavy-mil poly sheet under the slab will help keep water vapor from moving upwards. Use a good, thick pour and steel mesh w/a thickened perimeter w/at-least a #5 rebar in the thickened edge. Not sure what type of door/entry you plan on having, to keep water from entering the building, put some-sort of drainage channel where your entry is. I think you need to add some method of sealing the building to the slab, to keep water from flowing under the building bottom. Consider mounting the building to a PT 2x4 or 2x6 with some type of waterproof sealant or roll sealant between the PT lumber and the slab. You may need to do something to add to the bottom of whatever entry you have, if you do the PT lumber between the building footer of the walls, and the slab. I don't know what type of metal building you're planning to buy, but a cheap Arrow building may keep the rain off, but is probably not sufficient for long-term storage, and protection from typhoons.

 

[redidbull]

I had a metal shed and as others have said the biggest problem is rust. Nearly everything metal I had in there rusted. I suggest plastic or wood. Jim

 

[lardy1]

If you worked with your tools for a living, I'm assuming you have a fair monetary investment worth protecting. Personally, I wouldn't store my own tools in a steel shed unless outside was the only other option.

 

[cjarvis]

Having had one of those metal sheds, I found no way to keep moisture/humidity out. Is there any way you could keep your tools in the garage?

 

[CoogarXR]

I had one, and I had my tools in it for about 5 years. It was sweaty and the building did rust eventually. My tools didn't seem like they rusted though. The bottom of my oldest rolling toolbox is starting to rust, but who knows when that started. It's 20 years old and it's been everywhere from crappy garages, sheds, basements, etc.

Metal sheds are better than those portable tarp-carports, but worse than just about anything else.

Do you live near one of those "shed stores" (they are usually set up in parking lots aroud here, etc). I bought a nice wooden one there. They come pre-built and delivered. Yeah, they cost more, but it's worth it.

 

[Bluejoe]

I would go with a resin material type shed. There are ones which start out sizes like 8x10 and can go bigger increments. I think maybe keep it slightly above ground level with footings if you can with wood platform. My town can’t be larger than 100 square footage if bigger you need footings. I would have gone with larger shed but my neighbor is trouble always complaining. There are several companies with nice resin constructed sheds.

 

[Bluejoe]

Using treated lumber.

 

[CafeTools]

You should build a wood shed that you can use as a workshop lkke I did. I made a 10x16. I work on motorcycles quite easilty in there.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have a metal shed screwed to cement and a bead of silicone or something around the bottom would be helpful but i just have a snowblower, mower, snowmobile and other miscellaneous stuff in there that’s in the way in the garage. I had a 12x16 stick built shed for a workshop with all my tools in that for years at our old plce. Had it insulated with some free stuff i got. The whole thing was mostly built from free stuff.

 

[illmatyk]

If you worked with your tools for a living, I'm assuming you have a fair monetary investment worth protecting. Personally, I wouldn't store my own tools in a steel shed unless outside was the only other option.

Having had one of those metal sheds, I found no way to keep moisture/humidity out. Is there any way you could keep your tools in the garage?

Right now my only other option is the carport but it is crowded and visble from the road or street.

I had one, and I had my tools in it for about 5 years. It was sweaty and the building did rust eventually. My tools didn't seem like they rusted though. The bottom of my oldest rolling toolbox is starting to rust, but who knows when that started. It's 20 years old and it's been everywhere from crappy garages, sheds, basements, etc.

Metal sheds are better than those portable tarp-carports, but worse than just about anything else.

Do you live near one of those "shed stores" (they are usually set up in parking lots aroud here, etc). I bought a nice wooden one there. They come pre-built and delivered. Yeah, they cost more, but it's worth it.

You should build a wood shed that you can use as a workshop lkke I did. I made a 10x16. I work on motorcycles quite easilty in there.

Thought about building one of wood but would be easily destroyed in a strong typhoon.

 

[rsanter]

Build a basic shed from 2x4 and sheeting.
Insulate it
Put a fan inside, if you are moving and evening out the air there will be less moisture issues.
In buildings for metal storage it is very common to have the fans running in the evening

Bob

 

[ChrisLS8]

I got a resin shed for the side of my apartment and so far it has kept the moisture out pretty well actually.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Build a basic shed from 2x4 and sheeting.
Insulate it
Put a fan inside, if you are moving and evening out the air there will be less moisture issues.
In buildings for metal storage it is very common to have the fans running in the evening

Bob

I’m wth RSanter on this. I put up a resin shed at the lake and it is a PITA.

 

[WittHay]

We have built sheds like the one in the picture for various purposes. 2x4 construction, plywood on the outside. Metal siding screwed through the plywood to the studs. . Vapor barrier and insulation and either plywood or OSB sheeting on the inside

Way heavier and more snow, wind and rain proof than the metal sheds you buy at the home improvement stores

 

[metaldad]

and, metal sheds most often don't have a full height door. usually on the level with your fore head. ask me how i know.

 

[seber]

If you can't build it of wood then your only other choice is to line the inside with plywood or sheetrock. As long as the walls and roof are bare metal, they will sweat and as that evaporates the humidity inside will remain very high. I also live in a high humidity region so I keep a light coat of oil on all my tools. By light, I mean I wipe them down with an old oily rag instead of a clean one. You can't see or feel the oil, but it is just enough. Similar to how you would treat a rifle.

 

[nelstomlinson]

If you are going to keep tools in a non-air conditioned space in the tropics, soak them in cosmoline. If you can't get cosmoline, get some Napa chain and cable lube.