When compared to wooden structures, plastic sheds clearly aren’t as traditional. However, they are becoming increasingly popular amongst homeowners and boast numerous benefits:
- Maintenance free - One of the biggest positives about plastic sheds is that they require virtually no maintenance. They’re easy to clean, not prone to rust or rot, and don’t need to be re-painted or treated in order to look good or withstand extreme weather conditions.
- Highly portable - Thanks to being lightweight and easy to disassemble, plastic sheds can be effortlessly moved if you decide to alter your garden layout.
- Functionality - Plastic sheds are very functional garden buildings, courtesy of offering several potential uses. They can store plant food and fertiliser during the growing season, organise garden tools and much more.
For a more in-depth answer to this question, check out this post we wrote on it.
Plastic sheds have an extended life compared to other sheds - especially those which are well looked after! Because plastic is impermeable, it can keep out rain, snow and ice, whilst also being immune to rust, mould and corrosion. As long as they’re looked after, barring some major incident, there isn’t anything that should affect your plastic shed except general deterioration over a long time. Our BillyOh plastic sheds also come with steel reinforcement and metal hinges, making each design sturdy and built to last.
At Garden Buildings Direct, our plastic sheds come in pre-assembled parts which are incredibly easy to put together. Assembling a plastic shed is a task which requires no special tools or building experience. In fact, many modern plastic sheds can be simply snapped together. Moreover, because the material itself is lightweight, plastic sheds also require little manpower to install. You and a friend can have it built in no time.
Because garden buildings such as sheds aren’t naturally heated, internal condensation can be an issue, particularly in the colder months of the year. Plastic sheds can suffer from condensation, but only when dampness is present. Because the air inside the shed is generally slightly warmer than the air outside, any moisture in the foundation base will rise until it reaches the cold roof panels.
A base for your garden shed should be more than sufficient in tackling this potential issue, whether it be a timber base, concrete, paving slabs, or a flooring kit.
Though a base isn’t necessarily as important for a plastic shed as it would be for a wooden alternative, having your plastic shed sat on a base can still provide important benefits. While a base isn’t needed to prevent rotting or rust over time, good foundations can prevent your shed from sinking into the ground. Moreover, if your proposed shed site isn’t level, building a shed can cause uneven pressure on your plastic shed, leading to issues concerning structural integrity in the future - something which a base can comfortably tackle. That’s why our BillyOh plastic sheds include either a floor or foundation kit.
This is determined by the individual shed, with some offering built in floors and some electing not to. At Garden Buildings Direct, each of our plastic sheds specifies whether or not a floor is included, in order to provide maximum clarity concerning this.
Plastic sheds don’t particularly like extreme temperatures - it can cause discolouration and even cracking in the worst cases. Luckily, in the UK, these temperatures at either end of the spectrum are rarely reached, so this issue is minimised. However, in direct heat, plastic sheds can become warm, and in the extreme cold, the plastic can contract, so be sure to keep an eye on your plastic shed when severe weather conditions are present.
If your shed is a place you intend to use or store items in throughout the year, then insulation is definitely worth considering as a relatively inexpensive means of allowing your garden shed to better regulate and maintain internal temperature. However, while the majority of wooden sheds can be insulated to better retain heat in the colder months, plastic sheds are generally not designed to be insulated. If you want to learn more, check out this guide to insulation and damp-proofing.
Our BillyOh plastic sheds come in a range of sizes and styles to suits all garden types and needs. But if we had to pick four, we’d say:
- BillyOh Ashford Apex Plastic Garden Storage Shed
Great to suit any garden the Ashford is a strong and spacious building, helping to keep your garden clear of clutter. This weather resistant shed also comes with a foundation kit included for extra durability and support.
- BillyOh Newport Lean To Plastic Shed
The Newport Lean-to is a durable, weather resistant plastic shed that lets you make the most out of your space. The Lean to feature allows this product to have a snug fit up against your house or other garden buildings adding valuable secure storage space in small areas. This building comes with a floor included.
- BillyOh Oxford Plastic Storage Box
The Oxford is a compact and durable garden storage great to turn small spaces into dry and secure places to store your possessions. With a floor included this building can be assembled and put to use with minimal construction and effort. Due to its plastic Panels this building requires little to no maintenance giving you a stress free solution.
- BillyOh StoreMax Outdoor Plastic Shed
The StoreMax has been designed as a strong, secure, and low maintenance storage solution with high quality weatherproof panels and a steel interior structure to create a stylish and sturdy building. This waterproof and fire retardant building offers you a great solution for garden storage with easy assembly, no annual maintenance required and a foundation kit included.
Plastic sheds are strong, and some of our BillyOh plastic garden sheds come with optional shelving. However, they won’t be able to have as much pressure on them as wooden sheds. You can also secure and anchor your plastic shed to its base to make it more secure. Otherwise, plastic sheds should be secure despite their lightweight nature.
Both metal and plastic sheds offer an alternative to wooden sheds as well as a price-friendly option. Both are made from long-lasting and durable materials. However, a metal shed may be able to support more weight for things like shelving and hooks. Both offer fairly lightweight options that can also potentially be repositioned if necessary.
Plastic sheds are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other polycarbonates. This is a fairly inexpensive material that still offers UV-resistance and durability in construction.
