Basic Maintenance Tips for Sheds and Garages, Part 2

In part one of this two-part blog, we went over some of the simple areas of shed or garage maintenance that all homeowners should consider. These easy, non-time-consuming tasks often add years of quality life to these structures, saving you money and hassle down the line.

At A-Shed USA, we’re happy to offer tips and expertise that will help you care for your storage shed in ways that will extend its lifespan far past our 10-year warranty. Let’s go over several other areas that are important for this kind of basic care and maintenance.

Blocking Rodents

Rodents and other small animals are always looking for shelter, warmth and food, especially during the colder Utah and Colorado winter months. One of the first places they’ll often look will be your shed, which can be easier to access than your home.

We recommend installing a basic rodent guard, which can usually be purchased at any home improvement store. These are usually made from wire mesh that protects from rodents while also allowing air to pass through.

Paint Concerns

Many think of paint on a shed as nothing but an aesthetic area, but this is very often not the case. Particularly for wood sheds, paint is vital for protecting the underlying surface from moisture and other potential elements.

If you ever notice peeling or cracking in your paint, it’s good to get to repainting as quickly as possible. Luckily, modern paint is very durable and regularly will last most of a decade before it even begins to peel. If your shed is exposed to significant wind, moisture or other elements, however, you should keep a careful eye out here.

Door Alignment

One of the more common physical issues with sheds over time is a problem with doors that won’t open and close properly. The most frequent cause of this issue is the shed’s foundation settling, which can throw doors out of alignment in some way.

If this happens to your shed, you can often see the alignment issue with the naked eye. If so, try jacking up the proper corner of the building (consider hiring professionals if you’re unsure how to do this) and adding a temporary shim to balance things out. In most cases, though, alignment won’t be an issue if you followed our first tip in part one of this blog and used a gravel pad for the shed’s foundation.

Water Runoff

We went over roofing in part one, and a related area that’s very important is ensuring your shed can properly drain water. Without gutters and properly-directed downspouts, water after storms will simple fall off the side of the roof and splash against the sides of the structure, risking major water damage and rot. Simply installing these pieces will stop this from happening and add years of life to the shed.

For more on caring for your shed, or to learn about any of our storage sheds, garages or other custom buildings, speak to the pros at A-Shed USA today.