Items to Avoid Storing in the Garden Shed, Part 1

As those who have owned a garden shed in the past can likely attest, one of the primary benefits of such a structure on your property is storage. Sheds are ideal for storing a variety of items, whether we’re talking gardening equipment and lawn mowers or overflow items from the house where there isn’t enough room.

At A-Shed USA, we’re proud to offer a wide range of custom sheds, including storage sheds and other garden sheds with storage high in mind as a top priority. While we encourage clients to store a wide variety of items in our sheds, there are a few you might want to hold off on storing in such an environment – this two-part blog will go over some of the factors that contribute to this reality, plus several items to avoid storing in the garden shed moving forward and why.

Factors in Garden Shed Storage

For starters, it’s important to consider three basic elements when it comes to storage sheds:

• Temperature: Sheds generally are not insulated, meaning temperature will swing heavily between summer and winter. Heat expands while cold contracts, which can damage certain equipment or freeze liquids. Extreme heat can also cause chemical changes to valuable possessions.
• Moisture: Sheds also generally aren’t sealed as tightly as a home, meaning the chances of moisture presence and higher humidity are both present. This means mold can show up if you don’t take the proper maintenance steps, plus rust may damage metal goods over a period of time.
• Pests: If you do not properly seal your shed, pests like rodents and bugs may invade – particularly if you leave food or other edible items.

Our subsequent sections will look at items we might recommend against storing in your shed.

Canned Food

Canned food can be stored for long periods, but it’s best in a stable, cool environment like your home. Any humidity or major temperature changes can corrode cans, leading to spillage – this risk only goes up during the high temperatures of the summer, and can also decrease food nutritional value. Keep your canned food in a dedicated area in your home.

Artwork

Art created using various paints and other methods is extremely vulnerable to elements like heat and moisture. Any expansion or contraction due to temperature may warp it, destroying its value almost instantly. Humidity may lead to mold – you might think plastic wrap prevents this, but it can actually make the issue worse in some cases. If you own valuable art you do not want to see altered, it shouldn’t be stored in the shed.

For more on items to avoid keeping in your storage shed, or to learn about any of our storage sheds, custom garages or other structures, speak to the staff at A-Shed USA today.