Plastic Shed vs. Metal Shed vs. Wood Shed: Pros and Cons

Maybe your current shed has seen better days, or perhaps you’re looking at sheds for the very first time. Now that you’ve decided to get one, you’re faced with more choices: do you get a metal shed, plastic shed, or wood shed? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.

Wood Shed

One of our wood sheds with vinyl siding.

PROS

Appearance. Customizable siding allows you to choose a look that matches your home. A quality wood shed doesn’t look temporary, it looks like it belongs on your property.
Stronger than plastic sheds or metal sheds.
Long life span. Basic maintenance and care will keep a shed in ship shape for decades. If you don’t feel like staining or painting, vinyl siding is a good option.
Easy to add secure shelving. Organization and storage can prove both easy and attractive with built-in wood shelving.

CONS

Higher cost. Higher quality materials generally come at a higher price.
Requires some maintenance. If you place a wood shed in your yard and forget about it for the next ten years, rotting can happen.

Plastic Shed

Image from homedepot.com

PROS:

Less maintenance. The big selling point of a plastic shed is that it won’t rust or rot.
Inexpensive. The plastic materials used allow these sheds to be sold at a lower price point.

CONS:

Fades in the sun. Ever seen those worn out, sun-faded plastic playhouses in a friend’s backyard? These kind of eye sores may be bearable while the kids are young, but not so great for a shed you want to use long term.
Panels often don’t fit well together. Read a few reviews for plastic sheds and you’ll find many mentions of confusing directions, mislabeled parts, and panels that don’t fit together right.
No customization. What you see is what you get. There aren’t many options for matching a plastic shed with your house.
Poor wind protection. Plastic sheds are lightweight and can even blow over or snap apart in a wind storm.
Vulnerable to high heat and punctures. There’s a reason why you aren’t supposed to put a plastic shed together in the sun: the plastic becomes soft.

Metal Shed

Image from homedepot.com

PROS:

Fire and spill resistant. Metal sheds won’t buckle or warp when faced with direct heat.
More options for customization. Compared with a plastic shed, many metal sheds now offer customization. A metal shed can be painted in addition to stone and brick veneers.

CONS:

Rust. There’s nothing worse than a rusty metal shed sitting in your backyard, it takes away from the whole property.
Difficult and unattractive repairs. Holes can be patched but it won’t be pretty.
Can collapse under heavy snow. First, you hear creaking and popping, then the roof starts to sag and leak. Before you know it, doors and windows are impossible to open or close and the whole metal shed is caving in. We believe all storage sheds should stand their ground throughout New England winters.

The choice between a metal shed, plastic shed, or wood shed depends on your unique circumstances and what you intend to use your shed for. However, it remains true that you get what you pay for.

Should you pay less now and replace later or invest in a quality wood shed that’ll stand the test of time? The answer is obvious when you can utilize an affordable rent to own program!