Plastic Garden Sheds: the Benefits and Drawbacks

Plastic garden sheds are currently getting more and more popular. As technology has improved, plastic has become a viable building material. Now there are lots of different plastic shed designs around.

If you want a garden shed but are struggling to pick a material, plastic is worth considering. But before you go ahead and buy anything, take a look at our list of plastic shed benefits and drawbacks.

Plastic shed benefits

Durable

One of the best things about plastic garden sheds is that they’re durable. They’re not prone to rot, damp or rust – in fact there’s very little that goes wrong with them. This means that if you buy a plastic garden shed, it’ll be around for a long time.

Low maintenance

Another advantage to plastic garden sheds is that they’re low maintenance. You don’t need to seal, repaint them or worry about preventing rust. The most you’ll usually need to do to keep your plastic shed looking good is to give it a wash every so often.

Lightweight

Plastic garden sheds are also popular because they’re lightweight. This means that you have more freedom over where you put them – they don’t just need to go somewhere with solid foundations. This also makes them easier to assemble and move if necessary.

Plastic shed drawbacks

Susceptible to UV damage

Plastic garden sheds also have some downsides that you need to know about. They’re susceptible to UV damage, which means over time they fade, crack and go brittle. So although they’re durable and can last a long time, your plastic shed won’t be around forever.

Relatively weak

Another drawback to plastic garden sheds is that they’re relatively weak. Modern, high-quality plastic sheds are fairly robust, but they don’t have the strength of metal or wooden sheds. This means that you might not be able to hang heavy tools off your plastic shed walls and the floor may bow if you put it under too much strain.

Low security

Plastic garden sheds also have relatively low security compared to other types of shed. If you want to store valuable garden equipment and tools, you’d probably be better off with a metal or wooden shed. These are generally harder to damage and break into as they’re made of stronger materials.

So plastic garden sheds have both advantages and disadvantages. If you want to find out more about other materials, take a look at our articles on wooden and metal garden sheds.