Wooden or plastic large garden shed

To make your stay in the garden comfortable and the landscape design more functional, you can build a garden shed on your property. Its appearance and shape may differ depending on your preferences and the landscape of the particular site. Also, when it comes to building a garden shed, there are many different materials to choose from. Most often, plastic and wood are used for the construction of garden sheds. Which of these materials is more suitable for creating a large garden shed and how to choose it correctly?

Why should there be a canopy in the garden?

Such a structure can be permanent or temporary. The main task of a garden shed is to protect a specific area from the sun or precipitation. You can also equip a recreation or storage area here. These are some variations of garden sheds:

1. In shape, such a structure has vertical supports, on top of which the roof is placed. It can be made from different materials. You can plant a hedge or install pergolas around the perimeter of the structure.
2. This is a stationary structure. Its walls can be sheathed with PVC sheet, polycarbonate or other moisture-resistant material.
3. Semi-closed. Such a canopy has durable side parapets and a fixed roof.

Depending on the canopy’s placement, it can be an extension of the main house or stand separately. Usually canopy-type sheds are used for the following:

1. Creating a covered parking space. Parking your car under the canopy will guarantee protection from the influence of the sun, snow, rain, leaves that fall from the trees.
2. Cover for the porch. This architectural element can be both decorative and functional – it will help keep the porch cleaner and avoid the steps or entrance from getting slippery when it rains.
3. Barbecue area cover. This will protect all the cooking supplies and appliances from negative external factors and allow you to use them in case of rain.
4. Greenhouse protection. The canopy will protect the plants from overheating and provide them with normal growing conditions.
5. Arrangement of the terrace. A sheltered area near the house will become a favorite place for get-togethers for the whole family and friends.
6. Arrangement of a play area for children. This will allow your child to spend the whole day in the fresh air without being exposed to the sun to avoid overheating.
7. Firewood storage. If there is a bathhouse or sauna in the garden, you need to organize a place for storing firewood. A small garden shed would be ideal to keep the firewood dry.

Material selection

To build a frame that supports the canopy, you can use:

• logs, beams or boards;
• welded metal treated with a protective agent;
• stone (artificial or natural).

Inexpensive, but durable materials are used to create a large garden shed for all purposes:

• roofing material or soft tiles in various shades;
• professional sheet;
• awning or moisture resistant fabric;
• wear-resistant polycarbonate that is easy to clean;

If we compare the characteristics of all the listed materials, the advantages of wood over other building materials become obvious:

• sustainable and renewable source;
• relatively low material density;
• high strength and durability;
• resistance to the negative effects of aggressive chemicals;
• environmental friendliness and safety;
• high aesthetic properties;
• sound insulation;
• low coefficient of thermal conductivity;
• low coefficient of thermal expansion;
• easy processing;
• the possibility of painting, forming a bent-glued structure, various finishing options;
• ease of care;
• ease and safety of disposal;
• long period of operation.

But when choosing wood for building a canopy, it is important to take into account its disadvantages. These include:

• heterogeneity of the structure of the material;
• hygroscopicity;
• flammability;
• susceptibility to rotting and damage caused by insects;
• the ability to change its volume or size when it gets wet or dries up.

How to choose wood for building a garden shed?

Despite the abundance of building material choices, wood occupies one of the leading positions. Having decided to choose wood as the main building material for your garden, you need to figure out how to choose this material correctly.

The highest quality is the wood grows in the northern latitudes. This is due to the fact that during the growth stage, the tree accumulates enough moisture in itself, therefore, after processing, it will be less susceptible to high humidity. Also, trees grow slowly in cold conditions, which is why they have a denser structure.

The moisture content of the treated wood should be less than 22%. A moisture meter is used to measure this indicator. If the wood is too dry, it can crack or deform during processing.

It is also recommended to inquire about the time when the wood was harvested. Preferably it should be winter. At this time of the year, there is no sap movement in the tree, so it will take less time to dry the material.

As for plastic, it is durable and easy to assemble, resistant to adverse external factors. Another important advantage is its affordability in terms of cost. However, it is not an environmentally friendly material and is often not recyclable.