Shed Maintenance Care

While all of our buildings are built by the best craftsmen with the best materials and quality inspected from top to bottom, weather and time can take a toll on even the high-quality construction. Just like you take care of the exterior of your home, make it a priority to maintain the exterior of your shed and garage, too. Here are ways you can do that.

Shed Maintenance: Commonly Asked Questions

How can I prevent pests from invading my shed or garage?

Not only can spiders, ants, pine beetles, wasps, and rodents be a nuisance to you, but they can contribute to the deterioration of your building and the items stored inside. If you want to fight off these pests, here are some ideas.

Eliminate water sources. Check for roof and siding leaks. If water accumulates from these sources, it can become a breeding ground for insects or a hydration supply for rodents.
Eliminate options for shelter. Piles of firewood, newspapers, and cardboard are ideal places for pests to breed and hide. If these piles get wet, they can also serve as an ideal habitat for countless insect species. Also, keep grass and all other vegetation trimmed short around the entire perimeter of your building to discourage pests from sheltering nearby.
Eliminate access to food. Do not store food of any kind in your shed, and keep trash cans far away if possible. If you have a spider infestation, try to get rid of the other insects first (their food source), and your spider problem may resolve itself.
Eliminate entrances. Close off places where pests can enter. Take a moment to inspect your shed. When you find a visible opening, take time to seal it. You may need to caulk cracks and crevices around the window and doors.
Use a pesticide. As you shop for a pesticide, read the label entirely to select the right product to solve your problem and always follow the instructions and safety warnings. For safety purposes, buy ready-to-use products, not those that require mixing.

What do I need to do to keep my roof in good shape?

While our metal panel roof is virtually maintenance-free and our shingles are the best in the market, sometimes the weather can cause damage to even the highest-rated materials.

Missing or cracked shingles need to be identified, replaced, and repaired as soon as possible. Nothing will cause your backyard shed to deteriorate quicker than a leaky roof, not to mention introducing that musty smell of mildew and mold. Keeping that roof in perfect condition will preserve the life of your shed and protect everything you’re storing inside of it.

Do I need to do any maintenance on wood, metal, or vinyl siding?

No matter your siding material, clean and check it for cracks annually. Annual cleaning will remove dust, dirt, and mildew, and checking for cracks or gaps can help prevent serious damage from developing.

Here are some tips.

Tools for washing. Wash siding with a soft cloth, soft bristle brush, or pressure washer. If you choose to use a pressure washer, use lower water pressure so the water doesn’t get behind your siding or damage the surface.
Cleaning solutions. For a cleaning solution, there are several good options. 1) You can mix 70% water with 30% white vinegar to make a great all-purpose siding cleaner that removes light mold and mildew stains. 2) For a stronger solution, mix one-third cup powdered laundry detergent, two-thirds cup powdered household cleaner, one-quart liquid laundry bleach, and one gallon of water. 3) Or even Dawn diluted with warm water creates a soapy mixture that is gentle on siding yet effective at removing dirt, grease, and other imperfections.
Method. For effective cleaning, wet down the siding, apply soap from the bottom up, let it work for a few minutes. Then rinse from the top down.

In addition to annual cleaning, if you have a building with wood siding, be sure to find out what type of paint or stain has been used to determine how often a fresh coat should be supplied.

Tip: To keep water away from your structure, protect your foundation, and prevent water from getting into your shed, add gutters to your building. Gutters will redirect water into downspouts where you can direct it away from the shed.

What can I do proactively to keep my garage door working for a long time?

All of our garages feature Clopay Premium Series overhead garage doors. These insulated doors operate smoothly and safely.

However, because the overhead door is your garage’s largest moving part — and with an average of six up-and-downs a day — it’s also one of the most used. This is why garage door preventative maintenance is important. There are things you can do quarterly, semiannually, and annually to protect your overhead garage door.

Clean your garage door to prevent dirt buildup and corrosion.
Apply Clopay Synthetic Pro Lube, which can be found at Home Depot, to your door opener’s chain or screw drive.
Make sure your garage door is properly balanced so that the door’s mechanical parts are not overly stressed.
Schedule to have your garage door inspected every couple of years by a professional.

This shed is a great example of proper elevation, landscaping placement, and a level foundation.

Shed maintenance: What can I do to prevent the rotting and warping of shed siding?

Do not set your shed directly on the ground. Ensure proper ventilation under your building’s subfloor and flooring, and keep siding 6″ above grade and away from vegetation to prevent structure compromise such as rotting and warping from improper airflow. Doing this will keep your floor and siding in great shape for the life of the building.

Your Warranty-Backed Purchase

While we do a full quality inspection of all the buildings, occasionally things happen. And every once in a while, a problem can go undiscovered for weeks. We understand these things can happen, and we know it’s not your fault.

To give you full confidence in your purchase, we’ll take care of any manufacturer-related deficiencies. All of our buildings come with a Top-to-Bottom Limited Warranty to cover all of the things you shouldn’t have to worry about post-purchase.

STANDARD & SPECIALTY SERIES

10-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY*

UTILITY SERIES

3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

COOPS & KENNELS

5-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

GREENHOUSES

7-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

*10-year limited warranty applies to 2020 buildings and newer.

Upgrade Recommendations

We Are Always Here to Help

Our goal is to exceed customer expectations from shopping to post-purchase. If you could easily navigate our website, found a building that solved your storage problem, and experienced helpful and considerate interactions with our team, then we know we’re on the right track.

But we don’t want to stop there. If you have questions about your building post-purchase or want to know how you can keep it in great shape for years to come, reach out to us. Our full-time customer service staff members are always ready and delighted to help.