Maintaining Your Shed to Last for Decades

Seasonal Maintenance for Your Shed

Storage sheds are most vulnerable to damage when the seasons shift throughout the year. You should perform maintenance every autumn and spring, before and after winter freezing. In the fall, you need to check for leaks, cracks or other holes and seal them. You’ll also need to clear leaves, branches and other debris from the gutters and shingles. These can build up water which will freeze and damage your shed. Check under the shed because pests could build nests in preparation for the winter. Lastly, trim back plants brushing up against the shed.



In the spring, you’ll again inspect the shed for any damage that freezing would’ve caused. You’ll want to fix any potential leaks before the rainy season. You’ll also want to take the time to clean the exterior of the shed, removing any dirt and debris from the wintertime. Springtime is also a great time to do spring cleaning. Clearing out the inside of your shed, sweeping the floors, and re-organizing your items helps you to spot potential problems while staying organized.

Repairing Damage to Your Shed

Sheds will be damaged over time due to natural wear and tear, even with regular maintenance. If you have a roof leak, you’ll need to determine what shingles are leaking, remove them, and examine the panels underneath. If the wood is rotting, you should replace the panel and the shingles above. If not, repairing the shingles will be good enough. 

Wooden floors can also become rotten. If this happens, remove the panels and inspect the joists for damage, too. Do not place overlay flooring on top of the rotting flooring. Fully replace any rotten parts. Damage to your siding is a little trickier to replace. Your siding interlocks with itself, so you’ll need to remove more boards than what is damaged in order to get to the damaged pieces. Again, inspect the panels beneath the siding for signs of damage. If there is, remove the remaining boards and replace the panel. Otherwise, simply replace the damaged board and re-attach the interlocking, undamaged boards.

How Long Do Storage Sheds Last?

Sheds last a different amount of time depending on what types of materials were used in construction, the quality of craftsmanship, and how well you maintain the shed. For example, a well constructed wooden shed that is properly maintained will last 20-25 years. Some might even last 30-40 if they’re really well maintained. Poorly constructed and/or maintained sheds will fall apart in less than a decade.

Moving a Shed

If your shed is in good condition but you’re moving homes, you might be interested in relocating your shed there. You may also want to simply reposition your shed on your property for easier access or different functionality. You’ll need to learn how to properly move a shed before doing so. Regardless of how far you’ll be moving the shed, you need to first prepare the space with a proper foundation. Prepare a level space with a strong stone or concrete foundation for the shed to rest on. You should also empty out the shed before moving it.

If you’re simply moving a shed across your flat lawn, you might be able to roll the shed across metal pipes in a conveyor system. If there are hills, then heavy machinery, like a tractor lift, is required to pick up the shed. You’ll also need this equipment to move it to another house. The equipment will lift the shed onto a flatbed trailer to be transported to your new home. Once there, the machinery will again pick up the shed and place it on your prepared foundation. As a final step, be sure to replant grass seed on the old location or come up with a new creative use for the old space.

Purchase a Storage Shed Today

If your shed hasn’t been properly maintained or you’re looking for your first shed, check out the sheds built by Jed’s Sheds. Our expert craftsmen use quality materials that last for decades with proper maintenance. Contact us today.