As summer begins and hurricane season enters full swing, many of our customers are asking how our backyard storage buildings stand up to heavy storms, and what they can do to help prevent damage. We put together this guide that covers the steps we take to ensure our storage sheds can stand up to the storm season, and some small maintenance tips to keep your sheds in tip-top shape through it all.
Choosing the Right Roofing & Siding Materials
The first key to preventing storm damage to your shed is choosing the correct siding and roofing materials. At Ohio Shed Solutions, we use the best products in the industry and have outlined the best practices for both to prevent shed damage.
Shingle Roofing
When installing shingle roofing on a shed it is important to use roofing nails rather than staples to prevent storm damage. Roofing nails provide a much sturdier hold and prevent shingles from falling off or tearing during heavy winds.
Metal Roofing
When it comes to stormproof roofing materials, metal roofing tends to come out on top. Metal roofing isn’t as common for backyard storage buildings, but in the last 5 years, our customers have been loving it as a durable and beautiful option. Many people shy away from metal roofing because they assume it’s more expensive than shingle roofing, but metal roofing is cheaper in most cases. Here at Shed Solutions, our metal roofing comes with a 40-year warranty.
LP Smartside Siding
We offer LP Smartside siding on all of our backyard storage buildings because we believe in the product. Engineered wood is crafted to stand up to the elements, and brings a unique look to your outdoor structure. It provides the look and feel of hardwood, but lasts longer and won’t cup or warp in the elements. In our decades in the shed business, we have handpicked the top roofing and siding materials to withstand heavy rains and winds.
Anchoring Your Storage Shed
You may think that storing your lawn mower and other heavy lawn equipment in your shed is enough to weigh it down, but strong winds and flooding have been known to carry off backyard storage buildings. Anchoring your backyard storage building secures your building to the foundation and prevents strong winds and storms from lifting it off of the ground.
Upkeep for Backyard Storage Buildings
Because of the construction and the quality of materials used to build Shed Solutions structures, they require very little maintenance. However, there are some things you can do to make sure you are prepared for a storm.
- Keep dirt and debris from building up around your shed: If you let dirt and debris build up around your shed it can allow moisture to build up and run onto the siding. This is especially important during storms, as heavy amounts of rain can gather around your structure and potentially cause damage.
- Remove Window Air Conditioning Units: Many of our customers are using their storage buildings as home offices, she sheds, or man caves and using window air conditioning units to keep the structure comfortable during the summer months. It is important to keep an eye on the forecast during storm season so you can remove your air conditioning unit to prevent damage to the inside of your shed.
Storage Shed Insurance
With extreme weather, you may need to file a claim on your storage building if there is damage from a recent storm. In most cases, backyard storage buildings are covered by homeowner’s insurance in the event of a storm, but you should notify your insurance agent of your purchase. Allstate mentions that storage sheds typically fall under “Other Structures,” and are covered up to 10% of the amount your home is insured for. That means if your home is insured for $300,000, your storage shed and its contents would be insured for $30,000. Depending on the cost of your shed or detached garage, you may want to increase your coverage based on the increase in property value.
At Shed Solutions, our backyard storage buildings are built to withstand the elements by our experienced craftsmen. If you have questions about the steps we take to stormproof our building reach out to us, we would love to speak with you!