Resin, wood, or metal sheds all have their pros and cons. Wooden sheds are the strongest and can handle high winds the best. They are also the most expensive. Metal sheds are the cheapest and don’t get eaten by termites. Resin sheds don’t rot, rust, or get damaged by insects.
Looking to buy a new storage shed for your backyard? Don’t know which one to pick?
I completely get your dilemma! Back in the day, sheds were made from wood. Now, we have metal and plastic available, as well.
Through my research, I have found that wooden sheds are still the best solution for most people. Wooden sheds are the sturdiest, easiest to customize, best looking, and will last you for a lifetime, if well taken care of.
Want to know more? Keep on reading! I reveal the pros and cons of resin vs wood vs metal sheds below!
Contents
Resin Vs Wood Vs Metal Sheds: Introducing The Opponents
Wooden Sheds
Wooden sheds are the most traditional and most common type of shed. And it’s no wonder! Wood is widely available and easy to obtain.
But despite being the oldest type of shed, wooden sheds haven’t gone out of style. They are continuously growing in popularity, so much so that they are now sold pre-assembled or in a kit.
They are available in a variety of sizes and styles to fit different budgets. They measure from 20 square feet to 100 square feet and more. You can find them as cheap as $300 or spend upwards of $5,000 on a big one.
If you have any special requests or desires, you will most likely find them in a wooden shed since their production is large and diverse.
More About The Material
Wooden sheds are usually made from spruce or pine. They are also available in cedar, douglas fir, and other more expensive types of wood. The frame of the structure is made from pressure-treated lumber. The sides, roof, and floor, if it is included in the design, are made out of sheathing or plywood. You should know that not all sheds have a floor. Some only include a floor frame, and others are completely bare at the bottom.
For added protection, more expensive wooden sheds also have siding made from wood or vinyl.
The wood siding can be of different materials and the most popular ones are T1-11 and so-called Smart siding. To understand how these materials differ, read our post about T1-11 vs Smart siding.
If your shed has no siding, you will have to seal the exterior with a couple of coats of paint. The paint will help keep the moisture and insects out.
Wood is naturally susceptible to rot and decay, so keeping the moisture out is in your best interest. Some wood is better at defying outdoor elements. Spruce and pine may be cheaper than cedar, but they are also more prone to rot and termite infestation. Cedar is expensive, but it contains allelochemicals that naturally repel bugs and insects.
Strength And Durability
Wooden sheds are like small houses. They are heavy and sturdily constructed and feel safe and secure. Wooden sheds can tolerate high winds better than metal and plastic sheds, especially when secured to a concrete base. A wooden shed is your best choice if you often get storms in the area you live.
But despite its strength, wood is still susceptible to rotting. Wooden sheds can and will rot if not waterproofed properly. It is not a matter of “if” but “when.” You can delay rotting by keeping moisture at a minimum with these methods:
- Build your shed on a dry and raised platform.
- Keep yard debris away from the shed.
- Keep up with painting touch-ups.
- Shingle the roof of your shed, if possible.
- Clear snow buildup off the roof and siding.
- Install a rain gutter to direct water runoff away from the shed.
Wooden sheds can also fall prey to insect damage. You may have to inspect your shed for insect nests and hives every so often and look under the decking for critters.
If you have a termite problem in your backyard, you might have to consider buying a plastic or metal shed. You can always try using a termite killer to eradicate the problem.
Wooden sheds can handle extreme temperature shifts, from extreme cold to extreme heat. You may see some paint cracking or peeling or shingles curling up in the summer, but that is all.
The only thing you should be aware of is that wood burns easily. This isn’t that big of a concern unless you live in a bush or forest fire-prone area. You may want to install a fire extinguisher in the shed as a safety precaution. And, make sure not to grill near the structure!
Can A Wood Shed Be Customized?
One of the perks of owning a wooden shed is that you can customize it to your liking at any point. The material allows you to add new additions to the shed or take away some. You can drill and cut into the sides of your shed without compromising the integrity of the structure.
Feel free to drill holes for electrical cables. You can install a shelving unit inside or cut out a window to increase the natural lighting in the shed. On the flip side, if you don’t like the window the shed comes with, you can take it out and seal up the hole with a sheet of plywood.
If you intend to use your shed for more than just storage, going with the wooden shed is the best option. With a little bit of carpentry knowledge, you can quickly transform it into a small workshop or an office.
Assembly
Assembling a wooden shed does take longer than a metal or plastic shed and assembly will require a certain amount of carpentry knowledge. It will take you a couple of days to put it together.
Assembling a wooden shed kit is easier than building a shed on your own.
Every shed kit comes with detailed assembly instructions and all the necessary hardware for the installation. You will, however, need an electric screwdriver, a measuring tape, and some other tools that you already have in your garage.
What’s amazing is that you can even buy a pre-assembled shed or have it assembled upon delivery for an extra cost.
Maintenance
Wooden sheds require a little bit of maintenance, but nothing major to be afraid of. You will have to check for rot and repaint the exterior every 2-3 years. You may also have to clear snow buildup off the roof and the siding to keep the wood as dry as possible.
Pros
- Different price points
- Many styles and sizes
- Can be easily customized
- Structurally very strong and sturdy
- Handles extreme temperature swings well
- Can handle high winds well
- Most visually appealing
Cons
- Most expensive
- Can rot if not protected against moisture
- Can get damaged by insects
- Will need to be repainted every couple of years
Resin Sheds
Resin sheds are a fairly new product on the market, but they have quickly become popular because of how convenient they are to use and assemble. I have decided to find and review the best resin sheds on the market. Take a look at my handy review guide here.
There seem to be more styles and sizes of resin sheds available each year. You can find them in sizes of 20 square feet up to 100 square feet. They cost anywhere from $400 to $4,500, depending on the brand, size, and special features.
More About The Material
Plastic sheds are often referred to as vinyl or resin sheds, but these are not all the same materials. To make things easier, I will refer to them as plastic or resin sheds and point out the differences worth knowing along the way.
Plastic sheds are either made from polyurethane or vinyl. Since these materials look the same, people tend to think they are the same. But there are some major differences between them.
Vinyl is fire resistant, while other plastics may not be. You will have to check the specifications to confirm this. Vinyl is, generally speaking, more durable than polyethylene. It is less likely to break and is more resistant to weather and moisture.
If you are looking to buy a shed from this category, you may want to buy a vinyl one. It will last you longer and you will get more use out of it.
Strength And Durability
Plastic sheds are highly weather resistant, especially ones made from vinyl. With a plastic shed, you won’t have to worry about moisture damage because they don’t rot or rust. They perform amazingly in humid climates.
Insects don’t pose a threat to plastic sheds either. They don’t burrow or eat through the plastic like they do with wood. Plastic, however, is not as strong and heavy as wood. They are lighter and can’t tolerate high winds very well.
That said, resin sheds can handle snow and rain better than any other shed. On the downside, they do fade in color after a while.
Can A Resin Shed Be Customized?
There is not much you can do or change on a resin shed. They can’t be customized as easily as wooden sheds. You can’t drill or cut into the plastic without compromising the structure.
You won’t be able to mount a shelving unit onto the plastic wall of the shed, as you will weaken the wall if you do so. You have to make sure the shed has shelves built into the design before purchase. If you are missing a shelf or two in your plastic shed, you can always upgrade it with a freestanding shelving unit.
Assembly
One of the reasons why resin sheds are so popular is because of how easy they are to assemble. You don’t have to have any special skills to put it up. You only have to know your way around assembly instructions.
The parts and pieces of a plastic shed snap together or screw together with pre-drilled holes. Building one won’t take you more than a couple of hours.
If you are all about keeping things simple, then you will like this idea too. A great alternative to a plastic shed is also putting a winter cover on a hardtop gazebo. It won’t take you long before you turn your summer gazebo into a makeshift shed.
Maintenance
Resin sheds are practically maintenance-free. They don’t need to be kept away from moisture or painted every couple of years. All you have to do is occasionally hose down the exterior or clean it with a mild cleaner and a damp cloth.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Resistant to moisture
- Don’t rot or rust
- No insect damage
- Low maintenance
- Easy to move
Cons
- Susceptible to strong winds
- Will fade in color with time
- Customizing is difficult
- Not as visually appealing
Metal Sheds
Metal sheds became popular in the 1960s, so they have been around much longer than resin sheds. But despite their age, metal sheds haven’t changed much throughout the years and they are pretty basic in design.
They are not available in as many choices as wooden or resin sheds. They are, however, available in a variety of sizes, from 20 square feet up to 100 square feet.
Metal sheds are the cheapest of the bunch. They typically cost from $300 to $1,500. You may want to consider buying a metal shed over a resin or wood shed if you are on a tight budget. You can find the one for you from my list of the best metal sheds that I’ve reviewed.
Strength And Durability
Metal sheds are very sturdy and durable. They have very secure and solid construction. Metal is heavy and doesn’t break or crack easily. Metal sheds are heavy and don’t usually budge in high winds if they are properly secured. They can handle storms much better than resin sheds.
That said, metal sheds are not immune to moisture. If you live in a humid climate, you can expect to see some rusting.
It is important that you treat rust quickly before it spreads. If you leave it untreated, you will end up with holes in your shed. You can protect your metal shed with the same waterproofing methods I provided above for wooden sheds.
On the bright side, metal sheds don’t rot or get damaged by insects and they are not a fire hazard either.
Can A Metal Shed Be Customized?
There isn’t much you can do to a metal shed and they are difficult to customize. Cutting and drilling through metal isn’t easy. In fact, it is frankly dangerous. You can easily cut yourself on sharp and rough metal edges.
Drill holes will also make your shed more susceptible to rust. You will give moisture and easy entrance into the shed. Instead, you can personalize the interior with a freestanding shelving unit.
Assembly
Assembling a metal shed does require a certain level of skill. You will need an electric screwdriver and a family member to help you out. But don’t be scared! Setting up a metal shed is easier than a wooden shed.
Maintenance
Metal sheds are pretty forgiving. They don’t require a lot of maintenance. If you buy one, your main duty will be to watch out for hidden moisture and rust.
You may want to spray paint your shed with a Rust-Oleum type paint and keep up with touch-ups every couple of years.
Pros
- Strong and sturdy
- Can handle high wind
- Resistant to rotting, insects and fire
- Affordable
- Not difficult to assemble
- Low maintenance
Cons
- Prone to rusting
- Not as visually appealing
- Difficult to customize
Versus Battle: Features Face To Face
Weather Resistance
It’s important to consider your local weather before settling on a shed. Weather can greatly shorten the lifespan of your shed. Some materials perform better in dry climates, while others don’t mind rain and snow.
Wooden sheds are very sturdy and can handle high winds and storms better than metal and resin sheds. Resin sheds are light and the weakest in this regard and metal sheds fall right in the middle.
When it comes to humidity, resin sheds take the lead. Moisture doesn’t affect them at all and they don’t rot like wooden sheds or rust, like metal sheds.
All three materials perform well in the heat, especially wood. Metal sheds get hot in the sun, while resin sheds fade in color with time.
Each material has its strong and weak points when it comes to the weather. After some thought, I have decided that wooden sheds are the winner of this battle. Having sturdy construction that doesn’t collapse with every storm is a priority. Wood is strong and can last you for decades if you protect it from moisture.
Winner: Wood
Learn how to keep your wooden shed from rotting with the help of this video:
Customization
Wooden sheds are also the easiest to customize. You can drill or cut into the sides. You can also install floating shelves on the walls, run electricity to the shed, install siding, shingle the roof, install a window, and much more.
Metal can be somewhat customized, but not to the extent of wood. Resin sheds are the least compliant. You can’t drill into the plastic without weakening the overall construction.
The clear winner of this versus battle is a wooden shed. You can add or take away from it without any major issues.
Winner: Wood
Build DIY storage shelves in your wooden shed with the help of this video:
Maintenance
I am certain you don’t want to buy a shed that needs babysitting. We all love hassle-free products. This is one of the reasons why resin sheds are becoming increasingly popular. They require very little maintenance.
Resin sheds don’t have to be varnished or painted, like wooden sheds. They don’t need to be treated for rust either, like metal sheds. They only need to be wiped or hosed down to keep them clean and presentable.
The clear winner of this roundup is a resin shed. It requires little to no maintenance, unlike the competition.
Winner: Resin
FAQs
Is A Metal Or Resin Shed Better?
A metal shed is better if you are on a tighter budget. Metal sheds are better for drier climates because they tend to rust. Resin sheds don’t rust and can handle rain and snow, but they may not tolerate high winds as well as metal sheds.
Is Resin Stronger Than Plastic?
Resin is not stronger than plastic. Plastic is considered to be denser and more durable. Resin is, however, easier to repair than plastic.
Are Resin Sheds Flammable?
Resin sheds are flammable unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer. Resin sheds are not as fire retardant as vinyl sheds. You don’t want to grill near them.
Are Metal Sheds Better Than Wood?
Metal sheds are better than wooden in terms of cost as they are cheaper than wooden sheds. They don’t rot like wood. Instead, they are prone to rust. Metal sheds are also easier to assemble, but they are not as sturdy as wooden sheds.
Resin, Wood & Metal Sheds: They All Have Something To Offer
There are many similarities and differences between resin vs wood vs metal sheds and they all bring something to the table. Which shed you buy depends on what you will use it for, your local weather, and your preferences.
Buy a wooden shed if you:
- Are looking for a specific style and design.
- Would like to install shelves in your shed.
- Get high winds in your area.
- Don’t mind painting your shed.
- Have the skills to assemble it.
Buy a resin shed if you:
- Have an insect problem in your backyard.
- Don’t get a lot of storms in your area.
- Not particularly good at assembling things.
- Would like to eventually move your shed.
Buy a metal shed if you:
- Are on a tighter budget.
- Live in a drier climate.
- Have an insect problem in your backyard.
Thanks, Nadya! Your information is especially helpful for this older, single woman, who is concerned about being “BS’d” by some salesperson who might thing she’s dumb. My advice to people like me…DO YOUR RESEARCH, Ladies!!!
Glad to be helpful, Kathi!