Plastic vs Wooden Sheds: The #1 Choice for You

When purchasing a shed, choosing the right material is essential to having a positive experience. Plastic and wood are among the most common shed materials, but which one is right for you? Let’s compare plastic vs wooden sheds.

If you need quick answers, you can click here to jump to our plastic vs wooden sheds table!

Plastic Sheds

Plastic sheds are outbuildings that are typically made from vinyl (aka polyvinyl chloride or PVC) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Plastic sheds are cheap, lightweight, and low maintenance, just to name a few key points.

Are Plastic Sheds any Good?

Of course, plastic sheds can be a great choice for you depending on where you live and what you’re using them for.

Advantages of Plastic Sheds

Resilience

Plastic may not be the most resilient material; however, it has a property that other materials lack. Unlike wood, plastic is not susceptible to rot, this means that plastic can last longer in wet conditions than wood. You can expect a plastic shed to last you, on average, 5-7 years!

Low Maintenance

Unlike other shed materials, plastic is very low maintenance. This is because, unlike metal, plastic doesn’t rust and unlike wood, it’s not susceptible to termites. So, taking care of a plastic shed is as easy as cleaning the shed and maybe applying a protective spray.

Affordability

If you’re on a budget, plastic sheds may be the right choice for you! Plastic sheds are among the cheapest sheds on the market starting at only a few hundred dollars. Since plastic sheds are typically small, you won’t need to invest in a foundation either.

Weather Resistance

If keeping your tools dry is an issue, then a plastic shed may be the solution for you. Plastic is an impermeable material, meaning it doesn’t allow fluid to pass through itself. So, you can rest assured that your tools and items will remain dry even if it rains or snows.

Portability

A plastic shed is typically lightweight, which means that moving your plastic shed won’t be too difficult of a task, so long as there’s nothing in it. This makes plastic sheds a great choice if you’re constantly rearranging your yard or planning on moving soon and want to bring your shed along.

Disadvantages of Plastic Sheds

Appearance

When compared to other shed materials, the aesthetic of a plastic shed isn’t the best. Plastic can appear a bit cheap when used as a shed material. It can also look bland, unlike other materials like metal or wood.

Poor Security

As we mentioned earlier, plastic isn’t the strongest material, and this can pose a security threat. It wouldn’t take much more than a blunt object to smash through your plastic shed door or even to break off the hinges. For this reason, plastic sheds won’t guarantee the safety of your belongings.

Lack of Customization

If you’d like to add custom features to your shed, then a plastic shed might not be right for you. Unlike a wood shed, you can’t just cut a hole in the wall and install a window, you also can’t paint your plastic shed as it won’t hold the paint too well. We wouldn’t recommend trying to add shelving either, as this can prove to be problematic.

Poor Wind Resistance

Due to the light weight of the shed, it is at the mercy of the wind. If you live in an area where high winds are prevalent, purchasing a plastic shed may not be the best idea. High winds can cause your plastic shed to move across your yard or even flip! Luckily, investing in a shed anchor can help mitigate this issue.

Poor UV Resistance

The polymers in plastic are susceptible to sun damage. Leaving your plastic shed in the hot sun can cause your shed to fade, crack, and become brittle. This can negatively affect the lifespan and appearance of your shed.

Wooden Sheds

A wooden shed is an outbuilding constructed with wooden siding. There are plenty of wood sidings to choose from, these include engineered wood siding, cedar siding, pine siding, spruce siding, and many more! Along with that, there is no shortage of styles to choose from like board and batten, panels, shingles, and shake siding, just to name a few!

Are Plastic Sheds Better than Wood?

The answer to this question depends on a few things from where you live to your use for the shed. When comparing plastic vs wooden sheds, it becomes apparent that they both have their own pros and cons.

Advantages of Wooden Sheds

Durability

Wood is a great material if you’re looking for a durable shed. Wood can handle strong winds and extreme temperatures well. You can expect a wooden shed to last, on average, 20-25 years! Here at Sheds Unlimited, our shed framing is pressure-treated, adding to the life span of your shed. Also, unlike plastic sheds, you don’t have to worry about sun damage.

Appearance

A wooden shed gives you that classic shed look and it blends in great with any surrounding flora. If you’re big on appearances, a wooden shed is the way to go! You can paint your wooden shed whatever color you’d like, not to mention the plethora of siding styles to choose from.

Natural Insulation

Did you know that wood itself works as an insulator? Wood has air pockets in its cellular structure, which makes it harder for heat to be transferred through it. This will keep your wooden shed warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer! Learn more about shed insulation here!

Customizability

A wooden shed is more customizable than a plastic shed. Unlike a plastic shed, you can install shelving in a wooden shed. You can attempt to do this with a plastic shed, but there’s no guarantee that the shelf will stay fastened securely. While we’re on the topic of shelving, if you need some organization tips, you can click here!

You can also paint a wooden shed the color of your choice and even install windows, both of which would be difficult to achieve with a plastic shed.

Easy to Repair

If a part of your wooden shed gets damaged, replacing it shouldn’t be an issue. Wooden sheds are built in many different pieces, so replacing one piece is as simple as buying a new one. Lumber is also readily available all over the world!

However, when it comes to plastic sheds, they are usually formed in one piece, so if you’d like to replace a part that got damaged, you may have to replace the entire shed. Or, you will have to patch it up if you can.

Security

A wooden shed is more secure than a plastic shed. A plastic shed can easily be damaged by heat and even the doors can be pulled off depending on the type of plastic and hinge. This makes it hard to place a lock on a plastic shed, the most you can do is add a security camera. On the other hand, you can put a lock on a wooden shed that will be more secure than plastic.

Disadvantages of Wooden Sheds

Susceptible to Rot and Pests

One issue with wooden sheds is that wood is susceptible to rot and pests. When wood is exposed to moisture for long periods of time, fungi begin to grow and break down the wood, causing the wood to be weak and discolored.

Wood is also a viable home and nutrient for a few different pests. This can include termites, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees.

Maintenance

Unlike plastic sheds, wooden sheds require maintenance. This includes periodic cleaning of the shed, painting the shed, sealing cracks and crevices, and applying some sort of protective coating. Learn more about shed maintenance here!

Expensive

Wooden sheds can be a bit pricey, especially when compared to plastic sheds. A wooden shed alone can run you around $2,000 for a quality shed, meanwhile, you can get a plastic shed for half the price.

Plastic vs Wooden Sheds

As we mentioned earlier, when deciding on plastic sheds vs wooden sheds, what’s best for you depends on your situation and needs. A plastic shed is good if you are looking for something affordable, portable, and low maintenance. Meanwhile, a wooden shed is good if you are looking for something customizable, durable, and secure just to name a few things.

Let’s recap everything in the Chart Below:

Conclusion

Now you know what’s better for you when it comes to comparing plastic vs wooden sheds. If you want a shed that’s affordable, portable, and low maintenance, a plastic shed is the way to go. If you want a shed that is high-quality, durable, customizable, secure, and of higher quality overall, a wooden shed is right for you. The biggest difference between these sheds is the price gap, but you get what you pay for.

Also, be sure to check out our wide variety of wooden sheds!