When it comes to your shed, arguably its biggest enemy is rot. That’s because the wooden parts that have started rotting won’t be as durable as they once were. This can ultimately cause your shed to be weaker and less appealing in terms of its looks. So, how do you stop a shed from rotting before it starts or even after it has begun rotting?
The best way to stop a shed from rotting before it begins is to weatherproof your shed so it can withstand rain, snow, and other weather that can make a wooden shed damp or wet. If certain parts have begun rotting, you can remove them and replace them with new wood or even metal parts.
Nobody wants their shed to rot because this can lead to all types of problems. As such, one of the most important things you need to make sure of is that you actually did your part in minimizing the chances of rot on your wooden shed. Any expert will tell you that the best way for you to do so is by making sure that you weatherproof your entire shed as this will protect it from water and excess moisture.
How harmful is rot to your shed?
As we already said, it is perhaps the biggest enemy to a wooden shed. This is primarily because it will weaken it’s structural integrity. Depending on the location of the rot, it can rapidly degrade the joints where the roof trusses attach to the walls or where the walls connect to the base. Either of these locations can cause failure of the joint and ultimately collapse of that portion of the roof or wall.
This type of failure can seriously hurt anyone in the path of the falling debris, or damage/ruin any equipment or articles stored underneath. Often rot will go unnoticed until external stress is placed on the shed such as someone leaning on or stepping on the roof, stepping on the wrong part of the floor or leaning against the wall and suddenly the roof caves in, your foot shoots through the floorboard or that portion of the wall collapses.
If you are wondering whether or not your shed roof can hold you, check out this article we wrote about it.
What causes rot in your shed?
Rot is caused by excess moisture. We are not talking about water exposure or simple condensation, but we are talking about excess moisture. In other words, when your shed has been exposed to too much water or moisture for a prolonged period of time, it provides the perfect environment for fungi to grow and that is when rot will set in.
It is not the moisture itself that causes the damage to the wood, but the fungi that are allowed to grow when there is constant moisture. Think of how mold will perpetuate in a basement when not well ventilated, but when a dehumidifier is used it can eliminate any traces of mold rapidly. This is because the type of fungi that consume wood grows best in moist environments and they need it to be consistently moist rather than for a short period of time.
If the moisture was what caused the rot than waterlogged wood would be falling apart, however this is not the case. In fact, once waterlogged wood can be removed from the water, allowed to dry and it retains the majority of its strength. The key to preventing rot is the environment which we will talk about below.
How to prevent a shed from rotting
It is better to curb moisture before rot is able to set in. Below you can find 6 tips to preventing rot in your shed:
Start with the base
Always start with the base when it comes to minimizing the chances of your wooden shed rotting. That’s because you need to put some distance between your shed and the ground, which can easily flood or transfer water from the soil to your shed.
You can find a more in depth guide to waterproofing your shed base in this article where we discuss how to finish your shed floor/base.
One of the best things you can do for your shed’s base is to elevate it off the ground. This should be done before you assemble or construct the shed because it can be very difficult to elevate a shed that’s already been put together. If you need a tip on how to lift and move your shed than check out this article we wrote on how to get it done the easiest way.
The best base/foundation for your shed is a cement. This will raise the wooden parts of your shed above the ground so that water will not seep into the wood from the soil. Although this is a more expensive option than putting your shed onto cement blocks and skids, the cement slab will not only make your shed more sturdy but will also outlast the shed into the next one.
If a cement slab is not in the cards than using a thick layer of gravel layered on top of compacted dirt is the next best option. This will allow the water to drain to the ground underneath and not stay into contact with the wooden base of the shed for very long. You shed is likely already made of weather treated wood so a small amount of moisture will not damage it quickly.
If you are thinking of places to place your shed than consider placing them on your deck or on asphalt.
Location is crucial
The location of the shed is just as crucial as its foundation or base because the right location can go a long way in making sure that your shed is protected from excess moisture. That’s because there will be certain locations on your property that may be prone to pooling due to poor drainage or are not protected from the elements as well.
In that case, choose an area that has a higher ground as it will be less likely to flood and ideally the water will flow right out from underneath it. Do not, however place the shed on high ground that is close to an area that is rapidly eroding. This can weaken the earth beneath the shed and cause the ground under the shed to shift damaging the structure itself.
You should also make sure that you put the shed up in a location that allows it to stay protected from the elements, however trees can be deceivingly safe as a fallen branch can crush a shed roof. Keeping it close to a tree can be nice because the tree can act as a natural barrier against rainwater.
You might also want to keep the shed close to the house because the house can also protect the shed from rainwater and strong winds. However, don’t put it too close to the house because this can minimize the flow of air, which can help control moisture levels in the shed.
Use a good drainage system
It would also be a good idea to build a drainage system around the shed, however this can be an expensive option. The purpose of the drainage system is to drain water out of the surrounding areas of the shed so that the shed won’t get too exposed to excess moisture. If you already have a yard drainage system installed, using the space smartly could help you avoid spending more money on more drainage.
A French drain or a gravel pad is a cheap yet effective drainage system. Put up the gravel pad around the foundation of the shed so that rainwater and excess moisture can have somewhere to go. Make sure that you create a path that the rainwater can follow and that you take the rainwater as far away from the shed as possible.
If you wanted to read more about different drainage systems, this article talks about the best ones and when you should use them.
Install gutters
Gutters on the roof can also help keep rainwater away from the walls of your shed. Remember that rainwater trickles down from the roof to the walls of your shed. So, if you want to minimize excess moisture on your walls, build gutters that are there to drain the water from the roof all the way to the drainage system that you built for your shed.
However, always make sure that you clean your gutters regularly. That’s because gutters can also act as a double-edged sword when not maintained. When gutters are clogged by leaves and other debris, rainwater can form pools in the gutters. These pools can overflow and seep into your shed.
Install a ventilation system
A good ventilation system serves as a way to keep the interior of your shed dry and prevent any of the wood inside the shed from rotting. Keep in mind that moisture can build up in the shed when the shed gets a bit too humid and the airflow is poor.
So, by building a good ventilation system for your shed, you will allow air to flow freely in and out of the shed so that the chances of moisture building up in the shed due to condensation is minimal. You can use windows to serve as your ventilation system but you can also use exhaust fans if you don’t want to install windows.
My favorite cheap alternative is to have two windows and the door open, place a box fan in one of the windows pointing out and it will draw air in through the other window and door creating more airflow than just a breeze would.
Staining or painting can be helpful
Finally, if you want to minimize rot, you should also think about staining or painting your shed. That’s because wood stain and paint form a protective layer on top of the wood so that moisture cannot seep into the wood.
Waterproof paint is the better option if you want a more durable protective coating that lasts longer but a good deck stain can be a good option as well because wood stains will allow the shed to look more natural.
If you are looking for the best options for painting or finishing your shed than check out these articles where we find the best options for your needs.
How to fix rotted parts on your shed
What if some of the parts of the shed have already begun rotting? How do you fix the parts that have already rotted? And how do you prevent all of the other parts of the shed from succumbing to rot?
When rot has begun to settle in some of the parts of the wood, then the only way for you to fix the issue is to replace it. The good thing about wooden sheds is that you can easily saw off or remove some of the rotted parts without compromising the integrity of the entire shed. This must be done carefully however as you want to ensure you are providing extra stability in the place you are removing the wood to hold it until you have finished replacing it.
If you need to know the way to fix every part of your rotting shed, check out this article where we explain it step by step.
The tools you use are really up to you, but if you have a claw hammer, drill, prybar and the appropriate personal protective equipment you will likely be able to remove any part of the shed necessary. For example, if the bottom part of the shed has begun rotting due to how exposed it is to the moisture from the ground, what you can do is to remove each wooden floor board one by one followed by the floor joist if that is rotten too and then replace them with a new one. But don’t remove them all at once because you might end up compromising the integrity of the entire shed.
Replacing wood with wood can be a good idea but you can also replace some of the wooden parts with metal especially if you made a mistake by putting your shed in an area that is prone to rainwater pools. Stainless steal metal sheets are fairly cheap and are very durable. You can simply use metal sheets in place of wood to replace some of the rotted parts of your shed such as the walls, roof, etc.
Just keep in mind that you can replace all of the rotten wood, but if you do not solve what is causing the wood the rot than you are inviting it right back. Follow the 6 tips outlined above and waterproof your shed or else you will be continually combatting rot in your shed.
Proper maintenance can also go a long way in making sure that you stop your shed from rotting. Cleaning your shed and removing any debris in the gutters and beneath the floors can help in relation to excess moisture. Dirt can hold moisture for extended periods of time sitting right next to the wood. Be on the lookout for what is going to cause the next problem with your shed so you can curb it now before the repair gets too costly.