We have all had that moment where we lean up against something and it moves making us jump up because we don’t know it will hold us. I unfortunately had that occur in my shed not too long ago and that does not give me a comfortable feeling when I am not the only one going in and out of my shed, but my family is too. I had to figure it out so I new that it wasn’t gonna fall on me or anyone else.
Sheds generally wobble due to the strength of material used to build it, the quality of craftsmanship, or damage. Damage can be caused by weathering, insects, or physical trauma.
The following parts are very important as we are going to walk though identifying why your shed is wobbly then how to fix it if it is of physical concern.
What Is Causing Your Shed Too Sway
There could be any number of things wrong with your shed, or nothing at all. Below we are going to walk through a process of elimination that will help you quickly identify what is wrong.
Quality Of Materials
Is your shed made out of plastic or metal? If your answer is yes than you you can go right into the quality of materials section due to how pliable these materials can be. Now before you ask me to go bend a steel beam hear me out.
Sheds normally are produced to be able to sufficiently hold the weight of the structure. The weight to strength ratio of metal is very high and thus a strong piece of metal is not required to be very thick. This is not to say every metal shed is going to be flimsy, but if the structure is made of metal and not weighted or secured down as most metal sheds are not then you will find yourself with very flimsy shed indeed. This may also fall into the low quality category, but a high quality entirely metal shed is hard or expensive to come by.
Plastic sheds are highly malleable due to the nature of the material. It is significantly more expensive to create very thick plastic that will make it sturdy and weighty and thus it is not done. It would be more cost effective to use wood and get everything in one package. If the storage shed weighs to little, it will be impossible to keep it from moving unless it is somehow anchored down.
Quality Of Craftsmanship
If you inherited this shed then you may be out of luck, but if you bought it then you need to inspect the work when complete to ensure that you approve. You are buying something that could seriously injure you or your family if done incorrectly so don’t go easy. If you see these indications you are probably suffering from this.
- certain cross bracings that don’t fit quick right(or none at all)
- bowed or too small lumber just screwed into place
- unleveled base
- non square corners
Cutting corners by using smaller lumber can really put your structure at risk. If your wondering what the smallest lumber you could use is check out our article where we discuss if you can use 2x3s for a shed.
If you are building this yourself then you can solve this by having a plan, taking your time, and not accepting mistakes and just dealing with them. If you were building a wooden toy then it’s not a big deal, but your are building a structure that may fall on you if your are not careful. Take the time to do it right and if you can’t then higher a professional who can. There is not shame in getting someone who does this for a living.
Damage
Damage can cause severe movement in a shed or possible a catastrophic unexpected event. In other words, damage can go largely unnoticed for a long time if it is in a key spot. Wood will hold until it does not and if that is a key point in the structure it could all come crashing down at once.
If wood appears to be black or greenish then you could be looking at mold or algae that indicate a consistent amount of moisture. If you can press into the wood with your hand, other wood, or anything relatively hard and it starts to break apart or crumble than you could have serious rot problems. Also Carpenter ants or termites can start going through wood sometimes even if it was treated. Be on the look out for indications of rot or insects as this could be your first sign.
If rot has set in and you are looking to fix your rotting shed fast than check out this article we wrote on how to fix any
Bracing The Shed, Correcting the Damage
Now that we know the cause we are left to our devices to correct it. If it was the materials that is the problem then you might not be able to fix it without adding more material to it. In the end it may be better to purchase or build a new shed entirely. If you are handy though and cutting a few pieces of treated pine at your local lumber store is your thing than by all means. Focus on creating something that has a sturdy frame.
Is The Roof The Problem?
If you need replace your shed roof and you are looking for alternatives than we have two articles about why you should not use MDF or Chipboard, but should use plywood instead. to get onto your roof and are unsure if you can climb onto it check out our article to see can your shed roof can hold you. If you are unsure, never get onto a structure that is potentially compromised.
Is The Frame The Problem?
A sturdy frame is the most important to do right. It would be impossible in this small post to tell you how to do that check it out here. This video provides a lot of what you might need, except you will have to fit it to size of your shed. Also consider adding diagonal bracing as this can be a simple fix to the problem if there is already wooden structure. If you have no wood structure than I would advise starting from a clean slate. I know it may be frustrating starting over, but in the end you will thank yourself.
Quality craftsmanship can take form in a fake “pro” whose quote happened to be nicely priced a couple hundred dollars below everyone else. You were also getting towards the end of the month and were a bit tight so he was a life saver. Well, you may have gotten jipped in this instance. Not saying that you should stay away from deals, you just need to do your research.
If you are suffering from incomplete building, missing pieces like diagonal braces, not enough studs or simply not put together to line up then you could have some simple fixes. For a handy person, whether it is you or your brother in law, putting in a little elbow grease and time could make a shoddy shed rock solid. If you’re not quite sure what right looks like check out this video that shows you.
If you’re still unsure than ask a professional, a real one this time. Also, if you made a couple mistakes then its no biggy, everyone has been there. The important thing is a safe structure for you and your family, don’t let anything get in the way of that.
Damage can be a tricky one as it can take shape in may ways and it might not always be easy to fix. Identify the pieces that are broken, rotting or just bad and make sure you measure exactly the same thing so you can replicate it.
Sometimes if it is a metal piece that has bent the place you buy from will simply cut it to the exact size and your good to go. If not then ensure you buy the right wood, like pressure treated or severe weather wood can survive the tough times. Cut it to just the right size then brace the part of the shed that you are about to remove. This is very important as you are about to take apart part of the structure. It needs to be stable without the piece temporarily so that you can remove it and install the replacement.
Once the replacement is in than you are good to go. Just make sure to watch out for more of this problem. If sitting water rotted out the wood than maybe you have other pieces susceptible or water is somehow getting into a place it is not supposed to. A careful and watchful eye will win the day.
When To Call A Pro
When your safety is involved then you can never skimp. I will put it this way, if you are not an avid DIYer and you have never done something like this before, don’t all of a sudden find the heart to throw some wood at it and call a structure safe when it should be condemned. It might take a little cash, but your health and your families is worth it.
Often times contractors will come out for a free consultation just to see the issue and give you an estimate. Call around to ask what they can offer you so you don’t have just one guy trying to get your business. Look up reviews and ask if you can either see some of their other work or call someone as a reference for their work. Don’t just take everyone at face value because they might just be trying to pay the bills too.
In the end I hope that you have a great and safe shed, don’t let problems sit and get worse, especially when your safety is involved.