The (actual) Bike Shed Problem
April 26, 2020 6:52 AM Subscribe
Hello, I'm in need a of a bike shed, can you help me with your experiences?
Currently thinking of ordering this 8x6' steel shed made by Arrow from ShedsForLessDirect.com. Would you buy that shed?
1. I've looked at pre-built wood/siding/shingle stuff, resin kits, steel kits, etc. Steel seems to offer the best value for size/durability. The only downside I can think of is that it's a bit noisy, or maybe hot in the sun. Anything else I should think about on materials? I don't care for the look of resin or vinyl siding and I don't want to maintain paint or stain on wood (all of those seem more expensive too). I really only need it to last for a few years, but I'd prefer if it lasts for 10 and could be disassembled and moved once after initial installation. I know it will be dark and not very nice, I just need sheltered storage, ideally relatively soon.
2. I want to store at minimum two bikes, a bike trailer, a push-reel mower, and an assortment of shovels/rakes etc. Maybe a grill and a trike. Does 8x6' seem roughly big enough? I have space to go a little bigger (8x10'), but I may end up with a second, nicer outbuilding down the line, and mostly just want something in place soon, even if it's a bit small. Budget isn't super tight. I can spend a few grand if it's very nice, but I'd probably rather save that for a second structure later.
3. Any comments on the brand Arrow or the storefront? The site doesn't exactly scream prestige but it does seem like they can ship me a shed. Are there any competitive similar shops/brands/items?
4. Flooring/anchoring. I'm thinking of getting a floor but not bothering to anchor to the concrete pad I'm putting it on, figuring it will almost always have decent weight inside. I can tether with wire cable to nearby fence posts that are pretty well anchored. I do live on the windy prairie though. Does that seem crazy or viable?
5. Any other shed-related tips or gotchas? Do you have a shed you love? Or strongly regret! I've searched and there's only one semi-relevant shed question, so please feel free to share any shed lore, TIA!
Currently thinking of ordering this 8x6' steel shed made by Arrow from ShedsForLessDirect.com. Would you buy that shed?
1. I've looked at pre-built wood/siding/shingle stuff, resin kits, steel kits, etc. Steel seems to offer the best value for size/durability. The only downside I can think of is that it's a bit noisy, or maybe hot in the sun. Anything else I should think about on materials? I don't care for the look of resin or vinyl siding and I don't want to maintain paint or stain on wood (all of those seem more expensive too). I really only need it to last for a few years, but I'd prefer if it lasts for 10 and could be disassembled and moved once after initial installation. I know it will be dark and not very nice, I just need sheltered storage, ideally relatively soon.
2. I want to store at minimum two bikes, a bike trailer, a push-reel mower, and an assortment of shovels/rakes etc. Maybe a grill and a trike. Does 8x6' seem roughly big enough? I have space to go a little bigger (8x10'), but I may end up with a second, nicer outbuilding down the line, and mostly just want something in place soon, even if it's a bit small. Budget isn't super tight. I can spend a few grand if it's very nice, but I'd probably rather save that for a second structure later.
3. Any comments on the brand Arrow or the storefront? The site doesn't exactly scream prestige but it does seem like they can ship me a shed. Are there any competitive similar shops/brands/items?
4. Flooring/anchoring. I'm thinking of getting a floor but not bothering to anchor to the concrete pad I'm putting it on, figuring it will almost always have decent weight inside. I can tether with wire cable to nearby fence posts that are pretty well anchored. I do live on the windy prairie though. Does that seem crazy or viable?
5. Any other shed-related tips or gotchas? Do you have a shed you love? Or strongly regret! I've searched and there's only one semi-relevant shed question, so please feel free to share any shed lore, TIA!
For (2) I'd just plan on how you're going to bring things in and out, and how often you will want each one. The front-to-back dimension is 66", and it's going to be easiest to put your commonly used things in front-to-back (open the door, push them in). If you put them side to side you're going to have to move everything each time to get at stuff in the back. I'm picturing that shed as 4 blocks, each 2 feet wide by 5.5' deep [A B C D]. When you open the door, you can immediately get B and C; in order to get A you have to pull out B first, and in order to get D you have to pull out C first. From your list of items I'd guess your bikes would be B & C, the trailer would be D, and your misc collection of everything else would be A. That seems roughly big enough assuming none of your big items is longer than 5'5 or wider than 2', but there isn't going to be much extra space.
For (4) It's semi-viable, probably. It looks like their floor is just a set of metal bars for you to add your own floor (check the owners manual PDF, it has a picture). If you're already putting it on a concrete pad I don't know that you need that, but if you want a wood floor or something you would. As to anchoring - you're going to need to weigh it somehow. Their anchors are just triangles that go on the corners and are then attached to the ground. If you're going to homebrew an anchor it basically has to hold the corners down - whether that's by building a structural floor and weighing it, or by making your own little plywood triangles for the corners and putting bags of sand on them.
posted by true at 7:33 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
For (4) It's semi-viable, probably. It looks like their floor is just a set of metal bars for you to add your own floor (check the owners manual PDF, it has a picture). If you're already putting it on a concrete pad I don't know that you need that, but if you want a wood floor or something you would. As to anchoring - you're going to need to weigh it somehow. Their anchors are just triangles that go on the corners and are then attached to the ground. If you're going to homebrew an anchor it basically has to hold the corners down - whether that's by building a structural floor and weighing it, or by making your own little plywood triangles for the corners and putting bags of sand on them.
posted by true at 7:33 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
For the size, can you mark out an 8 x 6 rectangle and see how things might fit? Doing that out in the open is still a bit different than arranging things within a small space, but it should tell you if the size is likely to work or not. Also, sheds always collect more stuff over time, so expect things to get more cramped down the road.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:48 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Dip Flash at 7:48 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
my family had that shed growing up. I hated it.
In short, I would not buy this, and would instead look for options around an 8x10 shed with wood framing.
posted by rockindata at 8:42 AM on April 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
- The door is only 69.25 in. If you are taller than about 5’ 8”, you’ll be hitting your head on it with regularity. This probably is the source of most of my hatred of the shed.
- it can’t take much in the way of snow load, so be sure to keep it cleared off if snow is a thing where you live.
- It’s all sheet metal, so you can’t attach stuff to the walls without an additional kit.
- The sliding doors are super cheap and frustrating.
- 8 x 6 is a small space, and it’s gonna end up with things on top of each other. An 8 x 10 space is much much easier to work with.
In short, I would not buy this, and would instead look for options around an 8x10 shed with wood framing.
posted by rockindata at 8:42 AM on April 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
Thought I would just share my experience - I needed bike storage and ended up buying a Bosmere Trimetals storage locker. The main selling point for me was the door, as I have a very cramped corner footprint with no room for a door to swing outward.
At about 6 ft x 3 ft, it's probably too small for your purposes but we're able to store two adult bikes and a few small outdoor folding tables in it. I would imagine you could probably fit the reel mower plus bikes in there but not the trailer.
Construction was somewhat difficult (many, many bolts to ratchet down and some of the parts are heavy) but the coated steel is very durable and seems waterproof - although I added some caulking around the joints to be safe. As for a base, I didn't have a concrete pad so I anchored it to some treated 2x6s with a rubber gardening mat underneath. Not an ideal solution but it has worked well so far - been in place for five years without any issue or sign of moisture problems.
posted by photo guy at 9:54 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
At about 6 ft x 3 ft, it's probably too small for your purposes but we're able to store two adult bikes and a few small outdoor folding tables in it. I would imagine you could probably fit the reel mower plus bikes in there but not the trailer.
Construction was somewhat difficult (many, many bolts to ratchet down and some of the parts are heavy) but the coated steel is very durable and seems waterproof - although I added some caulking around the joints to be safe. As for a base, I didn't have a concrete pad so I anchored it to some treated 2x6s with a rubber gardening mat underneath. Not an ideal solution but it has worked well so far - been in place for five years without any issue or sign of moisture problems.
posted by photo guy at 9:54 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
With Arrow, be ready to run out and get extra fasteners (they frequently get lost during shipping), and I'd think seriously about the quality of your drill -- there's a non-zero chance you'll need to redrill a hole (and if you end up needing to anchor it more seriously you will definitely need to drill holes in the steel). Since you mentioned wind (does it snow?), I would look again at wood framed sheds, as they're easier to reinforce/re-anchor. Costco carries a few, some of them include installation:
https://www.costco.com/sheds.html
...I ended up getting one of the Keter Artisan sheds (an 8x10 that Costco doesn't carry) and it's been just great (zero maintenance, looks nice, spacious), but I don't have to deal with wind or snow. If you can, I'd go 8x10 -- you'll be amazed how fast you run out of space, and going slightly larger can mean the difference between a shed that is literally packed full, and a shed that you can actually get things in and out of without having to unpack the whole damn thing.
posted by aramaic at 10:13 AM on April 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
https://www.costco.com/sheds.html
...I ended up getting one of the Keter Artisan sheds (an 8x10 that Costco doesn't carry) and it's been just great (zero maintenance, looks nice, spacious), but I don't have to deal with wind or snow. If you can, I'd go 8x10 -- you'll be amazed how fast you run out of space, and going slightly larger can mean the difference between a shed that is literally packed full, and a shed that you can actually get things in and out of without having to unpack the whole damn thing.
posted by aramaic at 10:13 AM on April 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
I know you have a preference for a non-resin shed, but I've had this 8x10 shed from Home Depot for about 6 years, and it has held up well. It fits 4 bikes, gardening tools, and various junk quite well. It went together pretty easily, and I only needed help getting the roof on. For light it has a skylightish translucent connector at the ridge of the roof to connect the roof panels. It does have the two side panels with an opening shutters, but those are open to the interior without windows. I screwed in a couple of sheets of plexiglas in the interior to make them real windows.
posted by ShooBoo at 10:39 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ShooBoo at 10:39 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
Take a few sticks and box off an 8x6 space. Now put all those things inside that space. If you're hanging the bikes, just use the kickstand and put them partly out of the space so that they are taking up about as much room as they would if they were hanging. Etc. Now look at how crowded your 8x6 box is. Does that work for you?
posted by aniola at 7:03 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by aniola at 7:03 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
My experience is that we got a larger bike shed than I thought we needed, and we immediately filled it. The neighbors had a stroller, we had a grill... also, if I were doing it again I'd get a single larger door rather than a two-section door that I will always be too lazy to open both of, but will also be hitting my handlebars on because the doorway is therefore not wide enough.
That said, a bike shed is way better than not having a bike shed.
posted by ldthomps at 8:43 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
That said, a bike shed is way better than not having a bike shed.
posted by ldthomps at 8:43 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
I have never seen a kit steel shed that I've liked. I had one at my old house, couple different neighbors had one, relatives had one... they all felt really flimsy and cheap. The doors are garbage. If you look at the specs for that Arrow steel shed you linked, the entire 43 sqft building weighs 157 pounds, which is nothing. You'll have to anchor that securely to something. As others have said, you can't really anchor anything to the walls or ceiling without adding a lot of structure or using a proprietary kit. These metal sheds really work best when placed on a concrete pad and securely anchored to that pad; that's where it will get a lot of its rigidity. Every one of these sheds that I have seen has a door or wall buckled from wind damage.
Check around locally for someone that sells wood sheds. Some contractors and home builders do sheds on the side. A lot of high schools with woodshop programs build and sell sheds both for skills and as a fund raiser. You should be able to find a similar-sized 6x8 or 8x8 wooden shed for about $700 - $800 or less, and it will last longer than that flimsy steel shed, you can do more with it--hang stuff from the walls, put up a pegboard, hang stuff from the ceiling, hang a ladder or hose reel or whatever on the outside walls, whatever. It's also going to be a lot easier to add lights or electrical outlets to a wooden shed vs. one of those steel kits.
Is the concrete pad already there? Whether it is or is not, depending on your local laws, you may need a building permit. That's another reason why wood sheds are popular, they are completely self-contained, walls, roof, and floor; and many/most municipalities will classify a shed like this, placed on skids on the ground, as a "temporary structure" and so a building permit is often not required. This may also allow you to skirt regulations about how close to your property line, or how close to another structure, the shed can be. Again, check your local laws; whatever office at City Hall issues building permits (usually Planning) can answer these questions.
posted by xedrik at 9:35 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
Check around locally for someone that sells wood sheds. Some contractors and home builders do sheds on the side. A lot of high schools with woodshop programs build and sell sheds both for skills and as a fund raiser. You should be able to find a similar-sized 6x8 or 8x8 wooden shed for about $700 - $800 or less, and it will last longer than that flimsy steel shed, you can do more with it--hang stuff from the walls, put up a pegboard, hang stuff from the ceiling, hang a ladder or hose reel or whatever on the outside walls, whatever. It's also going to be a lot easier to add lights or electrical outlets to a wooden shed vs. one of those steel kits.
Is the concrete pad already there? Whether it is or is not, depending on your local laws, you may need a building permit. That's another reason why wood sheds are popular, they are completely self-contained, walls, roof, and floor; and many/most municipalities will classify a shed like this, placed on skids on the ground, as a "temporary structure" and so a building permit is often not required. This may also allow you to skirt regulations about how close to your property line, or how close to another structure, the shed can be. Again, check your local laws; whatever office at City Hall issues building permits (usually Planning) can answer these questions.
posted by xedrik at 9:35 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
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I'd check the reviews to make sure it's water-tight. Failing that, I guess you could caulk any leaks it might have.
posted by JimN2TAW at 7:07 AM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]