A shed can be an extremely useful and versatile addition to any backyard. It can provide lots of additional storage space and can even, with the right design and decoration, become something of an attractive feature in your yard.

Choosing the right type will ensure that you get the best possible shed for your money – and one of the most important decisions regards the material the shed is constructed from.

Here, we will discuss the main materials that are available, their pros and cons, and help you make an informed decision.

Wood

Naturally, this is the most traditional choice and sheds have been constructed of this material for decades.

One of the big advantages of this material is the customization. Of all the shed materials, wood is the easiest to work with, meaning that a wide style of designs are possible.

You could for example design your own shed from scratch. Even if you build a standard off the shelf shed kit, the sheer variety of paint and stain colors make it easy to customize to fit your design schemes.

Wooden sheds can often be more expensive than other materials however. They can also be more vulnerable to weather damage and must be varnished or weather coated regularly.

It is also hard to make a wooden shed very secure, and any would-be thieves will usually find it relatively easy to break in.

Plastic

Very much the new kid on the block, good quality plastic sheds have only really been available for the past couple of decades.

The big advantage of plastic sheds is that they are easy – they are easy to build and they are easy to maintain. Unlike wood for example, the pieces simply slot together, they are lighter than metal so easy to manage and securing points are nicely laid out.

Once constructed they need little to no maintenance, again unlike their wooden counterparts they are essentially weather proof straight out the box. My parents have hired a local contractor (click here for the company website) to get theirs built and were extremely happy and decided to go for a detached garage with the same company. I can only speak for one of their location, and I got lots of great things to say! I even left a review after I saw my parent’s garage, if you’re not yet into leaving local reviews, be sure to check out this guide. Bottom line is, if you’re looking for a Chesapeake garage builder, then start with these guys.

Pricing wise, they roughly fall in the middle of more expensive wooden sheds and cheaper metal ones.

The downside is largely the appearance. They are hard to customize, with very few (if any) paints suitable for their surface. In addition to this, they have a very child’s playhouse kind of look that, frankly, can be kind of off putting.

Security wise they are not much better than a wooden shed either – a skilled thief will make short work of any locks on a plastic shed.

Metal

Metal sheds lie somewhere in the middle of Wood and Plastic. Generally, they are cheaper than both type of shed. Beware however – very cheap metal sheds will be made of thin metal, and they will soon start to corrode.

A good quality metal shed however will last a long time – upwards of 25 years is not uncommon – and they are essentially weather and insect proof. They provide the best security of all the shed types too.

On the negative side, they can be quite complex to build, and require a good solid concrete base. Whilst not as unattractive as plastic, they are certainly not as pleasing as wooden sheds, and customization is limited making them hard to fit into a decorative garden.…

It’s no mystery that proper and regular seal coating protects asphalt and extends the life of driveways, roads and parking lots all around us.

Asphalt paving is an economical way of creating a hard surface for your driveway, but it is also a surface that demands proper attention to its maintenance. A paving contractor who lays down your pavement might suggest that you periodically, at least once every two years, redo the seal coating on whichever paved surface you own.

Pavement can deteriorate over a period of time due to the sun beams, oxygen in the air and outdoor elements. The ultraviolet rays of the sun will cause asphalt to deteriorate. The oxygen in the air can result in oxidation that hardens the tar. It then becomes brittle and cracks, leaving its surface vulnerable to rainwater, a process that can lead to the weakening of the sub-base. Sealcoating can prevent both oxidation and the ill effects of UV rays.

Sealcoating is the final process in the laying of any asphalt paving and provides the asphalted surface with a protective shell. This coat prevents water getting into the body of the paving. Once water enters, it can form ice during cold weather, and the expansion of this ice can cause cracks in the pavement. Sealcoating can also act as a resistance to oil and gas spills, which are quite common on surfaces where vehicles are parked. The tar sealer used in the mix has additives that make it resistant to these spills.

“Most paving contractors will gladly take up any job which requires fresh sealcoating to be done whether a residential or commercial work, they are very similar, except for the size of course.” said Shane Small with Asphalt Paving & Sealing of Virginia Beach, a Virginia Beach based paving company. They also operate in cities like Leesburg, VA and Sterling, VA both of which are located in Northern Virginia. Shane also mentioned that sealant has to be properly mixed as per the specifications of the manufacturer in order to work correctly. Sealants are always applied in two coats, after completely cleaning the asphalt surface. Any damaged portions need to be properly repaired before the entire surface is coated. The application of the first coat is done with the help of a squeegee, as this helps to push in the sealing material into any cracks that may be there on the pavement. The second coat may then be sprayed on so that the entire asphalt surface is uniformly covered. Sealcoating materials have a drying time, and during this time, there must be no traffic on the driveway. It is more than likely that the contractor will ask you to leave the surface unused for an entire day so that there is sufficient time to prepare the surface, apply the first cat, allow it to dry and then finish the work with the second coat.

Sealcoating can help to minimize the repair work on asphalt paving surfaces. It gives the asphalt protection form the weather and the effects of sun, by preventing oxidation and reducing the effect of UV rays. It will also allow the surface to withstand any cleaning or damage from oil spills. Finally, a surface that has been newly seal coated will appear fresh and appealing and point to the pride that homeowner takes in his property and its surroundings. This process must be undertaken every two years and is best carried out by professional paving contractors who will have all the right equipment and expertise to carry out the necessary work.…