If you're looking to add a shed to your backyard, you have two primary choices: you can either construct one yourself by purchasing the materials, or you can opt for a ready-made shed from a store or a dedicated shed manufacturer.
Each one of these options checks a few boxes that the other doesn’t, mainly regarding the price, the quality of the shed, and the effort put into getting the job done. Depending on what you need, you can either buy a shed or build a shed – here’s how to decide which one’s the right choice for you.
The Pros and Cons of Buying a Backyard Shed
Some backyard sheds are so well-built that it’s impossible for an amateur to achieve the same standard. On top of that, you don’t have to do a thing – just pay for the shed and watch it get set up in your backyard. Unfortunately, this isn’t always within the limits of the budget.
Pro – Saves Time and Labour
The most obvious advantage of buying a shed is that you don’t have to move a muscle to get it set up. All you have to do is choose a shed (while this can be done online nowadays, we suggest you do it in person since you can’t really know if it’s right for you from a few photos), pay for it, and wait for the delivery.
Many home improvement stores will offer installation services – this can be included in the price of the shed, or it can require an additional payment, depending on the store.
Aside from buying a pre-designed shed in a store, you can also hire shed builders to design and build your shed. This way, you don’t have to design the shed, choose the materials, buy them, take them home, tailor them to your measurements, and build the shed. You don’t have to do anything aside from paying for it.
Speaking of paying…
Con – Buying a Shed Is More Expensive Than Building One
The luxury of having your shed delivered to you and installed in your backyard comes at a price. That price is usually much higher than what you would pay if you bought the materials and built the shed on your own. Depending on the quality of the shed and the installation service, this price can be justified or unjustified.
Some manufacturers design their sheds with excellent storage efficiency, use high-quality, long-lasting materials to build them and cover them with a coat of paint that will protect them from the elements for a long time. Their sheds are built to last, and they justify the price tag.
Then, there are manufacturers whose sheds don’t justify the price tag, and you’d be better off building your own shed. This doesn’t only refer to the quality of the design and the materials but also to the quality of the craftsmanship.
If your budget allows it, and you’re confident that the shed you chose will serve you for a long time, there’s no reason not to buy it. But if you’re on a tight budget, spending that money on materials and tools may be better than on a cheap factory-made shed.
Pro – Some Sheds Require Professional Engineering
Although the idea of building your shed on your own to save money is tempting, some sheds are so advanced that building them on your own could be a massive challenge.
Firstly, not all sheds are wooden sheds. Wood is the easiest material to work with, but a lot of professionally built sheds incorporate metal, plastic, vinyl, and even plexiglass plates into their design.
Some of these materials require special equipment and training to work with, which can simply be too much for a DIY project.
Then, we also have to remember that not every shed is here just to store the lawn mower and a few tools. Some people need huge sheds that can fit vehicles inside and have hundreds of square feet of space.
Building such a large shed on your own can be a very long project. It’d be wiser and safer to hire shed builders who will design and build your shed, guaranteeing the end result.
The Pros and Cons of Building a Backyard Shed
If you’re handy with tools and don’t need a high-end shed, building a shed on your own is better than buying one. If you know what you’re doing, you can likely build a suitable shed for the price of a low-quality shed in a home improvement store.
The issue is; professionals can build better sheds than you.
Pro – Creative Freedom
When you’re building a backyard shed on your own, the first thing you do is design the shed. You adapt the shed to your needs, and the biggest advantage of doing this is that you can do, quite literally, anything you want.
If you’re buying a pre-designed shed from a store, you’re essentially stuck with a few dozen designs. It’s possible that one of those designs is just right for you, and that’s great – buy it! But if nothing works for you, you’re going to have to design your own shed.
Designing your own shed means that you can add any feature you want – hidden compartments, sliding doors, a false floor. You can’t get this with your average store-bought backyard shed.
Con – You Can’t Guarantee Quality, Shed Builders Can
Unless you’re an experienced contractor, chances are you can’t build as good of a shed as a shed-building company could. They’re skilled professionals who have done this hundreds of times.
The same rule applies to pre-designed sheds from home improvement stores – some of these sheds were designed by professional designers and built with tools you simply don’t have, making it impossible for you to achieve the same high standard.
This doesn’t mean you can’t build a good shed; it just means that professionals can build a better shed.
Pro – Building a Shed Is Cheaper Than Buying One
As stated before, building a shed is cheaper as you’re only spending money on materials and tools (if you don’t already have everything you need). This isn’t the case when you’re paying shed builders to build a shed or if you’re buying a shed from a home improvement store.
When buying a shed, you’re paying for the materials, the craftsmanship, and the labour. If you’re building the shed yourself, you’re the labourer and the craftsman, so you’re avoiding these costs.
So, What’s Better for You? Buying vs. Building a Backyard Shed?
If all you need is a simple shed for storing some tools, building it on your own would be smarter and financially more responsible than buying a shed. Anyone who knows how to work with tools can build a simple shed, and there’s no need to spend money on a premade shed.
However, if you don’t have the time or simply don’t want to bother yourself with it, feel free to pay for a shed. Also, if you’re looking for a super high-quality shed, you’ll most likely have to pay for it, as you can’t achieve the same level of quality professionals can.
All in all, both options are viable, but they depend on what you need.
Sources:
https://www.amishsheds.ca/shed-details/standard-shed-pricing/
https://renoquotes.com/en/blog/shed-price-guide
