Unfortunately, severe storms can bring about a lot of destruction and difficulty.
Can sheds withstand the high winds and torrential rain that come with storms?
Here’s Why Sheds Can Blow Away:
In extreme storms, the wind speed can get as fast as 130MPH. If a shed isn’t properly hurricane-proofed and secured to the ground, these wind speeds are not only enough to blow the shed away but also to rip it apart.
Do Sheds Typically Blow Away in Storms?
Typically, most sheds are made to be durable, heavy, and sturdy enough to stand on their own without the danger of being blown away by the wind.
However, a shed may not survive in a storm with high winds such as a hurricane or a tornado.
Even if it’s sufficiently anchored to the ground and has a solid foundation, your shed can still catch enough wind to get blown right away.
More often than not, it’s never easy to tell whether your shed can withstand a storm. So it would be best if you took extra precautions in case your shed is tested to its limit.
Here are a few tips that can help limit the potential damage your shed may face in case of stormy weather:
1. Use your shed
An empty shed is like an empty cardboard box; it can be blown away by the wind much easier than a full one.
It would be best if you had something stored in your shed, which will help weigh it down.
2. Lock the windows and doors
Most wind damage occurs once it gets into a building, so to avoid this, make sure the doors and windows of your shed are locked.
3. Buy the best shed you can afford
If you haven’t purchased your shed yet, try to go for one that is well-designed and made of high-quality materials instead of running for the cheap ones that can be flimsy.
4. Use ground anchors
Ground anchors will secure your building and prevent them from being blown away.
These ground anchors can be fitted to existing sheds as well as new models.
5. Check your roofing felt
Check the roofing felt for small tears and leaks.
If you find any, repair them immediately using a bitumen-based roofing adhesive.
6. Check windows for cracks
If your windows are cracked, they are likely to be blown in by strong winds.
You can use toughened glass for your shed windows, which is stronger and more secure.
Do Metal Sheds Blow Away More Often?
Believe it or not, well-designed metal sheds are a smart investment, especially if you wish to protect your valuables from stormy weather.
Besides being cost-effective and durable, metal sheds are sturdier than most sheds and are built to last.
Unfortunately, only a handful of metal shed suppliers can deliver quality sheds that are sturdy and durable. More often than not, most of the metal sheds you will encounter in the market will feel very flimsy.
This is especially the case for cheap metal sheds, which are prone to rust and corrosion, making them even more susceptible to damage by stormy weather.
How Much Wind Can a METAL Shed Withstand?
Good quality and well-constructed metal shed can withstand the strongest winds, provided it is anchored properly to the ground.
However, metal sheds that are made using flimsy materials most of the time buckle under strong winds and extreme weather.
Most metal sheds will have a good wind resistance factor. For example, sheds reinforced with steel have a wind speed rating of about 70MPH, which is impressive.
Most of the time, the wind speed rating of your metal shed will depend on the manufacturer you bought it from.
Do Plastic Sheds Blow Away More Often?
For the most part, plastic sheds are designed to be weatherproof.
They can withstand extreme weather conditions such as rain, snow, and ice. But while plastic sheds are designed to protect against these elements, they suffer from poor wind protection.
In its very nature, plastic is a lightweight material. This means that it’s quite easy for your plastic shed to be blown over in cases of extreme storms.
Moreover, if your plastic shed has been snapped together, it may not only be knocked over by the wind but also be broken apart.
There is a ray of hope, however.
Plastic sheds that are well designed are strong enough to withstand the effects of a storm. They should also be firmly anchored to the ground for additional protection.
When buying a plastic shed, a good tip would be to look for ones that have steel-reinforced walls and roofs.
How Much Wind Can a PLASTIC Shed Withstand?
Just as is the case with metal sheds, how well a plastic shed can hold up against stormy weather will heavily be dependent on the quality of the shed, i.e., how well the manufacturer designs it.
For the most part, plastic sheds will have a wind speed rating of between 81-120MPH.
This means that if they are well-constructed and have additional protection from being anchored to the ground, plastic sheds can withstand winds of such speeds, common in stormy weather.
How Do You Prevent a Shed From Blowing Over?
Luckily, there is a way you can stop your shed from being blown away during a storm.
The best course of action would be to secure your shed to the ground before a storm. The best way to keep your shed in place during stormy weather is to use ground anchors and ties.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the following method to secure sheds for shed owners in hurricane-prone regions:
- Screw ground anchors in place near the four corners of your shed but along its sides. After inserting the screws, tug at them to make sure they are secure.
- Toss one of the straps over the roof of your shed and proceed to tie both ends of the strap to the two ground anchors that are on opposite sides of the shed from each other and closest to the shed’s front.
- Ratchet the strap until it’s taut but make sure you still slip a hand under the strap.
- Repeat tossing the second strap over the shed and tie it to the rear two ground anchors. Tighten the ratchet and make sure it’s tight.
- Retighten both straps to make sure they have matching tautness.
Also, when buying a shed, consider getting one that has storm chains. Some shed builders usually ignore this key feature.
Adding storm chains will ensure damage is not inflicted on your doors and buildings that high winds may cause.
Should I Hurricane Proof a Shed?
Hurricane proofing a shed isn’t as easy as it sounds. High winds and heavy rains can find even the tiniest weakness in your structure, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t possible to hurricane-proof your shed.
Here are a few tips to hurricane proof your shed:
- Build a hurricane-proof foundation. A concrete slab or concrete piers are a must for hurricane-proof sheds.
- Secure the floor frame of your shed to the foundation.
- Ensure that the walls of your shed are strong.
- Install storm-resistant windows and doors. Both the doors and windows should have aluminum frames.
- Ensure that the roof is wind and waterproof and has no cracks.
- Use storm shutters or shields to protect the inside of your shed.
All in all, the quality of your shed and the steps you hurricane-proof it and secure it to the ground will determine how well it withstands extreme storms.
So follow the tips in this guide to safeguard your shed, whether metal or plastic.
Sources:
Home guides | Jack Up Shed