5 Things To Look For When Buying A Wooden Building
It's exciting to be looking for a new wooden shed for your property! The variety of options can be overwhelming, from the size of the building and front-end porch options to the roof and exterior features available.
While these options are nice to have at your disposal, you could miss small details about your shed that could become problematic once you buy it. At Ascential Buildings, we take pride in covering every detail in purchasing buildings, so you have peace of mind when making an important decision.
1) Wood Decay & Insect Infestation
The first thing to look for when buying a wooden shed is Wood decay and possible insects. It's not a secret that wood decay is a real thing; without proper treatment, it's bound to happen, and the cost of repairs could be more than the building is worth. The softness of the wood, the stripping of the layers- you could probably puncture the wood with a screwdriver. That's a bad sign; if you see that, RUN!
What you want to look for is whether the building you're looking at contains insects; there happen to be small piles of sawdust near the building’s windows. This is an indicator that bugs have decided to make themselves at home! Along with other signs such as mud tubes alongside the beams or walls (subterranean termites) or small holes you could fit a pencil lead into (wood-boring beetles)
A beautiful feature of wooden buildings we offer here at Ascential Buildings is that our wood panels are treated to a Zinc Borate process known as SmartGuard technology. Our friends at LP Building Solutions created this process to fight off water damage and insects from destroying our wooden buildings. This is a feature you won't have to worry about with our sheds, giving you peace of mind when buying a wooden building.
2) Siding Material
The next item you need to look for and consider is the siding and construction style. This is your shed’s protection against rain, wind, and sun. How the boards are pieced together is as important as the material. You want to avoid overlap siding; if they arent the tounge and groove siding, it's best to look away. This building could warp; time will start to widen a gap that will cause drafts, rainfill, and an opportunity where pests can get inside.
3) Floor Joist Spacing
What about the platform strength? It's the big determinant of how strong your shed is going to be. Heavy haulers need to understand this point, especially if you're noticing any sag; this could lead to a ruined shed down the road. You're looking out for a foundation system using heavy-duty 2x4 or 2x6 pressure-treated floor joists, ideally spaced between 12 and 16 inches apart, from one joist to the next. Then a sturdy flooring material should be topping the joists- exterior-grade plywood is ideal; if it does not have that option, keep on looking!
4) Ventilation and moisture control
Ventilation is essential to wood buildings, believe it or not. Wood needs to breathe! Without any proper airflow, you will get a buildup of heat and humidity trapped in the building, which turns your shed into a breeding ground for mold. You would never guess how clever a design it is to see a vent installed in sheds; this will avoid rot, and your valuables won't warp either! Always look for a vent, especially for warmer climates! Another Way to prevent moisture issues is having sprayfoam installed in a building; that way yoy have that extra level of protection on your side!
5) Roofing
Have you ever seen a flimsy roof? One that shakes or gives? That's not going to hold up. I mean, have you seen winter around here? You need to look out for a shed that has a roof deck design with medium-density fiberboard (or MDF) on the roof deck. just be careful with this feature because if a shingle falls, these materials absorb water, causing eventual collapse.
These pro tips can help you determine if the company you're buying a wooden shed from holds the best quality for your needs. Quality matters when it comes to lifetime storage; cutting corners means cutting quality!
