Are you wondering “what is pressure treated wood”? Or maybe you are looking to buy long-lasting garden sheds, or perhaps you are wondering how long do wooden sheds last?
Pressure treated wood is a game-changer, providing enhanced durability against decay and pests. With qualities like cost-effectiveness, insect repellence, and low maintenance, pressure treated sheds endure for decades. Learn about the average lifespan of sheds and explore 3 of the best long-lasting garden sheds on the market. Dive into the world of heavy-duty, pressure treated sheds for ultimate durability and reliability.
What is Pressure Treated Wood in Relation to Sheds and Garden Buildings?
Pressure treated wood plays a pivotal role in the construction of sheds and garden buildings, offering enhanced durability and protection against decay and pests compared to untreated wood. Importantly, pressure treatment is both on the wood surfaces, but also penetrates deep within the wood fibres.
Editor’s Note [19.09.23]: Our guide about pressure treated wood and heavy-duty sheds was originally published on February 16, 2022. Today’s update includes a definition for pressure treated wood, qualities to expect, detailed information about how long sheds last, and tips to increase shed longevity.
A Working Definition
“Pressure treated wood is a type of lumber that has undergone a preservation process where chemicals are forced into the wood under high pressure. This treatment increases the wood's resistance to decay, insects, and fungal growth, making it suitable for outdoor living applications like sheds and garden structures.”
Essential Qualities to Expect
Pressure treated wood boasts the following qualities that make it an ideal choice for sheds and garden buildings:
- Cost-effectiveness - its long-lasting nature can lead to cost savings in the long run
- Durability – use pressure treated wood to withstand the rigours of outdoor exposure and changing weather conditions
- Eco-friendly options - modern chemical treatment uses environmentally responsible chemicals for preservation
- Insect repellence - the treatment effectively deters wood-boring insects and pests
- Longevity - the treatment extends the wood's lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements
- Low maintenance - it requires minimal upkeep, making it an attractive option for busy homeowners
- Moisture protection - it resists moisture absorption, reducing the risk of swelling, warping, and cracking
- Paint and stain compatibility – you can stain pressure treated wood to match your aesthetic preferences
- Rot resistance - pressure treated wood exhibits high resistance to rot, prolonging the lifespan of your structure
- Safety – many buyers wonder “is pressure treated wood safe,” it is and poses no health risks and is safe for use in sheds and garden structures
- Structural stability - it maintains its structural integrity over time, ensuring the stability of your shed
- Versatility - pressure treated wood is available in various sizes and types to suit different building needs
How long do wooden sheds last?
The lifespan of a wooden shed can vary widely depending on several factors, including the quality of materials, construction techniques, climate conditions, maintenance, and the type of wood used. On average, a well-maintained wooden shed treated with wood preservatives can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years or even longer.
Pressure treated wood, which has been infused with preservatives to resist decay and insect damage through the pressure treatment process, is a popular choice for shed construction due to its enhanced durability. Properly treated and maintained sheds can resist weathering and decay, contributing to a longer lifespan. Regular inspections, repairs, resealing, and repainting can further extend the shed's durability and overall lifespan.
Are Lifetime Sheds a Reality?
Exploring the concept of lifetime sheds, it is evident that a well-maintained shed can last for 30+ years, or even surpass 50 years in some cases. However, the perception of a "lifetime" depends on an individual's age; for someone in their 40s, a heavy-duty pressure treated shed with consistent upkeep could indeed last a lifetime.
7 Key Tips to Ensure Your Shed's Longevity
Ensuring your shed stands the test of time involves adopting certain practices -
- Buy pressure treated wood - begin with using pressure treated wood during construction
- Inspect for damage - routinely check for any signs of wear, tear, or damage
- Keep it clean - regularly clean both the interior and exterior of the shed
- Regular maintenance - commit to ongoing maintenance tasks to prevent deterioration
- Tackle issues promptly - if issues arise, tackle them promptly to prevent escalation
- Ventilation is critical - ensure proper airflow to prevent moisture buildup and decay
- Weatherproofing - protect the shed from the elements by applying weatherproof coatings
3 of the best long lasting garden sheds on the market!
If you’re looking to buy a seriously heavy-duty shed, you’re in exactly the right place because we’re going to introduce you to the 3 strongest, most resilient wooden sheds on the market. These 3 long lasting garden sheds are all incredibly tough customers. In fact, they’re so solid, muscular, and red-blooded that we’d have to classify them as the kings of the shed ‘jungle’.
But be warned…this blog isn’t for the faint-hearted. While these sheds unquestionably sport attractive designs and refined features, we will purely be focussing on their exceptionally stout, strapping builds. Yes, you’re entering real ‘macho’ shed territory now.
Anyway, without further ado, brace yourself to meet Britain’s 3 Strongest Sheds, any of which might be described as lifetime sheds.
Heavy-Duty, Pressure treated Shed 1: The Forest Timberdale Shed Range
Weighing in at far fewer £s than you might expect for a shed this strong is the undisputed king of heavy-duty sheds, the Forest Timberdale – a range of premium-quality wooden sheds for the discerning buyer seeking longevity.
Featuring a handcrafted design for an incredibly robust build, these wooden sheds boast premium 12mm tongue & groove walls, floor, AND roof, supported by super strong modular construction. Their smart modular design means they are delivered in smaller sections, but you get more wood, making for an even stronger shed with even more extensive framing!
This unparalleled strength translates to unbeatable security too. Whether you choose a single or double-door model, all Forest Timberdale shed doors are ledged, braced and fitted with traditional rim Lock door latches!
But what about the windows, we hear you say? Aha…toughened safety glass comes as standard with ALL Forest Timberdale Sheds, so the windows are never a weak spot.
Add in the fact that these sheds use pressure treated wood and are supplied with a 25-year anti-rot guarantee, with no further treatment required, and you can see why they are now recognised as the toughest heavy-duty, wooden long-lasting sheds on the market.
Click this link to view our Forest Timberdale sheds.
Heavy-Duty, Pressure treated Shed 2: The Palmako Valentine Shed Range
The Baltic states have produced some celebrated strongmen over the years, but their sheds are even harder. Built to withstand the most severe weather conditions, in terms of sheer solidity, Palmako’s Valentine range is more akin to log cabins than garden sheds.
While most cabins are supplied untreated, the extra-thick 28mm cladding is built from slow-grown, pressure treated Nordic Spruce, with a chalet-cut design and added wind braces to ensure unbeatable weatherproof protection. Not great weatherproof protection – UNBEATABLE weatherproof protection. All in all, these cabins provide exceptional value.
If you need one, then a whopping 19mm tongue & groove floor is available to buy as an optional extra – that’s the thickest around. The 16mm tongue & groove roof comes as standard – and that’s almost double the thickness of an average wooden shed roof!
As for the doors, well, they’re fitted with a stainless-steel sill, laminated frame, and key-operated cylinder lock, so not only are you buying a secure shed, but you’re getting one that will withstand years of constant footfall and changing weather conditions, without the slightest murmur of complaint.
All in all, this Palmako range of sheds might have a beautiful name, but they’ve got a very brawny construction too. Click this link to view our Palmako Valentine log cabin sheds.
Heavy-Duty, Pressure treated Shed 3: The Forest 4Life Overlap Pressure treated Shed Range
At this stage, you might be wondering how we’re going to show you anything as strong as sheds one and two. The answer is that we’re not. We can’t. But what we can do is come at this from a different angle – by focussing on strength AND price.
If you want a heavy-duty, pressure treated shed but you’re operating on a tighter budget, Forest manufactures exactly what you’re after… their 4Life Overlap Pressure Treated range.
These sheds might be built using standard overlap cladding, but they also boast a number of powerful qualities that set them apart from other wooden sheds in their price range.
Firstly, these sheds feature a modular design, which means they’re delivered in smaller sections, but you get more wood. This doesn’t just mean ‘a bit more’ wood, it equates to 15% more timber and a whopping 30% increase in structural framing!
Secondly, you’ve got the floor – thick 14mm solid treated timber flooring with pressure treated bearers, to be precise. This will meet all of your garden storage requirements and easily cope with constant footfall.
Then you’ve got the doors: ledged, braced, with tamper-proof hidden hinges plus a hasp and staple plate, so you can rest assured that your valuable stored items will be completely safe from unwanted attention.
In line with their robust build, these sheds also come with PET glazing as standard, so the windows are virtually shatterproof and never a weak point.
Finally, the wood is pressure treated and supplied with a fantastic 25-year anti-rot guarantee. No further treatment is required, saving you money, and leaving you more time to perform (wo)manly tasks.
Now you see why these Forest sheds are classified as the best-value strong sheds on the market. View our entire range of Forest Garden pressure treated sheds at this link.
Heavy-Duty, Long-Lasting Sheds for Sale
Don’t settle for a weedy shed. If you want secure outdoor storage or a robust garden workshop for hard practical tasks, shop Shedstore’s fantastic range of heavy-duty, pressure treated sheds now!
Conclusion
In the world of sheds and garden buildings, pressure treated wood emerges as a crucial asset, offering improved levels of durability and defence against decay and pests in comparison to untreated wood. This treatment not only encompasses the surface but also penetrates deep into the wood fibres, ensuring long-lasting protection. As a defining feature, pressure treated wood's qualities, ranging from cost-effectiveness and durability to eco-friendliness and safety, make it an indispensable choice. If you are wondering “how long do wooden sheds last”, we do our best to answer this question, in earlier sections.
Expert shed guidance for the best quality sheds awaits
If you are still needing support, Shedstore can help! We have provided an overview of “what is pressure treated wood” above. Our long-lasting sheds are made from wood that has all completed the pressure treatment process. We hope this guide will help in your quest to buy one of our best quality sheds. Contact our team for product and technical support in these ways:
- Phone - call us at 0333 003 0518
- Contact form - complete our contact form for personalised assistance
- Live Chat - engage in live chat via our app