Whether you want to use your metal shed as a storage area for your farm machinery or your garage tools and furniture, it is durable and more weatherproof than a wooden shed.
However, you must contend with persistent gaps that repeatedly occur due to wear or tear and construction inconsistencies.
So how should you go about filling gaps in the metal shed? Let’s get rolling.
How To Seal Gaps In Metal Shed?
Sealing your shed keeps away water, dust, and bugs. You want to pay close attention to areas more prone to gaps, such as overlapping panels and edges.
1. With Garage Brush
You can utilize garage brushes or door seals to fill gaps around the shed door and windows. You can easily procure them online or from local hardware stores.
Conventional methods, such as metal weatherstripping, are expensive and difficult to work with. Here is where garage door brushes come in handy, especially if your shed is corrugated metal.
As a general convention, use 2-inch brushes on the vertical edges and 3-inch brushes on the horizontal edges of the shed door.
2. Apply Silicone Caulk
Silicone caulk is one of the best sealants for filling gaps in the shed since it works pretty well with metal. Most users have found it effective in sealing the exteriors of sheds.
It comes in multiple colors, making it easy to match your shed’s color. The sealant also dries off quickly (usually after a few hours).
One particular use case is the large gaps that form at the center of the shed roof. You can patch them up with silicone caulk.
It can also help seal off minute gaps between the concrete base and the shed walls.
3. Use Spray Foam
Another sturdy option for sealing off gaps in your metal shed is spray foam— particularly those uncountable tiny ones from where light comes in.
However, you want to be cautious when using it because it’s pretty sticky, and it may prove difficult to wash off your hands. Use gloves, a face mask, and a full-body suit to prevent contact.
We advise against overapplication of the foam since it expands after a few hours and forms a giant ball. Cut the huge ball off in the event of an expansion.
If you find applying the spray foam yourself challenging, hire an insulation technician.
Waterproof The Shed Floor
In the previous section, we tackled filling gaps in the metal shed walls and roofings and partly the floor edges. But what happens when moisture sneaks up from the shed bottom?
A typical challenge with an outdoor shed is the rising dampness from the ground layer, especially when erected on a concrete foundation.
You will need a Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) as a vapor barrier for your metal shed floor. This is usually placed before the base is erected.
However, if your base is already laid, you can use waterproof coatings to prevent moisture from penetrating inside the shed.
Another fix would be to raise the shed floor slightly from the base and introduce an air gap between the two.
We suggest going in for professional advice since many variables could be at play.
Apply Weatherproof Paint
You can spend your entire life going after each minute gap in your metal shed only to realize later that weatherproof paint is indispensable in protecting it from harsh outside weather conditions.
Your shed is battered daily by harsh sunlight, heavy rainfall, thick snow, howling winds, and whatnot.
Ordinary metal paint can easily chip away, exposing the metal beneath. This is where a water-repelling and fade-resistant paint comes in.
Take care to coat throughout— especially those areas where panels overlap (such as the roof).
Conclusion
Constructing a metal shed in your garden offers two prong benefits— providing suitable storage space for your garden tools while being relatively cheap to assemble.
However, you want to ensure your shed lasts for a lifetime by filling any gaps and leaks in the walls, floor, or rooftop. The guide above should be enough to get you started.
I have found gardening to be my calling since being restricted to my apartment. I love studying rare species of plants and giving them a mention on my blog. I also love growing organic vegetables in my backyard.
