Seasonal Shed Maintenance Checklist

A simple spring and fall routine that adds years to any outbuilding.

Crew leveling and repairing an older wood shed on concrete piers

Spring: roof and water

Clear debris from the roof and any gutters. Check shingle edges and metal panel fasteners. Look for daylight from inside the building — the fastest leak detector there is.

Spring: base and level

Set a level on the floor in two directions. If a corner has dropped more than half an inch, address it before doors start binding.

Summer: doors and hardware

Tighten hinge screws, lubricate latches, check that doors close cleanly. Binding doors are almost always a leveling symptom, not a door problem.

Fall: siding, trim and paint

Walk the perimeter looking for soft trim, peeling paint and caulk failure at joints. Repaint before bare wood weathers, not after.

Fall: vegetation and drainage

Cut vegetation back at least a foot from every wall, and re-establish grade so water runs away from the building. Most rot we repair started as a shrub against a wall.

Every few years

Re-seal treated decks and posts, re-torque metal roofing fasteners, and inspect the underside of the floor frame for moisture staining.

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