No New Neighbors: How To Keep Your Storage Shed Free From Critters
August 2, 2021
Chipmunks, bunnies, and groundhogs are cute animals to look at while they're in their natural habitat, but not so much when they're taking up residence in your backyard storage shed. Plus, other potentially dangerous animals, like skunks, wasps, and raccoons, may find protection in your storage building if you don't take the proper precautions.
It starts with a high-quality shed, like the ones we sell here at Sun Rise Sheds. Then, keeping up with regular inspections to check for things like holes, leaks, or signs of animals, along with regular housekeeping, is the key to ensuring your outdoor shed remains critter-free.
Start with a High-Quality Storage Shed
To keep your shed critter-free, you must start with a high-quality shed from a reputable shed manufacturer. A shed kit from a big-box chain store will not provide the heavy-duty protection you need to protect your belongings from wildlife or the elements. Instead, choose a custom manufacturer, like Sun Rise Sheds, to build your perfect shed that is well-protected from nature.
Our siding options include LP Smart Lap Siding, produced with a proprietary SmartGuard™ manufacturing process to protect against termite damage and fungal decay.
Contact us for more information about our beautiful, hand-crafted storage sheds.
General Housekeeping Tips
Once our team of experts completes your shed installation, you'll want to follow some general storage tips to prevent your new shed from becoming the new home of the neighborhood stray cats and other wildlife.
For example, keep trash cans away from your shed. They should not be stored inside the shed or next to it, as they can attract raccoons, bears, and insects. If you keep birdseed, pet food, or seeds in your garden shed, make sure they are stored in solid, air-tight containers to keep out small rodents like mice and squirrels.
If you have potting soil, sawdust, or compost, keep these items out of your storage shed because they tend to attract insects.
Clean gardening tools, power equipment, or lawnmowers before storing them inside your tool shed because they could contain insects or eggs you don't see. You don't want to bring them inside your shed accidentally. Also, regularly clean your shed and sweep the floor to keep it free of dirt.
Keeping Insects Out
One of the reasons you want to keep your storage building free from dirt is because insects look for dark, dirty places to make nests. Besides keeping your shed clean, you can also keep insects out by putting plastic under and over wood stored in your woodshed. You should also seal leaks and ensure your shed has proper ventilation to avoid standing water, which can attract mosquitoes and mold.
Don't forget to look up as well! Patching holes in your shed's roof will not only protect it from rain and snow that will cause standing water but also from birds, bees, and wasps that will make nests in your shed. If you notice spider webs in the corners of your shed, you likely have other insects there, too, since that's their food source. Ensure you're treating the insect issue before it gets out of hand.
Keeping Animals Out
Insects in your shed are one thing but having animals call your shed home is another! Animals can be destructive and even dangerous if confronted in your shed.
In addition to keeping certain things out of your storage shed, like trash and potting soil that we previously discussed, you can close off the bottom of your shed with skirting if it doesn't sit level with the ground. This protection keeps animals from going under the shed.
If you find holes in your shed floor or siding, ensure no animals are hiding there. Then, seal the hole with caulk, wire mesh, sheet metal, or concrete to keep out rats, mice, and other rodents.
Bury Wire Mesh
Burrowing animals can also go underneath your outdoor storage space. To keep out burrowing animals, it's a smart idea to bury some wire mesh to stop them from crawling underneath your shed. Here's how to do it:
- Dig a trench around your shed that is seven inches deep and 12 inches from the base of the shed.
- Measure how many inches from the ground your shed sits. Then, add 13 inches to that number to account for a bend in the wire mesh and the 12-inch-wide trench.
- Cut the wire mesh to the width of the number you calculated and the length of the shed side.
- Lay the wire mesh at the bottom of the trench, bend upwards at a 90-degree angle, and securely fasten to the bottom of the shed.
- Repeat on the other three sides of the shed.
- Cover the trench with the dirt you previously dug.
Time to Upgrade Your Shed in Des Moines, IA? Call Sun Rise Sheds!
Sometimes, the best way to keep critters and other insects out of your shed is to upgrade it to a high-quality one. If your current shed has seen better days, needs significant repairs, or has large holes where animals could get it, it's time to contact Sun Rise Sheds to learn how our custom-manufactured storage sheds are perfect for storing your items and will help keep insects, rodents, and other animals out of your personal property.
With a variety of options, styles, and features, you're sure to find the right shed to match your unique style and needs. Contact us today to learn more!
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