Protecting Shed Floor Inside and Out

If you have a brand new shed with a perfectly good floor in it, now is the perfect time to consider protecting it before you ever even use it. This will ensure that you keep your floor in pristine condition for many years to come. If you already own a shed that you are using and are concerned with the flooring becoming damaged, it’s also a good idea to do something now rather than later.

Even though it’s just a shed, taking care of the floor is a good idea and also simple to do. There are numerous floor coverings on the market that are affordable and easy to install. Some of the most popular options include vinyl flooring, rubber matting & tiles, & floor sealant.

All of these products are designed to protect floors against damage caused by normal wear and tear. Sheds see a lot of coming and going and usually house garden equipment. There is potential for this equipment to damage floors over the years. Especially when you consider the flooring of a shed, which is usually made of plywood unlike the concrete floor of a garage.

These options are also moisture resistant and won’t allow moisture to seep through and damage the floor. Whether you spill oil, gasoline, or water on the floor, you can simply wipe it up and not worry about it getting to the wood floor of the structure.

Should I Cover Shed Floor?

Covering your shed floor is essential if you want the shed to stand the test of time. Of course, this will depend on what you use your shed for but most people use a shed for garden equipment and junk that they don’t want taking up space elsewhere.

A shed floor doesn’t usually get much consideration and most people don’t think much about it. However, a shed costs money to build or purchase. There is no reason you shouldn’t put some type of covering on the floor to help increase the lifespan and keep it looking great.

Here are a few reasons that covering the shed floor is important:

1. Makes your shed easier to clean. Having a vinyl floor covering on your shed floor is much easier to clean than the plywood floor is. If you spill something, it wipes right up and you never knew it was there.
2. Protects from spills. I keep my lawnmower in my shed and often fill it with gas. I also change the oil in it each year. I have spilled gas, oil, and other liquids on the floor but it is no issue with the vinyl floor protector I have installed. I can easily clean it up and the flooring underneath still looks like new.
3. Protects from dropped items. Garden tools and other heavy or awkward items often get tossed into a shed. Items get dragged across the floor and have the potential to cause damage. That is if you don’t have the floor covered. You may damage the floor covering here and there but the floor beneath will remain pristine.
4. Ensures that your shed floor will last longer. Having any kind of flooring protection will leave you with a better shed floor over the long run. Compared to a shed that had no protection, a shed that has been covered and treated well will look much better.

Since there are different ways to go about protecting your shed’s floor, I’d like to share my favorite option. I chose vinyl roll-out flooring that simply rolls out onto the floor. I installed this in my shed when it was brand new and it has been in use now for over 10 years.

Storing outdoor equipment and tools in it as well as extra items that I don’t want cluttering up my house or attic, my shed has seen its share of usage and still has a floor that looks brand new, once the vinyl protector has been lifted.

If you have a brand new shed, I recommend installing something like this on your floor. It doesn’t require a lot to cover the floor of the average shed. You can simply order it in the size you need, roll it out easily onto the floor, and cut any areas that need it for a perfect fit.

The only problem with this flooring is that it tends to move around and wrinkle up in some areas. Pulling my lawnmower and other items in and out of my shed causes the vinyl flooring to move a little bit here and there. I have to pull it back straight occasionally but that’s a small price to pay to protect the floor.

If you are having a shed delivered, you might want to have this on hand now for when it arrives. This way you can protect your floor from the very beginning and not have to worry about it over the years. The best time to install something like this is when the shed is brand new and it’s totally empty.

If you don’t do it now, chances are you won’t do it at all. Once it’s loaded full of equipment, you may not want to take everything back out just to install something on the floor.

What Can I Put On My Shed Floor to Protect It?

There are so many options you could choose to protect your flooring but I think the four options below are among the best you’ll find.

• Roll-out Vinyl Flooring – I consider this the best option for a shed floor because it’s easy to install and one of the least expensive options. It does a good job at protecting from normal wear and tear but may be easily torn if something heavy scrapes across it.
• Garage Floor Tiles – These are durable and will make your shed look amazing! Although expensive, they make a great option if you are using your shed as a workshop or something other than just a place to store equipment.
• Gym Floor Rubber Tiles – Also expensive but will also give you a substantial floor covering that will work hard to protect the plywood or other material underneath.
• Porch & Patio Floor Paint – The cheapest way to protect your floor is to use an outdoor porch and patio paint. This will seal the flooring and protect it from moisture, mildew, and scuffs. It may have to be reapplied over time but it’s a great, cheap way to ensure your floor has some protection.

Protecting Your Shed Floor From Underneath

The inside shed floor is easy to protect with easy-to-install products but what about underneath the flooring?

The main thing you can do is to properly install the shed which is usually done by a shed delivery company if you have purchased one. If you are building one, you would want to ensure that you place your shed in an area that doesn’t have issues with water retention.

Ideally, you will want it in an area that drains well and water runs away from the shed rather than collecting around and underneath it. A gravel or paved foundation is ideal but if not one of those, you will want to place the beams on concrete pavers or something similar so that no wood is touching the ground and there is proper ventilation underneath the shed.

My shed sits on concrete pavers which causes it to be lifted off the ground. It is in a good area that drains water well so I have not had any issues over the 10+ years I’ve owned mine.

Conclusion

A shed that is well taken care of will last for many years. Protecting the floor with some kind of covering is one easy choice you can make to ensure you are doing your part. Even if you only use it to store outdoor equipment and rarely used garden tools, it was an expensive purchase and worth making a simple choice to provide some protection.