About Top City Sheds
Building Better Sheds for Over 50 Years
How We Build Better Sheds
When looking to buy a shed, you have a lot of options for where to purchase. You can buy at big box stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s, other retail locations, or online.
When comparing a structure built by Company X and us, you should be looking at their ability to have something that suits your specific needs and is in stock, or the ability to quickly handcraft your shed to your precise specifications in a quick turnaround.
We recommend that you work with a true shed expert like Top City Sheds who will take the time to meet you and discuss your project specifications. When working with us, we will help you decide what you intend to use your shed for, then guide you through picking styles, colors, and options for your structure that will make sense for your needs.
When purchasing with Company X, you could be approached by uneducated salespeople who will try to sell you sheds solely based on appearance. With us, we will sell you a shed that will perfectly fit all your needs.
Of course, we believe that our sheds are the best constructed. In fact, we are well-recognized regionally, with partners in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania that stock our buildings.
We know it is best for you to reach your own decision in choosing the highest-quality shed for the best value. To help you decide, we’ve put together some objective, unbiased advice to educate you on what you should look for when shopping for a new shed. Don’t be shed out of luck!
Insider Secrets: 11 Ways to Know if a Shed is Well-Built
Info on What Makes a Better Shed
Roofing Tips:
#1
Do Staples Show the Shingles?
If exposed, staples will eventually rust and shingles will leak over time.
Tip: Inspect any structure you are considering to see if you can see any staples on the shingles.
#2
Does the Roof Have a Drip Edge?
A drip edge-the piece of metal on the roof line gives a neater appearance and acts as barrier to keep water off the soffit and out of your building.
Tip: Before you buy, ask if a drip edge is used on their sheds.
Construction Tips:
#3
Do they use 2’ x 4’ or 2’ x 3’ lumber?
By using 2 x 4’s in the construction of our sheds, the finished product is stronger. The roof won’t sag and the whole building will be a heavy duty structure.
Tip: Find out the dimensions of the materials used in any shed you consider.
#4
Wall Studs
Are the studs placed every 16 inches or 24 inches? By spacing our studs closer together (every 16 inches), our buildings have as many as 4 extra support beams for added strength. A common way to cut corners is to use fewer studs by spacing them every 2 feet. You’ll find this in many lower-quality sheds. Having studs every 16 inches make the floor sturdier too, because there are more support beams underneath it.
Tip: Make sure to ask what the distance between studs is on any building you are considering.
#5
Floor Joist Spacing
If you’re considering a garage or storing more than 1,200 lbs in your storage structure, we suggest selecting even more support by requiring the joists be placed every 12 inches-giving you the best support available in the business. In fact, any garage we build comes with this tighter spacing for added support as a standard feature.
Tip: Ask if floor joists are spaced every 12 inches or if you can get this option.
#6
Lumber Quality
We use #1 Grade 2 x 4 lumber in all of our sheds. The 2 x 4’s are the most important piece in any shed. This higher grade gives you tighter spacing and added support.
Tip: Find out which grade of 2 x 4s are used. If you want a long lasting structure, then you’ll only want #1 quality lumber used throughout.
#7
Walls
We use double reinforced 2 x 4s on the top sill plates for the interior framing. By using an extra set of the durable 2 x 4s, our shed walls won’t bow or sag, giving our structure a longer life and a cleaner look.
Tip: Ask to see if double 2 x 4s are used in the top sill plates.
#8
Doors
All our doors are reinforced by bracing or 2 x 3s. Some sheds are still built without any kind of bracing, but our sheds come with either bracing or 2 x 3s to provide added support and longer life without any sagging or twisting.
Tip: Check to see if the doors on the shed are reinforced with either bracing or 2 x 3s or your doors could quickly sag or twist.
#9
Door Locks
All doors come with locks as standard on our buildings. There are still some sheds out there that don’t come with a lock, and even if they do, it could be an extra charge. We believe that a lock and key set should be a standard feature, so we include it.
Tip: Ask if your shed will come with a lock and key for free.
#10
Interior Door Latches
By only using the larger sized indoor latches, your shed doors will be easier to open up. We could have skimped and gone with the standard size, but the stronger latch makes it easier to get a hold of and gives your door better leverage.
Tip: Ask if the larger size door latch is used or if theirs are made with the standard size.
#11
Exterior Paint
By painting our wooden sheds with 2 coats of the heavier paint, our paint will last longer and stand up to the elements better, keeping your shed looking like new for longer.
Tip: Ask how many coats of paint are used and if it’s the heavy paint.
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