PROJECT STORY · MISSISSAUGA
Restoring a 25-Year-Old Shed in Mississauga
Behind this shed’s weathered siding, much of the bottom plate had been hollowed out. The roof framing had damage too, but enough of the building remained sound to make restoration worthwhile. We rebuilt the failed areas, straightened the structure and finished it with repaired siding, new soffits and a metal door with keyless entry.
There was still a shed worth saving
The clients wanted to use the buildings on the property again. This shed had become one they could not make much use of: animals had occupied it, debris had accumulated inside, and the lower boards were badly deteriorated.
It was about 25 years old, but it was not all beyond repair. The roof was newer, and we estimated that roughly 60% of the structure was still sound.
For this project, replacing the shed was expected to cost about twice as much as restoring it. Keeping the sound material made sense—but only if the damaged base and roof framing were dealt with properly.
The existing shed restored with repaired framing, renewed siding and a new entrance.
Cleaning revealed the next layer
Before the repair work began, we cleared the debris from the interior and pressure washed the shed, its concrete base and the surrounding property.
Removing the dirt and loose, decayed material made the damaged boards easier to identify. Some could stay; others had very little useful wood left.
Cleaning was the starting point, not the repair. Opening the siding and checking the framing revealed how far the damage had gone.
A bottom plate that was almost hollow
The timber at the base was particularly deceptive. Parts looked reasonably intact until the siding came off.
Behind that surface, much of the bottom plate had been hollowed out by insect damage. There was very little sound timber left to rely on.
We also found a large ant colony within the framing, including the roof. Opening the plywood soffit exposed more nesting and animal debris.
Covering those areas with new siding would have hidden the problem again. The failed wood had to come out.
Rebuilding the base without replacing the shed
We supported and carefully lifted the existing structure so nearly all of the damaged bottom plate could be replaced.
The old anchors and decayed timber were removed. New timber was installed over a foam underlay, anchored back to the concrete base and connected to the wall framing.
At the same time, we corrected the shed’s alignment. It had moved out of plumb over the years, so the repair was also an opportunity to straighten the walls before the siding went back on.
The sound parts of the building stayed. The support beneath them was rebuilt.
Repairing the roof from underneath
A newer roof did not mean everything beneath it was sound. Some of the framing had deteriorated severely, and damaged areas around the roof edge had allowed animals into the shed.
We replaced the affected timber and rebuilt roof framing on both sides. Where the plywood soffit had concealed damage and nesting, we installed vented aluminum soffit instead.
Nearby branches also needed attention. We trimmed back what could be removed to reduce contact with the shed, although the position of the surrounding trees meant not every branch could be cleared away.
The work was focused on repairing the building, not simply concealing the gaps at its edges.
New boards where they were needed
The lower courses of siding were among the areas that needed replacement. We removed the failed boards and fitted new material, keeping the sound sections rather than stripping the entire shed unnecessarily.
The retained exterior wood was patched and sanded as needed before finishing.
We then coated the exterior with Benjamin Moore Woodluxe. The new and existing boards came together in one finish, and the aluminum soffits coordinated with the completed exterior.
By this stage, the change was visible. Much of the work that made it possible—the base replacement, anchors and roof-framing repairs—was now concealed behind it.
A door that made the shed easier to use
The old wooden door was replaced with a foam-core metal door, a new handle and a digital lock.
The keyless entry was a practical part of the renovation. Getting something from the shed no longer had to start with finding the right key.
We finished the door with Benjamin Moore Command in a colour that coordinated with the siding. Different products were used for the wood exterior and metal door, but the completed entrance belonged with the rest of the shed.
Back in use, without starting over
The finished shed was still the existing building, but its failed base, damaged roof framing and rotten boards had been replaced.
The clients gained usable storage with a new door, repaired exterior and a structure brought back into alignment. Sound material was retained where it could be, rather than discarded simply because other parts had failed.
Restoration was worthwhile here because there was enough left to save—and because the work went beyond the surfaces that would eventually receive the new finish.
Planning answers
What homeowners can learn from this project
Was restoring the shed cheaper than replacing it?
For this project, replacement was estimated at roughly twice the cost of restoration. Around 60% of the existing structure was considered sound, and the roof was newer. That made retaining the usable material worthwhile while replacing the failed base, damaged framing and boards.
Can timber look sound while being badly damaged inside?
That was one of the problems here. Parts of the bottom plate looked intact until the siding was removed, revealing extensive hollowing and very little sound wood. The repair scope was based on what we found inside the assemblies, not just how the outside looked.
How was the bottom plate replaced?
The shed was supported and carefully lifted while the deteriorated plate and old anchors were removed. We installed a replacement plate over foam underlay, anchored it to the existing concrete base and reconnected the framing. The structure was also straightened during the work.
Did the entire roof have to be replaced?
The project required damaged roof framing to be replaced on both sides and new vented aluminum soffits in place of the plywood. We retained sound parts of the building rather than treating every roof component as a replacement item.
What door and finishes were used?
We installed a foam-core metal door with a new handle and digital lock. The exterior wood was finished with Benjamin Moore Woodluxe, while the door received Benjamin Moore Command in a coordinating colour.
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Is your shed worth repairing?
Send us photographs of the outside, interior, lower siding and roof edges. We’ll review what may be worth retaining and where repairs are needed before discussing restoration or replacement.