Why I switched from plastic to metal shed shelving

I spent two years using those cheap plastic shelving units from the big box store in my backyard shed. Finally replaced them with a used metal garage shelving system I found on Craigslist for 40 dollars. The plastic ones sagged badly after a single winter of storing paint cans and garden supplies, not even close to the weight limit they claimed. Anyone else find that plastic shelving just doesn't hold up in a damp shed over time?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor9572d ago

Used to be all about plastic because it was cheap and easy to carry. Then I put a bag of potting soil on a shelf and watched it slowly bend to the floor. Quick trip to Craigslist later and I'll never go back.

max_cooper212d agoRising Star

Oh man, that potting soil thing is the perfect example. It's like we get so used to the "cheap and easy" option that we forget how flimsy it actually is until something heavy sits on it for a few hours. That's kind of a bigger pattern I've noticed with a lot of stuff in life, not just pots. Like how we buy the cheapest shoes because they're on sale, then wonder why our feet hurt after a month. Or how we grab the cheapest bin bags and they rip the second something sharp is in there. It's almost like we gotta get burned once to realize that saving a few bucks upfront just costs us more in the long run, whether it's time, frustration, or a shelf full of spilled potting mix.

leewood1d ago

Hold up, is it really that deep? @taylor957 I get that plastic shelving bends under potting soil, but like, so does cardboard if you put heavy stuff on it. Not everything needs to be a metaphor about life. My cheap plastic shelf in the garage has been holding up a stack of old paint cans and a rusted weed whacker for like 4 years now. Maybe it depends on the brand or how you load it. Feels like people just wanna upgrade their gear and need a reason.