
Opening: Revitalize Your Rubbermaid Shed with DIY Spare Parts Is your trusty Rubbermaid shed showing its age? Don't resign it to the junkyard just yet! While finding exact replacement parts can be a challenge, a little DIY ingenuity can breathe new life into your shed. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to creating common replacement parts, saving you money and extending the lifespan of your outdoor storage.
Assessing the Damage and Identifying Needs Before you start building, carefully inspect your shed. Identify exactly which parts are broken, missing, or worn. Common problem areas include: Doors: Hinges, latches, and door panels themselves. Roof Panels: Cracks, holes, or detached sections. Wall Panels: Cracks, bowing, or areas where panels have separated. Floor: Soft spots, cracks, or areas that have crumbled. Hardware: Screws, bolts, and other fasteners. Once you've identified the damaged parts, take measurements. This is crucial for ensuring your DIY replacements fit properly. Note the dimensions, thickness, and any unique features of the original parts. Consider taking photographs as well for reference.
DIY Door Hinge Replacement This focuses on simple hinge replacement for doors.
- Gather Materials: You'll need sturdy metal hinges (similar in size and load capacity to the originals), screws appropriate for plastic (self-tapping screws work well), a drill, and a screwdriver.
- Remove the Old Hinge: If possible, remove the old hinge completely. If the screws are stripped, you may need to carefully drill them out or use a screw extractor.
- Position the New Hinge: Place the new hinge in the same location as the old one. Mark the screw holes with a pencil.
- Drill Pilot Holes: Using a drill bit slightly smaller than the diameter of the screws, drill pilot holes at the marked locations. This helps prevent the plastic from cracking.
- Attach the New Hinge: Screw the new hinge into place, ensuring it's securely fastened.
- Test the Door: Open and close the door to ensure the hinge is functioning properly. Make any necessary adjustments.
DIY Patching Roof or Wall Panels (Small Cracks) For small cracks or holes in the roof or wall panels, consider using a patching method.
- Gather Materials: You'll need a strong, waterproof epoxy putty designed for plastics, sandpaper, rubbing alcohol, and a putty knife.
- Clean the Area: Thoroughly clean the area around the crack or hole with rubbing alcohol. This will help the epoxy adhere properly.
- Sand the Surface: Lightly sand the area around the crack or hole to create a rough surface for better adhesion.
- Apply the Epoxy Putty: Mix the epoxy putty according to the manufacturer's instructions. Apply a generous amount to the crack or hole, pressing it firmly into place.
- Smooth the Surface: Use the putty knife to smooth the surface of the epoxy and blend it with the surrounding plastic.
- Allow to Cure: Allow the epoxy to cure completely according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Sand and Paint (Optional): Once the epoxy is cured, you can sand it smooth and paint it to match the color of your shed.
Reinforcing Weakened Wall Sections If your wall sections are bowing or have separated, you can reinforce them using metal straps and screws.
- Gather Materials: You will need metal strapping (available at hardware stores), self-tapping screws, a drill, a screwdriver, and a measuring tape.
- Measure and Cut Strapping: Measure the length of the area you want to reinforce and cut the metal strapping to the appropriate size.
- Position the Strapping: Place the metal strapping along the inside of the shed wall, spanning the weakened area.
- Drill Pilot Holes: Drill pilot holes through the strapping and into the shed wall.
- Attach the Strapping: Secure the strapping to the shed wall using self-tapping screws.
- Repeat as Needed: Repeat this process along other weakened areas as needed.
Conclusion: Extending the Life of Your Shed While these DIY solutions aren't perfect replicas of original Rubbermaid parts, they can significantly extend the life of your shed and save you money. Remember to prioritize safety when working with tools and materials, and always choose materials that are appropriate for outdoor use. Regular inspection and preventative maintenance can further minimize the need for repairs. With a little effort, your Rubbermaid shed can continue to provide reliable storage for years to come.
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