San Antonio homeowners frustrated with monthly storage fees may find a new option in backyard structures from Tuff Shed, a company that says most of its builds are completed in a single day. The topic was featured in a recent episode of The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie and recorded live at the San Antonio Home and Garden Show.

Richard Castellanos, a sales design consultant with Tuff Shed, said the company helps residents reclaim garage space and end storage unit rentals by adding customized sheds, studios, and workshops on their own property.

“A majority of our business is residential, obviously, but they want to get out of their storage unit that they’re paying for, get something on their property that they can access 24/7,” Castellanos said.

The episode, titled “No Storage Unit. Still 24/7 Access: Tuff Shed,” is the first in a new series focused on San Antonio home and garden topics. Castellanos also discussed practical issues buyers often overlook, including San Antonio’s 300-square-foot threshold for building without a permit and the different rules in municipalities such as Castle Hills and Alamo Heights.

That local permitting detail is part of the broader appeal of backyard buildings in a region where homeowners may be weighing storage needs against space, timing, and property rules. Castellanos said those details are often part of the early conversation before a shed is designed or ordered.

He highlighted the construction of Tuff Shed products, saying the company uses stick-built framing with 2x4s spaced 16 inches on center. He added that 2×6 or 2×8 lumber upgrades are available for designs such as the two-story barn.

Tuff Shed serves both residential and commercial customers, including school districts, government entities, and San Antonio Air Force bases. The company also offers portable structures through its Woodmaster’s division, which includes chicken coops and greenhouses.

Castellanos said the company’s employee-ownership model is a major factor in its success and benefits customers directly.

“It’s not just me as a sales design consultant trying to sell you a product. It’s actually me trying to get you an experience that one, you’re going to recommend to your friends and two, is going to keepsake your valuables, your memorables that you’re storing in your shed,” he said.

Tuff Shed was founded 45 years ago by CEO Tom Saurey and has expanded to 74 factories across the United States. In the San Antonio area, the company operates two locations south of Loop 410: a display yard at 410 and Bandera, where Castellanos is based, and a newer site off I-35 in New Braunfels.

Castellanos said the current turnaround from design to build slot is one to two weeks, and on-site assembly is typically completed in a single day. Customers can also design their own shed online at toughshed.com before speaking with a consultant.

The episode is now available wherever podcasts are heard.