diff --git a/gcloud/exceptions.py b/gcloud/exceptions.py
index dc5458eedccb..0c04f80a12a0 100644
--- a/gcloud/exceptions.py
+++ b/gcloud/exceptions.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/status-codes
 """
 
+import copy
 import json
 import six
 
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ def __init__(self, message, errors=()):
         super(GCloudError, self).__init__()
         # suppress deprecation warning under 2.6.x
         self.message = message
-        self._errors = [error.copy() for error in errors]
+        self._errors = errors
 
     def __str__(self):
         return '%d %s' % (self.code, self.message)
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ def errors(self):
         :rtype: list(dict)
         :returns: a list of mappings describing each error.
         """
-        return [error.copy() for error in self._errors]
+        return [copy.deepcopy(error) for error in self._errors]
 
 
 class Redirection(GCloudError):
diff --git a/gcloud/storage/_helpers.py b/gcloud/storage/_helpers.py
index 54f15146b2cf..0f36e7f04214 100644
--- a/gcloud/storage/_helpers.py
+++ b/gcloud/storage/_helpers.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def _scalar_property(fieldname):
     """
     def _getter(self):
         """Scalar property getter."""
-        return self._properties[fieldname]
+        return self._properties.get(fieldname)
 
     def _setter(self, value):
         """Scalar property setter."""
diff --git a/gcloud/storage/blob.py b/gcloud/storage/blob.py
index 1bf134b4a152..ff5aef4f9f4b 100644
--- a/gcloud/storage/blob.py
+++ b/gcloud/storage/blob.py
@@ -429,52 +429,64 @@ def make_public(self):
     See: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7234#section-5.2 and
          https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-    :rtype: string
+    If the property is not set locally, returns ``None``.
+
+    :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
     """
 
     content_disposition = _scalar_property('contentDisposition')
     """HTTP 'Content-Disposition' header for this object.
 
     See: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6266 and
-            https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+         https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+
+    If the property is not set locally, returns ``None``.
 
-    :rtype: string
+    :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
     """
 
     content_encoding = _scalar_property('contentEncoding')
     """HTTP 'Content-Encoding' header for this object.
 
     See: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7231#section-3.1.2.2 and
-            https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+         https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+
+    If the property is not set locally, returns ``None``.
 
-    :rtype: string
+    :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
     """
 
     content_language = _scalar_property('contentLanguage')
     """HTTP 'Content-Language' header for this object.
 
     See: http://tools.ietf.org/html/bcp47 and
-            https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+         https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+
+    If the property is not set locally, returns ``None``.
 
-    :rtype: string
+    :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
     """
 
     content_type = _scalar_property('contentType')
     """HTTP 'Content-Type' header for this object.
 
     See: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2616#section-14.17 and
-            https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+         https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-    :rtype: string
+    If the property is not set locally, returns ``None``.
+
+    :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
     """
 
     crc32c = _scalar_property('crc32c')
     """CRC32C checksum for this object.
 
     See: http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4960#appendix-B and
-            https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+         https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-    :rtype: string
+    If the property is not set locally, returns ``None``.
+
+    :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
     """
 
     @property
@@ -483,9 +495,14 @@ def component_count(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: integer
+        :rtype: integer or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The component count (in case of a composed object) or
+                  ``None`` if the property is not set locally. This property
+                  will not be set on objects not created via ``compose``.
         """
-        return self._properties['componentCount']
+        component_count = self._properties.get('componentCount')
+        if component_count is not None:
+            return int(component_count)
 
     @property
     def etag(self):
@@ -494,9 +511,10 @@ def etag(self):
         See: http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2616#section-3.11 and
              https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: string
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The blob etag or ``None`` if the property is not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['etag']
+        return self._properties.get('etag')
 
     @property
     def generation(self):
@@ -504,9 +522,13 @@ def generation(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: integer
+        :rtype: integer or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The generation of the blob or ``None`` if the property
+                  is not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['generation']
+        generation = self._properties.get('generation')
+        if generation is not None:
+            return int(generation)
 
     @property
     def id(self):
@@ -514,17 +536,21 @@ def id(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: string
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The ID of the blob or ``None`` if the property is not
+                  set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['id']
+        return self._properties.get('id')
 
     md5_hash = _scalar_property('md5Hash')
     """MD5 hash for this object.
 
     See: http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4960#appendix-B and
-            https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+         https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
+
+    If the property is not set locally, returns ``None``.
 
-    :rtype: string
+    :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
     """
 
     @property
@@ -533,9 +559,11 @@ def media_link(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: string
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The media link for the blob or ``None`` if the property is
+                  not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['mediaLink']
+        return self._properties.get('mediaLink')
 
     @property
     def metadata(self):
@@ -543,9 +571,11 @@ def metadata(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: dict
+        :rtype: dict or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The metadata associated with the blob or ``None`` if the
+                  property is not set locally.
         """
-        return copy.deepcopy(self._properties['metadata'])
+        return copy.deepcopy(self._properties.get('metadata'))
 
     @metadata.setter
     def metadata(self, value):
@@ -553,7 +583,8 @@ def metadata(self, value):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :type value: dict
+        :type value: dict or ``NoneType``
+        :param value: The blob metadata to set.
         """
         self._patch_property('metadata', value)
 
@@ -563,9 +594,13 @@ def metageneration(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: integer
+        :rtype: integer or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The metageneration of the blob or ``None`` if the property
+                  is not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['metageneration']
+        metageneration = self._properties.get('metageneration')
+        if metageneration is not None:
+            return int(metageneration)
 
     @property
     def owner(self):
@@ -573,10 +608,11 @@ def owner(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: dict
-        :returns: mapping of owner's role/ID.
+        :rtype: dict or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: Mapping of owner's role/ID. If the property is not set
+                  locally, returns ``None``.
         """
-        return self._properties['owner'].copy()
+        return copy.deepcopy(self._properties.get('owner'))
 
     @property
     def self_link(self):
@@ -584,31 +620,39 @@ def self_link(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: string
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The self link for the blob or ``None`` if the property is
+                  not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['selfLink']
+        return self._properties.get('selfLink')
 
     @property
     def size(self):
-        """Size of the object,  in bytes.
+        """Size of the object, in bytes.
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: integer
+        :rtype: integer or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The size of the blob or ``None`` if the property
+                  is not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['size']
+        size = self._properties.get('size')
+        if size is not None:
+            return int(size)
 
     @property
     def storage_class(self):
         """Retrieve the storage class for the object.
 
-        See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects and
-        https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/durable-reduced-availability#_DRA_Bucket
+        See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/storage-classes
+        https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/nearline-storage
+        https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/durable-reduced-availability
 
-        :rtype: string
-        :returns: Currently one of "STANDARD", "DURABLE_REDUCED_AVAILABILITY"
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: If set, one of "STANDARD", "NEARLINE", or
+                  "DURABLE_REDUCED_AVAILABILITY", else ``None``.
         """
-        return self._properties['storageClass']
+        return self._properties.get('storageClass')
 
     @property
     def time_deleted(self):
@@ -616,9 +660,10 @@ def time_deleted(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: string or None
-        :returns: timestamp in RFC 3339 format, or None if the object
-                  has a "live" version.
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: RFC3339 valid timestamp, or ``None`` if the property is not
+                  set locally. If the blob has not been deleted, this will
+                  never be set.
         """
         return self._properties.get('timeDeleted')
 
@@ -628,10 +673,11 @@ def updated(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/objects
 
-        :rtype: string
-        :returns: timestamp in RFC 3339 format.
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: RFC3339 valid timestamp, or ``None`` if the property is not
+                  set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['updated']
+        return self._properties.get('updated')
 
 
 class _UploadConfig(object):
diff --git a/gcloud/storage/bucket.py b/gcloud/storage/bucket.py
index 817e65fc0ed0..49e0dcae5459 100644
--- a/gcloud/storage/bucket.py
+++ b/gcloud/storage/bucket.py
@@ -513,9 +513,11 @@ def etag(self):
         See: http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2616#section-3.11 and
              https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets
 
-        :rtype: string
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The bucket etag or ``None`` if the property is not
+                  set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['etag']
+        return self._properties.get('etag')
 
     @property
     def id(self):
@@ -523,9 +525,11 @@ def id(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets
 
-        :rtype: string
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The ID of the bucket or ``None`` if the property is not
+                  set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['id']
+        return self._properties.get('id')
 
     @property
     def lifecycle_rules(self):
@@ -558,7 +562,9 @@ def lifecycle_rules(self, rules):
     See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets and
     https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/concepts-techniques#specifyinglocations
 
-    :rtype: string
+    If the property is not set locally, returns ``None``.
+
+    :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
     """
 
     def get_logging(self):
@@ -571,8 +577,7 @@ def get_logging(self):
                   (if logging is enabled), or None (if not).
         """
         info = self._properties.get('logging')
-        if info is not None:
-            return info.copy()
+        return copy.deepcopy(info)
 
     def enable_logging(self, bucket_name, object_prefix=''):
         """Enable access logging for this bucket.
@@ -601,9 +606,13 @@ def metageneration(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets
 
-        :rtype: integer
+        :rtype: integer or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The metageneration of the bucket or ``None`` if the property
+                  is not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['metageneration']
+        metageneration = self._properties.get('metageneration')
+        if metageneration is not None:
+            return int(metageneration)
 
     @property
     def owner(self):
@@ -611,10 +620,11 @@ def owner(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets
 
-        :rtype: dict
-        :returns: mapping of owner's role/ID.
+        :rtype: dict or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: Mapping of owner's role/ID. If the property is not set
+                  locally, returns ``None``.
         """
-        return self._properties['owner'].copy()
+        return copy.deepcopy(self._properties.get('owner'))
 
     @property
     def project_number(self):
@@ -622,9 +632,13 @@ def project_number(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets
 
-        :rtype: integer
+        :rtype: integer or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The project number that owns the bucket or ``None`` if the
+                  property is not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['projectNumber']
+        project_number = self._properties.get('projectNumber')
+        if project_number is not None:
+            return int(project_number)
 
     @property
     def self_link(self):
@@ -632,21 +646,25 @@ def self_link(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets
 
-        :rtype: string
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: The self link for the bucket or ``None`` if the property is
+                  not set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['selfLink']
+        return self._properties.get('selfLink')
 
     @property
     def storage_class(self):
         """Retrieve the storage class for the bucket.
 
-        See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets and
+        See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/storage-classes
+        https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/nearline-storage
         https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/durable-reduced-availability
 
-        :rtype: string
-        :returns: Currently one of "STANDARD", "DURABLE_REDUCED_AVAILABILITY"
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: If set, one of "STANDARD", "NEARLINE", or
+                  "DURABLE_REDUCED_AVAILABILITY", else ``None``.
         """
-        return self._properties['storageClass']
+        return self._properties.get('storageClass')
 
     @property
     def time_created(self):
@@ -654,10 +672,11 @@ def time_created(self):
 
         See: https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs/json_api/v1/buckets
 
-        :rtype: string
-        :returns: timestamp in RFC 3339 format.
+        :rtype: string or ``NoneType``
+        :returns: RFC3339 valid timestamp, or ``None`` if the property is not
+                  set locally.
         """
-        return self._properties['timeCreated']
+        return self._properties.get('timeCreated')
 
     @property
     def versioning_enabled(self):
diff --git a/gcloud/storage/test_blob.py b/gcloud/storage/test_blob.py
index f28bdfafab75..242477630780 100644
--- a/gcloud/storage/test_blob.py
+++ b/gcloud/storage/test_blob.py
@@ -667,12 +667,23 @@ def test_cache_control_setter(self):
         self.assertEqual(kw[0]['query_params'], {'projection': 'full'})
 
     def test_component_count(self):
-        BLOB_NAME = 'blob-name'
-        connection = _Connection()
-        bucket = _Bucket(connection)
+        BUCKET = object()
         COMPONENT_COUNT = 42
-        properties = {'componentCount': COMPONENT_COUNT}
-        blob = self._makeOne(BLOB_NAME, bucket=bucket, properties=properties)
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET,
+                             properties={'componentCount': COMPONENT_COUNT})
+        self.assertEqual(blob.component_count, COMPONENT_COUNT)
+
+    def test_component_count_unset(self):
+        BUCKET = object()
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET)
+        self.assertEqual(blob.component_count, None)
+
+    def test_component_count_string_val(self):
+        BUCKET = object()
+        COMPONENT_COUNT = 42
+        blob = self._makeOne(
+            'blob-name', bucket=BUCKET,
+            properties={'componentCount': str(COMPONENT_COUNT)})
         self.assertEqual(blob.component_count, COMPONENT_COUNT)
 
     def test_content_disposition_getter(self):
@@ -820,12 +831,22 @@ def test_etag(self):
         self.assertEqual(blob.etag, ETAG)
 
     def test_generation(self):
-        BLOB_NAME = 'blob-name'
-        connection = _Connection()
-        bucket = _Bucket(connection)
+        BUCKET = object()
         GENERATION = 42
-        properties = {'generation': GENERATION}
-        blob = self._makeOne(BLOB_NAME, bucket=bucket, properties=properties)
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET,
+                             properties={'generation': GENERATION})
+        self.assertEqual(blob.generation, GENERATION)
+
+    def test_generation_unset(self):
+        BUCKET = object()
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET)
+        self.assertEqual(blob.generation, None)
+
+    def test_generation_string_val(self):
+        BUCKET = object()
+        GENERATION = 42
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET,
+                             properties={'generation': str(GENERATION)})
         self.assertEqual(blob.generation, GENERATION)
 
     def test_id(self):
@@ -901,12 +922,23 @@ def test_metadata_setter(self):
         self.assertEqual(kw[0]['query_params'], {'projection': 'full'})
 
     def test_metageneration(self):
-        BLOB_NAME = 'blob-name'
-        connection = _Connection()
-        bucket = _Bucket(connection)
+        BUCKET = object()
         METAGENERATION = 42
-        properties = {'metageneration': METAGENERATION}
-        blob = self._makeOne(BLOB_NAME, bucket=bucket, properties=properties)
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET,
+                             properties={'metageneration': METAGENERATION})
+        self.assertEqual(blob.metageneration, METAGENERATION)
+
+    def test_metageneration_unset(self):
+        BUCKET = object()
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET)
+        self.assertEqual(blob.metageneration, None)
+
+    def test_metageneration_string_val(self):
+        BUCKET = object()
+        METAGENERATION = 42
+        blob = self._makeOne(
+            'blob-name', bucket=BUCKET,
+            properties={'metageneration': str(METAGENERATION)})
         self.assertEqual(blob.metageneration, METAGENERATION)
 
     def test_owner(self):
@@ -930,12 +962,22 @@ def test_self_link(self):
         self.assertEqual(blob.self_link, SELF_LINK)
 
     def test_size(self):
-        BLOB_NAME = 'blob-name'
-        connection = _Connection()
-        bucket = _Bucket(connection)
+        BUCKET = object()
         SIZE = 42
-        properties = {'size': SIZE}
-        blob = self._makeOne(BLOB_NAME, bucket=bucket, properties=properties)
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET,
+                             properties={'size': SIZE})
+        self.assertEqual(blob.size, SIZE)
+
+    def test_size_unset(self):
+        BUCKET = object()
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET)
+        self.assertEqual(blob.size, None)
+
+    def test_size_string_val(self):
+        BUCKET = object()
+        SIZE = 42
+        blob = self._makeOne('blob-name', bucket=BUCKET,
+                             properties={'size': str(SIZE)})
         self.assertEqual(blob.size, SIZE)
 
     def test_storage_class(self):
diff --git a/gcloud/storage/test_bucket.py b/gcloud/storage/test_bucket.py
index 10ca83b590c1..ddd9dc245225 100644
--- a/gcloud/storage/test_bucket.py
+++ b/gcloud/storage/test_bucket.py
@@ -821,6 +821,16 @@ def test_metageneration(self):
         bucket = self._makeOne(properties=properties)
         self.assertEqual(bucket.metageneration, METAGENERATION)
 
+    def test_metageneration_unset(self):
+        bucket = self._makeOne()
+        self.assertEqual(bucket.metageneration, None)
+
+    def test_metageneration_string_val(self):
+        METAGENERATION = 42
+        properties = {'metageneration': str(METAGENERATION)}
+        bucket = self._makeOne(properties=properties)
+        self.assertEqual(bucket.metageneration, METAGENERATION)
+
     def test_owner(self):
         OWNER = {'entity': 'project-owner-12345', 'entityId': '23456'}
         properties = {'owner': OWNER}
@@ -835,6 +845,16 @@ def test_project_number(self):
         bucket = self._makeOne(properties=properties)
         self.assertEqual(bucket.project_number, PROJECT_NUMBER)
 
+    def test_project_number_unset(self):
+        bucket = self._makeOne()
+        self.assertEqual(bucket.project_number, None)
+
+    def test_project_number_string_val(self):
+        PROJECT_NUMBER = 12345
+        properties = {'projectNumber': str(PROJECT_NUMBER)}
+        bucket = self._makeOne(properties=properties)
+        self.assertEqual(bucket.project_number, PROJECT_NUMBER)
+
     def test_self_link(self):
         SELF_LINK = 'http://example.com/self/'
         properties = {'selfLink': SELF_LINK}