Whether it’s simply storing garden tools and furniture, your bike, keeping animals, or even creating a summertime garden retreat – a garden shed should be a home from home! If you’re looking to buy a shed, you’re probably looking for a new addition to the home or a replacement for the old one rotting away in the corner! Thus, you will want to spend your money on something that is designed for a purpose, is easy to look after, and that will last for years. Follow these steps to ensure that buying your garden shed was the best decision you ever made!
Step 1 – Considerations
Planning Permission – In most cases you won’t need any permission from the local authorities, but it’s worth checking on the UK government planning portal which can be found, along with other information on all regulations, here: Shed Planning Permission
Base – Your garden shed needs to be built on a secure foundation. Find out more by contacting Customer Services or calling 08448 476 677.
Neighbours – Don’t forget your neighbours! If you build near a boundary, it’s best to advise them during the planning stage, in case you need access to their garden during construction, and so there are no complaints afterwards!
Step 2 – Location
The first thing you need to think about is where you want to put your shed in your garden or allotment. Ensure that you have at least 3 feet (1 metre) of space around the outside of your shed for easy access and maintenance and plan out the area so that there are no obstacles limiting your entry. It’s also a good idea to give your shed some protection from the elements, by placing it near a taller building, a fence or a hedge, which will guarantee a longer durability – especially during the winter!
Step 3 – Choice of Shed
Type: This is the most important step, and therefore the one that requires the most consideration. Remember, you want a shed that is tailor-made to your preferences, that is easy to maintain, and that will serve you long into your old age!
The age-old debate is between wooden and metal sheds. Metal sheds are easy to assemble, highly secure, and can come in an array of colours – often pre-painted. If installed correctly and well positioned a metal shed can adequately perform the job of a wooden one, often at a lower cost and with little maintenance. If you have limited space on your site, then the option of sliding doors can add a benefit as well.
Wooden Sheds, however, are more aesthetically pleasing, cheap to build, warmer, require little maintenance and can be painted or treated also in a range of colours.
Wall Construction: Another consideration is in the type of wall construction, which comes down to overlap versus tongue and groove.
Overlapping is the more traditional method of wall cladding for smaller wooden buildings. It’s simpler, cost-effective, and gives a rustic look, but tends to lack that water run-off characteristic which tongue and groove features.
Tongue and Groove construction, although more expensive, uses a superior construction, often seen on bigger, more complicated structures. It involves interlocking individual pieces of cladding with a tongue and groove profile, giving a rigid structure, better protection against the weather, and a smooth professional finish.
Roof Style: The three most common types of roof style are Apex, Pent and Flat. Apex tends to give more space allowing for greater storage. This design is also good for storing tools and equipment overhead, permitting more floor space for access and larger items. Pent’s design feature permits effective drainage of rainwater and may be the most appropriate choice if near a neighbour’s fence, as it reduces the overall height of the shed. Flat roofs tend to be the least recomendable as, although nicely finished, they collect rainwater which affects the durability of the shed.
Size: Whether you’re looking for: a cheap shed for storing all your garden tools and furniture; a family shed with better features and more accesibility; or a large, professional workman’s shed with space for storing large machinery, Sheds.co.uk has a product range suited specifically to your needs. See our range of Cheap Sheds, Standard Sheds, Deluxe Sheds and Premium Sheds.
Step 4 – Buying your Shed from Sheds.co.uk
All wooden sheds at Sheds.co.uk come with a 10 year anti-rot guarantee, FSC approved timber, and free delivery as standard. There’s also the option of home installation if you wish. Simply go to the Home page or call 08448 476 677 to see what Sheds.co.uk can do for you today!
Step 5 – Enjoy your new Shed!
Now that you’ve chosen your shed, and you’re happy with your purchase, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the weather!
6′ x 4′ Standard Overlap Apex Garden Shed
4′ 8″ x 3′ 1″ Standard Overlap Mower Shed
8′ x 8′ Double Sided Tongue and Groove Potting Shed
Been thinking of putting up a shed for a while to store all of my painting equipment in. Thank you, as this has been a helpful insight into all that I need to take into consideration. Now I just need to get round to getting it done!
That’s a mold-breaker. Great tinihkng!
Alakazaam-information found, problem sloevd, thanks!
And I thgouht I was the sensible one. Thanks for setting me straight.