The trusty garden shed is a stalwart in gardens across the UK. Whether you want a humble and small storage shed in which to keep basic garden tools, or a full-blown summerhouse with windows and seating, you have several options when it comes to buying, building and maintaining your shed.
Buying a shed
If you're a keen DIY'er who can't wait to create their own unique shed, read on, we've got lots of helpful tips for constructing your own shed. But, we know not everyone wants to build a shed from scratch. buying a shed which comes either pre-built or ready to assemble means that you don’t have to give too much headspace to the design and look of your shed, you just have to pick one.
When choosing to buy a pre-made shed, you still need to consider your needs. Are you looking to simply store your garden tools or will it be larger equipment like mowers and strimmers? Or is your shed going to be home to some of your furniture during the wetter months? It's worth considering not just the physical space, but the size of access you will need.
What size garden shed should you choose?
Opting for the right sized shed is important. Too large and it will dominate your garden space, too small and you may not be able to store all the equipment that you had hoped for.
If you have a large enough garden and are looking to store bulky equipment such as bikes or a large mower, it’s worth considering whether you should opt for a double door shed, as this will make life much easier when moving equipment in and out of the shed. Front or side access to your shed will also make a difference to the ease of use.
If you have a smaller garden, getting clever with the interior of your shed will allow for more storage. Building in smart shelving an even wall hooks can help to free up space in your shed, allowing you to store more inside it.
While having a window in your shed will allow natural light to flow in, if you’re really short on space, consider ditching the view and instead keeping more wall space to allow for better storage.
Whenever you're thinking of storage, the number one rule seems to be, plan for more than you think you need!
DIY your shed
For those who are a dab hand at DIY, or perhaps want something a little more bespoke, choosing to create your own shed offers flexibility.
In some cases, choosing to “do it yourself” can work out as a less expensive option, as long as you have all of the right tools. It also gives you the opportunity to build in bespoke storage as part of the shed design, making it completely fit for purpose. It's essential to measure carefully, and consider the structural timbers you'll need, as well as your cladding timbers. Check the pitch of roof and ensure you have enough roof felt to tuck round - an easy mistake to make is to only order enough felt for the roof itself, without enough around the edges to secure it.
If you aren't confident cutting your timbers, a timber cutting service could be just what you need. For straight cuts experienced timber merchants will have cutting available on site - ask in any Alsford branch for this service.
For those who aren’t quite ready to get planning a shed design just yet, opting for a shed which comes pre-cut allows you to save costs on installation, but without having to work out dimensions yourself.
What foundations do I need?
To keep your shed structurally sound, you will need to build it on a decent foundation. What works in one garden won’t in another, so it can be a good idea to either get an expert opinion or do some research online.
Commonly used bases for sheds include a poured concrete base – where wet cement is poured into a wooden base and left to set. Where a garden is fairly even, paving slabs may be used.
Other options for placement of your shed include plastic bases, or simply crushed stone.
Maintaining Your Shed
Keeping your shed secure, water-tight, and free from rot is absolutely essential, particularly if you are storing a lot in your shed.
Keep the wood in great shape by treating with a product such as Ronseal One Coat Fence Life. This shed and fence treatment not only adds colour to your shed, but also protects the wood from greying and makes in rainproof in just one hour.
Ideally you should apply a fresh coat every one to two years to keep your wood in tip top condition. Be sure to remove any algae that has collected and wash down debris before applying a new coat.
If you do store expensive equipment, it’s also a wise move to have a robust lock on your garden shed to keep your items secure.
Our garden sheds can be delivered to your door, order online today.