Garden Shed

Garden shed

A garden shed is the perfect storage solution for any outside space. Whether you need one to store tools, summer furniture or maybe even use it as a summer house or office, there are plenty of sheds available to suit your needs.

Why should you get a garden shed?

If you don’t have space for tools inside the house or you have a lawn mower you need to store, you’ll need somewhere you can lock them away so they don’t get stolen. Burglaries are on the rise, so it’s essential to have a secure shed with a strong lock. It’s also important to buy a shed that’s made from treated wood or engage a specialist to preserve the timber to ensure that it stays strong and free from woodworm and rot. Alternatively, there are metal and plastic sheds available to buy.

Sheds are also ideal to add extra living space to your home. Many homeowners use them as summer houses for those days when it’s not quite warm enough to be outside or to extend the evenings, but as the world moves to more remote working lots of people use them as offices too. Just make sure you insulate it properly if you’ll be using it in the cooler months.

What types of shed can I buy?

As well as wooden, plastic or metal sheds, there are other things to consider before you buy a garden shed. There are different types of shed depending on the cladding, roof shape and what you intend to use it for.

Cladding

A wooden garden shed’s cladding refers to the planks of wood that make up the shed, and makes the structure sturdy and weather-resistant. There are 3 main types:

Overlap cladding: The standard type of shed cladding. Horizontal timbers overlap each other to create a stable structure that is generally weather-resistant

Tongue and groove: Tongue and groove panels in a shed interlock rather than simply overlap, creating a stronger and more weather-resistant structure

Shiplap tongue and groove: The panels are interlocked like tongue and groove cladding, but there is also a small lip between each panel that is an extra barrier against rainwater getting in. It’s the most expensive type of cladding, but also the most durable.

Roof types

There are also 3 main types of roof to look out for when you’re buying a garden shed. They will affect the head height, how much space is available in the shed and how easy it is to get in.

Apex: Probably the most common type of shed roof, an apex roof is the inverted v-shape with the peak in the middle. You usually get into the shed via a single or double door at one end.

strong>Pent: Pent shed roofs are sometimes called lean-tos because the rood slants down. Usually the low side of the roof is put against a building and the door is at the front of the shed where the roof is highest.

Barn: Sheds with a barn-style roof are semi-octagonal and look like traditional Dutch barns. They can be good if you need a wide shed to store larger items.

Intended use

What do you plan to put in your shed? If there will be tall items stored there, you might want to consider the high eaves of a barn shed or a taller shed with an apex roof. If you want extra space outside to store logs, you could choose one with a lean-to covered space to the side so they are slightly sheltered from the weather. There are also offset-apex sheds that have a lip at the front to provide some cover for logs, so there are plenty of options.

On the other hand, if you’re going to be using the shed as a work or living space, you might want to consider a barn or workshop-style shed since they can have a substantial depth and width. It’s also worth considering choosing a model that has windows to the front as well as the sides.

Avg. price low	Avg. price low £543
Avg. price	Avg. price £1,102
Avg. price high	Avg. price high £1,657

Avg. price low

Avg. price low
£543

Avg. price

Avg. price
£1,102

Avg. price high

Avg. price high
£1,657

If you spend time in your shed, whether you use it as a summer house or an office, you’ll probably want a bit of insulation in there for when it starts to get chilly. There are different ways to insulate a shed, and some aren’t expensive at all. You just need to decide what the best way for you is. Bubble wrap If you don’t spend too much time in your shed, bubble wrap is an easy and cheap way to insulate your shed. Simply attach bubble wrap strips to the framing of the shed to create an air gap, then screw or nail a sheet of MDF over the top. Fibreglass wool Fibreglass wool is a good option if you want to insulate your shed further. Make sure you use safety equipment to protect your eyes, nose, mouth and hands when you’re handling it. Tack a breathable membrane to the inner walls of the shed, then place the fibreglass wool on top. Add a sheet of MDF or wood board, ensuring all the fibreglass is covered. Insulating shed windows and doors You'll often feel draughts through shed windows and doors, and these are easy to block up. You can use foam filler or liquid wool along the edges of the windows and gaps in the door frame. Let it dry out after you’ve applied it then cut off any excess. Insulate the floor If you’re building a new shed, you could fit some underfloor insulation to the grid of the shed base – it could help reduce up to 40% of heat lost through the shed floor. But if your shed’s already built, you can line the floor with a breathable membrane then lay a rug or piece of carpet down. The membrane underneath stops any damp or rot forming, so it’s best not to lay a rug straight down on the shed floor.

Yes, your shed does need a base. This is to give it a solid, level foundation. Open soil will not help with the longevity of the shed itself or the contents within. The best materials to use to make your shed base are concrete, natural stone or wood.

A garden shed is a great option to add extra storage space in your garden. Lock away your lawnmower, tools, outdoor toys and furniture so it doesn’t get weather damaged or stolen. But how do you build a shed? We’ll go through a brief guide on building a shed using a flat packed one.

Plan your shed base You must have a sturdy base for your shed, otherwise the frame won’t stand properly and could stop the door from opening. Decide whether you’re going to have:
- A concrete base laid on hardcore
- Concrete slabs on sharp sand
- Treated wood beams on hardcore or shingle
- An interlocking plastic system
All bases should be laid on firm, level ground as far as possible.
Treat wood with preservative To help your shed last as long as possible, you should coat all the wooden parts with timber preservative before you put it together.
Put the shed floor together Some will need more assembly than others, but you need to make sure that the floor panel is attached to the joists; follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct spacing.
Put up the shed walls
- Mark the centre point of each wall on its bottom edge, then do the same for the shed floor so you can line them up together.
- Stand the gable end on the base and line it up. Check that it’s vertical with a spirit level – you might need someone to support the panel while you do this. Use a temporary holding batten to keep it in place.
- Fix a side panel to the gable end panel with countersunk screws, then add the second side panel in the same way.
Don’t attach the panels to the floor until you’ve fitted your shed roof.
Fit the roof
- If the shed comes with a support bar, put this in position before you put the roof panels in.
- Nail the roof panels in place, ensuring there’s a parallel and equal overlap at each end.
- Roll out some roofing felt from front to back, leaving a 50mm overlap at each side. Secure it with clout-headed felt tacks at 100mm intervals.
- Apply mastic sealant to the outside corners, then fix each corner trim with 30mm nails.
- Add the fascias and finials, predrilling 2mm holes to avoid splitting the wood. Nail them through the felt into the shed using 40mm nails.
Add the shed windows
- Slide each windowsill into the tongue and groove cut out, then put the window cover strip in position, fixing it to the vertical framing.
- From inside the shed, put the glazing sheets into the window rebates, making sure the bottom edge of the glazing sheets sit on the outside of the sill.
- Fix the window beading on the top and sides with 25mm nails.
Fix the walls to the floor Before you do anything, make sure you check that the centre marks on the walls line up with the marks on the shed floor. Then fix the wall panels to the floor with 50mm screws, aligning them with the joists.

Try to put your shed in open space, away from trees, bushes and other buildings. This will help to protect it from falling branches and sap. It will also mean that you can access all sides of the shed for repair and maintenance purposes. Make sure you take a look at garden shed planning rules before you pick a final spot for your shed.

Who makes the best garden sheds? While you think there might be a straightforward answer, who makes the best shed for you depends on what you need it for, how much space you have and more. We’ll help you find out who makes the best garden shed for you. What to look for in a garden shed Before you fork out for a new shed, consider:

What you need the shed for
How much space you have
How big you need the shed to be
Which style of roof you want
What material you would like
How big your budget is

Once you know the answer to these questions, you can take a look at some of the best brands of garden shed. Shed-Plus Champion Shed-Plus Champion heavy duty sheds are robust wooden garden sheds that have fully ledged and braced doors and integral ‘lock and key’ locking system. They come with a 15-year anti-rot warranty, so should last you a long time; they’re made from 12mm tongue and groove panels which helps to keep them strong and secure for years to come. Our top pick: 8′ x 6′ Heavy Duty Apex Single Door Shed

Hand-crafted from Nordic White Spruce
Felt roof reinforced with high-grade polyester
Tongue and groove cladding makes it more weatherproof so ideal for items that must be kept dry

Forest Garden Forest Garden makes a range of wooden sheds to suit any outdoor space. They offer overlap sheds, which are the cheapest option, shiplap sheds which are tongue and groove, and premium tongue and groove sheds. You’ll be able to find something to suit your budget and your needs. Our top pick: Overlap Pressure Treated 6×4 Pent Shed

High eaves for more head height and to store taller items
Pent roof and fixed windows allow lots of light
Ideal for putting up against a wall or fence
Door can be hinged either side

BillyOh BillyOh sheds are affordable wooden sheds that come in lots of shapes and sizes, so you’re bound to find one to suit your garden. They offer wooden floors as an optional extra as well as lots of other things so you can create a bespoke shed that will work best for you. Our top pick: Master Tall Store

Ideal for small gardens or those with fewer tools to store
Apex roof for water runoff
Tongue and groove walls
Tall floor-to-gable door

You need a firm, level base for your shed to ensure that it stays structurally sound – without one, doors will sag, walls will lean and it won’t last you as long. But how do you build a shed base and what should you make it from? Timber shed bases A timber shed base is made from pressure-treated timber and has metal spikes that you hammer into the ground to keep it in place. You can often buy them with your shed installation kit, but they also come separately, often in 6x4 or 7x5 sizes. To build a timber shed base, you’ll drill holes then fit screws in the timber until the entire frame is built. Remember to check it’s square, then fix L-shaped feet to the inside of the frame. If you’re putting your shed on a hard surface like concrete, this is all you need to do. If you’re putting the base on soft ground, hammer in spikes at each corner until they’re level with the top of the base, then secure the spikes to the base with screws. Then you can position the shed floor onto the base. How to build a plastic shed base A plastic shed base is a simple and quick way to build a shed base. You can lay it on level concrete or paving slabs, but adding sharp sand on top will help keep it more secure. They come in a kit containing plastic grids. To build your plastic base, first measure out the site and hammer a peg into each corner and tie with string or builder’s line. Make it slightly larger than the shed base to help with drainage. Then cut into the lawn and remove the turf, making sure it’s level. Lay down a membrane sheet and weigh it down if it’s windy. Then lay out the number of plastic grids you need, then remove the locking pins and clip all the grids together. Once they’re all connected, put the locking pins back in the centre of the grids. Put your shed floor on top and you’re done! Concrete or paved shed bases For a concrete base or a shed base made from paving slabs, you’ll need to dig a sub-base. For concrete bases, you’ll need to dig down 150mm so you can add 75mm of compact hardcore under 75mm of concrete. For paved shed bases, you’ll want it to be about 120mm deep for 50mm of compact hardcore and the paving slabs.

How to build a shed base out of paving slabs
- Mix sand and cement together to make mortar or use a pre-mixed one
- Use a trowel to lay mortar for 1 slab at a time on the sub-base and lift a damp-sided slab onto the mortar, using a piece of timber and club hammer to tap the slab into position carefully. Continue to lay the first row of slabs
- Make equally-sized spacers in all the joints in the slabs to ensure they’re the same size, checking it’s level as you go along
- Next lay slabs along the two adjacent outer edges, filling in the central area row by row
- Leave the mortar to set according to the instructions or for at least 48 hours before filling in the joints with mortar or paving grout
Building a shed base from concrete
- Create a wooden frame around your shed base area (also called formwork) to stop the concrete from spreading
- Mix pre-mixed concrete with water or use 1 part cement to 5 parts ballast
- Wet the sub-base using a watering can with a rose on the end
- Pour the concrete onto the framed base starting in one corner
- Push the blade of a shovel up and down in the edges of the concrete to get rid of air bubbles
- Use a rake to spread the concrete, leaving it around 18mm higher than the top of the frame. Work in sections of around 1-1.m²
- Compact the concrete using a straight piece of timber that’s longer than the width of the base. Move the timber along the site, hitting it along at about half of its thickness at a time until the surface is evenly ridged
- Remove excess concrete and level the surface by sliding the timber back and forwards from the edge that you started. Fill in any depressions and repeat until even
- Run an edging trowel along the frame to round off exposed edges of the concrete and prevent chipping
- Cover the concrete with a plastic sheet raised on wooden supports to allow slow drying. Weigh it down with bricks
- Once the concrete is set, you can install your shed and remove the wooden frame with a crowbar

Don’t fancy having a go at building a shed base yourself? Get a range of quotes from a professional and see how much it will cost.

It can seem daunting to dismantle a shed when you want to get a new one or just get rid of it for good. Every shed is different and is likely to have been put together in a different way, but there are some general rules that you can follow to make dismantling a shed a simple task.

Remove fascias and trims Unscrew or prise off the screws and nails fixing the trims and fascias to your shed.
Take off doors and remove windows Unscrew hinges from doors and take them off. Remove all metalwork once the door is off. If you’ve got frames on your windows, unscrew these, and remove the panes. Be extra careful if your windows are made of glass.
Take off the roof Prise off the tacks from the roofing felt and take the felt off – you can’t reuse it, so you’ll need to throw it away. Unscrew the screws on the roof boards and slide them off the shed’s frame – you might need a friend to help you do this.
Take out the roof brace (optional) If your roof has a brace, unscrew the brackets that hold it to the side of the shed. Remember not to lean on anything once you’ve taken the brace off as the walls might be wobbly.
Unscrew the frame from the floor Remove all the screws that are holding the shed to the base, remembering not to lean on the walls.
Unscrew the frame corners Starting at the corner of the front gable, remove the screws where the panels meet. Once a panel is free, lift it carefully out of the way so you can carry on with the others.

Tidy up all your tools and debris, clearing the area to make it safe, and you’re done!

Generally, you don’t need planning permission for a shed if you live in England or Wales. This applies whether it’s a wooden, metal, plastic or brick shed. However, there are a few conditions your shed will have to meet to not require planning permission:

The shed doesn’t cover more than 50% of the garden
It’s not in front of your house
The shed is single-storey with eaves no higher than 2.5m and the overall height is no taller than 4m for a dual-pitched roof, or 3m for any other type. If it’s located within 2 metres of your property’s boundary, it mustn't be more than 2.5m high
There’s no veranda or balcony
The floor area is no bigger than 15m² - up to 30m² may be covered under Permitted Development if other conditions are met
The shed is for domestic use only by those who live in the property and there’s no sleeping accommodation – that means you can’t run a business from the shed unless you apply for planning permission

Exceptions Of course, there are always exceptions:

If you live in a listed building, you’ll need Listed Building Consent before you can build a shed in your garden
If you live in a conservation area or similar, the maximum area of ground covered by outbuildings, pools and enclosures situated more than 20m from any wall of the house mustn’t exceed 10m² if they’re to be considered as a permitted development
If you own a piece of woodland, you must seek planning permission for any permanent structure
In Scotland, you’ll need planning permission if any part of the shed comes within 1m of a neighbouring property or is more than 2.5m high
In Northern Ireland, there are rules about how close your shed can be from a road that passes by the back of your house. It’s best to check for clarification

So if you live in a straightforward house in England or Wales, you shouldn’t need planning permission for your shed. If you’re in any doubt, make sure you check with your local planning office.

	Labour cost	£420
	Material cost	£150
	Waste removal	£30

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