We help you choose a new shed or improve the one you've already got.
Some sheds are a lot more practical and durable than others.Buying a decent one needn't cost a fortune-it's simply a case of knowing what to look for.
Around 90 per cent of the sheds sold in the UK are made from wood.The cheapest models usually have overlap or feather-edge walls,meaning they're made from overlapping boardsnailed together.Thin boards cut from unseasoned timber that hasn't been kiln-dried cansoon warp and split,making gaps appear.This is less likely to happen if you spend a little more and buy a shed with interlocking tongue and groove boards.These are often describedas shiplap,which refers to the shape of the boards and doesn't necessarily mean that they interlock,so it is worth checking.
A wooden shed can cost as little as 99-one manufacturer told us that such sheds represent around 80 per cent of the market.The downside is that a 99 shed is unlikely tokeep out the rain for long and will only measure around 6ft x 4ft.Wooden sheds are usually still sold in imperial sizes so we've used these throughout.
Dozens of companies make sheds,so it pays to visit several different outlets to see a selection of makes and styles.DIY superstores usually have plenty available to order but only a few models on show.And these are often displayed high above ground level where you can't get a good look at them.Garden centres tend not to sell sheds,but larger ones often have a garden-building retailer attached to them.Then there are stand-alone outlets specializing in sheds and summer houses.Timber and builders' merchants are worth a try too.Check the small ads of your local paper and look in Yellow Pages under Buildings-Sectional and under Sheds & Garden Buildings to find a range of suppliers with a with assembled models on show at ground level.