Garden sheds are the essential storage solution for keen gardeners allowing them to keep garden items and tools safe and dry even if they are dirty. In some instances a shed doubles as a workshop or potting area where mess is not a problem but protection from the elements is required.

There are two main shapes in which sheds come; the apex shed looks much like a house with a pitched roof that comes to a point in the middle while the pent roof shed has a single-faced roof that slopes from a higher end to a lower end. Choosing between them often comes down to price since an apex roof means a cheaper garden shed but some people still opt for the pent roof since it allows for a workbench on the higher side which is not possible otherwise.

Shed Materials

Garden sheds are most traditionally wood in construction to allow a more seamless blending with the surroundings but these are also the most expensive options. Even with a wooden shed you have to choose between various types of cladding and again the price comes into play. A weatherboard shed has overlapping slats much like a garden fence but is least weather proof while at the other end of the scale shiplap does the best job at keeping the weather out but comes at a far higher price thanks to its complicated tongue and groove construction.

Metal sheds, while less aesthetic, do offer greater protection for the contents and also last longer with very little maintenance. This is especially true if the metal (usually steel or aluminium) has been treated to make it resistant to corrosion. Garden sheds that are going to be placed fairly out of site require less of a pleasing façade and so metal is a good option that can save you money in both the short and long term.

Finally there are plastic sheds which, like metal garden sheds, require very little maintenance and are generally hard wearing. They may fade from exposure to UV rays and this may also cause some damage but on the whole they are long lasting. Appearance wise they suffer from the same problems as metal sheds and normally smaller in size too making them more of a space to keep tools and equipment rather than a full blown garden shed or workshop.

Shed Bases

All sheds require a base or foundation if they are to remain standing for many years to come and this is doubly important for wooden sheds where rot is inevitable if the wooden floor is placed directly onto soil. Furthermore, a shed base will give a suitably flat surface on which to erect the structure and the result is maximum strength and sturdiness.