Cheap Garden Sheds

Buying a cheap garden shed not mean you should compromise on quality.

Our advice is to understand the purpose of the shed, choose the construction and type of treatment carefully, be aware of any maintenance is need to for its upkeep and install it securely not allowing direct contact with the ground.

Does choosing a cheap garden shed mean that you should compromise on quality?

Well, a wise man once said, "you get what you pay for". In fact it may not have been a wise man, it might have just been a mate of mine the last time I bought a heap of junk cheaply and watched it fall apart before my eyes. Not talking of garden sheds of course, I´ve been in the business long enough to know good from bad.

So, is my mate right or wrong when it comes to garden sheds?

Garden sheds are one of those items that many of us will only ever buy once in our lifetime, or maybe not, it may be someone else who makes the purchase, i.e. Dad.

So other than whether it is the right size, has it got windows or not or whether it looks good, what distinguishes one garden shed from another, is it cheap rubbish or does it actually offer good value for money?

Well, the main function of a garden shed is to store items, so subject to it being the correct size and that it is aesthetically in keeping with the look that you´re trying to strike, the key things you need to get right is, ´is it safe from the elements?´.

Wooden Garden Sheds

The main thing with wooden garden sheds is the base. This is where the main source of damp is rooted. Where a wooden garden shed is in direct contact with the ground then it is likely that rot could take hold.

The fix? A sound concrete shed base or specially constructed frame, floor bearer or Portabase. Either method, the shed must be lifted securely a short distance above the ground so not to be in direct contact with any ground that may become damp.

The other key point is the method of construction and any treatment undertaken during manufacture.

The main methods for construction are:

• Overlap Cladding — This is a basic but very popular, rustic form of cladding. Consisting usually of 8mm thick boards fixed to a frame and laid horizontally, overlapping the one above to ensure rain water runs down.
• Shiplap Tongue and Groove — Smooth planed tongue and grooved wood which slots together horizontally. Each board has an upper shaped element to encourage rain deflection which is where the ´shiplap´ name is derived. This type of construction offers excellent protection from the elements.

Of the two, Shiplap or any other Tongue and Groove type construction is the best, but Overlap Cladding is more than sufficient to protect items from bad weather.

As with any building the best roofs should be pitched in some way rather than flat, thereby not enabling rainwater to collect. Roofs should always be protected with some kind of weatherproof material such as roofing felt or felt shingles.

Any finally treatment.

Wooden garden sheds usually come untreated, dip-treated or pressure treated.

Untreated as you can imagine means that it has had no treatment whatsoever and will require regular maintenance by the owner to keep it protected.

Dip-treated means that the timber has been dipped into treatment during manufacture. This is a basic form of treatment and the garden shed will require regular treatment on an annual basis.

Pressure treatment is the most robust form of treatment and means the garden shed will not require further treatment for 10-15 years+.

Metal Garden Sheds

The great thing about choosing a metal garden shed is that it will be safe from the elements as long as it is manufactured from the right metals, i.e. aluminium or galvanised, usually steel.

Look for the manufacturers guarantee of anti-rust or anti-perforation, a common term used by shed manufacturers.

And finally, on both wooden garden sheds and metal garden sheds, ensure the manufacturer is of a reputable, credible brand.

Gardens4Living only supplies the most reputable, quality products from the best manufacturers including Forest, Walton´s, M&M Timber and Grange (wooden garden sheds) and Yardmaster (Metal Garden Sheds).

We offer garden sheds across a range of price brackets, but never compromising on quality.

So was my mate right? You decide and if you need more advice on garden sheds, please contact our experts who can help you choose the correct one for you.