1st Choice For Quality Garden Sheds & Buildings

These buildings come in a variety of materials such as wood, timber, metal, steel, plastic or concrete. Often the choice of material used for these tends to be personal choice but different claddings have varying pros and cons. Timber sheds tend to be most popular due to the natural feel it the material gives. However, whilst they are strong, one of the downsides is they need to be treated to maintain their long life. Tanalised or pressure-treated ones won’t require as much maintenance. They normally last for around 15 years, so are very popular. Some sheds are made from galvanised steel with a long guarantee against rust, so no treating of these sheds is required. Beware of metal buildings which are ‘electro-plated’ rather than ‘hot dipped galvanised’. This treatment won’t last as long. Sheds made from more durable materials won’t rust so are a viable proposition for the owner who does not want any maintenance issues. However, these type of units can look a little bland and industrial but do serve their purpose in the garden very well.

Concrete is the ‘bruiser’ of the shed world. Being made from solid concrete they don’t need any maintenance to speak off. They can brush aside everything that the weather throws at them. One of the downsides of these is the limitation in sizes available and. Also, to some people, they can feel rather utilitarian.

The garden shed is used traditionally as a storage place and sometimes as a workshop which limits its use, especially during the cold winter months. There is another option which means you are able to use it all year round. By investing a little more and upgrading to an insulated building you will be able to use these wonderful sheds all year round. Your children could use it as a den and maybe play computer games in there or chill out with their friends.At at the same time, they will be out from under your feet! Mum or Dad could use it as a ‘man cave’ or ‘she den’ for their own hobbies, pastimes and have some ‘me’ time. An insulated shed could be used as a home office for business. If so the cost would be tax deductible which is a ‘win-win’ for you.

Throughout the summer months, it’s no problem using your building in your garden for the normal day to day things, whether it’s a little pottering about or enjoying being away from the house. But in the cold winter weather, it becomes a place not to be used. Which is a shame? How much better would it be if you could use it all year round with no limitations on what you could do down there.

Well, this is possible by deciding to go for an insulated one and you will then not mind going down there all year round. You would then be able to enjoy your hobby down there, possibly allow your children to use, but with reservations on that use, or maybe just enjoy a little time away from the hubbub of the daily grind. If you had a little ‘home cottage’ type business and used in connection with that activity then you could claim the cost against your profits so that would make it even more feasible.

Provided your new shed is insulated and lined either by you or us then it will be nearly as warm as inside your house. However, like your house, during the colder spells, you will require some heating to ensure a comfortable environment.We would recommend an electric radiator as the best option. Stay well away from any form of Calor type gas heaters as they produce a lot of damp as well as being a fire risk. The bonus is that the insulation will help to keep your shed cooler in summer.

This is something I didn’t know in my early days of garden shed manufacturing (I started back in 1979 making sheds). I discovered this when going from an uninsulated building into an insulated one. The difference was amazing! The insulation option is well worth considering

The attraction of an insulated garden shed is very appealing as this can give prospective purchasers a very good reason to choose your house. This will give them an opportunity to carry on using it as an office, or maybe they can use it as a recreation or craft room. Possible other uses are as a gloried den for the children which they would love. You can always look on the internet and ask what is the cheapest way to insulate a garden building or about insulation DIY options?The choice of garden buildings is staggering with many different types available and you can see a good range on our web site. The most important consideration is to ensure it is lined and insulated (I always think this should be insulated and lined as the insulation has to go in before the lining. But it normally is described as lined and insulated, (why I don’t know). The reason for the insulation option is to help to keep the building warmer in winter and more importantly, and not always appreciated, is to keep it cooler in the summer.

You need to ensure that the internal height is sufficient as many of the cheap (made down to a price) sheds and garden buildings are quite low. This is important as a low ceiling height will make it a little claustrophobic. Ensure that the building is made from T&G (tongue and grooved) timber and also, for long life, from redwood deal and not the cheaper white wood.

Where ever possible order double glazed doors and windows as this will help to keep the warmth in during the winter and the heat out during the summer making the building pleasant all year round. There are a number of options for the roof covering from heavy duty felt, long lasting Onduline roofing, felt tiles, cedar shingles or even a slatted roof. All will keep your new building dry from rain and snow so the choice is cosmetic.

The Managing Director of property developers Puddlestone said that there has been a significant rise if the demand for homes with insulated buildings in the gardens. This has made those homes more attractive and easier to sell. This is put down partly to the increase in people wanting to work from home due to the financial crisis. Having said that it does not always mean that the sale value will reflect the cost of the home office just that it makes the home easier to sell.

If you are thinking of investing in an insulated garden shed for the garden it is good to know that it will help in the future to sell your home. So you have had the benefit of whilst you are living there and you also have the confidence that when you decide to move on it should be easier to do so.

All available in more or less in any size to suit you. All wooden sheds include free assembly saving you loads of money and making life just a little easier. They can be made bespoke to suit your needs in a range of styles, sizes and finishes.

When looking for garden sheds it appears very straight forward. Just click around the internet, find the size you want and then look for the best price. Easy YES? Well not really as there is such a huge array of varying quality sheds out there.

From the cheap and nasty right up to ones which would feel at home at Hampton Court Palace.

You need to do your homework to ensure you buy the right one for YOUR needs. Take a read of the following or look on our What You Need To Know web page or any of our Top Buying Tips pages.

1st Choice Leisure Buildings – ONLY Sell Garden Sheds Made to Very High Standards

FREE ASSEMBLY INCLUDED

By choosing to buy your timber shed from an established business you can be sure that they have a great deal of expertise in the industry. Also, they have become established by selling the right products at the right price.

Most importantly, they have been listening to their customers. By choosing a business which actually has a show site you can be sure there is somewhere to contact them if you need to. With online-only businesses, they can be here today and gone tomorrow.

With a business with an actual physical address, you will also find you can talk to someone if you choose. Just by typing in ‘sheds near me’ or ‘garden shed suppliers’ will generally find a local business.

1st Choice Leisure Buildings, a Family Business which was established in 1979. We also have a physical office and Show sites.

Toughened Glass As Standard

Sheds by their very nature are large and heavy so building them can be a challenge. This may be fine for some people but a company offering a delivery and installation service will always be a better option. Not only does it save you a lot of hassle, but you can also be sure it has been installed correctly.

Besides the assembly service for our sheds, we can also arrange for a base to be built. This can either be made from a slab of solid concrete or a tanalised timber sub-frame base. It’s even possible to arrange for your building to be painted in colours to suit you. Although the buildings do come with a protective treatment.

1st Choice offer a delivery & assembly service (mostly free of charge) to save you time & effort. Not just dumped in your garden.

Bespoke Garden Sheds

The internet is a wonderful thing but even with the flashiest of pages or glossy brochures, you can never get a REAL feel for what you are buying. For many items, this is not a problem but with your new garden shed it’s important to know that what you getting will meet your expectations. By actually viewing the proposed structure. you can be sure of the quality and how well it is constructed. You can see how tall it is so you won’t bang your head. Also how the doors and windows are made.

This will help you to distinguish from the cheap and nasty built to a price. Our well-constructed buildings are designed to last a long time. By viewing beforehand you can save yourself from potential heartache and stress. You’ll be glad you did!
The cheapest price is not always the best value. Click Here For A Walk Through Of Our Display Site

Visit One of the 1st Choice Leisure Buildings Showrooms – and see our displays near Guildford and Farnham in Surrey.

There are certain advantages for standard sizes or designs as these can help keep the costs down. However wouldn’t it be good to buy a building to suit you and your garden? By doing this you can utilise your new shed to have the best use and to fit in the space that you have.

Talk to a company which can make a bespoke structure in the size and design you need. The extra marginal cost can be the difference between making do or being 100% satisfied.

All you need to do is to talk to us about what your ideal shed is and we will do our utmost to meet your needs.

1st Choice Leisure Buildings can make virtually every shed we sell in a size and design to suit you.

Onduline Roofs With Air Gaps

Money can always be saved by selecting a cheaper timber such as whitewood. To a certain degree, it’s OK for a basic garden shed. However, It’s far better to insist on a quality redwood ‘deal’ timber. This wood grows far more slowly than whitewood so the grain is more tightly compacted, ensuring a longer life. A marginal extra expensive for a better long term prospect. Whitewood, because it grows quickly can be subject to the small knots dropping out.

All timber is responsibly sourced and is FSC ‘Forest Stewardship Council’ quality approved. This is very important these days where every effort needs to be taken to protect our environment.

The majority of 1st Choice’s garden sheds are made from redwood ‘deal’ timber for a long life.

Traditional Style Garden Sheds

You will find that most of the cheap garden sheds use chipboard, OSB, or Sterling board on the floors and roofs to save money. However, as soon as damp gets in these boards start to swell and disintegrate. That’s the end of your shiny new shed!

Some shed companies try to hide this by saying their floors and roofs are made from ‘Sheet Materials’. They avoid using the words chipboard or OSB board because they know there could be problems in the future.

1st Choice Leisure Buildings recommends solid timber – we do NOT use chipboard, OSB board or Sterling board!

An Ideal Solution For Your Home

Many of the cheapest shed companies deliver them in pieces where you have to build some of the panels yourself. Ludicrous! If you are buying a cheap shed always triple-check what you are getting! Your new buildings are unlikely to be pre-constructed, leaving you with a load of work to do. It may seem like a great idea to buy a kit. But know what you are letting yourself in for!

Perhaps when you left school you saw your future as a carpenter or a ‘chippy’. You may have been looking forward to a life building sheds. That’s fine! There’s nothing wrong with that. But if not then why don’t you let the factory’s do the work for you?

Insist on a complete building to be delivered to you.

All our Buildings are delivered in completed sections (and mostly assembled free of charge) to save you time and effort!

Visit this page for more Buying Advice You will be pleased that you did. Also, visit 1st Choice’s UK display sites and see for your self. There is a great selection of sheds built on our show site for you to view!

Before spending your money take the time to out visit one of our two display site in Surrey, close to Guildford, Woking, Farnham and Aldershot. Our friendly staff will be delighted to show you our buildings, listen to you and give you free unpressured advice to enable you to make an informed choice.

Click Here For A Walk Through Of Our Display Site