Garden Sheds

1. Are the buildings you want to buy on display?
2.  How good is the timber cladding?
3.  Are the floor and roof SOLID timber – is there any chipboard?
4. Can you choose your size and style of shed?
5. Are the sheds delivered and installed FREE and delivered FREE?
6. How thick is the framework?
7. How tall are the buildings, are you a midget?
8. What conditions are attached to the guarantee?
9. Is the shed made in the UK and is it stockpiled?

The Answer is YES!! Click For Buying Advice from 1st Choice Leisure Buildings

Since then they have played a large role in the hearts of the nation. There are now few gardens which don’t have a garden storage hut of some description. Whether it’s a small behind a modern house or a large garden shed for a more affluent home. You will find these buildings are very well used.

Generally, houses built between the 1930s and ’50s have substantial gardens. This is where larger garden sheds are to be found. As we got into the 90’s gardens became smaller, putting constraints on the size of shed which could be built. After the housing bubble burst houses tended to be built with tiny gardens so only the smallest ones would fit the bill.

In all instances, all these buildings play a useful role in the day to day life. The sheer versatility is helped by the many different designs which are available. From very basic huts to high-end buildings suitable for a multitude of uses.

Essentially, these garden sheds consist of an internal frame onto which cladding is secured. Many sheds waterproofed against the elements. The roof is normally either apex (gable or V’shaped) or pent (single or mono-pitched). Although some buildings, usually in the higher price bracket, can sometimes have a hip roof like on a house. These are quite striking buildings but the price can put a lot of people off. The reason for the price is the complexity of manufacture.

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.

This ethos probably comes from our upbringing. Robin’s father and grandfather were Master Butchers in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire and Quality and Customer Service was always the keyword behind their businesses.

Craig is a key member of the business and is helping 1st Choice to embrace the challenges of the 21st century. And with his two children, Daniel and Rebecca, the future looks very promising. So as you can see we are not just salespeople selling a range of products who know nothing of little about the products but have the history behind us to ensure that when you choose ‘1st Choice’ then you know your building actually will be ‘1st Choice.

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.

You would need to cut the insulation to size and tack it into place between the internal timbers. Afterwards, you would need to cut the wall sheets to fit and screw or tack into place.

The roof can be challenging to insulate due to the delights of gravity! It ‘tries’ to fall down. You would need 2 or 3 people for this to make life easier. Finish it off with cover strips on the inside – job done.

Challenging but quite rewarding!

As standard, we would use a ‘Kingspan’ type of quality insulation. This is a solid composition board, foil backed to help with thermal efficiency. Internal trims would be used to give a clean look inside. It costs a little more, but just think of the benefits!

Will my Insulated Shed Be Warm In The Winter?

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.

Well, if you would like to use your new shed all year round then it’s worth working out what this is worth to you. To be able to utilise your shed all year can be a great asset and, maybe, a little piece of calm away from our mad ‘day to day’ world.

Can I Receive A Personal Quote?

We are, of course, very happy to supply you with a firm no-obligation quote for your garden shed to meet your needs.
Just call us on 0333 800 8880, use our contact form or visit one of our display sites.

Among the many people who have been inspired in sheds and to be creative was David Charles Hahn, a young man who was 17 at the time. However, he took this to the extreme by trying to build a home made breeder nuclear reactor in his backyard retreat. He became known as the ‘Radioactive Boy Scout’ for his pursuits in his shed which remained unpublished until a Harpers article written by journalist Ken Silverstein in 1998. Hahn also was also behind the Silverstein’s book called ‘The Radioactive Boy Scout’ about Hahn and his infamous shed.

Hahn who was a boy scout in the Boy Scout’s of America, in Commerce Township, Michigan, and conducted his experiments in the garden shed at his mother’s home. This was a quiet place where he could work away from any disturbances and in peace. Whilst he was not successful, which is not surprising as Iran have all their scientists working on a nuclear reactor at the moment, his work in the garden shed attracted the attention of the local police who discovered radioactive materials in the boot of his car. As you can appreciate he was not too popular with his aims. About 10 months later the garden shed and his mother’s home and property was cleaned by the Superfund Cleanup site to remove all radioactive materials. However, Hahn had earned the right to be Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts of America prior to the discovery of his experiments. I don’t think there is a badge for creating a Nuclear Reactor, but I understand there is one for Atomic Energy, which is a far cry from what was available to me in the Scouts in the 1960’s and I know Lord Baden Powell said that scouts should be creative but I don’t think he meant to go as far as this.

A little less controversial use of a wooden shed is by Damien Hirst who uses his down in Devon for his painting. He said that with practice you can make great paintings and the perfect place for him is his garden shed. It would appear that the solitude and peace and quiet of the ‘man cave’ is the reason behind this creativity. Maybe the mere fact that a garden shed is often used for making things can create inspiration. Either way these buildings are well loved members of the garden community.

Many authors have used their garden sheds to write some of their best work and this includes Roald Dahl who used his shed to write his very popular children’s stories. His family were very keen to preserve this building for the museum and they have raised an appeal so it can be added to their collection. In history there are many more examples where these buildings are used creatively.

So if you are asking the question where can I get sheds near me or garden sheds in the Uk then 1st Choice Leisure Buildings is the place to go. Established in 1979 and have a great track record and superb range of buildings to choose from.