A Comprehensive Garden Buildings Buying Guide: Finding the Perfect Shed

How to Select the Right Garden Building for Your Outdoor Space

We are all looking for ways to improve our garden and the addition of a garden shed can help, however, the choice of material can make a difference. In my bias view, as a garden shed manufacturer, a wooden shed is the best for being in harmony with the garden. Logically this is hard to dispute as timber is a natural product and many gardens will have trees already growing in them.

Wood, being a regenerating material, is perfect for sheds and the garden. Whilst the tree is growing it will give off oxygen during the day and extract carbon dioxide from the air at night. Often described as the ‘lungs of the earth’ the tree has very few vices, in fact, I can’t think of any. The tree helps to stabilise the ground where it grows dues to its roots and provides shelter for wildlife. This statement has made me think of one vice and that is where the root gets too close to property as this can damage the foundations. Having said that the fault is usually with the tree owner planting it too close to the property.

When the tree matures it can be cut down and used for timber. At the sawmill, boards are cut which are then used to make wooden items and this includes wooden garden buildings. Even the outside of the tree is used as this can be used for chipboard which is used for making nearly all flat pack furniture these days. What chipboard and OSB boards should not be used for is for making garden sheds. Shamefully there are shed makers who do use this as it is a cheap material.

Garden Buildings Buying Guide: Understanding the Different Materials

Wood sits at home in the garden, it just feels right. The touch and feel of wood are appealing and this is why it is loved. In Scandinavian countries, you will find the same love, maybe even more, for their trees and their eco-friendly powers.

By its nature wood is very easy to utilise to make garden buildings so your shed can reflect your requirements and needs. Whether it is used for garden sheds, summerhouses, workshops or even log cabins you can appreciate the aesthetically pleasing nature of the wood. And this will help to finish your garden and help to make it complete as well as being at one with itself.

You do need to be a little careful of the location of your new garden shed so that it does not overshadow the garden. Take a little time to consider the best location so that it can be used suitably as well as logically. Check the location of the sun, so you can benefit from this. If power is required to the shed then ensure you can run electric cables down to it easily, the same thing applies to any water required, however, this can be supplied through a long garden hose pipe.

The Best Materials for Garden Sheds: Which One is Right for You?

Having said that about wooden garden sheds there are other choices which garden owners can consider such as metal sheds, as well as plastic and concrete buildings. Each has different qualities and will meet many people needs. The metal shed does not require any treating of the materials as these are normally made from galvanised steel. Always ensure you buy a shed made from hot dipped galvanised steel and not the cheaper electroplated metal. This will pay off in the long run as the hot-dipped steel is vastly superior and not always very much more expensive.

Plastic shed again doesn’t need any maintenance with the exception of an occasional wash down. Concrete garden sheds are very robust but some of them can look a little utilitarian. Always try to buy one with a 10-year guarantee as this will give you long term peace of mind.

One of the downsides of plastic, concrete and metal garden sheds is that they only come in set sizes. This is where wooden garden buildings score even more. The sheer flexibility of timber enables any size to be made. They also allow the doors and windows to be positioned to suit you, certainly, if you speak to 1st Choice Garden Sheds. Their policy is that they will make a garden shed to suit your needs rather than making sheds to suit them.

At the end of the day that is how all businesses should be – i.e. They remember who is the customer and that they are in business to serve the customer and not the other way round.

Written By Robin - Expert in Garden Buildings For 44 Years.
Hi, I'm Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and I use my expertise gained over 44 years in the garden buildings industry to understand that each customer is different. With my manufacturing, retailing and customer service experience my articles help people choose their ideal shed, garden workshop, summerhouse, log cabin or garden office needs to suit their requirement and that is key to satisfaction. And what do I do when I'm not writing? You may find me following Grimsby Town Football Club or riding roller coasters - so plenty of 'ups and downs' in my life.