Metal Sheds at a Glance
Construction: Heavy-gauge galvanised steel · Steel thickness: 0.9mm and 1.2mm depending on model · Sizes: Compact bike stores to large metal sheds and workshops · Security: Reinforced construction with enhanced locking systems on selected models · Finishes: Choice of colours available.
Uses: Garden equipment, tools, bikes, motorcycles and secure general storage · Ventilation: Designed to improve airflow and help reduce condensation · Installation: Professional assembly service available on selected models · Floors: Steel floor bases included on selected ranges · Base: Requires a firm, flat and level base · Security certification: LPCB Level 1 certified options available · See before you buy: Selected garden buildings on display at our Surrey show site near Guildford and Woking.
Need advice? Our experienced team can help with metal shed size, security, doors, floor, base requirements and installation before you order.
Metal Sheds for Secure Garden Storage
If you are looking for metal sheds for sale, the buildings on this page are designed for practical outdoor storage where security, strength and relatively low routine maintenance are important. Our current GardenVault range covers compact bike stores, slimline sheds, motorcycle storage, and larger steel workshops, so we suggest starting with what you need to store rather than choosing the largest building available.
This page forms part of our wider garden sheds range but concentrates specifically on galvanised-steel buildings. The actual products currently displayed are Allandale, Avondale, Birkdale, Clydesdale, Forestdale, Glendale, Skelmersdale, Tarrickdale, Silverdale and Deepdale.
Which Metal Shed Should I Choose?
For compact bicycle storage, the GardenVault Allandale and Avondale are actual products on this page. Both use 0.9mm galvanised steel and bolt to a suitable prepared base, making them worth considering when you need secure storage without taking up much garden space.
The Birkdale is specifically intended for motorcycle storage. At the same time, Silverdale, Skelmersdale and Tarrickdale provide other relatively compact storage options. Forestdale and Clydesdale give you more choice in length if you need room for tools, garden equipment, or general storage.
If you need a substantially larger building, I would compare the GardenVault Deepdale Workshop and GardenVault Glendale. Both use 1.2mm galvanised steel and are available in longer configurations, making them more appropriate where you need serious equipment storage or workshop-sized space. If you are still deciding what specification and size you actually need, our garden shed buying guide covers the main points worth comparing before you order.
What Are Heavy Duty Metal Sheds With Floors?
Customers searching for heavy duty metal sheds with floors often want a substantial steel building with a proper base arrangement rather than a lightweight shell sitting directly on paving. Several of the larger models displayed here include a steel floor base, including Birkdale, Clydesdale, Forestdale, Glendale and Deepdale.
It is important to distinguish between a steel floor base and the finished floor surface. On the Deepdale, for example, the sturdy steel base is included, but a floor is an additional option. I would always check the individual specification rather than assume “floor base” means a finished internal floor is included.
Does Thicker Steel Automatically Mean a Better Shed?
Steel thickness matters, but I would not judge a metal shed on that measurement alone. The current range uses 0.9mm or 1.2mm galvanised steel depending on the model, but door reinforcement, folds and joints, locking arrangements, anchoring and the overall design are also important.
For example, the Deepdale uses 1.2mm galvanised steel together with reinforced double doors and surrounds, double-folded joints and a secure Euro-cylinder locking arrangement. That complete specification tells you more about the building than steel thickness on its own.
Are Metal Sheds Secure?
A substantial steel shed can provide very good physical security when the construction, doors, locks and anchoring have all been designed for the job. Several products in the current range are aimed specifically at higher-security bicycle, motorcycle or equipment storage.
I would still compare the exact model if valuable equipment is going inside. Do not assume every metal shed has the same security rating or certification simply because it comes from the same range. If a particular LPCB certification is important to you or your insurer, verify the exact building before ordering.
Do Metal Sheds Need a Base?
Yes. These buildings require a firm, flat and level foundation. Some models bolt directly to the prepared base, while others use a steel floor-base system. I would not install a substantial steel shed directly onto grass or soil because movement underneath the building can affect alignment and make the doors difficult to operate.
Always use the recommended base dimensions for your chosen model. Getting the foundation right before delivery is far easier than trying to correct an unsuitable base after the building has been assembled. If you are considering one of the larger workshop-sized metal sheds, our garden workshop base guide explains the main foundation options and why a firm and level base is so important.
Do Metal Sheds Suffer From Condensation?
Metal buildings can suffer from condensation because warm, moist air can meet a colder steel surface. Good ventilation and a properly prepared dry base are therefore important. The current GardenVault buildings are designed with ventilation in mind, but vents should remain clear, and water should not be allowed to enter around the foundation.
I would also avoid positioning plants and dense vegetation immediately against the walls where they can restrict airflow and retain moisture. A well-prepared site matters with steel just as much as it does with timber. Our guide to preventing condensation and moisture in garden sheds explains why condensation develops and the practical steps you can take to reduce it.
Can My Metal Shed Be Professionally Assembled?
Professional assembly is available on selected products currently displayed on this page, although the arrangements and cost vary by model. On larger buildings such as Deepdale, I think professional assembly is particularly worth considering because getting the structure level, square, and securely anchored has a direct effect on how well it performs.
Check the individual product before ordering because some models list an assembly service while others have different installation arrangements.
Can I Use a Metal Shed as a Workshop?
Larger metal sheds such as Deepdale and Glendale can provide useful space for tools, machinery, storage and practical workshop use. If you plan to spend time working inside rather than simply using the building for storage, consider your internal layout before choosing the size. Allow room for workbenches, shelving, machinery and enough clear floor space to work safely.
Electricity may also become important if you intend to use lighting or powered tools. Our guide to adding electricity to a garden shed explains the main points to consider when planning sockets, lighting, equipment and the electrical supply. A suitably qualified person should carry out the electrical installation in accordance with the relevant regulations.
My Experience With Garden Buildings Goes Back to 1979
I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. I left school at 15 and started my own business in 1979 trading as Marina Sheds. I learnt the garden-building trade hands-on by making and selling sheds, delivering buildings and dealing directly with customers, so my approach has always been to look at what a building is actually made from and whether it is suitable for the job.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not receive all the money which was due from the sale. It was a difficult business lesson, but I remained in the garden-building industry and carried on.
In 1992 we expanded into summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins, and that wider direction led to the name Titan Garden Buildings. My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990, bringing his own practical construction knowledge into the business.
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998 and in 2000 formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. Rather than being tied to one manufacturer’s products, Craig and I wanted to compare quality buildings from different suppliers and give customers a genuine choice. Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I remain involved to support him and the team as required. You can read more on our About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
Why Does My Experience Matter When Choosing a Metal Shed?
My own manufacturing background was in timber buildings, but more than four decades in the garden-building industry have taught me to compare construction rather than marketing labels. With steel sheds, I look at panel thickness, folds and reinforcement, doors, locks, floor or base arrangements, ventilation and how the building is anchored.
That is why I would not automatically recommend the thickest or most expensive building. If Allandale or Avondale gives you the compact bicycle storage you need, you may not need a large workshop. If you are storing a motorcycle or valuable machinery, Birkdale, Deepdale, Glendale, or another heavier-duty model may be more appropriate.
How Do I Choose the Best Metal Shed?
Start by listing what needs to go inside and measure the largest items. Then decide how much room you need to move around them, what level of security is appropriate, whether you want a steel floor-base arrangement and how large the doors need to be.
It is also worth checking whether the size and proposed position of your building could affect planning requirements. Many domestic garden sheds can be installed without a planning application, but this depends on the building, its position and the property, so read our garden shed planning permission guide if you are unsure.
If you are comparing metal sheds for sale, do not judge them solely by external size and price. Compare the steel specification, security, base or floor arrangement, ventilation and assembly options. If you are unsure, please ask us, and we can help you compare the actual GardenVault buildings shown on this page.
Can I See Metal Sheds Before Buying?
Whenever practical, I recommend seeing garden buildings before making a final decision. You can visit our Surrey garden building display site at Sutton Green, between Guildford, Woking and Ripley, where selected buildings and construction features can be inspected in person.
Photographs and specifications are useful, but seeing substantial steel construction, doors and locking arrangements for yourself can make the differences between models much easier to understand. I started in the garden-building business in 1979 and still believe that understanding what you are buying is more important than choosing from a photograph alone.
From £715
