When choosing a timber building, you need to check the specifications to ensure it will have the strength to last. So always check out the thickness of the timber, whether it’s made from redwood or the cheap inferior whitewood, how thick the framing is etc. Are the doors and windows joinery made, meaning they will last a long time? Does it has toughened glass for safety or imperfect horticultural glass, plastic or perspex? All important questions.
On many of the buildings available on the web, you will find that they will deliver them to your house and leave them for you to build. You can save a little money this way, but you will have to build it yourself. That’s OK if you are a good DIYer, but it will still be hard work. The best option is to take advantage of 1st Choice’s FREE assembly option on the Diamond and Platinum buildings. They will do all the hard work – all you need to do is build a level base for it to go onto. And they can even arrange that for you as well if you wish. This way, you can be sure your new building will be built correctly, and all you need to do is enjoy it.
We have a large range of
garden shed sizes for you to choose from and in several styles. However, we specialise in making buildings to suit your needs. Whether it needs to be taller, extra or fewer windows, the doors and windows moved, we can do that for you. Ensure you buy the building to suit you and your family with no compromises. Give us a call on (0333) 800 8880 or visit our showroom and discuss what you would like. We are happy to provide a quote to suit you with no pressure.
To make the most of your new building, it’s a good idea to have it
lined and insulated to get the most use out of you all year round. Doing so will keep the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter. It’s possible to do this yourself if you feel confident. However, there is an option to do this for you on all the
Platinum buildings. It can be seen as a luxury, but you will be glad you did on those hot summer days or cold winter days. Just contact us, and we will arrange a free quote for you.
We provide 12×6 sheds with a protective treatment but why not consider a building painted with Sadolin (Diamond Buildings) or Valtti (Platinum Buildings) paints. Both are available in a range of colours so you find a colour to suit you. You can find more details about
painted sheds here. Or, just contact us, and we will arrange a free quote for you.
Sadolin Superdec 'Clover Leaf'
Free Fitting Included
Sadolin Superdec 'Sea Step' +
Free Assembly Included
Sadolin Superdec 'Four By Two'
Free Fitting Included
Sadolin Superdec 'Outside'
Free Installation Included
Tikkurila 'Sage Green' Wood Stain
Free Assembly Included
Tikkurila 'Chestnut Brown' Stain
Free Assembly Included
Tikkurila 'Charcoal Grey' Wood Stain
Free Assembly Included
Tikkurila 'Oakwood' Wood Stain
Erected Free Of Charge
Before deciding on a new 6×12 shed for your garden, you should always do your homework (sorry!) as it’s very easy to be taken in with a flashy website leaflet or colour brochure. Try to find time and make a trip down to our showroom where you can examples on view. By doing so, you will then be able to decide what you may be buying. We have a large collection of wooden buildings that you are welcome to view. We will be delighted to show you the different buildings and answer any queries you may have. We can provide quotations as well. Another thing to do is to take a look at the
feedback from previous customers which can be enlightening.
All of our timber sheds which we sell are not the 'cheap and cheerful' buildings you can buy online made from inferior materials and down to a price. After 40 years in the business we know what is important in making a quality garden shed - one that will last and will look good in your garden.
Don't risk buying a 'bad un'. Do your research and always, if possible, go and look at your intended purchase before signing on the 'dotted line'. Don't end up in the situation - if only! Visit one of our show sites and see for yourself how good our sheds are. You won't regret it.
Photo Gallery
Diamond Sheds
Free Assembly Included
Platinum Sheds
Free Installation Included
Bespoke Options
Treat them mean – keep them keen is a well known phase. Normally used by male chauvinistic persons to describe their ludicrous views of the fairer sex. Used in the context of a garden building it can be taken to mean it you don’t bother with them then they will still serve you well which again is a ridiculous idea.
Garden sheds take kindly to being cared for and looked after. They will repay you by looking good, making you feel proud and will look after your valuable items to boot.
There are many types of treatments available, ranging from water based treatment through to fully pressurised tanalised treatments. Years ago one of the favourite treatments was crescote, often mixed with old engine oil. This did a sterling job protecting the timber from the harsh weather. This had a distinctive smell, quite strong, which tended to linger for quite a while.
Not ideal if you had treated the inside of a building you wanted to work in. Improved safety rules were introduced in 2003 as it had proved dangerous to use and from 30th June 2004 it is actually illegal to even store it or keep it in any form. A new substitute Crecote has been introduced for people who wish to get a similar effect.
Water based preservative are commonly used on the cheaper sheds, mainly serving the purpose of a base coat, for your second coat to be put on. The water is actually a carrier for the chemicals and helps the chemical to adhere and react to the wood thus protecting it to a certain degree. This can be either painted on, sprayed on or the shed panels can be dipped into a bath of this treatment.
Solvent and spirit based shed preservatives is the preferred and better method of putting treatment onto timber. The solvent again is a carrier for the chemicals and works far better than the water. The solvent or spirit helps greatly and gives greater protection to the timber. Again this can be painted on, sprayed on or dipped. Very few people dip their shed panels in this dues to the possibility of reactions to the operatives doing the dipping.
Oil based treatments and you are moving into the realms of ‘Rolls Royce’ types of treatment. The oil holds the chemicals and bond the chemicals into the wood. The oil soaks into the timber giving a certain amount of ‘give’ helping with the natural movement of your timber shed.
Tanalising, or pressure treating, is the very best you can do for your timber. The tanalising process consists of the timber being put into a sealed vat. And the Tanalith E fluid is forced into the wood under pressure. This ensure that the preservative goes a great deal further than just brushing or spraying. The result of this is that the timber should resist rotting for a period of 15 years.
The treatment also protects against fungal and insect attacks giving your 12X6 garden building a long life. The appearance of the timber is quite attractive having a light natural green tint to the wood which can blend into the garden. However, you can add a colour treatment to the wood if you wish. This treatment is ideal for any building in an enclosed space where treating the building would prove difficult or where you like the idea of very low maintenance.
However whatever treatment you have it is important to keep an eye on it to ensure that you re-treat when necessary. The only extra treatment which the tanalised shed may need is a water repellent treatment, such as Thomsons WaterSeal. This would stop any dampness coming through if the building was subjected to torrential rain. (the timber is treated against rotting and is not a water repellent in its own right)
The water based treated shed should be re-treated within 4 weeks of delivery, ideally, and then every 2-3 years depending on the weather conditions. The same would apply with the spirit or solvent based treatments. With the oil based treatment after the building has its first coat you could get up to 4-5 years before anything needs doing again with the exception of any sides facing into the weather.
I do not recommend any of the water based treatments for the top coats and would only recommend spirit, solvent or oil base preservatives despite what the manufacturers may say. Water based treatments are fine for base coats or for fences, nothing else.
Some garden shed manufacturers claim to offer a 10 year guarantee, even with the water based treatment, however, like most things in life this is not as good as offer as it seems. There are strict conditions stating that if the shed is not treated EVERY year then the guarantee would be null and void. Clearly this means that the treatment they are ap
