Owning a bespoke garden workshop opens up a whole world of possibilities just steps from your back door. It’s a wonderful upgrade that can utterly transform how you work, store, and spend your time outdoors. From hands-on projects to simply needing better storage, here are a few benefits of a garden workshop:
- Dedicated Creative Space: Enjoy a private, purpose-built area for woodworking, tinkering with tools, art, or any hobby without cluttering your house.
- Extra Storage & Organisation: A workshop shed provides plenty of room to store garden equipment, bicycles, and seasonal items, keeping your garage and home tidy.
- Property Enhancement: A well-built garden workshop can add functional square footage and charm to your property, potentially increasing its appeal.
- All-Weather Use: With the right design, your workshop can be used year-round. It’s your perfect retreat, whether it’s sunny or snowing.
- Professional Assembly Included: For added peace of mind, we include free installation with our Platinum, Sapphire, and Diamond ranges. This saves you time and ensures the structure is built correctly by our experts.
Imagine a day in your new garden workshop, where each of our build types offers a distinctive atmosphere to fit your needs. Step into a Heavy Duty Workshop, feel the solid floor beneath your feet, and hear the rhythmic buzz of power tools echoing through the sturdy walls. The thick framing and cladding effectively absorb sound, creating an ideal environment for ambitious projects involving machinery or automotive tasks, making it a go-to choice for mechanics and builders alike.
In an Insulated Workshop, you’re welcomed by the gentle hum of a fan heater maintaining a cosy temperature. The space exudes comfort, making it ideal for both office work and artistic pursuits year-round. The insulated walls cradle you in quietness, allowing for uninterrupted focus, whether it’s on a detailed canvas or a complex piece of writing.
Step outside, and the slight metallic scent from a Sectional Workshop’s reinforced structure greets you. The workshop’s robust exterior ensures security, while its design facilitates quick assembly, making it ideal for those who prioritise durability and low maintenance.
Move to the Timber Workshop, where the earthy aroma of natural wood beckons. Every surface can be customised, from the size to the colour, offering a picturesque setting that blends seamlessly with your garden. The Timber Workshop provides an inviting space for crafts or simply a tranquil retreat, its wooden essence enhancing the sensory experience.
Our wide range of garden workshops encompasses several build types, categorised into four main categories, depending on the intended use.
Imagine stepping into your cosy, insulated garden workshopa> on a frosty morning. The moment you open the door, you’re greeted by a welcoming warmth that lets you forget the chill outside. This year-round comfort is courtesy of insulation throughout the roof, walls, and floor, ensuring your workshop remains a refuge in winter and stays cool in the height of summer.
Whether it’s serving as your office, studio, or hobby space, you can confidently plug in a heater or cooler without worrying about energy wastage. The internal environment is designed to stay pleasant, allowing you to focus on your passion in comfort.
Sectional garden workshopsa> are low-maintenance buildings made from concrete or metal panels. They are especially popular where durability and security are top priorities. Sectional designs also allow for faster assembly on site, and many come with reinforced walls and integrated floors for added stability.
Classic wood finish with full customisation in size, doors, windows, and paint. Choose from shiplap, loglap, or weatherboard to match your style. Timber workshopsa> are one of the most popular choices thanks to their natural appearance and the range of customisation options available.
Looking for compact storage? Or maybe a full-scale bespoke garden workshop? Whatever your choice, our sizes vary widely, including:
- 10×8 ft: A great starting point for hobbyists, offering just enough space for light tools and garden gear.
- 12×8 ft: A step up in depth, allowing for a full-length workbench and shelving.
- 14×10 ft: Excellent for those needing room to move around with larger tools and equipment.
- 16×8 ft: Offers generous length, ideal for long or narrow gardens where width is limited.
- 20×8 ft: Maximises usable floor space without overwhelming the garden footprint.
- 20×14 ft: A serious workspace. Great for business use or dividing into multiple functional zones.
Not sure what size is right for you? It helps to consider future needs. Some of our customers eventually wish they’d gone slightly bigger, especially when large workbenches and storage start taking up floor space. Also, and we hate to state the obvious here, but it’s also worth measuring the items you plan to store or the work area you’ll need before choosing your garden workshop.
Your garden workshop’s roof style can completely change its appearance (and even its function). From the traditional British charm of a pitched apex to the crisp, contemporary lines of a pent roof, the right type of design makes a real difference in terms of style and practicality.
- Apex Roof: This classic shape with central height is great for headroom and traditional charm. It is ideal for freestanding buildings and is also useful for installing overhead storage or lighting.
- Pent Roof: This modern flat slope is ideal near boundaries or fences. It offers good height at the front while keeping a discreet profile. Pent roofs are often preferred in urban gardens where height restrictions apply.
Our workshops come in a variety of materials:
- T&G Shiplap: Interlocking tongue-and-groove timber boards with a smooth finish
- T&G Loglap: Rounded log-style boards for a traditional, rustic look
- Overlap Weatherboard: Traditional horizontal cladding
- Metal Panels: Durable and secure, ideal for minimal upkeep
Wall thickness can vary depending on the range of application. Premium models, such as our Platinum workshops, utilise thicker boards and framing, which not only last longer but also provide a sturdier, more solid feel.
Want a workshop you can use in winter? Go insulated, and keep your garden building warm during the long, colder months. Our insulated garden workshops come with:
- Foil-backed internal lining
- Draft-sealed doors
- Roof and floor insulation options
- Double-glazed windows in many cases
This setup helps regulate temperature and reduce noise. It’s the ideal choice for anyone using power tools, working long hours inside, or storing temperature-sensitive equipment.
Customers who use their garden workshops as art studios, music rooms, or offices greatly benefit from the quieter, more stable internal environment that insulation provides.
Every garden workshop we sell is made to order and fully bespoke as required. At 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, you can choose from:
- Size and layout
- Cladding type and colour
- Door and window placement
- Roof covering and internal options
- Insulation level
Need something not shown? Just ask! Whether you need extra height, double doors, skylights, additional windows, or shelving, our team can usually accommodate your request. You can also request extras, such as heavy-duty flooring, security features, or partitioned sections, if you want to create different zones for various uses.
We are a proud family business that combines decades of experience with honest service and high-quality builds:
- UK-made workshops from trusted partners like Diamond and Platinum
- Free installation included in the price on most models
- Transparent warranties that are clear, fair, and based on real-world use
- Custom builds with fast lead times
- Showroom in Surrey so you can see before you buy
We work closely with a small group of manufacturers to offer the best-performing outdoor buildings across multiple ranges. Rather than pushing standardised kits, we adapt every building to suit you. Unlike many online-only sellers, we provide in-person service, display models, and genuine advice.
When you choose us, you’re not just purchasing a building—you’re joining a community that values craftsmanship, honesty, and a commitment to supporting local businesses. Our workshops are crafted with the same dedication and attention to detail that you bring to your own projects.
We pride ourselves on transparency and genuine relationships with our customers, creating a shared experience that extends beyond the workshop itself.
Our team doesn’t rely on flashy sales tricks. You’ll speak with experienced builders and advisors, not trained ‘closers’ chasing their next commission. That’s why so many of our customers return or refer friends and family!
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How big can I build a workshop without planning permission?
Planning permission remains a common concern in the United Kingdom, with many people unsure about the restrictions on creating a garden. In the UK, the maximum size of a workshop without planning permission is typically 2.5 metres with a dual-pitched roof or 4 metres in height with any other type of roof. The shed should not take up more than half of the land around the original property.
Depending on your local council, the building should be behind the main structure of your property. It is important to check with your local council if you are not sure..
Read more in our
‘Unveiling Planning Permission: A Detailed Guide for Owners of Garden Workshops’ guide aims to shed additional light on garden building planning authorisation. By the conclusion, you should be able to determine if you need planning clearance for your new construction.
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How long will a wooden workshop last?
There are many factors which will affect a garden workshop. The type of wood used, the construction quality, the local climate, and how well the building is maintained are important factors. However, on average, a well-built and well-maintained wooden workshop can last for 20 to 30 years or more.
Proper maintenance, such as regular cleaning, painting or staining, and repairing any damages, can significantly increase its lifespan.
Pressure-treated wooden workshops are worth the extra investment as the treatment is forced into the wood. It is still recommended that you apply your own treatment on top for optimal longevity.
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Is it cheaper to build your own workshop?
It is reasonably easy to assemble the smaller buildings if someone can help you move the panels around whilst you screw them together. However, it is very important that you take your time and do the job correctly. This is vitally important for fixing the roof and sealing it. If you get it wrong, water may get into your building and damage your possessions. Not a good idea.
However, as standard, 1st Choice includes free installation of the building, which is a far better idea. This saves you a lot of hard work and ensures your new building is built correctly, which will help its long life.
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What types of garden workshops are available?
At 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, we offer our customers a broad range of garden workshops that suit various needs and preferences, ensuring that everybody finds precisely what they're looking for.
Our workshops range from smaller sizes, like 8ft x 6ft, to larger sectional buildings that can be as large as 30ft X 14ft.
In addition, we also provide bespoke options that can be tailored to your specific requirements. Whether you're looking for a basic, compact space or a larger, customised workshop, we offer plenty of options to perfectly suit your garden space.
All our timber workshops include free assembly, which will save you time, money and effort. You will also know it has been assembled correctly.
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Where can I find different (bespoke) sizes and designs of garden workshops
When finding the perfect workshop, sometimes the size or options off the shelf don't fit the bill. Whether it's a matter of size, layout, or simply wanting something unique, settling for less is not an option. How about designing the perfect building to complement your garden?
Our customisable designs offer the ideal building tailored to your preferences. Choose from standard models or fully bespoke options. Free fitting on wooden buildings as standard, coloured treatment and multi-room configurations are available. Toughened glass and floors are standard. Explore our
garden workshops, and you can use the filters to fine-tune your needs. Or
contact page if you need help.
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Who can help building a base? What about painting or adding insulation? Electrics?
1st Choice specialises in offering an extensive collection of quality buildings, ensuring you can find your ideal workshop with minimal fuss. There are occasions, however, when other specialists are required to complete your project. Our years of experience in this field have allowed us to build valuable connections with reliable tradespeople, whom we put forward here for your consideration.
This is where we can help. We have contacts for base building, painting, insulation service, electrical work, building removal, and decking construction. All of these contacts are vetted by us to ensure they will do a first-class job for you. Take away the worry about trying to find someone suitable and talk to us so we can help. Take a look at this
additional services page or
contact page so see if we can help.
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Why is viewing a garden workshop in person essential before purchasing?
With the internet, it's often difficult to see what your new garden building will be like. This is why it's essential to view your wood building before delivery. This way, you can see how well it's been made, whether there is sufficient head height, whether the doors and windows are solidly made and how good the timber is. Whilst some internet-only companies may claim it's best to buy online, it is only sometimes possible to be sure what you are getting. If they are not prepared to let you see their buildings beforehand, then be wary. The cheapest price is only sometimes the best value. 1st Choice Show Rooms
and showcase their very high quality buildings and is situated close to Guildford, Woking and Ripley in Surrey.
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