Timber Workshops at a Glance
Construction: Quality redwood timber with strong framing · Sizes: Compact workshops to large 28x16 buildings · Glazing: Toughened glass as standard · Floors: Solid timber or heavy-duty flooring depending on range · Styles: Apex, pent, reverse-apex and transverse designs.
Uses: Woodworking, DIY, bike repairs, hobbies, tool storage, studio or home workspace · Insulation: Full insulation options available · Installation: Free professional installation in most areas · Doors: Wide double-door options available · Finishes: Colour paint options available · Customisation: Bespoke sizes, door and window positions and layouts available · See before you buy: Selected timber workshops on display at our Surrey show site near Guildford and Woking.
Need advice? Our experienced team can help with workshop size, construction, doors, windows, insulation, base requirements and installation before you order.
View More Timber Workshop Images
Click on images below to see larger versions of garden workshops
Click on images below to see larger versions of garden workshops
Click on images below to see larger versions of garden workshops
Click on images below to see larger versions of combination garden workshops with shed or extra rooms
Click on image below to see larger versions of insulated workshops (Opens new page)
Options To choose from a large range of colours and make your new
garden workshop special.
Choosing the Right Timber Workshop
A proper timber workshop needs to do considerably more than keep tools dry. If you are going to install workbenches, shelving, machinery, or heavy equipment, the quality of the timber frame, cladding, floor, doors, and roof becomes important. I have seen many workshops over the years that looked attractive in a photograph but were not really built for regular working use.
Our wooden workshops include buildings manufactured from quality redwood timber rather than relying on cheaper whitewood, together with pressure-treated options on selected ranges. Tongue-and-groove timber cladding, substantial framing and proper timber floors create the solid working environment a workshop should provide.
What Size Wooden Workshop Do You Need?
One mistake I have seen repeatedly is buying a workshop based on its empty floor area. A building can look enormous before you put anything inside it. Add a workbench, cupboards, shelving, timber racks, tools and machinery, and that clear space
disappears remarkably quickly.
An 8×6 ft building can work as a compact hobby workshop. In contrast, 10×8 ft gives useful room for a bench and general DIY. Around 12×8 or 12×10 ft gives substantially more working and storage space, while 16×8 ft and larger buildings become much more suitable for machinery, bigger projects and separate work and storage areas. Our large wooden workshops extend considerably beyond this, with selected models available up to approximately 28×16 ft.
My advice is to draw your proposed internal layout before ordering. Mark in your benches, machines, cupboards, and shelving, then make sure you still have enough room to move and work safely. If the garden and budget allow, a little spare space is rarely wasted in a workshop. Our garden workshop ideas guide has further advice on layouts, work areas, equipment and planning a practical workspace.
A Timber Frame Workshop for Machinery and Serious DIY
If you intend to use machinery or heavier equipment, do not buy on the words “heavy duty” alone. Compare the actual construction. Look at the framing, cladding thickness, floor specification, roof construction and joinery. These details tell you far more about a timber frame workshop than the marketing name.
For demanding woodworking, machinery or substantial storage, take a look at our heavy-duty timber workshops. They are a better starting point when strength, floor capacity and usable working space matter more than simply finding the cheapest building of a particular size.
Diamond or Platinum Timber Workshops?
Our Diamond Barnham buildings are an excellent choice when you want a substantial wooden workshop, plenty of usable floor space and a particularly wide choice of sizes without paying for specifications you may not need. They are well suited to DIY, woodworking, repairs, tools, machinery and general workshop storage.
The Platinum workshop ranges are worth considering when you want a higher specification, pressure-treated timber construction or the option of insulation. Southampton, Fareham and Winchester models provide different roof designs, sizes and layouts, with Winchester extending into some of our largest workshop sizes.
Neither choice is automatically right for everybody. I would choose according to what you are putting inside the workshop, how often you intend to use it and whether paying for a higher specification will give you a genuine long-term benefit.
Should You Insulate a Wooden Workshop?
If your timber workshop will mainly be used for tool storage or occasional work during warmer weather, insulation may not be necessary. If you expect to spend several hours at a time inside throughout autumn and winter, it becomes far more worthwhile.
Insulation helps reduce heat transfer and makes a workshop easier to heat, although insulation itself does not create warmth. You will still need an appropriate heat source if you want a comfortable winter working temperature. Ventilation remains important too, particularly if you are sanding timber, painting, using adhesives or storing tools and materials that may be affected by condensation.
You can compare our dedicated insulated garden workshops if year-round use is important to you.
Doors, Windows and Workshop Layout
I recommend planning the inside of a wooden workshop before deciding where the doors and windows should go. Windows are most useful where they provide natural light over a workbench. Still, too many windows can take away valuable wall space that could otherwise be used for shelving, cupboards or machinery.
Door width is just as important. If you regularly move bicycles, lawn equipment, machinery, furniture or long lengths of timber, double doors can make life considerably easier. Selected timber workshop ranges can be made with alternative door and window positions, allowing the building to work around your equipment instead of forcing you to arrange everything around a standard layout.
Bespoke and Large Wooden Workshops
Standard sizes make sense where they fit the space and intended use, but there are times when a bespoke timber workshop is the better answer. You may need to fit around an awkward boundary, avoid a tree or other obstacle, accommodate large equipment or create separate working and storage areas.
Selected ranges can be produced in bespoke dimensions with alternative door positions, window layouts and other options. If you are considering one of our larger wooden workshops, planning these details before manufacture becomes particularly important because small layout decisions can make a large difference to how useful the finished building is.
Your Timber Workshop Needs a Proper Base
A timber workshop is only as good as the foundation underneath it. I would never recommend cutting corners on the base, particularly with a large workshop or a building carrying heavy machinery. It needs to be firm, flat and level and capable of supporting both the workshop and everything you intend to put inside it.
A poor base can allow the building to settle unevenly and can cause problems with doors, windows and the structure itself. Concrete, paving and correctly constructed supporting frameworks can all be suitable depending on the building and ground conditions. Our garden workshop base guide explains the main options in more detail.
Professional Timber Workshop Installation
Many of these wooden workshops are substantial buildings, particularly once you move into the larger sizes. Professional installation is included with our timber workshop ranges within the applicable delivery areas, meaning experienced installers assemble the structure rather than leaving you with a very large DIY project.
What they need from you is a suitable level base and adequate access to the site. Check gateways, side passages, alleyways, steps, sharp corners and overhead restrictions before ordering. Discovering an access problem before delivery is considerably easier than discovering it when the workshop arrives.
How Long Will a Timber Workshop Last?
A good-quality timber workshop, correctly installed and maintained, can provide decades of useful service. Key factors include the original timber and construction quality, the base, weather exposure, and how the building is maintained afterwards.
Pressure-treated timber provides additional protection on applicable ranges, while dip-treated buildings require appropriate ongoing treatment. Whichever building you choose, keep the external finish in good condition, inspect the roof periodically and avoid allowing water or vegetation to remain permanently against the walls. A little regular maintenance is much easier and less expensive than dealing with neglected timber several years later. Our guide to weatherproofing a wooden garden building has more information on protecting timber from the elements.
Why I Believe Experience Matters When Buying a Wooden Workshop
I’m Robin Antill and my working life with garden buildings began in 1979. I had left school at 15 and eventually started my own business trading as Marina Sheds. Those early years taught me the practical side of timber buildings. What works, where manufacturers cut corners and why a building that appears cheap initially is not necessarily good value over its lifetime.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990. However, unfortunately I did not receive all of the money due to me from that sale. It was a difficult business lesson, but it certainly did not put me off the garden building industry.
In 1992 we expanded beyond sheds by adding summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. That broader direction meant we changed our name to Titan Garden Buildings. The same year, my son Craig joined the business after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry background added another practical understanding of timber construction to the business.
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998. Then, in 2000, we decided that rather than manufacture or concentrate on only one type of building, we would retail a carefully selected range of quality products from manufacturers we were happy to recommend. That was the beginning of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I support him whenever required. More than four decades after I started Marina Sheds, I still believe the same basic rule applies: understand what the customer genuinely needs and help them buy the right building rather than simply trying to sell them the most expensive one. You can read more about me, Robin Antill, and my experience with garden buildings.
See Timber Workshops Before You Buy
I have always believed that seeing a timber building in person is one of the best ways to judge it. Photographs can’t show you how solid a floor feels, the quality of the framing, the difference between cladding specifications, or how much usable room you really have once you stand inside a particular size.
You are welcome to visit our Surrey garden building display site, near Guildford, Woking and Ripley. You can inspect representative buildings, compare timber and construction details and talk through sizes, layouts, bases and options before deciding which workshop suits you.
Timber Workshop FAQs
What Is a Timber Workshop?
A timber workshop is a wooden garden building designed to provide dedicated working and storage space away from the house. Unlike a basic storage shed, a good workshop normally places greater emphasis on framing, floor strength, natural light, door access and usable internal working space. Timber workshops are commonly used for woodworking, DIY, repairs, bicycle maintenance, machinery, crafts and serious hobbies.
What Is the Difference Between a Wooden Workshop and a Shed?
A shed is often purchased mainly for storage, whereas a wooden workshop is intended to be regularly worked in. That makes floor construction, timber framing, door access, light and internal layout more important. There is no official dividing line between the two, so I recommend comparing the actual specification rather than relying on whether a manufacturer calls a building a shed or workshop.
What Is the Best Size for a Timber Workshop?
There is no single best size because it depends on your equipment and intended use. Around 10×8 ft can provide a useful starting point for a workbench and storage, while 12×8 or 12×10 gives considerably more working room. A 16×8 ft or larger workshop is better suited to machinery and substantial projects. Always allow for benches, cupboards and circulation space rather than judging the size while the building is empty.
Can I Buy a Large Wooden Workshop?
Yes. Selected ranges extend to approximately 28×16 ft and suit substantial machinery, multiple benches, extensive storage, or a combination of different work areas. Bespoke sizes and layouts are also available on selected models where a standard building does not suit the site or intended use.
Are Timber Workshops Suitable for Machinery?
They can be, but you need to choose the specification carefully. Machinery creates greater loads than normal garden storage, so pay particular attention to the floor, framing and overall construction. Tell us what you intend to install inside, and we can help you decide whether a standard model or one of our heavy-duty workshops is the better option.
Do I Need Planning Permission for a Timber Workshop?
Many domestic timber workshops can fall within permitted development rights, but this depends on factors including height, position, the property itself and how the workshop will be used. Listed buildings and properties in designated areas can have additional restrictions. Our garden workshop planning permission guide explains the main points, but you should check the circumstances applying to your own property where there is any doubt.
Can a Timber Workshop Be Insulated?
Yes. Full insulation options are available on selected wooden workshops. Insulation is particularly worth considering if you plan to spend long periods inside during colder weather, use the workshop throughout the year or want a more stable internal environment. See our insulated workshop range for suitable models.
Can I See a Wooden Workshop Before Ordering?
Yes, and I would encourage you to do so if practical. At our Surrey display site, you can walk inside representative garden buildings and compare timber, floors, framing, sizes and specifications for yourself. If you need advice before visiting or ordering, please contact us, and we will be happy to help.
My Final Advice When Choosing a Timber Workshop
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, my advice is straightforward: buy the workshop for the job you expect it to do. Allow enough room for the equipment you will actually put inside, compare real construction rather than marketing descriptions, prepare a proper base, and think carefully about doors, windows, and access before ordering.
A well-chosen timber frame workshop should not simply give you somewhere to store things. It should provide a practical working environment that you enjoy using for many years. You can compare our complete range of garden workshops if you are still deciding which construction or specification suits you best. If you are unsure which specification or size is right, talk to us. Craig, I, and the 1st Choice team will help you work through the options.
From £2998
