1st Choice Garden Buildings Floors Roofs

Is the floor ALL timber or chipboard or OSB board?

1/ The floor is absolutely crucial to the lastability of garden sheds and garden building so it is important to ensure that it is not made from chipboard or OSB (sterling or wafer board) board as these are not really suitable for outdoor use where there is a chance they will get wet. Chipboard is by its name made from wood chips, OSB is wood shavings stuck together – which is fine for kitchen and bedroom cabinets covered in melamine – but it is NO USE whatsoever in a shed. On some of the floors on these cheap sheds the floor is only 10mm thick (thin!!) which is only about 3/8 of one inch – smaller than a standard pencil.

Also, notice that most companies offering chipboard or OSB boards describe them as solid sheet materials as they are too embarrassed to tell you what you are really getting and they normally exclude the roof from any warranty over the minimum period as they KNOW these boards won’t last (Ask them the question)

How thick and how many floor joists?

2/ The other important consideration is the thickness of the floor joists, which can be as small as 28x28mm (1″ x 1″) on these cheap sheds, and the spacing of the floor joists. On the cheap sheds, you will find the gaps in between quite large and with the thin chipboard or OSB board won’t stand up to much heavy use. You will find that the boards start sagging and eventually will break, certainly if there is any damp coming up from the ground.

Are the floors pre-assembled?

3/ On many of these cheap garden sheds you have to build the floor from thin timbers and chipboard, OSB board yourself.

All our Garden Sheds and Workshops Are –

All our floors are supplied ready-made, no assembled to do. All our floors are made from solid T&G timber boards with heavy duty floor joists, we do NOT use chipboard or OSB board as they are NOT suitable for outdoor use. On the Diamond, we do use timber T&G boards on the floor, except if the floor is 8×8 and over where we use the superb moisture resistant Caber board, grade v313. This is similar to what is used in a brand new house in a kitchen and bathroom where there is a possibility it could get wet so is ideal.

We are confident in this because we owned and ran one of Surrey’s largest company supplying garden sheds direct from 1979 (pre-Maggie Thatcher) for over 20 years.

We have been involved in garden sheds and buildings for over 35 years. We know if the shed is put onto a dry base and that the building is treated every year with a water repellent preservative and that the roofing felt is kept in good condition then your new garden building will last for a very long time. Most of the sheds we built back in the early ’80s are still going strong.

What To Know About Garden Buildings Roofs

Is the roof ALL timber or chipboard, OSB board or sheet material?

1/ Do the garden sheds you are considering have an all timber roof or it is the man-made chipboard, OSB board or sheet materials? Chipboard is by its name made from wood chips stuck together – OSB (sterling or wafer board) is made from wood shavings and stuck together- which is fine for kitchen and bedroom cabinets covered in melamine – but it is NO USE whatsoever in a shed in the long term. OSB board can be adequate in certain circumstances however if any of the board is cut (which nearly always has to be to meet the size of the shed) then this removes the special waterproof paint which had been applied to the edges. The cut edges of the roof are then prone to swelling when it gets wet and then that is the beginning of the end of the roof. A roof should be solid T&G timber to ensure a long life.

Also, notice that most companies offering chipboard or OSB boards describe them as solid sheet materials as they are too embarrassed to tell you what you are really getting and they normally exclude the roof from any warranty over the minimum period as they KNOW these boards won’t last (Ask them the question).

How long will the shed roof last?

2/ You have to cover it with the roofing felt – how do you do that? – you put clout head nails through the roofing felt into the chipboard or OSB boards which again – potentially if you do not align the nails correctly – allows water to get into the chipboard or OSB board. When this happens you can expect the roof to shows signs of letting in water and disintegrating. (literally).Why take the chance??

Are all Fascia Boards included other Garden Sheds?

3/ Also check the grade and thickness of the roofing felt and also ensure that all fascia and barge boards are included to finish your shed off. Felt should ideally be at least 40kg weight.

All Our Garden Sheds are –

All our roofs are made from solid T&G timber boards, we do NOT use chipboard, OSB board, sheet material or any of these other cheap alternatives as they are NOT suitable for outdoor use. On the Platinum, we do offer the top of the range Onduline roofs which have a design life of at least 15 years. All fascia and barge boards are included.

Click on any of the following links for more important things to consider before buying!

Read About Quality of Timber Which Should Be Used

Read About What you MUST know about Garden Sheds Floors & Roofs

Read About Range of Styles and Sizes from 1st Choice Garden Sheds and Buildings

Read About Delivery and Assembly Options

Read About Glass and Windows

Not from Lilliput ?? Then Read About Height and Doors

Read About What you MUST Know about Guarantees and Where your Building will be Made

Written By Robin - Expert in Garden Buildings For 42 Years.
Hi, I'm Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and I use my expertise gained over 42 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.