Understanding the Impact of Height and Garden Door Selection

When it comes to buying the right building for your garden, it’s crucial to empower yourself with knowledge through thorough research and careful planning. While this may not be the most thrilling part of your new purchase, it’s undeniably the most vital. Understanding the nuances between different buildings, their intended uses, the ideal shed height, and more will equip you to make an informed decision.

This will ensure that the garden building you choose is a perfect fit for your home, meets your needs, and complies with all regulations, thereby avoiding any potential issues with your neighbours or local laws.

Sheds and garden buildings offer a myriad of possibilities, and the choice of use is entirely up to you. This post delves into various factors, including standard shed height, average shed height, typical shed door height, and more, to inspire and guide you in making a creative and practical decision for your next garden addition.

Factors to Consider for Door Size

The doors you choose for your shed will play an important factor in its usability and aesthetics. The doors need to be functional and allow you to gain entry to your buildings so you can use them as you need them. So it’s imperative that when choosing the right doors for your shed, you think about what you will be using it for, how you will need to access it, what you will be storing in it, etc., before deciding on your choice of the shed door. Consider the practical aspects of the door, such as how easy it is to open and close, as well as its aesthetic appeal, to ensure it meets your needs and enhances the look of your shed.

The doors also need to be sturdy and fit the frame of the shed; some smaller sheds won’t be suitable for double doors, while others will require more than one door or can accommodate full-width sliding or bi-fold doors. Wooden shed doors, for instance, need to be secured to the shed with three sets of hinges per door and should be ledged and braced. You need to look at the bigger picture when choosing both your new garden building and the doors you require. The most common types of shed doors you can buy include:-

Single Swinging Door
The single swinging door is likely the most common type of door you will see on sheds. It’s a classic for a reason, and it’s durable, straightforward and easy to install. This type of shed door is commonly found on standard size sheds and is the basic door. Bear in mind that with this type of door for your shed, you will need clearance space for it to open fully, so this must be factored into your shed design space and placement prior to buying. This type of door is suitable for most uses, but if you’re planning to store large items or use the shed as a workshop, you might need a larger door.

Double Swinging Doors
The double door is the same as the single door, but each door opens away from the other, giving you more access to your building and allowing you to open it up to the rest of the garden. This is ideal if you are planning to use the building as a summer house or shelter from the sun.

Stable Doors
These doors are in two halfs and split horizontly in the middle. They are popuar on potting shed and where you would like sone air into the building whilst restraining animals inside with you.

Styles of Doors
Shed doors can come in three different materials, and the material of the door should correspond with the material of the shed. Typically, standard shed doors are made from wood, plastic or metal.

Again, each door and position can be made with a range of different styles, sizes, and features. Your doors can be made with windows in either full-length panes, smaller windows or completely glass with a metal frame to facilitate their opening and closing to open up the building; these types of doors are ideal for using the shed for a summer house, playhouse, sitting area for a bistro set, home gym or housing a hot tub for example. Or they can be solid or panelled, as in the case of wooden doors.

There is also an option to have custom shed doors made if you cannot find the right type of doors for your shed. Each different shed door material will have its own benefits. Wooden doors will have a sold core constriction for added stability and durability, and wooden doors can be stained or varnished-even painted to match your garden aesthetics.

Plastic doors, on the other hand, are more modern looking, extremely durable, lightweight and can come in a variety of colours to help you find the perfect shade for your shed. Some metal doors have added strength and increased security, are low maintenance, and are rust-resistant, making them ideal for housing items you want to be kept safe and secure and hidden from view is tools, machinery, high value items..

Shed Height Considerations

Choosing the right shed height can have many benefits. Firstly, optimal shed height can allow you to get more storage space or more usable space within the shed. If you’re taller, then having the right height shed can allow you easier access and standing up within the shed, too. However, it’s important to note that exceeding the height limits set by local regulations can lead to planning permission issues, so it’s crucial to consider these factors when choosing the height of your shed.

When determining a shed’s height, it’s important to know the legal requirements for adding a shed or garden building to your home. In the UK, for example, to comply with current planning permission regulations, your garden building must be under 2.5 m in height. This is the maximum height of the external frame, not the internal. If you want to maximise internal space in your shed, there are flat roof options to consider. It’s crucial to understand these regulations to avoid any legal issues with your garden building.

Typically, most sheds will be around 5 feet 6 inches tall, with some going to 6 feet tall for those requiring a bit more head height. You can get sheds that are shorter than this; however, if you exceed the 2.5m limit, then you will need to gain planning permission unless the building is at least 2 metres from the bounday..
It’s essential to check the measurements for shed door height, as some doors can be as short as 5 feet tall and as tall as 6 feet.

Most shed doors will be 30 inchs feet wide for single doors, with this space sometimes being increased for double doors or other wider or custom options.
When checking measurements, always make sure you know if it’s the internal or external height as if it’s the external height; the inside could end up being shorter than you realise and not give you the space you need.

Design Tips for Optimal Door & Shed Height

Before you go any further, it’s important to remember that your shed door will be the only moving part of the shed, so you need to make sure it can withstand the pressure that will be placed on it. Shed doors should have a minimum of two diagonal braces to respond to the movement of the door and ensure it can withstand the function it needs to perform as well as the three hinges as mentioned earlier..
The diagonal bracing will support the door, helping to prevent it from sagging after a while. This is essential to ensure the shed and its door are fully functional at all times.

How should you choose the right door for your shed?
Ideally, the door size needs to be within keeping with the size of the shed. Start by measuring the available space for the door, both vertically and width-wise. Consider the intended use of the shed-if you’re planning to store large items, for example, you’ll need a wider door. If you only have a small space and your shed is smaller, look at the different types of doors for the size you are considering to see what would work best for you. If you need to duck to get through the door but you have head clearance height inside, then this can be a compromise you might need to make.

To maximise shed design and increase usable space, the type of shed you choose needs to be carefully thought out. In the first instance, always check the measurements of the shed to ensure it’s big enough for you. Then, you need to consider factors such as the shape of the roof. A flat roof might not offer as much vertical space as a flat roof inside, while a shed with a pitched roof might provide more headroom. Consider these factors when choosing your shed to ensure it meets your needs and provides the most usable space. Additionally, consider the climate in your area-a sloping roof might be better for areas with heavy snowfall, for example.

However, if you plan on using your garden building as a summerhouse to open up to the garden, sliding or bifold doors can allow you to increase the space once the doors are open and create an extension to the shed by removing an entire side of the building. Adding windows to a door that is used as a gym or office, for example, can allow natural light to flood in and really illuminate the space. If your shed is for storage only, then you will want a solid door that hides its contents from the world and can be adequately locked for peace of mind.

The use of the building will determine the design and style of your shed as will the size of your garden and the space you are planning to place it in. Don’t forget if you are using a standard swinging shed door; then you need to make sure you have clearance room for the door to open outwards and not impact the usability of the shed in any way.

Consider what the building will be used for. Just for storage, a workshop, or for relaxing?

To really create the perfect garden building, the reason you need it should factor into all of your decisions. These days, there are a whole host of different uses for garden buildings. From your standard storage and pruning shed, drawing a simple basic shed structure that allows for some added shelving to store your belongings or plants, to more extravagant designs. People can use a shed for a range of activities. It can be a playroom for the kids or a summerhouse to relax in during the day. Your shed can be transformed into a mini spa, a home gym, a perfect home school space, an office, or a chill-out zone. Other options include:

• A games room.
• A shed.
• A man cave.

Even a dedicated pet house for your four-legged friend to chill away from the hustle and bustle of the house.
With so many uses for your new building, it is important that you understand your needs and why you are buying it in the first place. This way, you can look at each different designs and assess suitability, i.e. do you have enough interior space, is the average height tall enough, can it be hooked up with utilities, how secure is it, and is there a maximum weight limit is if you are putting heavy gym equipment in the base needs to be able to support the weight and subsequent activities.

A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right Door for Your 1st Choice Garden Buildings

Is there any diagonal bracing on the door? What part of the garden building moves the most (besides the walls on the thin cheap sheds)? The answer is the door. It is VITAL that the door is made correctly which means that the door should have 2 diagonal braces on the inside of the door between the horizontal ledges. Without this bracing, the doors will sag after a relatively small amount of time and it stands to reason that without the recommended diagonal bracing the door will drop meaning that it will be harder to close.

You may not notice unless you were aware that these are essential, that many of the mass market cheap sheds do not have any at all. These companies are relying on the nails in the wood, which can be quite thin, to hold the weight of the door and to cope with the constant opening and closing. You can see the absence of diagonals by looking at the inside of the door.

How tall are the doors? You need to check the height of the doors as some are only 1.5m (5 ft tall) so you need to MIND YOUR HEAD

How many hinges and what locks are provided? It is important that a door should have 3 hinges to ensure a long life. Ideally, you should have at least a padbolt so you fit a padlock for security. Most of the cheap sheds only come 2 hinged and a turnbuckle to keep the door shut as this is the cheapest option.

ALL our garden sheds and garden buildings direct from 1st Choice we utilise strong diagonal bracing top AND bottom in between the ledges on the doors. Our buildings feature, at a minimum, a sturdy padbolt for your own padlock, or on the Diamond a rimlock and proper handle. Our doors are normally at least 1.8m (5′ 10″) tall. On all garden buildings direct from us you can be sure of 3 hinges on each door and combined with the diagonals combine to ensure your door will not drop.

How tall will your garden shed be? Some garden sheds must have been designed for Lilliput as the low height, of about 1.5m (5ft) means that the average man in this country will bang their heads.

Are height measurements internal or external? Many of our competitors give these dimensions as external which means the available height is about 3″ less.

Can you have extra height to suit YOUR needs? Is there an option to make the building higher, or lower if need be.

All our garden sheds and buildings direct from 1st Choice have at least a minimum INTERNAL height of 1.8m (5′ 10″) rising to at least 1.95m (6′ 6″). We also offer the option to increase the height so that you have much height as you require. Do the cheap mass market shed makers do this ?

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are multiple factors you need to consider when choosing your new shed. You need to make sure that you have identified the perfect space in your garden to allow for easy use and access. You need to buy the building depending on its use to ensure it has the space and features you need, and you need to consider the safety aspect as well as the doors. You need appropriate head height internally and to make sure you can easily access it via the door or doors. Door height is especially important to allow you to gain easy entry and access and get everything you need inside.

6 More Things to Know About Doors & Shed Height

To try to help you make the right decision we highlight what you should look out for and what you should avoid and – as importantly WHY. Whilst the cheapest price is what we all want for our garden shed or summerhouse it’s really important that you ensure you buy a building which will fill all your needs and, very importantly, will stand the test of time. This is why you need to do a little homework beforehand. Yes, I know, we were all not keen on doing ‘homework’ but believe me, this homework is vital to ensure you are happy when your new building is delivered.

The garden shed door is the only part of the building which moves (or should be) so it’s important that the door is made correctly to respond to this movement. This means that there should be a minimum of two diagonal braces on the shed door in between the horizontal timber ledges. With these, in place, the door will be braced and supported against any dropping. Without these braces, the door will sag after only a short while meaning the door will stick, making it harder to close, and there will be gaps at the top.

This is not a good scenario for the long term. You may not notice when buying sheds this important feature and many cheap shed manufacturers don’t have any bracing at all and quite often only two horizontal cross braces. The only thing holding the door together are the nails through the wood. Ludicrous. So ALWAYS check before buying. You can see whether there are any diagonal bracing by looking at the inside of the door. If you don’t see the garden shed beforehand ask the manufacturer directly. Don’t take chances!

The height of the shed door should be checked as some are only about 5ft (1.5m) or less tall which means you have to be very careful with your head. Most decent garden sheds will have doors sizes of at least 5ft 6in (168cm) which is more reasonable and some are taller than that. Some manufacturers offer an option for a taller door.

To help against the constant moving of the shed door you should ensure three hinges on each door. This will ensure a long life for it. If there are only two then the door may twist whilst opening and closing. As far as securing the door is concerned it’s recommended that you have at least a pad bolt on the door. This is a sliding bolt onto which you can fix your own padlock. Many of the better garden sheds and garden workshops will have a rim lock with a key and handle. A rim lock screws onto the inside of the door and is locked with a key from outside and there would normally be a handle. The best lock is a mortice lock and that is fitted into the door frame itself. Again it has a key and lock but you would normally only get this on very expensive sheds or with, maybe, an optional joinery door. Be very wary if you don’t have at least a pad bolt. On the cheap sheds, you may only get a turnbuckle, essentially a flat bit of metal with a hole in it which is screwed onto the door frame. Cheap option.

Some garden sheds are very small with heights sometimes less than 5ft tall. OK if you are a midget but for day to day, use will be a right pain (in your neck mainly) for the average man or woman. Most decent sheds would have a minimum height of at least 5ft 6in (168cm) and most up to 6ft (183cm), usually with an option for extra height, if required. Give some thought to this before spending your money, don’t regret it.

Another issue to watch out for when comparing garden sheds is whether the measurements are internal or external. Internal would be the usable space inside the building, external may be a disappointment to you as this would include the height of the shed floor and the roof. This may be a difference of 4in (100mm). If the shed has a lower height to start with then being 4in shorter would make it even worse. Again double check before buying.

If you find the height of the shed is not enough for you then consider buying from a manufacturer who has an option for extra height. Or buy some packets of headache tablets just in case.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Doors for Garden Buildings