How Do I Pick The Best Shed for My Garden?
When it comes to choosing the right shed for your garden, there are now plenty of options to consider. Whether your garden is large or small, here is a quick guide as to how to choose the right garden shed for your home.
Usage
Before you start to choose your shed, you need to think about why you are looking for a shed in the first place. If it is purely as a storage solution, then something smaller might suit your needs best.
However, if you intend to store bikes or valuable tools, you might want to consider what style of shed is most secure. If you are after a shed that can also serve as extra space, for example as an outdoor office or hideaway, then you'll want to be sure to choose a shed that feels light and airy, with windows as well as just a door.
Material
One of the other main criteria to think about when it comes to choosing your garden shed is to decide what material you want to go for. The top three shed materials are made from either -
- Metal
- Wood
- Plastic
A metal shed is ideal for storage and also make for excellent bike sheds as they are much harder to break into than both wooden and plastic sheds. However, they can be a little trickier to set up, which is important to consider if you intend to construct your shed by yourself. Wood sheds are perhaps the most popular and with good reason. Aesthetically pleasing, they fit nicely into a range of different garden layouts and are easy to put together, lasting the test of time.
There are also a variety of cladding options to choose from too, making it quick and simple to find a wood shed that suits your needs. Lastly, plastic sheds are good for those after a more low maintenance shed option.
Most plastic sheds now come with inbuilt UV protection, so there's no need to treat them year after year. They are also easy to assemble as the pieces are generally quite lightweight in comparison to wood or metal sheds.
Size
Size is also an essential factor when it comes to choosing the right garden shed. The size of shed you choose will most often be dictated by the size of your garden, but opting for a large enough shed to fit all your items is key. Go too small, and you run the risk of not having enough space or squeezing your shed into an unsuitable area of the garden.
For example, close to pooling water or underneath low-hanging tree branches. Choosing a shed that sits comfortably in your garden is more important than trying to simply fit it into the smallest space possible.
Upkeep
How often you intend to take care of your shed will also be an important element of the decision making process. Some shed materials require more upkeep than others, so this is something you need to consider if you want a no hassle shed option.
Plastic and metal sheds are more low maintenance as they are not going to rot, unlike wood sheds. For this reason, wood sheds need to be treated and sealed at least once a year to prevent any damp issues. It is possible to purchase a pressure treated wooden shed, where the timber has already been treated, meaning you never had to do it. However, this option may be more expensive.
Budget
This brings us nicely to our final concern - what is your budget? If you are looking for a bargain, then you might be better off considering plastic sheds first, as these tend to come in at a cheaper cost. The larger the shed you choose, the more expensive it will be.
The same goes for added features and security, so remember to keep this in mind too when choosing your shed. If you feel that the shed you really want is still a little too expensive, then it might be best to save for a longer before committing to your purchase.
After all, your garden shed will most likely not be replaced for a number of years, so it is important to make sure you are choosing the right one that meets both your short-term and long-term garden needs.