Are you thinking of buying a new shed? Before buying take time to consider what sort of shed will best suit your needs.
Firstly, think about how you going to use your new shed. Will it be solely for gardening equipment, potting up seedlings and storing the lawnmover or will it need to store bicycles, garden furniture and the kid’s trampoline? You may want a workbench or space to service your bicycle. A shed also offers a great secure storage option for cleaning materials and chemicals away from small hands. Also think about how your needs may change in the future as your family grows or you make plans to retire.
The next thing to think about is the size of your new shed. Of course, this will be dictated to some extent by the space you have available in your garden. Try listing all the things you will be putting in your shed and work out how much room they will take up – you’ll probably need a much bigger shed than you thought! Another decision to be made is the roof; an Apex roof will give you more headroom than a Pent roof.
What material would you like your shed to be made of – wood is the most popular and mid-priced option but you could also have metal, these are cheape. However, metal sheds can last longer and need relatively little maintenance compared to a wooden shed.
Now think through how much time you will be spending in your shed – would opening windows be an advantage? Ventilation is good if you are spending long periods working but fixed windows would be more suitable if your shed is for storage rather than as a working area.
Sheds can be a dominant feature in your garden but offer opportunities for landscaping; you could put up trellis for climbing plants, have a living roof with alpines and put up bird and insect boxes. A wooden shed lends itself to a more natural garden design but metal can look just as good in the right setting. Metal sheds are available in a variety of colours whilst wooden sheds are either treated or left natural for you to stain or paint as you want.
Most sheds come in kit form with everything you need to assemble the finished product, from the screws and nails to the roof felt. If you are handy you can choose to put it together yourself or there will usually be an option to have it erected by the supplier.
The last thing, but not the least, is fitting out your shed with storage solutions which will suit your needs – there are many systems on the market for storing garden tools, hanging bicycles, tool racks for DIY equipment, etc. A well organised space will mean you get the most out of your garden shed and use it to the full instead of cramming everything in so you can’t get in through the door to find your hoe!
Taking time to think through your requirements will mean your new shed will suit you perfectly and last for years to come – however you choose to use it.