Top Tips for Buying a New Shed

A good shed can be a place to store the lawnmower, tinker with tools, an outdoor office or just a sanctuary space when you need a break from the house.

Bents retail partner Garden Buildings Centre (GBC) has a range of garden sheds to choose from, including some styles you might not expect.

In this article we'll look at some top tips for buying a new shed and how GBC garden buildings can give you what you need.

1. Know what you want it for

First and foremost, is your shed just for storage, or do you want to be able to use the interior space as an extension of your living space?

If you want to sit in your shed to work, either on your hobbies or your job, or even just to relax, you'll probably want it to be comfortable and have windows to let in natural light.

GBC buildings include plenty of traditional garden sheds with glazed windows and large doors so you can open the space out into the garden if you wish.

2. Choose your materials

Wooden garden sheds are the classic option but GBC garden buildings come in several other materials too.

Pressure-treated timber is even more durable, to give you more years of use from your new shed, while prefabricated concrete sheds are a popular and secure alternative.

Metal sheds are particularly good for secure storage, and typically come with 3-point or 5-point locking mechanisms to resist attempted intruders.

3. Remember your headroom

If you're tall, you'll probably want a garden shed with extra headroom. Apex roofs achieve this but for even more clearance across the width of the shed, opt for a rounded Dutch apex.

A traditional flat shed roof is called a pent roof, and should be slightly sloping to allow rainwater to run off.

Remember if you have a large shed, to fit guttering to the roof edge and recover that rainwater into a water butt for use around the garden.

4. How much to spend on a shed

Budget is often a factor in deciding which shed to buy, and GBC buildings come in at a range of different price points, depending on size, materials, window glazing and so on.

This can actually be a big help, as you can narrow down your shortlist of potential sheds according to how much you want to spend.

Again, how much to spend on a shed depends on what you want from it. Simple storage will usually cost less than a shed you can use as additional living space.

5. Where to put it

Finally, think about where your new shed will go in your garden. Measure up carefully, including the height of your shed if it's near a boundary or under overhanging tree branches.

You'll need to be able to clear the floor footprint of the shed and level the ground, and you may prefer to build your shed on a solid foundation like a concrete slab.

By taking the time and effort to prepare the ground in this way, you make sure your shed fits perfectly in its new home, ready for many years of happy use.