A shed’s a shed, right? Well, almost. If you’ve decided that you need a shed, it is most likely to be a new project rather than a straight replacement for an existing building. Therefore, you will be spending money on a store that you will want to suit a purpose, require little maintenance and last for years. So, a little time spent considering the right one for your needs will pay dividends.
Location, location, location… You may be fortunate enough to have a variety of possible sites for your shed, or have to work with a very limited space. Essentially you are going to need regular access to the entrance for loading/unloading your tools and equipment, plus some space around it for erection and maintenance. When you have a number of possible sites to consider, it is worth bearing in mind that the larger the shed, the more useful it will be, so if you can get a 10’ x 8’ on one site and a 6’ x 6’ on another, the larger site will probably prove the better choice. Don’t forget to consider the maximum height available and the likely growth of trees and shrubs in the area under consideration. Where possible, a sheltered site with less exposure to high winds and storms is preferable.
Wood or Metal? Wooden sheds remain hugely popular – they are inexpensive buildings requiring only occasional maintenance and ‘blend’ 
well in any garden setting, being built of natural materials which can be painted or treated in a variety of colours. Entrances can be via single or double doors depending on design. Metal sheds come pre-painted and are cheaper to buy, but aesthetically are less appealing and require careful installation to avoid condensation problems. Nevertheless, a well sited metal shed can do the same job as a comparable size wooden one at lower cost and virtually no maintenance. Some metal sheds have sliding doors which can be of benefit where space is limited.
Wooden Sheds - Overlap or Tongue & Groove ?
Essentially the difference is in the wall construction -
Overlap:
· Less preparation required of materials during manufacture;
· Simpler manufacture of sidewalls;
· Cost effective;
· Rustic look.
Overlap is a traditional method of wall cladding for small wooden buildings, like sheds or summerhouses. Each board has square cut edges and is ‘overlapped’ onto the adjacent edge of the next board. The boards are then nailed to vertical bearers. This is an economical method of manufacture as the boards need minimal preparation.
Tongue & Groove:
· Precise machining of components – tongue & groove boards ;
· More weatherproof on assembly – no gaps;
· More rigid structure when building fully assembled;
· Finished building has smooth, quality finish.
The Benefits of Tongue & Groove compared to Overlap:
The term ‘Tongue & Groove’ refers to a superior construction method for garden building walls. Sometimes also referred to as ‘Shiplap’, each piece of cladding interlocks with the next by using a tongue and groove profile, making the structure more rigid, having less gaps and a smooth finish.
Overlap boards can distort due to variations in temperature and humidity over time – this does not happen with Tongue and Groove, which remains straight thanks to the interlocking profile of the components. This is why you will not often see overlap construction on larger garden buildings. Size for size, the benefits of using Tongue and Groove construction outweigh the small additional cost for your garden building.
Roof styles:
The three most common types of roof are Apex, Pent and Flat. They all do the same job of protecting the contents inside and shedding water and your choice may be affected by available height on your intended site, whether you intend storing tall items inside and how the shed looks in your garden:
Other Considerations include:
· Your Neighbours – If you intend placing the shed close to a boundary fence then you may require access from your neighbour’s garden during construction. Giving them consideration at the planning stage avoids any potential for objections after the shed is erected.
· Local Authority permissions. In most cases no permission is required from Local Authorities to erect a shed, however, it is worth checking just in case there are size limitations or permissions required for garden buildings in your area.
· The Base – your new shed will need to be erected on a sound base. For more information about the considerations of Base preparation, see our Building a Base guide.
Special Styles and sizes:
For very limited space you could consider a wooden bike store, or our range of outside plastic storage. For keen gardeners we manufacture our potting shed complete with stable door, large glass area and wooden staging. To help get the children interested in the garden you could consider our playhouses.
Here are some of our most popular Garden Sheds: