Choosing Your Shed

We know that with the amount of options available that choosing a shed can be confusing. We have put together this guide to help you choose which shed is right for you. We always advise going through the features & specifications of the sheds you are looking at to make sure they suit your needs.

In this Section:

  • Apex vs Pent
  • Cladding
  • Flooring
  • Doors & Windows
  • Why choose wood?
  • Which model and size should I choose?

Apex vs Pent

The most common question we receive is “Should I buy an Apex or a Pent?” and “What is the difference between them?”.

The Apex Roof is the classic shed look and also the most popular. The roof features two slopes that meet in an “apex” at the centre of the shed. This provides a large amount of head room in the centre of the shed making it ideal if you spend a lot of time in your shed. Apex sheds tend to have the door in the shorter (gable) end however only our Standard Apex requires this, all other models of our Apex sheds can also have the door in the longer side.

The Pent Roof is a more modern style of shed featuring a single sloping roof providing a gradual change in internal height. Pent sheds are becoming far more popular as they allow for more height around the walls which allows for more storage. They also allow for the door to be positioned on any side.

The Barn Roof has a unique look to it with its steeper pitch and slope which allows for even more internal head room. The barn roof, also commonly called a Dutch roof, is similar to the Apex however each side of the roof has two slopes. The increased pitch on the roof withstands rain, snow and wind very well so it’s ideal for places with more exposure to the elements.

Whatever your roof style, it’s important to consider its construction. Tongue and groove boarded roofs are far superior in terms of strength, durability and longevity. Roof panels made from OSB or other chipboard types will make the shed cheaper (certainly to make – it’s often a cheeky way for manufacturers to make more money because an OSB roof is hidden under felt or EPDM), but in general they are a good indicator of lower quality standards.

The roof is one of the most exposed parts of the building – it takes the brunt of the wind and rain – so choosing a shed with chip, strand or shredded-wood board would not be the best choice.

All of our buildings come with Tongue & Groove roof’s and floors. We NEVER use any sheet material in the construction of our sheds.

Cladding

Standard Cladding is the cladding that all of our sheds come with as standard (with 2 exceptions). Our standard cladding is made from high quality Russian Redwood cut and planed to 12mm finish.

Premier Cladding is our thicker and more heavy duty option for those that want a stronger and more long lasting shed. Made from the same high quality redwood as our standard cladding but cut and planed to have an 18mm finish, this is one of our most popular options.

Tanalised Cladding is our pressure treated timber finish. We use the same high quality timber but with a thicker 15mm thick finish. This timber is pressure treated with Tanalith E for extra protection against decay, rot and insect attack.

Please see our Custom Build & Optional Extras page for pricing and more information.

Standard Cladding

Side by Side Comparison

Premier Cladding

Flooring

Standard Flooring is the cladding that all of our sheds come with as standard (with 2 exceptions). Our standard flooring is made from high quality Russian Redwood cut and planed to 12mm finish.

Heavy Duty Flooring is our thicker and more heavy duty option for those that want a stronger and more long lasting shed. Made from the same high quality redwood as our standard flooring but cut and planed to have an 18mm finish, this is one of our most popular options.

Tanalised Flooring is an option that comes as standard when you upgrade the cladding on the shed to Tanalised. It is made from the same high quality timber as our standard flooring but has been pressure treated with Tanalith E for increased protection from decay, rot and insect attack. This flooring as standard is cut and planed to a 12mm finish

Heavy Duty Tanalised Flooring is the perfect option if you want to increase the strength of your flooring but also want the tanalised upgrade. Cut and planed to an 18mm finish, this flooring is made from the same high quality timber we use in all of our components however it has been pressure treated with Tanalith E for increased protection from decay, rot and insect attack.

Please see our Custom Build & Optional Extras page for pricing and more information.

Standard Flooring

Side by Side Comparison

Heavy Duty Flooring

Windows & Door Options

We make every building to order so the positions of the door and windows are up to you. We have lots of different styles that you can choose from with Apex sheds generally have 5 options to choose from and Pent sheds generally have 10 options to choose from.

The number of windows on your shed as standard depends on your model and size. For more information on how many windows your shed will come with please feel free to contact a member of our team! All of our sheds can also come with no windows if that is what you would prefer!

We can add doors, windows and other features to really make the shed your own. We really advise you look through our Custom Build & Option Extras for more information on all of the options available!

On top of the options above we can install the hinges on your shed on any side so the choice is really up to you!

Rhino Apex with 4′ Double Doors

Pent Summerhouse (with custom door and window style) & a Standard Pent

2 x Standard Pents. 1 Style V and 1 Style Z

Why choose wood?

Timber sheds are by far the most popular type of garden building in the UK. This sections explains why and compares them to other options:

Timber Sheds

Advantages

  • Natural Beauty: Timber buildings look great in any garden and have a natural appeal to them
  • Painting: Can be easily painted to a new colour if you decide you would like to change things up
  • Variety: We offer a huge range of different models and styles so you can choose a shed that works for you!
  • Repairable: Timber sheds are easily repairable if something damages the shed. Knots and minor splits and sap are normal and do not affect the strength of the shed
  • The type of base used can be different depending on what is available

Maintenance Tips:

  • All of our sheds come pre-treated with a base coat for transport and storage. It also means you do not need to treat the shed immediately after installation
  • Retreating: We recommend you retreat your shed every 1-3 years with a suitable wood preserver for long term protection. We usually recommend Cuprionol Ducksback or Shades.
  • Bearers: We always recommend that your install your shed on bearers. The reason for this is that by lifting the shed off the ground it helps protect the floor against rot.
  • Leaves: Clear the area around the shed, including down the back and the sides. Leaf and mulch build up around the sides can lead to damage to your shed. It is ideal if you can clear under the shed as well to stop build up.
  • Pressure Treated: Sheds that have been made with pressure treated timber have extra protection against rot and insect attack however like all timber that is used outside, it still needs retreating.

Metal Sheds

Metal sheds offer a more industrial look but require less upkeep.

Pros

  • Reduced Maintenance
  • Usually pre-painted
  • Secure

Cons

  • Less attractive than timber sheds
  • Can be very flimsy, especially if thin metal is used
  • Rust can cause bad structural damage
  • Difficult to modify or repair
  • Generally there is a lot less variety in styles compared to wooden sheds.
  • You need a perfectly level concrete base or patio

Plastic Sheds

Plastic sheds are usually lightweight, easy to assemble and require less maintenance

Pros

  • Quick to assemble
  • Less upkeep
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Less attractive than timber sheds
  • Can be very flimsy and fragile, especially if thin plastic is used
  • Difficult to modify or repair
  • Generally there is a lot less variety in styles compared to wooden sheds.
  • Generally only available in smaller sizes
  • You need a perfectly level concrete base or patio
  • Can fade in sunlight
  • Difficult to paint
  • Not eco-friendly

 

Which Model & Size Should I Choose?

We offer a huge range of models and sizes to give you the most amount of choice we can! We highly recommend that you have a good read through the features and specifications of the models that interest you so that you can choose the one that most suits your needs.

Models

Our Standard Apex & Standard Pent are our most popular models with a huge range of sizes available to browse through online.

Our Superior Apex & Superior Pent are both very popular as they are the most cost effective option that allows for the door to be placed on any side.

Our Heavy Duty Apex & Heavy Duty Pent is ideal for large sheds, particularly any shed with a gable that is 8′ (2.4m) or wider

Our Groundsman is our strongest shed. It features 3″ x 2″ framing, diagonal bracing and full framed, double clad, 4′ wide double doors.

Size

The size of the model you choose is very dependent on the area you have available. We highly recommend that you double check your measurements before ordering.

We recommend that you leave enough space around the shed to allow for you to be able to get around it. This will allow you access in order to retreat it and prolong your sheds lifespan. Being based in London we know this is not always possible or ideal so we always say you should leave enough space in order to get a roller on a pole down the sides to allow for retreating.

When choosing the size it is important to consider the following:

Space Available: It is important to consider the amount of space you want to take up in your garden. A larger size shed also is more imposing if you have a small garden this is something to consider as well.

Items to Store: Knowing what you want to store in your shed can be a big help in deciding what size you need. These are common items that people store in sheds that you may want to consider:

  • Lawnmower
  • BBQ
  • Garden tools
  • Garden furniture
  • Paint & other building supplies

Space to move around: Whilst the ones above may be more obvious, many people forget to consider that you will probably need space to move around inside the shed so that you do not need to get everything out in order to get something from the back.

Roof Overhang: This is really important to consider when discussing the size of your shed. Whilst we recommend enough space to be able to retreat your shed easily, the minimum amount of space we need is approximately 6″ (150mm) all the way around the shed to allow for airflow and the roof overhang.

If you are still stuck you can always come down to our Display Site to get a better idea on the size or model you may need/want. We usually have approximately 16 sheds on display ranging in sizes from 6′ x 2’6″ Garden Tidy to a 16′ x 10′ Heavy Duty Apex.