Please help me find a decent shed - it's a minefield!

[minty133]

So, I need a garden shed - 6'4. Single door or double door with window(s). Low maintenance or treated wood. My budget is £500. Most shops are closed or online only so I can't see the shed in person to inspect it for sturdiness etc. All the B&Q ones have terrible reviews. Can anyone recommend one please?

Actually I could go up to £1k for something special

Have a look at Keter plastic sheds. No maintenance but there are upfront costs, e.g. needs to be on a level, preferably concrete, base. The shed will arrive in sections but they are clearly marked and instructions are clear.

I have a 6 x 8 which has been up now for 6 years with no issues. Took two of us to erect.

www.argos.co.uk/product/1924501

Following as I need a new shed. ...my advice is to go bigger than you think you need!

@passengers

Following as I need a new shed. ...my advice is to go bigger than you think you need!

I second that!

Don't get a heavy duty plastic one, i wish we hadn't. Spent loads on a reputable brand. Problem was it needs to be absolutely perfectly flat on the base, with a wooden one it obviously has to be flat also but with more wriggle room. It was a right faff to put together even with my relative with an engineering degree. Flies land on it en masse in summer and bird poo seems more visible. Its bloody boiling in it in summer. Really wish I had bought a wooden one instead.
Although I will say it is durable.

I think that due to lockdown much of these things are sold out.

Is there a small local firm that makes them - but wouldn't be online necessarily? We have some. Try yellow pages

Obviously a different experience to winewolfhowls. I believe that any structure would have to be on a level base?

As for it being hot, even wooden sheds get hot inside, but I only use it to get what I need and leave the door open.

Not experienced any problem with bird poo or flies, but I do run the power washer over it every couple of years.

Plastic ones are a possibility but they all look so ugly! Can anyone recommend a good-looking one?

Are you constructing it or do you want it delivered ready made?

Joining as looking for one- seen some horrendous on line reviews for some companies.
We have a lovely summer house from crane buildings- ex display so discounted.
We just want a small shed to store bikes.

We’ve just had a shed delivered by Waltons. It’s half shed half greenhouse but they mostly just sell sheds. It’s halfway constructed now (just ran out of light yesterday) and I am pleased for the money we spent which was at the lower end of the spectrum. Delivery was good and safe.

Find a local firm and buy from them, chances are it will be better quality, and they will likely explain why theirs is a better product that the garden centre/b&q type offerings

Costco sell the lifetime ones, pricey though.
I'd wait until the 12th April when all the shops are open and you can go to a local firm.

OP, I've been looking to replace 2 sheds and get a summer house. I've spent hours looking at sites .

Look for some places locally that have websites. One in my area will also erect them (on a base you have prepared) and well within you budget. Do you have a base already? That's the expensive part unless you were going to use slabs. My old rickety sheds are both constructed on slabs by the looks of things. They are both at least 20 years old and to be fair, still standing.

The link for the company nearish to me with installation prices v clear to find www.jacksonsgardensupplies.co.uk/index.php

I got mine on eBay - the seller’s shop had rave reviews, and indeed it was a well built, pressure treated shed for cheaper than anywhere else.

Had some issues putting it together (I was trying to use the roof panel as the base...): called the number and they put me right in seconds. After that it was just a case of screwing the sides together and tacking on some felt. I’d definitely recommend searching on eBay.

The local company who supplied and fitted our 6 x 6 apex shed, also laid the paving slab base. The entire job wasn't more than £500 and it took them less than 45 mins.
It's about 4 years old, doing fine. I've creosoted it but that's about it.

Don't use B&Q!

I rang the local garden centres and they recommended a chap who sells them and put it up for an extra £50. It was £650 quid all in and still standing on a very windy allotment 10 years leater.

Where about in the country are you roughly OP? May be able to recommend some companies if you're nearby.

I really wouldn’t go for a plastic one. You’ll need a very level surface and if it needs adjustment it’s all the harder to do on plastic than timber. We got a good quality timber shed from a local guy who ran the business from home.

I'm in Sheffield and my boyfriend is laying a concrete base.

We can build it ourselves but if someone is willing to erect it for an extra £50 I'd be v tempted

I'd go for a local firm too. We paid just over a grand for a huge one but it is really solid, made to our specifications and the put it up and came back to repair for nothing when a knot in the wood came loose leaving a hole. You won't get this with anything you buy online or from a big chain. We bought a cheap on online years ago and it was the worst piece of crap I've ever seen.

We’ve just had one from a company called A1 sheds, the price included installation too. We tried numerous firms local to us, some didn’t get back to us and one couldn’t deliver until July!

Hodgsons of Cotherstone are excellent quality, we've had loose boxes and sheds from them that are spot on. They deliver nationwide.

I got mine from a place called Merit Garden Products. Mum and dad had one from the same place which has been up for 15 years. Mine has been up for 5 so far and needed the wood retreating this year.

My recommendation is definitely go bigger than you think. Mine is 6 by 10, divided into a 64 and and a 66 (clean side and dirty side as I keep the tumble drier out there) and I wish I had gone for 6*12.