Metal sheds are a fantastic safe and secure storage solution for your garden.

One of the main advantages of having a metal shed instead of a more traditional wooden shed is the amount of maintenance a metal shed requires. Unlike timber sheds, metal garden sheds need very little maintenance. The key to maintenance free metal sheds is careful and success construction. As long as you build the metal shed correctly you will have a pretty maintenance free durable outdoor building.

Top tips for a maintenance free metal shed

Metal sheds can easily dent. In order to reduce the risk of denting, position your shed away from likely dangers such as where your car or children’s bikes are stored. Simply positioning your metal shed five or so feet away from such dangers can greatly reduce the chance of it being dented.

At Jacks Garden Store all of the metal sheds come with a rust free guarantee. When choosing a metal shed look for one that has been manufactured from hot-dipped galvanised polyamid coated steel to ensure you buy a shed that will remain rust free for years to come.

Scratches and dents need to be repaired as quickly as possible to ensure your shed does not become affected by rust. To repair any damage, clean the area and paint over it with a clear sealant. You can use nail varnish instead on very small dents or damaged areas.

Condensation can build up inside of a metal shed. In order to prevent this make sure sufficient fresh area can circulate around your metal shed. Vents are good at doing this. For more information on this problem check out Jacks blog which goes into much greater detail on preventing condensation in your metal shed.

At Jacks Garden Store we offer a huge range of metal sheds as well as offering a great deal of information on metal sheds visit now to find out more. We also stock a range of plastic garden sheds and wooden sheds.

Good Luck

Gardener Jack

Sheds are wonderful timber buildings which allow you to store all of your outdoor equipment in a safe and secure place. When deciding which shed to buy there are so many different factors which must be taken into consideration.

There are a wide range of wooden sheds available that are designed for a variety of purposes and evengarden  storage chests available for those really restricted on space.

Size
Small wooden garden sheds are great if you have a small garden or only want to house a few items. They are perfect for storing garden tools, bikes and anything else you need access to but want to keep out of sight. The most popular sized shed is the 8×6 shed, check out Jack’s range in this size at Jacks Garden Store. Larger sheds can again provide great storage space but also offer additional living space for you and your family. If you have a large garden you may want to consider buying one of our wooden garages for maximum storage space.

Design
Doors
Many larger sheds come with either single or double doors, before you decide which option is best for you consider what you will be using your wooden shed for. Double doors make storing large bulky items very easy as well providing ventilation and light which is essential if you plan to use a shed as a workshop or for additional living space especially during the summer!

Windows
You will find some wooden sheds available with windows; this is another great feature if you plan to spend time in the wooden shed. However windows will allow people to inside of your wooden shed so if you plan to store expensive items inside it may be wise to consider one without windows.

Roof
The traditional apex roof is the most popular type of wooden garden shed. This roof is slanted inverted V shape. The roof is covered by a mineral felting which is water resistant. Another style of roof available is the pent roof which slopes either away or towards the front of your timber building and also is protected by a waterproof mineral felt.

Construction.
Shiplap – This is the method used to form a tight seal between wooden panels using a rabbet which enables the panels to overlap. It allows far less damp and cold air into the garden shed compared with other construction methods which means less maintenance.
Tongue and groove – This is the most effective construction method for ensuring that a shed stays free of damp and cold air.

Take time now to consider what the main purpose of your shed will be. Outdoor garden structures available range from purely functional storage facilities to playhouses, workshops, offices and far larger outdoor structures. You will find that each type offers great choice in design which will allow you to choose the right one for you and your family.

Check out the wide range of garden structures available at Jacks Garden Store, ranging from small sheds, larger sheds, garages, workshops, summerhouses and log cabins.

Visit Jacks Garden store to find the perfect wooden garden shed!

Good Luck

Gardener Jack!

At Jacks Garden Store we offer a great range of metal sheds!

Metal sheds are growing in popularity across the UK, offering a more secure alternative to the wooden shed and are maintenance free. Metal sheds offer safe lockable garden storage which is easy to maintain and ideal for storing valuable items, tools, bikes and large gardening equipment such as lawnmowers. With many different options for metal sheds available today ranging from heavy duty steels sheds, vinyl clad steel sheds and woodgrain effect steel sheds buying the one right for you can often be rather difficult. This guide will take you through the main considerations to think about before buying a metal shed including materials, usage, security and design.

Materials
Steel – Manufacturers such as Storemore offer a great range of hot dipped galvanised polyamid coated steel sheds which are fireproof, water tight and rain proof. These heavy duty steel sheds offer a safe and secure home for your gardening equipment. What is most surprising about this type of shed is the cost. Steel sheds often offer a far cheaper garden storage solution in comparison to the traditional timber garden shed.

Vinyl clad shed – This type of shed is PVC sheets on a strong steel frame and supports and is widely available across the UK. Storemore are one of the main manufacturers and a full range of their metal sheds can be viewed at Jack’s garden store.

Woodgrain effect – Woodgrain metals sheds offer a great mix of security and style. The woodgrain finish allows this type of metal shed to blend easily into your gardens backdrop whilst its sturdy metal casing provides maximum security.

Most manufacturers of metal garden sheds provide a no rust guarantee between 8-20 years depending on the supplier. In general the lifespan of your metal shed will depend on the material it is made of and the atmospheric conditions it is exposed to. For a long lasting durable shed look for one that has been galvanised to prevent rusting. A power or painted finish will offer additional protection and can also help to improve the appearance on the metal shed in your garden.

Usage
What are you planning to use your shed for?
Think carefully about what you plan to store in your shed and where you want to put it in your garden? Will you have enough room to fit everything you need  into the space provided?

Security
Metal sheds are extremely secure lockable storage units. The thickness of the metal panels will affect the security of your new shed. Most of the metal sheds available for purchase come with lockable doors. Research carefully the locking devices and metal thickness of the sheds you consider purchasing.

Design
The style and design of the metal shed can be varied. A metal shed can be painted, powder coated, covered in PVC or given a woodgrain effect to make it look more appealing. You can choose whether to buy a metal shed with an apex roof which has a central peak or a pent metal shed with a pent roof which slants in one direction depending on your preferences. The size of the shed is obviously dependent on the space you have in your garden and your storage requirements.

For a full range of metal sheds check our Jack’s garden store. You can also learn more from Jacks blog on how to prevent condensation in your metal shed. You may also find it useful to view our range of plastic garden sheds so that you can make comparisons between the different shed materials.

Good Luck

Gardener Jack!

Do you yearn for your shed to become a clean tidy place in which you keep your gardening tools and equipment?

Like so many other people, your garden shed has probably become a cluttered outdoor cupboard stacked to the rafters with bits and pieces. Every time you want to reach a certain item you can guarantee its stuck in the furthest corner underneath stacks of play equipment and bags of compost. Organising your garden shed will enable you to access your lawn mower and other gardening equipment and tools with ease. A day spent sorting and de-cluttering will allow you to enjoy a tidy working and storage space for the next year.

Cleaning and Organising

Book a full day in your diary to start the clean up and start early.

1.The first task is to take everything out and organise your items into groups:

• Rubbish
• Power Tools
• Garden tools, long handled and short handled
• Watering cans, hosepipes and other watering equipment
• Bagged soil, compost, fertilizer and grass seed etc
• Pots and tubs
• Bikes, and children’s play equipment including paddling pools
• Sports equipment including tennis rackets, balls and cricket sets etc

2. Throw out the rubbish pile.

3. Give your garden shed a good spring clean, don’t worry about being too thorough just make sure the floor is swept, the surfaces are washed down and any windows are cleaned.

4.Take time to think about organising your shed, Do you have enough shelves to neatly stack many items? Can I add hooks to a wall to hang my tools?

Here are some of my top tips for organising your shed:

• Plastic ice cream tubs and old take-away containers can be labelled and are great for keeping small items such as rubber bands or string safe.
• Shelving enables you to have great surface space and utilise the walls in your shed.
• Hooks and Pegs are brilliant for hanging tools and other items such as watering cans or hosepipes.
• Tool Boxes will keep all of your tools in one safe place.

5. Put everything you want to keep back inside of your shed but aim to keep everything organised in groups so that you remember what is where. Items that you will use regularly such as the lawn mower should be kept close to the door and be easy to manoeuvre in and out.

If you are a slightly unorganised individual, like me, the likelihood is that come next spring you will have to complete this task again. Do try to put things back in the same spot each time you use a gardening utensil. The longer you can work in this way, the longer your shed will remain tidy and organised!

Visit Jacks Garden Store to see our magnificent range of garden sheds and other storage solutions. If you have a small garden you may want to consider purchasing a garden storage chest instead of a shed to house your outdoor possessions securely.

Good Luck

Gardener Jack

Metal sheds are a fantastic alternative to having a wooden shed. They enable you to overcome many of the maintenance problems that you often encounter with timber structures. However as we’re all aware metal sheds themselves can suffer from condensation problems. Read on to find out how to alleviate this problem.

All metal garden sheds will suffer from condensation where damp is present in the foundation.  This occurs when a damp proof course has not been built into the base . Air inside a shed is slightly warmer than the air around it outside so any moisture in the foundations will rise until it touches the cool exterior metal panels and cools forming condensation. This moisture then will drip down and will become part of the cycle once more.

Because condensation is so difficult to stop it is essential that you prevent damp in the first place by ensuring you take proper action when constructing the base of your shed.

* Always make the concrete or slab base only a few inches larger than the base rail of the shed.

* A damp proof membrane must be inserted into the foundations.  It needs to be put into the base at least two inches higher than the surrounding ground level.

* Allow the foundations of the shed to cure for 3-7 days after laying the concrete. Do allow longer if the conditions are damp. If you fail to do this the water drying up from the concrete will provide moisture to start a condensation cycle once your shed has been erected.

* After you have bolted your metal shed to the concrete or slab base apply a silicone or mastic sealant to the inside of the shed base rails. (Please note it must be the inside and not the outside). By doing this you will preserve the drainage capacity of the channels whilst preventing any water seepage under the rails and into the shed.

If you are reading this as you have already constructed your metal shed and are unfortunately now suffering from condensation here’s some of the best ways to break the condensation cycle and fix your problem:

Detach your shed from its base and build a timber floor a few inches larger than the base measurements of the shed put this on raised bearers. Next fix the shed to the timber floor securing with wood screws and mastic seal the inside of the shed base rails. By doing this you are allowing air to flow under the floor enabling it to keep dry thus eliminating the problem. Please remember with this method to check that water cannot pool under the floor as this will stop the ventilation and render all of your hard work useless.

An alternative tried and tested method of eliminating condensation from your metal garden shed is to clean off the underside of the roof panels with a methylated spirit making sure all panels are dry, then purchase polystyrene tiles and attach them onto the underside of the sheds roof using a specialist spray glue that bonds polystyrene to metal and is not affected by the hot or cold. It is best to carry out this work on a warm day. Both the tiles and the shed roof should be coated and after 2 minutes the surfaces can be bonded together. By using this method you will not be eradicating the moisture in the atmosphere within your shed however you will be able to prevent condensation now that your shed has been insulated.

For a great range of metal sheds visit Jacks Garden Store now.

Good Luck

Gardener Jack