Find out the advantages and disadvantages of a plastic shed, wooden shed and a metal shed.

The pros and cons of each garden shed material:

Plastic Garden Sheds

Pros
Maintenance free
Cheap
Light weight and easy to move around your garden
Quick and easy assembly
Wide opening front allowing for easy access

Cons
Not attractive
Not environmentally friendly
Limited range of sizes

Metal Sheds

Pros
Maintenance free
Extremely durable
Ultimate security
Choice of colours
Available in wood grain effect
Easy assembly

Cons
Condensation problems inside if incorrect foundations are laid
Unsuitable for keeping pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs due to the cold conditions inside.
Rust problems sometimes occur
Noisy opening and closing doors
Not always attractive

Wooden sheds

Pros
Attractive shed
Available in a wide range of sizes
Economical
FSC Certified wooden sheds are environmentally friendly
Warm material so good for storing pets
Paint to the colour of your choice

Cons
Maintenance and re-staining required
Cheap versions are flimsy and will not last
Difficult to relocate once in position.

For further information on what to consider when buying a garden shed please visit our blog now. At Jacks garden Store we also offer a fantastic range of garden sheds all with free delivery.

When choosing a garden shed there are some important questions you must ask yourself first:

1 – What will I be using it for?
2 – Where will it be situated in my garden?
3 – What type of material do I want my garden shed to be made from?

Do your research and plan how much you reasonably want to spend, if you can I would always recommend purchasing the largest possible good quality garden shed that you can comfortably accommodate in your garden without it making your garden look too overcrowded. You can guarantee over time the amount of things you want to store in your shed will only increase.

There are three different types to choose from:

Wooden Sheds

Metal sheds

Plastic Sheds

Wooden Sheds

Wooden garden sheds are the most traditional type of available. A wooden shed is the most attractive type and it blends comfortably into your garden’s backdrop thanks to its natural materials. You must be aware that timber sheds do require treatment and some maintenance to ensure that the it remains in good condition. The finish of can be either overlap or shiplap. An overlap shed’s timber is rough sawn and each slat overlaps the next as the name suggests. This style looks rather rustic. A shiplap shed on the other hand has each timber panel connected to the next with an interlocking tongue and groove joint. Each panel is nailed into place and the over look of the shed is far more polished. You will also find that shiplap sheds are far more damp resistant.

Metal Sheds

Metal sheds are made from galvanised steel; they are rot, rodent and fire resistant. A metal shed offers superior security over a wooden shed and are completely maintenance free. However they are not as attractive in your garden.

Plastic Sheds

Plastic sheds are simple maintenance free sheds that are weather resistant. Larger plastic sheds are likely to have steel reinforced structures to increase stability.

There are two different styles of garden shed to choose from:

Apex sheds

Pent sheds

An apex shed has an inverted v shaped roof. The highest point of the roof is the central ridge and the sides then slope down. This is the traditional roof shape.

A Pent shed has a roof that slopes down to the lowest point at the back of the shed allowing rainwater to flow this way.

For further information about buying a garden shed visit my blog. At Jacks Garden Store we also offer a wide range of garden sheds with free delivery directly to your home.

Good luck

Gardener Jack!

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

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!

Woodvale 6x5 Metal Shed

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