Before you buy
Garden buying guides
Straight answers to the questions that decide a big garden purchase: which shed will last, whether it will fit, what it should stand on and how it reaches your garden.
Garden buildings
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What to look for when buying a garden shed
Overlap, shiplap or tongue and groove, pressure or dip treated, and what to look for in the specification.
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Summerhouse, log cabin or garden room?
Which suits how you'll use it, and what changes if you'll use it all year.
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Will it fit? Real shed sizes
Why an “8x6” isn't always 8 by 6, and how to measure your space.
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Do I need planning permission?
When a garden building needs permission, and when to check with your council.
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What base does a shed need?
Concrete, slabs or a plastic grid, how level it needs to be, and why makers' advice differs.
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How are sheds delivered?
Kerbside, tail-lift, crane and two-person delivery, and what to check before a big item arrives.
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Looking after a wooden shed
Treatment, roof felt, keeping water off, and a yearly checklist.
Garden storage
Garden buildings
Common questions
Quick answers to what people ask most before buying a shed or summerhouse.
Do I need planning permission for a shed?
Usually not, if it's kept low near the fence and not in front of the house. Flats, listed buildings, protected areas and the other UK nations have their own rules. Our guide to planning permission covers what to check.
Does it arrive treated?
Pressure-treated timber is treated before it's made up. Dip-treated sheds usually need a coat of treatment when they're built and every year after. It's one of the first things to look for in the specification.
What comes in the box?
Usually the panels, roof, floor, felt and fixings. Bases and locks are usually extra, so check what's included when you compare two buildings.
How long does it take to build?
Most sheds need two people to build. Larger buildings take longer, and some makers offer installation.