Advice

A grey timber apex shed in the corner of a back garden, with room to walk round it beside the fence and patio.
Will it fit? Real shed sizes
Why an “8x6” shed isn't always 8 feet by 6, and how to measure your space for a garden building, including the roof overhang, doors and working room. Read more...
A timber summerhouse with window boxes on a pale stone patio.
Summerhouse, log cabin or garden room: which do you need?
How summerhouses, log cabins and insulated garden rooms differ: seasonal or year-round use, wall thickness, insulation, glazing, bases, electrics and building regulations. Read more...
What base does a shed need? Concrete, slabs or grids
Concrete, slabs, plastic grids or gravel: how to build a shed base, how level it needs to be, and why shed makers' advice differs. Read more...
A timber raised bed planted with onions, chard and borage beside a gravel path and a clipped hedge.
Choosing a raised bed
How to choose a raised bed: timber, sleepers, steel or recycled plastic and how long each lasts, the right size and how much soil to order. Read more...
A British back garden lawn between panel fences, with a weeping willow and pampas grass.
Do I need planning permission for a shed or summerhouse?
Most sheds and summerhouses don't need planning permission. What the limits cover, when to check with your council, and where to find the rules for your part of the UK. Read more...
Indian sandstone paving slabs with daisies growing through a joint between them.
Choosing patio paving and setts
Natural stone or porcelain, slabs or setts, calibrated or hand-cut: how they compare with concrete and block paving, and how much to order. Read more...
A timber shed among autumn trees, its boards weathered by the seasons.
Looking after a wooden shed: treatment, felt and yearly checks
How to keep a wooden shed sound: when and how to re-treat the timber, how long roof felt lasts, keeping water off and air moving, and a yearly checklist. Read more...
Split logs stacked under cover in a timber log store.
Choosing a log store
How to choose a log store that keeps firewood dry and seasoning: open or with doors, a raised floor, a roof, and how big it needs to be. Read more...
Close-up of grey-blue gravel chippings.
How much gravel or bark?
Work out how much decorative gravel, chippings or bark you need for a path, border or drive, and how far a bulk bag goes. Read more...
A green-framed greenhouse on an allotment plot, with a cable-drum table and a plastic chair in front.
Choosing a greenhouse: frame, glazing, size and ventilation
How to choose a greenhouse: aluminium, timber or steel, glass or polycarbonate, size, ventilation, base, siting and planning, in plain English. Read more...
A plain white lorry on a road through green countryside.
How are sheds delivered? Kerbside, tail-lift or two-person
Kerbside, tail-lift, crane and two-person delivery explained, with what to check before a shed, bulk bag or furniture set arrives and on the day. Read more...
A new timber shed at the end of a pale stone patio, with a fenced lawn beside it.
What to look for when buying a garden shed
How to choose a garden shed that lasts: cladding, timber treatment, frame, roof, floor, base and planning rules, in plain English. Read more...
Choosing a bin store or bike store
How to choose a wheelie bin store or bike store: bin sizes, lids and doors, materials, security ratings, the base and planning permission. Read more...