The timber rack
Every Shed World guide, stacked by topic. Each one starts with the short answer, then walks you through it. Not sure where to begin? Most first-timers start with bases — get that right and the shed lasts.
Bases & foundations
The base is the bit nobody sees and the reason most sheds fail early. Level, dry and a little bigger than the shed.
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BasesNew
Step-by-step gravel shed foundation
Timber frame, membrane and compacted gravel: a free-draining base you can lay in a weekend.
12 min read - BasesGuide
Concrete slab or paving slabs? Coming soon
When a concrete pad is worth the extra work, and when slabs on a sub-base are plenty.
10 min read - BasesGuide
Plastic grid shed bases: are they any good? Coming soon
Interlocking grids filled with gravel — quick to lay, but only on properly prepared ground.
7 min read - BasesGuide
Building a shed base on a slope Coming soon
Cut and fill, or a raised timber deck on adjustable feet. How to choose.
11 min read - BasesGuide
Do I even need a shed base? Coming soon
Short answer: yes. The long answer explains what "base" can mean for small sheds.
4 min read
Costs
What you'll actually spend, including the base, the delivery and the bits that don't come in the box.
- CostsGuide
How much does a shed cost? Coming soon
A line-by-line budget for a typical 8×6, from cheapest sensible to buy-once.
9 min read - CostsGuide
Build or buy: which is cheaper? Coming soon
Timber prices, your time and the tools you already own — an honest comparison.
8 min read - CostsGuide
Shed on a budget: where to save, where not to Coming soon
Skimp on the paint colour, never on the base or the roof.
6 min read - CostsGuide
Hidden shed costs nobody mentions Coming soon
Delivery to the back garden, skip hire, wood treatment and a decent lock.
5 min read
Materials
Timber, metal or plastic, and which boards, roofs and treatments are worth paying for.
- MaterialsGuide
Wood, metal or plastic shed? Coming soon
Upkeep, condensation, security and lifespan, compared plainly.
10 min read - MaterialsGuide
Shiplap vs overlap cladding Coming soon
How each board sheds water, and how to spot thin cladding in a showroom.
7 min read - MaterialsGuide
Pressure-treated or dip-treated timber? Coming soon
Why the treatment matters more than the timber thickness for the floor.
6 min read - MaterialsGuide
Shed roofing: felt, shingles or EPDM Coming soon
The cheapest roof is the one you only fit once.
8 min read
Sizes
Measure what goes inside, then add room to turn around. Check local planning rules before you go big.
- SizesGuide
What size shed do I need? Coming soon
A simple lawn-layout trick using your actual mower, bikes and tools.
6 min read - SizesGuide
Shed heights and planning rules, explained Coming soon
Eaves height, distance from boundaries and when to ask your council.
8 min read - SizesGuide
Pent or apex roof for a small garden? Coming soon
Headroom, fence lines and where the rain ends up.
5 min read
Storage ideas
Use the walls and the roof space so the floor stays clear for the mower.
- StorageGuide
Shed shelving you can build from offcuts Coming soon
Three simple bracket-and-board designs with cut lists.
7 min read - StorageGuide
Storing bikes in a shed without the tangle Coming soon
Wall hooks, ceiling hoists and where to put the door.
6 min read - StorageGuide
Keeping a shed dry: damp, mould and rust Coming soon
Ventilation, a raised floor and what not to store in there.
7 min read
Before you buy, read this
The Shed Review Guide is our 20-point checklist for judging any shed, plus a build-vs-buy cost worksheet and a base and size planner. Free, printable, no catch.
Send me the guide
One e-mail with the link, then an occasional shed-season note.