The Shed Review Guide
The things we wish someone had told us before our first shed, in one guide you can print, scribble on and take to the garden centre. It helps you judge any shed — flat-pack, built-to-order or your own build — before you hand over the money.
Send me the guide
Enter your first name and e-mail and we'll send the download link straight away, followed by an occasional shed-season note. Unsubscribe with one click.
Six chapters, no padding
Written for first-timers who are handy but not trades. Every page is something you'll actually use with a tape measure or a pencil in hand.
- The 20-point shed checklistCladding thickness, floor and frame size, roof covering, door and lock — what to look for in a listing and what to poke at in a showroom.
- Build vs buy worksheetA fill-in cost sheet that puts a kit, a built-to-order shed and your own build side by side, including your time.
- Size plannerA one-page method to lay out your mower, bikes and tools on the lawn and find the size you actually need.
- Base chooserGravel, slabs, concrete or plastic grid: a quick decision chart based on your ground, budget and shed size.
- Materials that lastShiplap vs overlap, pressure vs dip treated, felt vs EPDM — in plain English, with what to pay extra for.
- Before-delivery checklistAccess, rules on height and boundaries, a dry spot for the panels and the tools to have ready on the day.
Who it's written for
First-time buyers
You're comparing sheds online and they all look the same in the photos. The checklist shows you which numbers in the listing matter.
Weekend builders
You're thinking of building your own. The worksheet tells you honestly whether it saves money, and the base chooser gets you started.
Budget planners
You've got a figure in mind. The guide shows where a shed can be done cheaply and the two places it really shouldn't be.