Plain answers for planning your first shed.
Build or buy, what it costs, which materials last, how big to go and what to stand it on. Written by people who’ve dug the base themselves.
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Pick a topic
Five things every first-time shed owner ends up asking about.
Costs
What sheds, bases and installs really cost, and where to save.
4 articlesBases & foundations
Gravel, slabs, concrete or timber frame, and how to get it level.
4 articlesMaterials
Timber, metal, plastic: what lasts in your weather and why.
3 articlesSizes
How to work out the size you need before you fall for one you don’t.
3 articlesStorage ideas
Shelving, hooks and layouts that keep the floor clear.
3 articlesLatest articles
Browse by topic-
Bases & foundations
Step-by-step gravel shed foundation
The base most first-timers should build: cheap, drains well, and done in a weekend with hand tools and a rented compactor.
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Costs
How much does a shed cost? A line-by-line budget
Shed, base, delivery, felt, fixings and paint, so the total isn’t a surprise at the till.
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Materials
Shiplap, tongue-and-groove or overlap cladding?
Three ways sheds are boarded, and why the cheapest one lets the weather in sooner.
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Sizes
The masking-tape test: sizing a shed on your lawn
Mark the footprint, open an imaginary door, wheel the mower in. Ten minutes that save a lot of regret.
How we write these guides
Answer first
Every article opens with the short answer, then the detail for anyone who wants it. No life story before the measurements.
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