Bases & foundations
Step-by-step gravel shed foundation
A weekend job most handy people can manage: frame, fabric, stone and a good level. Full materials list and costs.
Independent shed advice
Straight answers for your first garden shed.
Build or buy? Wood, metal or resin? What goes underneath, and what will it all cost? Shed World is the plain-spoken guide we wished we'd had before our first shed. No trade jargon, no hard sell.
One e-mail a fortnight at most. Unsubscribe in one click. See what's inside →
Start with your question
Five things every shed plan comes down to
Most people arrive with one question and leave with three more. These are the topics we cover in depth, in roughly the order you'll need them.
Costs
What a shed really costs once you add the base, delivery and fixings.
4 articlesBases & foundations
Gravel, concrete, pavers or plastic grids: which suits your ground.
4 articlesMaterials
Timber, metal and resin compared on lifespan, upkeep and price.
4 articlesSizes
How to pick a size you won't outgrow, and what fits a small garden.
4 articlesStorage ideas
Shelving, hooks and layouts that make a small shed hold a lot.
4 articlesLatest articles
Fresh from the workbench
Costs
How much does a shed really cost?
The sticker price is only part of it. We add up base, delivery, assembly, felt and paint for three typical sizes.
Materials
Wood vs metal vs resin: which lasts longest?
An honest look at rot, rust and UV fade, and the upkeep each one needs to reach its full lifespan.
How we work
Advice from a neighbour over the fence, not a showroom.
We show our working
Costs come with quantities and the date we checked them, so you can redo the sums with your local prices.
Picks are clearly labelled
Some links earn us a small commission. They never decide what we recommend, and we always say when a link is one.
Built for first-timers
We assume you're handy with a drill and a spirit level, not that you've poured concrete or framed a roof before.
Free guide
Don't buy a shed until you've read this.
The Shed Review Guide is the checklist we use to size up any shed: wall thickness, floor strength, roof covering, door and lock, and the questions to ask before you pay. Print it, take it to the garden centre, tick it off.
- A 15-point score sheet you can use on any shed, online or in person
- Size planner with the clearances people forget
- Base chooser: gravel, slab, pavers or grid, by soil type