Garden Shed Installation Cost

65%

Materials
£520

35%

Tradesmen
£280

0%

Waste Removal
£0

What the job entails

Garden sheds are a great way of keeping your garden equipment and tools safe and secure, but can also serve as a summerhouse, a workshop or even an office. Garden sheds are practical and useful additions to your garden, helping you to make the most of the way you use your outdoor space. In order to choose the right shed to fit your requirements, you need to consider what size of shed you need, consider what you’re going to store in it and how you are going to use it.

It’s best to measure the space you’ve got available for a shed in your garden before buying, but if in any doubt, opt for a slightly larger shed, too much space is always better than too little! The majority of sheds require assembly on site and you’ll usually need at least two people to build a shed up safely. All sheds require a foundation or base that is sound and level. Make sure you don’t place the shed too close to any fence or walls, leave enough space to paint/treat/stain the timber to prevent rot.

If you plan on using the shed as a workshop or office, you’ll probably need to have mains power installed, do not simply use a trailing extension lead plugged into a power socket inside the house, that is asking for trouble! You will require a professional electrician to install safe and weatherproof power.

The most important consideration when choosing a garden shed is the size, this of course is often dictated by the size of your garden and the available space, but always try to buy the largest shed possible. The main reason being you will quickly find that the garden shed will soon fill up with all the stuff you have and over the years you will no doubt collect more, pretty soon the shed will be full of clutter making it difficult to access the tools you need.

Unlike other garden buildings, a garden shed or workshop is best placed out of the sun so that it does not too hot. Another tip for good location is to place the door of the shed near the garden path to avoid traipsing mud into the shed during bad weather. Try and avoid having trees or shrubs overhanging your new shed if possible as this can cause leaks or damp over time. If this cannot be avoided, then the addition of gutters can help. If you can always raise the shed up off the ground and allow air to circulate underneath the floor.

Garden sheds are usually either wooden or metal, though plastic is becoming more popular. Metal sheds are easy to assemble, more secure, and can come in an array of pre-painted colours. If installed correctly a metal shed can do the same job as a wooden one, often at a lower cost over the years due to the little maintenance required. On the other hand, wooden sheds are usually more aesthetically pleasing, cheaper to buy initially and warmer. Plastic sheds are cheap much lighter than wooden and metal sheds, which makes them easy to move around. On the downside it also makes it much easier for them to blow around in high winds!

FAQ's

How much will it cost for a small garden shed on a simple slab base?

A 6x4 foot budget shed on a base made from cheap slabs bedded onto a few inches on cement, can be built in 1-2 days. The price you can expect to pay will vary depending on where you live and the labour rates charged, but typically will be around £700. A larger 12 x 8 foot shed on a solid concrete base will take 2-3 days to build and will cost on average around £1200. These prices do not include VAT and it is assumed there are no major access issues where the shed was to be erected, no electrics were required and only minimal clearing of the space before erecting the shed was required.

Do I need planning permission for a garden shed?

A garden shed is deemed to be an outbuilding so you don’t need to seek planning permission as long as it is single storey with a maximum height of 4m, no nearer than 2.5m to the main house and it cannot take up more than 50% of the garden space. These restrictions are only in place to prevent people from building 3-storey high buildings with 5 bedrooms and calling them "garden sheds"! So any typical shed you see advertised will not be a problem.

Will the shed require regular maintenance?

No matter which type of shed you choose, there will be a certain level of maintenance required. Wooden sheds can shrink or split due to changing temperatures and weather so need should be treated annually with a wood preserver. Plus metal hinges and locks need to be regularly oiled. On all sheds, leaves and other debris should be removed from the roof as soon as possible to prevent damp. Pressure treated wooden sheds require no additional treatments and some come with a 15-year conditional manufacturer’s guarantee against rot! Metal and plastic sheds require less in the way of maintenance, though they should always be well vented to prevent condensation problems.

What about shed windows?

Windows make the interior of a shed lighter and this could be an important feature, depending on what you intend to use the shed for. If using the shed simply for storage then you may not require windows. But if you are going to be using your shed for potting plants or as a workshop or office, then natural light will be essential. But windows will also affect the privacy of the shed so you should bear this in mind when positioning them. Opening windows are better for the summer months but cost a bit more, plus you need to consider the shed security, if you are storing valuable tools in your shed then a shed with no windows will be more secure.