Wooden sheds
are the most popular garden shed as they are universally available from all DIY centres, are fairly
easy to erect and made of sustainable timber that last for years if maintained well. Above all other
factors they are cheap when compared to other sheds that are available on the market.
You'll be surprised to hear that a wooden garden shed is simply a shed made out of wood. The wood used is mainly softwood or white wood which you'll find from most garden centres and DIY chains. This is a cheaper wood that is more knotty and thinner than premium ranges but should last 10 years or so if you treat it each year with a wood preservative wood stain product.
Premium wooden sheds use redwood timber which lasts much longer. The wood is a tongue and grove construction and the panels are already prepared which makes assembly much easier.
The panels should be pressure treated with preservatives rather than just brushed on so that the treatment gets inside all the knots and all areas of the wood to stop long term rot.
There are two types of sheds that are mainly distinguished by the
roofing arrangement and are used on large and small sheds. Apex roofs are like traditional houses where
the roof is like an "A" point that allows rain to run down both sides. A
pent roof is flat but at a slight angle and allows the rain to come down
just one side.
The main purpose for most people is to use their shed for storage of gardening equipment but these sheds are most versitile and have other uses.
The larger sheds can be turned into garden workshops as they have double doors and more windows and are much roomier inside. Larger sheds are also know as log cabins as look like little timber houses much like in America!. These are used in the UK as summerhouses where people sit in the summer and relax. They are more water tight so soft furnishings can be left in the winter time. Some large sheds require planning permission so it's always wise to check with your local authority first.
Constructing a wooden shed is much like any other. The first place to start is where the shed is
going to be sited in your garden. You'll need a flat base so the shed doesn't move and an area
with enough space that you can access the door easily and move your garden equipment you have
stored in and out without any hassle.
The shed base should be made of concrete but all wooden sheds generally come with a wooden floor base so any completely flat area should suffice although of course wood that comes in direct contact with earth will rot a lot faster as the water from rain will soak directly into it and will rot much faster. You can use paving slabs as an alternative.
Erect your shed on a dry weather day and complete it according to the instructions you receive. It's best to put the base or floor down first and then put the sides together. The roof is next and you'll need at least 2 people to lift the roof into place. The wooden roof must have a water proof felt put on the top to again stop the rain from penetrating the wood and causing rot.
There are many wooden garden shed suppliers in the UK so you have a vast choice of where you buy your shed from. You can buy a wooden shed from all major DIY stores and garden centres and the best times are during their garden shed sales which generally occur during July and January each year.