Sheds: Cheaper to buy, or build your own?

kirstle99

Has anyone had experience of this? Me and OH want a new wooden shed for our garden, approx size 6ft by 8ft. My OH seems to think he could make one cheaper than we could buy one (he is really good at diy i have no problem with him doing it). I just wondered if it is actually cheaper to build it yourself, or if it's just better to buy one on the long run. We live round the corner from a timber place that will deal with the public.

Farway

I suspect buy is cheaper, but DIY would be far better quality as cheap sheds really do skimp where they can

Rummer

Why not cost up both?

matt987106

i am a carpenter and i looked into a shed for my new allotment

i opted for a metal galv 10 year shed, it was 110 quid

the wooden choise was 130 quid

the materials if purchased with a nice trade discount were a touch under 100 quid

it shocked me, add into that the time it will take, it was a no-brainer

in the end though, i put a WANTED on freecycle and got a wooden shed for nothing, it will need a little work and about 30 quid spent on it, but it was the green issue that sold if to me

i_luv_percy

My partner and I costed up making a shed, as we could get some free wood for the frame, so would just need to buy the shiplap, but after we priced it up with all the other bits needed it was only about £20 cheaper for all the materials than it was to buy one...so we opted to buy one.

flippin36

Just a thought, but I have seen a few sheds on freecycle recently. If you are on a budget and not in a rush it may be worth signing up and keep checking.

Sorry matt didn't see your post

Lotus-eater

Everyone has got it right, it's round about the same price to buy the materials, as to buy the whole shed,
However, if you make it yourself,
A. it will be better quality and made.
B. You can have it looking/shape however you like. A friend of mine wanted a motorbike workshop, so built his to his spec and it's perfect. Another friend wanted a shed, come good looking chalet type thing and they can be expensive to buy.

Freecycle can work well if you can pick it up. I've got various free sheds from neighbours as well.