Garden shed construction. Advice on material.

B0bbyEwing

Inherited a garden shed when we bought the house. Shed is clearly DIY which to be fair isn't too bad actually, but it's certainly much smaller than I'd prefer. Panels must be 25mm thick at least. I say panels, more strips put together than actual panels. 

Anyway it's rotting in places. Time and money is highly likely to dictate that I wont get the shed that I actually want (block built) which puts me at wooden or metal I would say. Unless there's some kind of other option.

Looking to see if you would advise one over another and why.

Not keen on metal sheds as the ones I've seen are thin metal, they rust and the last time we had high winds, my mothers metal shed had the doors blown in. Shed is about 10 years old. 

Also not keen on the typical wood sheds you see as they tend to be real thin wood & wood rots. 

Not sure of security on either.

As for what I'd be storing in the shed, the most valuable things would be bicycles (2 of). Beyond this it would be some tools, tins of various things (paints, sprays etc). 

Ideal would be to have the bicycles hanging off the wall but it isn't a 100% vital as they're not currently stored that way. 

Alderbank

You should consider a plastic shed
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4588171?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=ipxaattxr&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7cacid:804-872-0397%7ccid:12462225721%7cagid:113676135090%7ctid:pla-891077951225%7ccrid:502317498410%7cnw:u%7crnd:2921490802135250497%7cdvc:c%7cadp:%7cmt:%7cloc:1007359&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12462225721&utm_term=4588171&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=113676135090&utm_custom2=804-872-0397&GPDP=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwsMGYBhAEEiwAGUXJaZcpy3Gt8kxTBeJ4tVe08qw8Iy2eyjFQyWHTKgieehUniZnn15cVPBoCCPcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Timber is very expensive at present. Vinyl sheds are sturdier and better looking (to my eyes) than metal and they are completely rustproof and rotproof and don't need any finishing or painting.

If you want to hang bikes I would hang them from the central apex of the roof rather than a wall.

Tahlullah.H

Concrete panel.  Whatever size you want with whichever roofline suits you best.  Not about to blow away in the wind or rot.

Apodemus

Wooden sheds are warmer and drier than concrete or metal, so I'd stick with wood.

B0bbyEwing

Tahlullah.H said:

Concrete panel.  Whatever size you want with whichever roofline suits you best.  Not about to blow away in the wind or rot.

Tried looking on YouTube how these are put together. Either there's nothing on there or I'm using wrong search terms. 

I'm getting results of ridiculously fancy sheds or an American parachuting his shed in.

Don't suppose you have any links so I can get an idea?

EssexExile

My wooden shed has been stood standing there for over 20 years, I put a rubber roof on after about 10 years. Other than that it just gets a coat of preservative whenever I remember, probably about every 5 years.

Alderbank

B0bbyEwing said:

Tahlullah.H said:

Concrete panel.  Whatever size you want with whichever roofline suits you best.  Not about to blow away in the wind or rot.

Tried looking on YouTube how these are put together. Either there's nothing on there or I'm using wrong search terms. 

I'm getting results of ridiculously fancy sheds or an American parachuting his shed in.

Don't suppose you have any links so I can get an idea?

Here are some typical concrete sheds available in UK. A 6' x 8' starts at about £4,000.

These are very heavy and need a substantial base such as thick concrete, not paving blocks or slabs

https://www.leisurebuildings.com/pdfs/lidget/2022/lidget-garage-price-list-area3.5.pdf

B0bbyEwing

EssexExile said:

My wooden shed has been stood standing there for over 20 years, I put a rubber roof on after about 10 years. Other than that it just gets a coat of preservative whenever I remember, probably about every 5 years.

Interesting. What kind of wooden shed is it? As in is it built out of something a bit substantial or is it like those made from thin shiplap strips?

Not a dig on those btw. I didn't think they'd last that long but maybe they do.

Apodemus

EssexExile said:

My wooden shed has been stood standing there for over 20 years, I put a rubber roof on after about 10 years. Other than that it just gets a coat of preservative whenever I remember, probably about every 5 years.

Yes, I have two sheds, both wood, both were already on the property when I bought it...32 years ago!  One of the sheds was used as a field hut when the neighbouring land was all fields and these were built on nearly 50 years ago.

Neither shed has seen much input from me, except to add onduline roofing a decade or so ago.

One big advantage of wood is it can be easily and cheaply repaired over time.

Bigphil1474

I've found with wooden sheds it doesn't make a huge difference which way you go - buy an expensive well made one and it will last years but cost a lot. Get a cheaper one from the likes of B&Q and it won't last as long but will cost less. Also depends where it is going. We had one in the back garden which has had loads of issues particularly with the roof, but the back can be like a wind tunnel sometimes. Ended up replacing the roof with some wood cladding i removed from the house and covered in felt. My FIL has the same type and his has been fine but it is in a corner and well protected. Obviously, looking after it makes a difference.

B0bbyEwing

Bigphil1474 said:

Also depends where it is going. 

Existing one is at bottom of garden right next to across the backs hedge and one side is right next to our fencing panels - this means that 2 sides of the shed simply cannot be treated at all.

If we were on friendly terms with our neighbour, we could ask to pop in to their garden to at least paint half that side of the shed, and possibly more if we were able to take the fence panels out BUT we're not. Not only that but they went and moved their shed that was on the far side of their garden right up against our shed so access is just not happening now.

Ideally we'd have it rotated and moved along the back since direct across the back have a platform which when they're on they're sitting above our back wall, which isn't low as it is, but my wife has planted a load of plants/trees in that location which would mean gutting the lot so I think it's going to have to stay where it is. It can expand a few flags (so 2ft per flag) but I think actual relocating is going to be now out of the question.