Here’s nine things to consider when buying a garden shed
1. Price vs. quality
I’m not saying you need to pay an arm and a leg, but the reality is there are differences in steel quality and durability of the finished product. Cheap imported sheds may not have parts readily available for them and the backup service and support may not be there when you need it.
2. Does the design of the garden shed enhance your property?
Your choice of garden shed will have an effect on the overall appearance of your property. It’s worth considering the choice of materials and colours when selecting a shed, and choosing one which compliments the house. Select one with a rustic design made from natural timber for a country-style house. Look at colour coding the roof and walls of your shed to match the house. This is easy to do with the Garden Master range of sheds.
3. Make you garden shed blend into the landscape
Plants can help the garden shed blend into a landscape. You may be able to screen the shed from view with shrubs or install trellises up against the wall of the shed. The trellis could also have a vine of some sort growing over it.
4. Choose a suitable cladding material
We have garden sheds available in PVC, timber or steel. Timber can require more maintenance than the other cladding materials, but if looked after it maintains an attractive appearance and will last for many years. Stain or paint your shed for best results.
PVC tool sheds are extremely durable and low maintenance. While they may lack the visual appeal of timber, for some houses they are very complimentary.
When it comes to steel garden sheds, the lowest cost option is a zincalume or galvalume finish. These are fine of the shed is tucked away out of site, but you may want to consider spending a little extra for a coloursteel model. Both zincalume and coloursteel are long lasting, trusted building materials.
5. What about building permits?
Generally any garden shed under 10 square metres doesn’t require building consent. We are not aware of any councils in NZ that have a different policy. Some will say that the shed has to be the height of the shed out from the boundary fence.
6. Site preparation
You must have a floor for your shed. Suitable surfaces are concrete slab, pavers or timber. Depending on the type of garden shed you are purchasing there will be different requirements and ways of attaching it to the floor. Site should be level.
7. Build it yourself or get a professional to install it
None of our sheds are particularly difficult for someone with basic handyman skills and some simple tools to put up. If you haven’t built a shed before just bear in mind that the first one does take longer as you read the instructions, familiarise yourself with the plans and materials etc.
A professional will be able to build the shed much quicker than you would so it may be worth considering whether the cost of your time is worth it.
8. Will the shed be big enough
You’ll be surprised how much stuff you’ll accumulate as time goes by. If space and budget allows it, it’s often wise to go a little bigger than what you need right now.
9. Don’t forget the accessories
The small touches make such a difference! Depending on which of our great garden sheds you choose, there are a range of options to choose from. These can be design features such as windows and skylights, or accessories to organise your storage space more efficiently such as shelves and hooks.
