Design Your Perfect Garden Shed

In the UK, most garden sheds are considered permitted development and don't require planning permission, provided they meet certain criteria: they must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5m, maximum overall height of 4m for a pitched roof (3m for other roofs), no more than half the garden area covered by outbuildings, and not forward of the principal elevation. However, rules differ in conservation areas and for listed buildings. Always check with your local planning authority before starting construction.

The ideal shed size depends on your intended use. For basic garden tool storage (spades, forks, small items), a 6x4ft (1.8x1.2m) shed is sufficient. For lawnmowers, wheelbarrows, and larger equipment, consider 8x6ft (2.4x1.8m). If you need a workshop with space to work around a bench, you'll typically need at least 10x8ft (3x2.4m). Our shed builder helps you calculate exact material requirements for any custom size you need.

Apex roofs have a traditional A-frame design with two sloping sides meeting at a central ridge, providing maximum headroom in the centre and excellent water runoff on both sides. Pent roofs have a single slope from front to back (or vice versa), making them ideal for positioning against walls or fences where height restrictions apply. They're also simpler to construct with fewer angled cuts. Apex sheds generally offer more internal height for vertical storage, while pent sheds have a more contemporary appearance and work well in tight spaces.

A shed needs a level, solid foundation to prevent movement, rot, and structural issues. Common options include: concrete slabs (most durable, ideal for large or heavy-use sheds), paving slabs on compacted sand (good for medium sheds, allows some drainage), pressure-treated timber bearers on concrete blocks (provides good airflow to prevent rot), or plastic grid shed bases with gravel fill (quick to install, good drainage). The foundation should extend slightly beyond the shed footprint and must be perfectly level - use a spirit level to check.

Building time varies based on shed size, design complexity, and your experience level. A basic 8x6ft timber shed typically takes a competent DIYer 1-2 weekends to complete. This breaks down roughly as: foundation preparation (half day to full day), floor frame and decking (2-4 hours), wall frames (3-5 hours), roof structure (2-4 hours), cladding all walls (4-6 hours), roofing felt and trim (2-3 hours), and door/windows installation (2-4 hours). Our step-by-step instructions help streamline the process and avoid common mistakes.

For structural framing (studs, joists, rafters), use pressure-treated softwood - typically 50x75mm or 50x100mm CLS (Canadian Lumber Standard) timber. For wall cladding, popular options include: shiplap (interlocking boards that shed water efficiently), tongue and groove (smooth interior finish, ideal for workshops), or overlap/featheredge (economical, traditional appearance). Floor joists should be minimum 50x100mm pressure-treated timber spaced at 400mm centres. All timber in contact with the ground or likely to get wet must be pressure-treated to prevent rot. Our calculator specifies exact sizes for your chosen shed.

Essential tools include: a cordless drill/driver with wood bits, circular saw or mitre saw for cutting timber (a hand saw works but is slower), tape measure (minimum 5m), spirit level (at least 600mm, longer is better), carpenter's square or speed square, claw hammer, chalk line for marking long straight lines, and a pencil. Helpful additions include: a workbench or sawhorses, clamps, nail gun (speeds up cladding), and a jigsaw for curved cuts around windows. Safety equipment is essential: safety glasses, hearing protection when using power tools, and work gloves.

Key weatherproofing steps include: ensuring adequate roof overhang (50-75mm) to protect walls, using roofing felt with proper overlaps (100mm minimum), sealing all joints and corners with appropriate sealant, fitting drip rails above doors and windows, using weather stripping around doors, and treating all timber with quality wood preserver or paint. For the base, ensure good drainage around the shed and consider adding a DPM (damp proof membrane) under timber floors. Regularly check and maintain sealants, especially around windows and door frames.