Shed advice thoughts please....

[Scottishnewbie]

I have finally decided that I have tripped over one too many plant pots and now need to buy a shed! We haven't got loads of spare cash so I thought I'd get some advice as to:

-size
-shape
- manufacturer (as long as the deliver to Fife, Scotland)

any thoughts would be gratefully recieved.

Many thanks

SN

[SarzWix]

I got mine from Focus, there are definitely better built ones on the market, but you get a lot of space for your money. Mine's been on an exposed lottie for nearly 3 years now and is still standing
Size - get as big as you can afford to fit in the space you have - like a greenhouse, there's no such thing as too big

[Two_Sheds]

I have had three 7 x 5 sheds and couldn't make do with anything smaller, not once you've got tools, a chair, netting, canes etc in it.

I've always had pent roofs too, with just the one gutter to worry about.

I paid £20-£35 for early ones ... but £100 for the latest one, 2nd hand off eBay.

[bluemoon]

Buy the best you can afford and then make sure you put a wood treatment on it every year, without fail. Do it when we've had a week or so of warm dry weather in the summer (easier said than done, I know) as when the wood it tinder dry it will absorb more. As long as you keep it well maintained even a cheap one should last many years. As TwoSheds says though, size does matter! Buy the biggest you can, a large cheaper model is probably better than a smaller, but better quality, one as long as you look after it.

[jackie j]

I bought a good quality one from a local shed business and had it delivered and erected for approx £250 two years ago.I wanted one that would last and at the time I thought I could always sell it and get some money back if and when I give up my lottie. A new couple on our site just had one delivered to their house ( couldnt get it delivered to lottie ) from somewhere up country and paid about the same for a slightly bigger shed, and the quality is not as good as mine and they are wishing they had got one from the local business.
Get the best you can afford even second hand ones can be good quality.

[burnie]

There's a guy at Padanarum near Forfar,I'm told he is reasonable and will make pretty much what you want.

[geoff]

Get one as big as you can afford or are allowed. I got mine from Focus, and it's been fine for the past 4 years

But I think that unless you get the very best and most expensive, you should be prepared to do a bit if extra work yourself. I have secured the roofing felt with extra nails and batons, and used extra screws as I put it together
I have also proofed the shed with cresote. The floor was a bit springy so I put down some extra plywood sheets
You might have to erect your own shed base, if so try to get it as firm and as level as you can
The thin plastic window panes flexed in strong wind, so I replaced mine with glass after the first winter

When I moved onto my plot and started to put up my shed, one of the Wise Old Men advised me that "a bottle of whisky's not a bad thing to keep in a shed"

[Scottishnewbie]

Folks, this is all really helpful - many thanks indeed.

Didnt think my old GH would be moved for a few weeks as i had loads of tomatoes in it, but lo and behold, EVERY SINGLE PLANT GOT BLIGHT TODAY!!!!

So on the one hand i am distraught cos i lost loads of them and now have 5,000,000 green tomatoes to use up this weekend but on the other hand, i can move the old GH and start work for the shed......what's that saying about every cloud??????

[geoff]

Remember that besides a rack for spades, forks and other tools, you'll need to make a space in it for your lang spoon (sorry, coldn't resist it)

[Scottishnewbie]

am i being thick? what's a 'lang spoon'?

[Alison]

I got my lottie one for free from freecycle. Just gave it a coat of pain and some new felt and was sorted. Don't see any need to pay out a load of dosh when you consider how many other things you have go buy.

[Snadger]

If you build your own you don't have to rely on anyone else's design and it will give you a sense of achievement at the end of it! Preferably, made from scrounged (sorry, I mean recycled) timber!

[Flummery]

If you build your own you don't have to rely on anyone else's design and it will give you a sense of achievement at the end of it! Preferably, made from scrounged (sorry, I mean recycled) timber!

- with a lot of doors?

[geoff]

I was informed by a Glaswegian friend that even amongst their fellow Scots, the people from Fife are known for being thrifty, hence the saying

Ye need a lang (long) spoon tae sup wi' a Fifer

No offence meant, I was just trying to be humorous. If you know of any insults for Mancunians, feel free to post them

[Scottishnewbie]

Hey Geoff, no offence taken - I had just never heard the expression before as only live in fife but don't actally come from here. They do say Fifer's are mean, so I understand the expression now that i understand it? D'uh!