The humble garden shed – a lifestyle choice or simply a necessity? Either way we look at it many of us recall the humble garden shed as either a place to store all that garden furniture sparingly used throughout another dreary British summer and a redundant lawnmower or as a welcome retreat away from the wife and kids. Whether that’s true today is open to debate however it is not beyond the realms of belief to think that the garden shed still has a prominent place in the Great British garden. Sheds have been around for a number of centuries but as time has gone on so too has the development of sheds, be it due to size, design or need. Running alongside this has been the discovery of new materials. Subsequently, as is often the case, the choice now is mind blowing.

Presently we have your tried and tested wooden shed and its comparably more recent metal cousin. So why change something that isn’t broke? And which really is better; wooden or metal sheds? Well each have their merits, so I guess it boils down to the personal judgement of the recipient, you the consumer. Here are a few pointers you may want to consider before choosing which type of garden shed to go for.

As alluded to earlier a wooden shed carries a greater sense of tradition. Whereas, metal sheds are suggested by some as having greater durability but is this merely a preconceived idea. It is too broad a topic to talk primarily about wood versus metal as there are many different forms of either. To narrow this down wooden sheds are primarily manufactured from the surprisingly resistant softwood, pine, or cedar. Metal garden sheds are made from galvanised steel, the somewhat old fashioned corrugated iron or emerging aluminium.

Firstly wooden sheds look more at home nestled in a shaded corner or at the bottom of your garden. However with the surge in suburban developments around the country these days garden space is becoming increasingly trivialised in preference of interior space, indicative of a society drawn to the sofa and a TV dinner. That said metal sheds do not look out of place in a suburban environment. And what about shed size? Whatever size shed be it 8 x 6, 10 x 8, 12 x 8 you can get a metal or wooden shed. The primary consideration usually revolves around durability. Wooden sheds require more frequent maintenance with an annually begrudging slap of that sticky staining residue we call treatment to prevent premature rot. Then you have the metal shed that is pre-treated or painted at the factory but does not counter the flimsy panelling often found. Metal sheds are susceptible to denting from a stray cricket ball clattering the side. Unexpected peeling or bubbling can happen depending on the price of shed you pay for though this is far less of a problem theses days with many respectable manufacturers around. In defence of the metal shed they are ideal as a storage solution for garden furniture, the lawnmower as well as any clutter from the house in view of the fact that they are considered more secure. Despite the somewhat fiddly task of assembling a metal shed with all its nuts ’n’ bolts security is something consumer’s value. Wooden sheds although not as secure for the same reason uncannily offer greater opportunity for modification be it an extra window or internal shelving. The natural qualities of wood also enable wooden sheds to have better ventilation making them ideal as backyard workshops still to this day.

So whether you decide to buy a wooden shed or a metal shed take into account your use for it and the quality of finish. The choice is out there so it’s just up to you to decide.

Author Source:
For further information on garden sheds and garden buildings whether it be a wooden garden shed, metal shed, garden storage, log cabins, summerhouses or greenhouses you’ll find what your looking for all in one place.