The usefulness of installing a garden shed

Installing a garden shed offers multiple advantages. Firstly, it provides additional storage space for storing your gardening tools, your garden furniture in winter, or even your bicycles. A garden shed can also offer you an additional outdoor room. This space can serve as a workshop, spare bedroom, or even an office, depending on your needs. Depending on your use, you can choose between different models of garden sheds: some are, for example, insulated to be used as additional living spaces throughout the year.

Resin, composite wood, metal, PVC… which material to choose for your garden shed?

To choose the material for your garden shed, you must consider the use you want to make of this space. Are you looking to build a garden cabin to use as a bedroom, office, or workshop? Or do you need a simple storage space? The aesthetic aspect is also a factor that can guide your choice of garden shed. To meet different needs, garden cabins are available in different materials, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:

• The resin shed, often made of PVC, is an economical solution that withstands moisture and UV rays well. However, it is slightly less impact-resistant than other materials.
• The metal garden shed, usually made of steel or aluminum, is robust and requires little maintenance. However, it is a poorly insulating material.
• Composite wood, a mixture of sawdust and recycled plastic, has good weather resistance. Its surface imitates that of wood, giving your shed a rustic garden cottage feel.
• Solid wood is the ideal solution if you are looking to install a weather-resistant and moisture-resistant garden shed (if treated correctly). The wooden garden shed guarantees robustness and durability.

Choosing the door for your garden cabin

Like any built structure, you can choose the type of door that will allow you to access your garden shed and close it: hinged door or sliding door, the choice is yours. Most models available on the market have hinged doors that are suitable for most gardens. For small spaces, it is advisable to opt for a sliding door for your garden shed: it takes up no space when open. If you intend to use your garden cabin as a storage space, you can opt for a double door: the wider opening it offers facilitates the storage of large items without having to disassemble them. Some models also have glazing for visibility of the shed’s contents or for security reasons.

Flat or Sloping Roof: Which roof to choose for a garden shed

The roof of your garden shed plays a crucial role in protecting the interior space and its insulation. Several options are available to you depending on your needs and garden architecture. Regarding the type of roof, you have the choice between:

• The double-sloped roof: this is the most traditional configuration for a garden shed as it offers excellent resistance to bad weather and facilitates rainwater drainage.
• The mono-sloped roof: like the double-sloped roof, it prevents rainwater from accumulating. It is ideal for a garden shed leaned against a wall.
• The flat roof: modern and stylish, its shape helps limit energy loss. Therefore, it is the roof to prioritise if you want to turn your garden shed into an additional living space. It is slightly sloped to prevent water from accumulating on it. As for the roof covering, it can be made of sheet metal, tile, or bitumen. The choice will depend on your aesthetic preferences, budget, functionality of the room, and climate of your region.

More or less than 5 m²: the importance of choosing the right size for your garden shed

Choosing the right size for your garden shed before buying it is essential because, in addition to determining what you can do with this additional space, the floor area will also determine the administrative procedures you must complete before installation. Indeed, a footprint of more than 5 m² may require you to submit a prior declaration of works to the town hall or obtain a building permit. But whatever the size of the garden shed you plan to install, it is strongly recommended to consult the local urban planning plan (PLU) of your municipality beforehand before settling on a model.