Garden Workshop Sheds – Things To Consider Before Purchasing

So, you’re in the market for a garden workshop. Perhaps you’re a keen DIYer or craftsperson looking for a private garden space for your projects, or maybe you’ve set up a business and need somewhere to store and create your products. Whatever the purpose, we’re here to help you work through the all-important questions before you invest in your new space.

To get you thinking about what you’ll need to use one of our premium timber workshops to its full potential, we’ve put together the key things to consider when buying a garden shed to use as a workshop.

What size shed do you need for a workshop?

Here’s something that might surprise you: most people overestimate the size they need their workshop to be. They come to us with the measurements they took in their garden, but when they step inside an equivalent size at one of our show centres, they’re often surprised by just how roomy it feels.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure that your workshop shed size is right for your needs. Too small and it can quickly become cluttered If you have space for a larger workshop in your garden, you could also make it work harder by incorporating a partitioned area for storage. If you’re torn between having a leisure space and a workshop, take a look at our garden room with storage solutions for a unique way to meet both needs with one building.

When considering internal space, make sure you plan for workbenches and storage shelving. They are essential for making everything in your workshop accessible, especially large tools and equipment that you don’t want to retrieve from a cupboard every time it’s needed. Our workbenches are constructed with a durable oak-faced plywood top, measuring at 90cm high and 60cm deep. This offers a stable surface with ample room, capable of supporting considerable weight.

If you are unsure about what size you need and would like some guidance, our sales advisors will be more than happy to help. We offer a no-obligation site visit service, where our friendly advisors will visit your property to measure up and design a garden workshop that works in the space you have.

Which roof style is best?

The style of your shed roof can also influence how spacious it feels from the inside. An apex roof has two sloping sides that meet at a central ridge, which can give a workshop a roomier feel inside – ideal if you are tall! Apex roofs are also generally considered the more ‘traditional’ roof style.

An apex roof is also more visible from the ground, so consider what material you want it to be made from. Our garden sheds and workshops are lined with heavy duty felt as standard, which makes them extra waterproof. We also offer a range of options that maintain the longevity while increasing visual interest, such as cedar shingles and grey slate tiles.

Pent roofs are incredibly popular and are considered a more modern style. Designed to slope away from the entryway (to drain rainwater away from the front fascias), they are an effective aid to rainwater harvesting.

They are also perfect if you want your workshop to fit neatly into a tight space, and offer simple and easy vertical storage placement.

Choosing the right doors and windows

You may not think it, but choosing what type of door you have on your garden workshop is also a big decision. If you are going to need to bring large items in and out of your shed, consider having double doors added so that you have a big enough opening to get them in and out with ease. You may also want to add a separate door for quick everyday access.

You may want to include windows for additional natural light to help you see the projects you are working on. Having windows in your workshop will also allow you to admire your garden while you are working inside! Glazed doors can offer a solution to both, providing access while bringing additional light into the building.

If you have equipment that creates a lot of dust, or you are using paints or stains that give off strong fumes, opening windows can also help with ventilation and internal airflow. You may also want to choose double-glazed windows to help make your workshop more comfortable throughout the year.

What type of flooring do you need?

A workshop shed needs a floor that can comfortably support the tools, workbenches, equipment and machinery you plan to keep inside. If you have particularly weighty equipment that you need inside your workshop, you will want to invest in a heavy duty shed, with a floor that is fit for purpose.

With this in mind, we would advise choosing a heavy-duty floor. Ours is made using ex 38mm thick boards that are designed to support the weight of heavy items and machinery.

Do you need insulation?

If you plan to spend long periods of time in your workshop during winter, an insulated workshop is well worth considering.

Not only will insulating a shed workshop help to keep you warm, but it will also help to decrease noise levels, which can be helpful if you are using loud machinery or equipment inside your shed and do not want to disturb the rest of your family at home or your neighbours.

Do you want electrics and lighting?

Have you got equipment you need to plug in to use your workshop effectively? If so, you will want to add electrics to your workshop. Our electrical packs provide four double switched sockets that can be fitted where you like, so they are placed in the area that works best for you.

An electric pack will also supply your building with lighting inside, allowing you to still use your workshop when it is dark outside and in the winter months of the year.

Keeping tools and equipment secure

When using your shed as a workshop, you are bound to be storing items and equipment of value so you will want to make sure that your shed is as secure as possible.

We offer our security pack as extra on our Superior Sheds for those customers who want additional protection for the items stored inside. We add stainless steel bars to the window frames, security screws to the door hinges that are impossible to unscrew, and a heavy-duty 7 lever lock that is anti-sawing, anti-picking, anti-cropping, and anti-prising, for your peace of mind that your items are safely secured inside.

In any case, it’s worth also getting valuable items appropriately insured for peace of mind.

Choosing a workshop that's built to last

While a lower-cost timber building may seem appealing initially, investing in quality construction can pay off over the longer term. A well-made workshop should be built to withstand regular use and provide a space you can rely on for many years to come.

We strongly believe in investing in quality, which is why we don’t cut any corners in our craft. We source the finest Scandinavian Redwood timber, slow-grown for over 100 years to ensure it has a fine, dense grain before it’s felled. Then, it’s shipped to our Norfolk factory where we plane and mould the wood ourselves. We like to keep everything under one roof and in the capable hands of our expert craftsmen, who collectively boast over 230 years experience between them.

Additional considerations

A suitable base

An uneven or unsupportive base can lead to severe alignment issues, which will cause problems with doors and windows opening or closing. An uneven base can also place additional stress on joints, potentially leading to cracking or damage and, in some circumstances, invalidating your guarantee.

Take the time to get the base laid properly. Our base laying services can be enlisted alongside your workshop purchase, so you can rest assured your base will be built perfectly within our advised 5mm tolerance.

Cladding

The type of cladding you use on the shed exterior gives it a particular style. Shiplap cladding is formed of smooth tongue-and-groove cladding that gives a clean finish. Weatherboard cladding is where each board overlaps slightly, and gives your shed a more rustic, traditional look.

We offer shiplap and weatherboard cladding, as well as a range of exterior paint colours to finish off your workshop and help it blend seamlessly with your garden landscape.

Guttering

With our Garden Buildings, guttering works in tandem with our roofs to protect the timber from rainwater. This will reduce damage to the exterior over time.

Do you need planning permission for a workshop?

Most workshops will not require planning permission for your shed (there are exceptions to this rule) but there are restrictions around the maximum size workshop that you can install. You can use our planning permission calculator as a quick indicator on whether or not you will need planning permission.

Which Crane shed is best for a workshop?

For a dedicated garden workshop, we would recommend our Superior Sheds. Their heavier-duty construction makes them particularly well suited to regular workshop use, while the wide range of customisation options allows you to create a space around the way you intend to use it.

You can tailor everything from the size, layout, doors and windows to the flooring, workbenches, insulation, electrics and security. If you need additional storage alongside your working space, we can also incorporate internal partitions to help keep tools, equipment and materials organised.

Our Classic Sheds and traditionally styled National Trust Sheds may also suit lighter workshop use, depending on your requirements. For larger projects or particularly heavy equipment, one of our Timber Garages could provide another option, with a concrete floor and wider double-door opening.

If you are unsure on which of our timber workshops would be best suited for your needs, please do get in touch with us by emailing sales@cranegardenbuildings.co.uk or give us a call on 01760 444229. Our friendly advisors will be more than happy to use their expertise and knowledge of our garden workshop buildings to help you with your workshop project.