If you need more indoor space in your yard, a garden shed is a cost-effective and practical way to go about it. Whether you simply need to store your basic garden tools like watering pots, lawnmowers, gardening soils, rakes and shovels or you want an outdoor area that you can use as an office or other environment, a garden shed is a smart and simple option.

Many homeowners are put off by the idea of a ‘garden shed’ under the mistaken belief that it won’t meet their needs. The truth is that the term ‘garden shed’ covers a variety of all-purpose freestanding units, from the basic to the elaborate. In fact, you will be surprised to learn just how many different types of garden shed there are available.

Today we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about garden sheds, including:

• Materials
• How to build your own garden shed
• The types of garden shed available
• Cheap garden sheds
• Garden shed kits
• Garden shed plans

Let’s kick-start our garden shed guide with materials:

Materials: Plastic vs. Metal vs. Wooden

The material of your garden shed is one of the most important considerations you should have. Not only is the material going to determine the way your shed looks, but it’s also going to influence the level of maintenance and upkeep required during ownership. There are three main materials used in the outer construction of garden sheds:

1. Plastic
2. Metal
3. Wood

Here’s everything you need to know about each material:

Plastic Garden Sheds

Plastic garden sheds (sometimes referred to as resin or vinyl garden sheds) are the newest addition to the shed market. They are a popular choice with builders and homeowners because they are relatively easy to assemble and they require very little upkeep, aside from the odd rinse every now and again. They are also lightweight and they are very strong and durable regardless of their size. Like metal and wooden sheds, plastic garden sheds are available in a wide range of colors. However, they’re not always as stylish as metal and wooden sheds, and not all of them are manufactured in an environmentally-friendly way.

• Pre-made and easy for anybody to erect
• Strong, durable and weatherproof
• Lightweight and easy to transport
• Not the best looking or most stylish material

Metal Garden Sheds

Metal sheds are most often made with galvanized aluminum or steel and they are one of the oldest materials that are used in the shed construction business. Metal garden sheds are strong and durable, however they are not as hardy as plastic sheds and will need additional anchoring in storm-prone regions. Like plastic sheds, metal garden sheds are available in a wide range of sizes and styles, however they have the additional benefit of being easy to paint and customize. This comes at a cost, though; metal garden sheds require a higher level of upkeep and maintenance than plastic sheds. And so, the long-term costs are higher.

• Strong and durable, but less so than plastic
• Fire resistant and customizable
• Additional anchoring required in storm-prone regions
• Easy to dissemble and transport

Wooden Garden Sheds

Wooden sheds are the most popular type of shed. In large part, this is because wood is a natural product that fits in with the outdoors better than plastic or metal. Quite simply, it looks better. But there is another reason that wooden garden sheds are so popular – DIY professionals and kit buyers find that wooden garden sheds give them the freedom and flexibility to get the style, shape and size they need. And although wooden garden sheds require more upkeep than both plastic and metal sheds, this is offset by the character of wood and the ability to blend a wooden shed into the background with a can of paint.

• Strong and durable
• Timeless style
• Simple upkeep – annual applications of sealant and weather protection
• Thousands of shed plans available

Pre-built Garden Sheds

If building your own shed is not for you, there is always the choice of purchasing a shed kit (pre-built sheds). Typically most people don’t have the time or the skill to ‘DIY it’, so there are many kits available whether you prefer wood, metal or plastic.

The not so good news is that when you purchase a shed you don’t get as many options for customization.

Finding garden sheds for sale is easy if you know where to look. The most convenient option is Amazon, because you can shop from the comfort of your home and read what other shed owners have to say about any brand or style in which you’re interested. You can also narrow your search on Amazon by price, size, brand or purpose. You can also check out eBay.

If you need a big garden shed and money is no object, check out the Arrow VT 1231 or the Lifetime 15 feet by 8 feet garden shed. These sheds come with plenty of features and range from $1,400 to $2,400. The Suncast 12×20 offers you a large yet stylish shed that can double as storage and work space – perfect for a working environment.

If however you are the type of person who needs to see products up close before buying, you will feel more comfortable at your local home improvement store. You can take a trip to Home Depot, Lowes, Menards or Sears in the United States or B&Q and HomeBase in the United Kingdom to look at sheds. Each store has its own products and shed supplies, so you should make a trip down to your local store to find out what is available in your area.

As long as you know what you want and how much you want to spend, you can find the right garden shed easily. The trick is to shop around and check out real customer reviews.

Cheap Pre-Built Garden Sheds

Of course not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars on a garden shed. The good news is that if you are on a tight budget, there are high quality cheap garden sheds out there, both pre-built and DIY ones. When looking for a shed on a budget, it’s important that you buy the highest quality shed you can. If you are not sure what a high quality shed looks like, here’s some advice: If you live in a relatively warm climate where your biggest concern is the weather, finding a cheap shed that gets the job done is fairly easy. Any of the staple shed materials; wood, metal or plastic; are ideal when you don’t have to deal with excess moisture. Regardless of the materials you use, make sure your shed is protected from the elements; wind, rain and sun; and anchored if you’re in a storm-prone region.

You should know, however, that a limited budget will make it difficult to get the two most important things in your shed: style and space. You should expect limited style choices at the lower end of the price spectrum as well as limited space. This doesn’t mean it is impossible to find a style you like with the room you need, but it does mean that you will have to do a bit more research to meet your criteria.

If you want a modern shed suitable for storage and more – you can try out the Suncast B52 or if you want to save a few hundred more the Suncast GS1000B garden sheds go for as cheap as $169. These are decent quality sheds that don’t cost the earth.

DIY With Garden Shed Kits

If you are not prepared to build a garden shed from scratch, that’s ok. There are hundreds of garden shed kits available that will allow you to save time while also ensuring you have a top quality shed. And, you get the benefit of having everything you need right in front of you.

Shed kits come in a variety of materials, styles, sizes and models to ensure that each homeowner gets the kit they want. These kits make it easy for the casual builder without a ton of tools or time to build a quality shed. Garden shed kits are available in plastic, metal and wood and should come with all the bolts and screws you need to get the job done.

Pre-built vs. Garden shed kits – Which is right for me?

One of the reasons it takes so long to choose a shed, purchase it and erect it is because many homeowners can’t decide if it is best to build a garden shed from scratch or simply put together a premade kit. How do you know which choice is the right one for you?

You can never really know but the first two factors you should consider are cost and skill, because they will have to be decided together. Do you have any experience building any type of independently standing structure? Do you own power tools to help you build a garden shed from the ground up? If not then you will have to factor in the cost of the raw materials plus the cost of buying or renting the tools to help you complete the job.

Next you will have to decide if it is more important to get the exact shed you want or to simply get a shed erected immediately. If time is a key factor then it will be quicker to put together a garden shed kit, but getting the exact style and size of shed you want can only really be achieved by building it yourself with the help of shed plans.

Build Your Own Shed With Shed Plans

If you wish to build your own garden shed, you will be pleased to learn that many DIY-ers are doing just that with the help of detailed shed plans. The truth is that with the right tools, even a novice can successfully build a garden shed from nothing but raw materials.

In fact if you go here, you can read a full animated basic shed building guide for novices. It’s easier than you think it is and you’ll get lots of satisfaction building your own garden shed.

Garden Shed Plans

If you have never built a shed before you will need a comprehensive guide that tells you exactly what tools and materials you’ll need and detailed drawings to make sure assembly is on the right track. The choice is yours as there are free shed plans on Pinterest that offer basic layouts and information on how to build them, or if you want to give it your all and build the shed that you really want with flower boxes, indoor lights and amazing details you should check our free shed plans.