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Great work. Kris explained what he would do clearly and provided a competitive quote for the eork. He was able to start quickly and work days that accommodated my schedule and needs. I love the finished result and he explained how to care for it. Great workmanship - would hire him again.
Elliott
Adam did a great job with our flooring. He was friendly, worked quickly and well priced. Would definitely use again.
Hayley
Job booked in quickly and carried out professionally for a fair price. Would recommend.
Antonio
This page has everything you’ll need to know about finding and hiring a local garden shed/playhouse specialist.
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Garden shed and playhouse construction from local builders
Garden sheds come in a range of shapes and sizes and are increasingly used for a variety of different purposes, from storing tools and garden furniture, to providing spaces to work in or relax. Garden sheds are usually made from wood, plastic, or metal and, unless you’re after something bespoke, most sheds will come pre-built, requiring you or a tradesperson to assemble it. In most cases, a gardener, a handyman, or a builder will be able to do the job for you.
Costs for installing or building your garden shed
The costs of the shed itself will vary greatly on what your shed is made from and its size. Most pre-built sheds will take 1-2 days to build, with costs likely to start from £200, though this will vary based on where you live. Costs can increase if you need an area cleared to make room for the shed, are opting for a concrete base or need the ground levelled before the shed can be built.
If you’re looking to add electricity, heating, lighting and furniture, this will add to the complexity of the project and you may want to research specialist shed builders who can build you something bespoke.
Choosing the right shed
This will depend upon a number of things including:
- Your budget.
- The value of the items you’ll keep in the shed.
- Your intended use of the shed.
- Any design considerations you have relating to your house or garden.
Before you decide on the type of shed, it’s important to think about how you’ll use it. Will your shed be used to sit and relax in, to work in, or as a home for your lawnmower and other garden tools.
Wooden sheds are usually made from softwoods like pine and cedar. Pine has a greater susceptibility to rot than cedar but is also cheaper and more widely available. It’s a good idea to treat your shed before construction and then repeat the treatment each year. This will help to keep it weather-proof. Alternatively you could look at pre-treated or pressure-treated sheds. The latter has preservative forced into the timber, resulting in almost no maintenance being required at all.
Plastic sheds tend to be cheaper than wooden sheds. They’re lighter, won’t rot or burn, and are often simpler to construct. On the downside, because of its plastic construction, the hinges for the doors and locks will likely be plastic meaning security can be a concern, and you may have limits on the amount you can hang on the walls. You’ll also want to think about how your new shed will look in situ – plastic sheds often struggle for style points.
Metal sheds are made to last (but beware the cheap, thin metal sheds which corrode quickly). They’re low maintenance as the metal is galvanised, making them weather proof. They’re also heavy, meaning they’re robust and can be made very secure, but this means they can be trickier to put up, with the panels of the shed weighing significantly more than other alternatives.
Whichever option you choose, a solid base is vital to ensure your shed is able to withstand the rigours of daily use (removing tools and equipment from a shed will test how well built your shed is) and bad weather. Ask your tradesperson before they quote about whether any clearance is needed, how they plan to create a solid base for the shed and whether there’s any work required to level off the ground.
There are no specific qualifications that a tradesperson will need to build a shed. It’s always advisable to see proof of similar projects they’ve been done for other homeowners.
Planning permission for building a garden shed
You shouldn’t need planning permission to build a shed if:
- Your shed is only being used for domestic purposes.
- Your shed has a maximum height of 4 metres.
- The ground area covered by your shed is less than 50% of the total ground space of your home.
For all the latest planning permission advice and for all the qualifying criteria, visit the Planning Portal.
Insurance for electrical work
Whichever tradesperson you choose to build your shed, they should have public liability insurance. This isn’t a requirement but gives you peace of mind should there be any property damage or personal injury claims as a result of the work.
Questions you should ask your tradesperson
- Do they have public liability insurance and what does this cover?
- What kind of jobs do they tend to do the most? Can they give you references for previous work?
- Will it be themselves that build the shed? If a concrete base is needed, or if you’d like electricity in your shed, will they be doing this work themselves or working with other tradespeople?
Tom Griffiths
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At Stanco joinery we offer an extensive range of services in the joinery trade from door fitting to decking.We strive to be the best for service and price. We will try match any genuine quote. We are COVID compliant and wear masks, sanitise regularly and social distance on all premises. About me i have over 12 years in the trade and started my own company in 2019 as I was working for a company doing shop fitting there was no room for progression so I started my own business in joinery. Last year my company went limited I’ve done over 5 years in college and university I have my level 2 & 3 in carpentry and joinery (city and guilds) and I also have my degree in construction management (Bsc). I’m new to this platform but not new in the trade I have an eye for detail and no corners are cut I aim to do a job as though it was my own. All works are guaranteed and covered by my liability insurance. So give the best a chance to do the jobs you have and look forward to working with you on any jobs in the future
Very happy with the work done well fitted door
We undertake all building work but specialise in joinery
Hi I'm Andy I'm 43 and first started out in 1996 did my apprentice with George wimpy builders and spent 20 years in Various trades I am a multi skilled tradesmen and pride myself in my work and value my customers as you are the key to success
Really humble and professionals. My garden fence completely collapsed due to storm and I couldn’t afford a new one so they managed to fix it.
Carpentry (Certified Fire Door Installer/competent person) Electrical and general builder
At The Ruby Team we value great work and our word. Reliable, trustworthy and punctual tradesmen is what we are. With fantastic quality of work and enthusiasm we really get the job done to a 5* level. With 7 years in the field as a multi-tradesman I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge in many sectors. No job is too small nor too big for us and we cover all areas in London and Essex. We follow a CLAYGO service which is a protocol we follow to ensure your house is as clean as when we entered it. #Residential. #Commercial. #Landscaping. Terms & Conditions. Any job cancelled by client with less than 48 hours notice will be subject to a flat £65 cancellation fee which is due when cancellation is confirmed. Payments are due on completion and once customer is satisfied with the quality of workmanship. If customer is not satisfied, it will be resolved with snagging or discount.
Time - Served Joiner Advanced Craft 43 Yrs Experience All aspects of joinery Fire Door Installation Plasterboarding Approved Fitter Wren Kitchen & Fitted Wardrobes - B&Q /Wickes
Ernie is a really pleasant guy, his work is of a high standard and he is very reliable ...we will be contacting Ernie again for more work throughout the house. Highly recommend
All plumbing undertaken with no call out charge. Full bathroom installations our specialty
Over 20 years in trade, very professional and punctual.
Prompt, professional speedy service. I would definitely use again
Abigail Construction are a local based firm of General Builders and Brickwork contractors. We have over 30 years experience and specialise in all aspects of brick/masonrywork internal and external house renovations and improvements.
Fair quote which didn't change. We had some family issues and Gavin was very accommodating with changes. Got job done quickly and looked great. Will definitely use again
We are a family run and owned Joinery based company of 20 years .All types of Joinery 1st & 2nd fix ,Doors ,flooring. Kitchens ,Commercial ,Shop fit out Media Walls , Wall Panelling ,Decking , Garden Rooms , Fencing, We also cater for new builds extensions and general building work A 5 Star Rated Company
Excellent service from Lee's team - quickly quoted for job - turned up as agreed and finished the job on time - I would highly recommend this company for anything you need to know about fire doors! Thankyou!
With expertise in all aspects of joinery, from roofing to foundations, we handle every detail of your project. Our building services cover a wide range of needs. I've been dedicated to this trade since 1989, ensuring quality and reliability in every job.
Electrician at Self employed electrical engineer
Came out short notice. Managed to squeeze me in. Due to short notice of getting room plastered 3 days later. Had 4 double plugs put in. In chrome like I wanted. They were professional and cleaned up after themselves. Will definitely use again
Trading since 2001. T M Services ( Tony ) specialise in all electrical works and is a city and guilds qualified electrician, fully insured and Part P registered. T M Services also undertake all aspects of bathroom and kitchen design and installation, as well as tiling. Along with any other plumbing works you may need doing. To view a selection of works recently finished please visit our Facebook page
Home improvements business with the main aim of making customers 100% happy. Furniture Flooring Made to measure blinds Curtains Wall mounted items - mirrors, shelving, tvs etc Jet washing Gardening Rubbish removals And more!
Construction and brickpaving company...we have been In business since 2005 with over 100 happy customers to date no job too small.... James eves JLE paving ????
James is a fantastic tradesman: he is highly skilled and knowledgeable. James is a great communicator and he talked me through all the options. What a hard working and friendly person. I highly recommend James
HELLO MY NAME IS STEPHEN SEYMOUR I HAVE BEEN A CARPENTER FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS AND I HAVE WORKED ON ALL DIFFERENT PROJECTS FROM FITTING THE FIRST FLOORS JOIST TO PUTTING A CUT ROOFS ON AND NOW AND AGAIN I MAKE BESPOKE BOOKCASES AND UNITS AS YOU CAN SEE
I have a handyman, joinery business, operating across London. I pride myself on building good relationships with customers, offering a friendly and reliable service to a high standard. My service is clean and tidy and I work in a safe and professional manner to keep disruption to your home to a minimum. I place an emphasis on quality of finish and a consultative approach. I deliver quality work, very tentative to details.
Aureliu did a fantastic job. He was punctual, efficient, tidy and quick. A very pleasant and reliable handyman.
RJR Home Improvements are here to help! We are a family run business who pride ourselves on high quality workmanship and customer care. We offer a friendly reliable and trustworthy service. Our high standards and customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us. Our skills cover the whole building sector, everything from odd jobs as small as garden & gutter clearances to full refurbishments & replacements from top to bottom of your home. We have a combined experience of 45 years in the trade which means when you choose RJR you can rest assured that your project is in the best of hands.
Ryan was punctual at all times. His communication skills are excellent. Ryan and the team worked efficiently and effectively. The finish on the job was good. I believe that he diagnosed correctly the problem with the roof. I can’t confirm yet whether the leak has been resolved. I’ll have to wait until it rains!
PEARL CLEANING & GARDENING LIMITED
Fantastic service everything I wanted done and more would highly recommend this company
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