The Garden Shed – as strong as a tank!

The Challenger garden shed is back!

With a host of improved features for 2017, the high quality Challenger garden shed remains right up to date, the only thing that isn’t is the very 1987 price!

A shed is a ‘must have’ for most garden owners but type ‘garden shed’ into Google and you will receive over 15M results!  No wonder then that many gardeners are unsure what to look out for, what to avoid and importantly why a shed has a certain feature.

Challenge Fencing is here to help. We have been in the timber business 30 years. We take great pride in supplying only the highest quality fencing, decking and garden timber products, so here’s our guide based on our years’ of experience on buying the very best garden shed.

Quality timber first

Look out for Redwood timber. Unlike it’s cheaper Whitewood cousins, Redwood retains some sap in it’s grain, helping it remain more flexible and less prone to splitting, cracking or knot defects. Then look for pressure treated Redwood timber. Put simply, the timber has a wood preservative forced deep into it’s grain under a vacuum. The result is protection for up to 25 years’ from rot or insect attack.

Traditional craftsman construction

In a race to provide the cheapest online shed, many suppliers cut corners in construction. Whilst this brings the overall price down and provides a great headline,  it also dramatically reduces the lifespan of the shed. It’s one of our over riding principles at Challenge Fencing that we only supply the highest quality products. They may initially cost a little more than some of our competitors but will always work out cheaper in the long run!

There are some easy ways to spot a poorly constructed shed;

1. Thickness of the timber. It’s obvious but the thicker the framing, cladding, roof and floor the stronger the shed will be and the longer it will last. Minimums to avoid are 12mm or less cladding and 25mm or less framing. A roof of less than 12mm may not even be able to support the weight of the timber and felt!
2. Use of chipboard, plywood or any similar type of ‘sheet material’. Generally this disintegrates quite quickly once it gets wet.
3. Cheaper overlap cladding is more prone to expanding and letting water in versus shiplap cladding which is generally stronger and features a small channel to divert water away from the building.
4. No facia boards to finish off and protect the edge of the roofing felt.
5. Untreated metal fittings. Without an electroplated galvanised finish, the nails and metal fittings will soon rust and stain the shed.
6. Plastic rather than toughened glass windows.
7. Thin low quality roofing felt that easily rips when installed. Look for a mineral roofing felt that lasts for 5 or more years.
8. No opportunity to view and test the shed. Even if you cannot get to the show site the very fact the supplier is happy for customers to test their shed is a good sign of quality.
9. A rough, splintered finish is a rushed finish. A quality shed will have smooth often rounded timber.

We have created a handy Buyers Guide for the Challenger garden shed range;

Expert advice – FAQ

We are always happy to offer advice and help with any questions you may have about buying a garden shed. If we’ve not covered your question in our FAQ below, please talk to any of our branch sales staff, contact us on Twitter @Chall_Fencing, Facebook @ChallengeFencingLtd or leave a comment below.

Should I paint or treat my new Challenger shed?

Yes, to extend the life of your shed further we recommend treating your new shed with Shed & Fence Treatment or Wood Preservative. Both are available on our website, come in a range of attractive colours & a 5 litre tin should be sufficient for a single coat our largest 10′ x 8′ shed.

What base should I use for my new Challenger shed?

First and foremost your shed base must remain firm and level for years to come to ensure your shed lasts as long as possible. The best solution is a well draining concrete base. For the Challenger garden shed range this needs to be a minimum of 75mm (3″) deep. The base should be 25mm (1″) larger than the shed so rainwater can drain off onto the grass/soil.  An oversized concrete base, wider than the roof eaves, allows water to collect and splash back onto the shed timber, shortening it’s lifespan.

We can supply high quality cement and ballast for your garden shed project. Please use the table below to calculate how many bags of Cement and Ballast you will need for the Challenger shed range.

If you would like some recommendations for concrete base installers and shed installers, please ask our branch sales staff for their local list or see our Branch Information pages

Should I add wooden bearers to my Challenger shed?

Yes, we recommend a wooden bearer base with a damp proof course (a thin strip of spare roofing felt is ideal) on all installations. This provides a physical barrier against water getting into the base of the shed from below and provides airflow underneath the shed. Both will further extend the life of your shed.

We can supply all the timber & fixings you need for each size of Challenger shed, please use the table below to help you calculate the quantities required.

Can I build The Challenger shed myself?

We supply the Challenger shed range flat packed with a comprehensive set of assembly instructions and a complete fittings pack. A competent DIYer should have no problem assembling the shed, although it helps if you have someone else to provide an extra pair of hands!

If you would like to read through the instructions please just click on your preferred size of shed & download the assembly instructions shown in the Product Description.

How much space should I leave around my Challenger garden shed?

We recommend a minimum of 400mm (15″) clearance around all sides, although having 600mm (24″) allows more comfortable room for painting and any maintenance.

If you are positioning the shed against a fence, this clearance can be reduced if you have removable fence panels and can gain access to the other side of the fence. It may also be worth considering treating your new garden shed before assembly, particularly any hard to reach areas.

Do I need planning permission for the Challenger garden shed range?

No, all four garden sheds in the range are under 2.5m high so do not require planning approval. However we always recommend discussing your new shed project with your neighbours when working near a shared boundary.

Does the Challenger garden shed range include roof felt?

Yes, we supply heavy duty mineral roof felt which has a life expectancy of 7+ years’.

Remember you can use off cuts of roof felt as a damp proof course (DPC) on your wooden bearer base, which we recommend is installed with all Challenger sheds.

It is also important to check that no tree or bush branches are likely to scrap against the garden shed roof as this can reduce the lifespan of the mineral felt.

Does the Challenger garden shed come with a padlock?

No, it is supplied with a galvanised sliding pad-bolt. Purchasing a good quality padlock is recommended to keep your belongings secure.

Do you deliver the Challenger garden shed?

Yes, we have a fleet of our own lorries & can usually deliver the next day within the local delivery area of our five branches (Cobham, Woking, Farnham, Maidstone and Gloucester).

When you place an order, our system will confirm if your postcode is within our delivery area. Our sales team will then double check your order, confirm the delivery charge and estimated timing.

Can I adjust the size and/or specification of a Challenger shed?

No, the Challenger garden shed only comes in three Apex roof sizes (6’x4′, 8’x6′, 10’x8′) and one Pent roof size (7’x5′). The window(s) can be placed on either side of the Apex roof design and the door can be placed at either end.

We do however sell garden shed protective paints and treatments and all the materials you require to build a concrete base and wooden shed bearer base.

These will be shown under you online shopping basket as Related Products for you to choose from.

On which side is the door hung?

All Challenger garden sheds have left hand hung doors.

Are the windows opening?

No, all Challenger garden shed windows are fixed for added security.

Do you offer a painting service for my Challenger garden shed?

No, but we do sell a range of attractive colours of paint.