So, you’ve just received your brand new Surrey shed, that flat-packed bundle of excitement is sitting there, just waiting for you to get building. This article should give you some advice and instructions on preparing, building and looking after your shed.
The prepared D.I.Y’er is the smart D.I.Y’er, and as your Surrey shed is going to be with you for the next quarter of a century, it’s important you give it the best possible start in life. As with all buildings, it is essential that you provide a firm and level base on which to build your shed. The very best base (and the one we always recommend) is a concrete base.
Top tip: if your base is made of concrete, we recommend it does not extend beyond the dimensions of the shed. This avoids rain water collecting on the base, and in the words of Mary Berry “nobody likes a soggy bottom”. For example, if you’re building our apex 6×4 shed, we recommend a base size of 1800 x 1200mm.
All the fittings and everything you need to build your shed are included, so you’ll just need to have a basic tool kit to put it together (a hammer, tape measure, a Stanley knife, clear mastic sealant for the window pane & a screwdriver). We recommend an extra pair of hands for the larger sheds and a good supply of tea and biscuits.
Voila! You have just built your new Surrey shed. Before you start moving in your assortment of tools, pots, buckets and general gubbins, we’ve got a few extra tips for keeping your shed in tip-top shape.
“It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home…” – Tom Jones, 1966
As Tom Jones stated in his 1966 hit, it’s good to touch the green, green grass of home. However, it’s better that not too much of it touches your shed. Keep the area surrounding your shed clear of any grass or vegetation (including pruning any trees overhead)
“Pressure, pushing down on me, pressing down on you…” – Freddie Mercury, 1982
Freddie mercury was right to worry about pressure but can rest assured your shed has been pressure preservative treated. This means it’s designed to prevent rot and insect attack for up to 25 years, as well as to give the timber an extended and low maintenance service life. However, this treatment is not intended to perform as a waterproofing agent.
“I see a red door and I want it painted black…” – Mick Jagger, 1966
What colour should one paint one’s shed? Whilst black might prove a controversial choice (sorry, Mick) we recommend painting your shed with Barrenttine Shed and Fence treatment. Available in 5-litre tins in four natural colours (Dark Brown, Evergreen, Harvest Gold & Red Cedar). These can be bought at checkout from our website, or in any of our branches in Cobham, Woking, Farnham and Maidstone. When you add a Surrey shed to your basket on our website, you’ll see a range of shed accessories to browse, including shed treatments.
“I’ll sing my song to the wide-open spaces…” – Roger Daltrey, 1971
We recommend a minimum of 400mm (15″) clearance around all sides, although having 600mm (24″) allows more comfortable room for painting and any maintenance.
Why not share a picture of your newly built shed with us on social media?! Post a picture to Twitter or Facebook with #SurreyShed and #ShedSuccess to show off your new pride and joy!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to post them on Facebook or Twitter or contact your nearest Challenge Fencing branch to chat with a member of our team.
