Plastic Shed Buying Guides

Our Buying Guides

• Plastic vs Wooden Shed

How to Choose the Right Size Plastic Shed

Start with what you will store and where the shed will go. Shed names give the outside size in feet, width first, so an 8x6 is about 8ft wide and 6ft deep. The floor inside is a little smaller, so check both on the product page.

Measure Your Space

Before you shop, measure the spot and allow for:

• The base, which is usually a little bigger than the shed
• Room for the doors to open
• A gap of about 30cm around the sides so you can build it and clean it
• Planning rules: most sheds near a boundary must be no more than 2.5m high

Match the Size to What You Store

• Small (up to about 6x4): hand tools, a strimmer and a small mower.
• Medium (8x6 to 8x8): bikes, a mower and folded garden furniture.
• Large (10x8 and up): lots of kit, or room to stand and work at a bench.

Use the shed finder on our home page: tell it your space and it shows the sheds that fit.

What Plastic Sheds Are Made From

Most plastic sheds use resin (polypropylene or HDPE) panels, sometimes with a wood-effect finish. Others use clear or twin-wall polycarbonate panels on an aluminium frame, which lets light in. Many have steel or aluminium bars inside the roof for strength. The colour runs through the panels, so there is nothing to paint and nothing to rot or rust. Check each product page for the exact materials and the maker's guarantee.

Floors and Bases

Some plastic sheds include a floor, some sell it separately and some are made to sit straight on a base. Whatever you buy, it needs firm, level ground or the doors will not line up. Your options:

• A concrete slab
• Paving slabs on a sand and cement bed
• A plastic grid base kit filled with gravel, which is quick to lay and lets water drain
• An adjustable base kit for ground that slopes

Building Your Shed

• Lay and level the base first
• Have two people ready; most plastic sheds need two
• Allow a few hours for a small shed and most of a day for a large one
• Follow the maker's instructions in order and do not over-tighten screws into plastic
• Fix the shed down if the maker supplies an anchor kit, as plastic sheds are light

Looking After a Plastic Shed

• Wash it down with warm soapy water now and then
• Brush snow and leaves off the roof
• Keep the base and gutters clear so water drains away
• Leave a vent open in summer to let damp air out