This is a heavy duty garden workshop with a touch of class, and the sheer quality of construction and design is evident from the moment you walk in. The reverse apex style means that it’s particularly suitable for gardens that are shorter in length, or for people who are looking for a large storage or working space that will nevertheless fit on a shallow patio or paved area.
You’ll find that there is a lot of natural light inside this wooden workshop, thanks to the two large windows, but that doesn’t compromise security as they are made of toughened safety glass. Security considerations are also evident in the locking system used on the wide double doors. A key and lock solution is included as standard, so you can feel confident in the safety of whatever’s inside.
The reverse apex roof also give excellent clearance inside, helped by the eaves which are nearly six and a half feet tall. This makes it a roomy and comfortable environment to move around in, and also means that it’s a suitable space for heavy and tall machinery to be installed. This versatile building is therefore suitable as a motorbike store, large garden shed, secure storage facility, workshop and much more.
What we rate
Clever reverse apex increases its versatility
Wide doors secured by a strong lock
High quality preservative backs up 15 year warranty
Extra space thanks to the high eaves
Tongue and groove used throughout
What we slate
The timber is supplied unpainted
Time consuming to put together, although an installation service is available
Support WhatShed: by making a purchase after clicking a link above, a portion of the sale supports this site.
How We Rate It
9
Quality10/10
100% Complete
Longevity Of materials10/10
100% Complete
Storage size9.5/10
95% Complete
Ease of installation7.5/10
75% Complete
Value for money7/10
70% Complete
Let's Take a Closer Look...
Shed Type, Roof Size
At first sight we were struck by the reverse apex which gives this wooden workshop a substantial width. This makes it very easy to manoeuvre objects and equipment in and out. With other workshops in the Shed-Plus Champion range having a standard apex design, this means that they have something to suit all styles and shapes of garden. The apex itself, of course, also ensures that rainwater runs swiftly and harmlessly away, which is just one of the factors behind the longevity of this building.
The roof is made of 12mm tongue and groove, which itself offers excellent weather protection, particularly when covered with the mineral felt which we were pleased to see was thick and easy to install without tearing. The ridge height of the roof is 2.54m and the eaves is 1.96m high which is taller than many other workshops of similar base dimensions. The depth of the base is 2.44m and the width is 4.85m demonstrating the effect of the reverse apex.
Cladding, Frame and Floor
When we review sheds and workshops in this price bracket, we expect to see high quality materials used and thick and durable cladding. That’s certainly what we found on this occasion, and if anything the tongue and groove cladding used was beyond our expectations. It locked together beautifully, so there are no gaps for water to get into, and at a thickness of 12mm, backed by a frame size of 34 X 34mm, it felt anything but flimsy.
Made of European redwood it’s also a sustainable choice of timber, so the slight tinge from the preservative treatment wasn’t the only green thing about it. We were also pleased to see exactly the same tongue and groove cladding used for the floor, so it should be able to support heavy machinery or even vehicles such as motorbikes.
Treatment Requirements and Warranty
We were not surprised to see a lengthy warranty provided with this workshop, after all the pressure treatment used on the substrate was evident throughout. This highly effective means of getting preservative deep into the timber itself inevitably provides long lasting protection, but even so the 15 year warranty provided by the manufacturer is very reassuring. What we especially welcomed is the fact that the warranty isn’t dependent upon the owner re-treating the wood on an annual or biannual basis. It’s still a good idea to inspect the wood annually, of course, and we would also recommend the use of a paint or wood stain as this helps prevent the potentially damaging effect of UV on the wood.
Doors and Windows
If you want to use this shed as a workshop, for either leisure or even light commercial purposes, then wide accommodating doors are a necessity. At 1.78 metres wide, with a height of 1.80 metres, you’ll be able to fit most equipment and machinery inside with ease. When opening and closing the doors it was noticeable how strong and secure they feel, and this is because of the fully braced doors and the thickness of the timber used.
Two windows are positioned to the left of the door; made of safety glass you won’t have to worry about them shattering due to an accidental impact. They also open upon a latch, giving convenient ventilation when needed. We thought this a welcome feature for a building that people will want to spend a lot of time in.
Security and Privacy
Privacy is helped by the fact that three sides of the shed are window free. This also helps with security, as it means that passers by from three directions will be unable to see what’s kept within.
It was also pleasing to see that a strong lock and key system was included as standard. We find that on a workshop of this size, lock and key systems look less incongruous than a pad bolt, and are another indication of the high quality of the building as a whole. Without a key, it’s very difficult to gain access to this workshop, which will help to deter opportune thieves.
Customisation Options and Extras
One optional extra that features across the Shed-Plus Champion range is the professional installation service. If you want the shed or workshop erecting in a hurry, or simply aren’t confident in your own ability to install it, then this is a perfect solution. It costs a little extra, £169 for this workshop, but it can save you time and frustration.
Another intriguing optional extra is the workbench designed to be a perfect match for this shed. It means that you won’t have to worry about finding a suitable work area that will fit in with both the size and style of your new workshop.
We were very impressed with the look of the roof, and its smooth tongue and groove cladding are perfect for preventing water ingress. As another optional extra, however, there is a slatted roof, so if you prefer that style it’s available for £499.
So, How Does It All Stack Up?
Quality10/10
100% Complete
We found nothing within the structure and components of this workshop that could let it down. For example, even the floor joists are pressure treated and help to stop moisture in the surface from getting into the timber of the floor itself.
Longevity Of materials10/10
100% Complete
The combination of thick tongue and groove cladding and pressure treatment helps ensure that the manufacturers can offer a 15 year warranty which isn’t reliant upon re-treatment by the owner.
Storage size9.5/10
95% Complete
Although there are even larger workshops in the Champion range, this still has a lot of storage capacity, particularly when the high eaves and apex are taken into consideration.
Ease of installation7.5/10
75% Complete
Whilst this can be self-installed with at least two people, although an extra person would be beneficial, most people will choose to save time by investing in the professional installation service.
Value for money7/10
70% Complete
There are cheaper workshops available, but sometimes you really do get what you pay for. If this is within your budget then you’ll get a very high quality building backed up by a long 15 year anti-rot guarantee.
9
Overall Score
Final Thoughts: Although some additional expense will be incurred if painting or staining the shed, which we recommend, this is more than offset by savings that will be made by not having to add extra preservative treatments every year. We found this a very comfortable environment to work in thanks to the infusion of natural light and the airflow created by having the windows slightly open. This makes it an excellent choice if you’re looking for a large area to carry out a hobby or to use as a mechanical workshop. The lock and key system included could be augmented by an alarm, but is itself a strong and reliable security device.