Shed Type, Roof Size
This apex garden shed offers an adequate storage capacity for most small to medium sized gardens, at a price that’s as attractive as its appearance. The colour scheme really does catch the eye, and the ivy green forms a pleasing contrast with the metal colouring of the roof and gable end. The apex design of the roof added vital extra inches to what could otherwise be rather cramped, so that we didn’t feel uncomfortable once inside the shed. Its other useful feature, of course, is that it carries water away, which is one of the factors that gives it such long lasting defences against rust.
The central ridge of the roof is at a height of 1.89m, and it has an eaves height of 1.63m. Because it is designed to be affixed to pre-existing concrete, you’ll need to find a suitably level area matching the sheds outer dimensions, which are a width of 2.02m and a depth of 1.37m.
Cladding, Frame and Floor
We were very pleased to see how strong the cladding was, especially for a compact, lightweight shed. The core material of the cladding is 0.35mm steel which has been subjected to hot dip galvanisation. This is a process that makes the substrate more resistant to weathering, as well as strengthening it. On top of this, zinc plating has been used. It’s this that colours the roof and gable, and is itself a non-rusting material. Finally, the walls of the shed have been coated in a tough professional paint. This combination makes the cladding feel much more stable than we initially expected.
No floor is provided, as the shed can be erected onto a suitable area of flat concrete or paving. The anchor kit is included as standard, which we found a good touch and another expense saving feature for the consumer.
Treatment Requirements and Warranty
If you’ve had wooden sheds before, then you’ll be aware of all the work that they can need on an annual basis, with wood preserver needed to keep rot away and prevent cracks and splits from occurring. With this metal shed there is no need for any retreatment so once it’s installed, which in itself is a matter of mere hours, there is no more demands upon your time. We were impressed that the warranty period against rust provided by the manufacturer is for 12 years, as many other metal sheds of this size and price are covered by guarantees of 10 years or less.
Doors and Windows
We found the smooth sliding double doors to be another positive feature about this shed. That’s because they open to a width of 0.79m. Whilst the height of the doors is a rather lowly 1.58m, the wide opening means that it’s still easy to move larger or longer objects in and out easily. Another good thing about the doors is that they’re set back, so that they slide internally of the cladding. It makes them a little more secure, and less likely to get damaged by adverse weather conditions. Be aware that there are no doors in this shed, so have a light source such as a torch ready to use if you plan to use it in the evening hours.
Security and Privacy
We were not unduly concerned about the lack of windows, as it’s in common with many other small to medium storage sheds. In effect, it makes the contents stored within more secure, as opportune thieves are less likely to target a shed if they’ve no way of knowing if anything valuable is stored inside.
The doors are padlock ready, although no padlock is included as standard. We recommend buying one to add extra security, and it needn’t be an expensive acquisition with padlock and alarm systems available for around twenty pounds.
Customisation Options and Extras
Whilst we were happy that an easy to use anchor kit had been included, complete with rust free screws, it was a pity that there was no floor supplied as well. Although easy to erect upon concrete, some people prefer wooden flooring, so alternatively decking could be purchased and then cut down to size for this purpose.
Two optional extras available with this shed help to store and organise the contents within it. These are a wheeled tool rack made by Tool-Plus and stand alone shelving with four shelves. We feel the latter is a particularly useful purchase, as there is no option to screw traditional shelving to the steel frame.
Galvanised steel with a zinc finish offers good core strength for a lightweight metal shed, and Yardmaster have certainly committed to quality in their selection and fabrication of components.
Longevity Of materials
9.5/10
We were impressed that the manufacturer provides a 12 year guarantee against rust, a tribute to the toughness of the shed itself.
This isn’t the tallest shed, although the apex certainly helps and the double doors make it easy to get objects in and out so you can make full use of the space available.
Ease of installation
8.5/10
If you follow the instructions slowly and carefully, you and a friend will be able to install this shed in around five hours. Be warned, however, that the instructions supplied cover two sizes of shed, so don’t get confused.
The inherent value for money of this well built shed, is further enhanced by the 12 year guarantee against rust that isn’t reliant upon any work from the shed owner.
Final Thoughts: We were pleased to see that Yardmaster have recognised that metal sheds don’t have to be metallic in colour. The shade of green used is pleasing to the eye, and great for a garden setting. The paint used is high quality too, and so you won’t have to worry about chipping or flaking. That’s in common with the shed as a whole, it’s a no nonsense garden building that delivers good performance over a prolonged period of time. The 12 year warranty is one indication of this, but the quality is apparent from the moment you slide open the interior set double doors.
Prices around: £159.99
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