Shed Type And Roof Size
Here we have a really cool classic and rustic looking shed. A shed that really does have a throwback kind of style. The Forest 5×3 Sheds Mower Store may have mower store in the name, but this would work just as well for general garden storage. Its compact size makes it ideal for those who want a shed that does not take up a lot of space. The shed is 4 feet 6 inches wide and just a hair over 3 feet deep. This is one of the shortest sheds we have seen as at the highest point it is 4 feet 8 inches. The idea of this shed though is that you do not actually need to go in it. You just open the doors and grab whatever you need. So that is why they get away with the short stature.
They have gone for a pent roof design and we feel that for a mower store this works best. The roof is made with solid sheet boarding which is fine, but if you have kids you will want to make sure they are not trying to climb on top of it. The roof slopes towards the back which is something we always like to see as it helps keep the rain off the front of the shed.
Cladding, Frame And Floor
The Forest 5×3 Sheds Mower Store really does have a rustic look and this is mainly because of the overlap cladding they have used. This is some very nice cladding they have used and we are confident that it will keep the rain out very well. The cladding is 8 mm thick which is a little on the thin side, but as long as you are not kicking footballs off it, we do not see it being an issue.
For the framing they have used a 28 mm x 28 mm frame. To be fair this is a pretty good frame. We have seen this same frame in sheds that are twice as expensive as this one. We feel that the frame they have used here will make up a little bit for the cladding being on the slim side. The frame really should help make this a much more robust structure than the pictures suggest.
That same kind of boarding they have used for the roof is what they have used for the floor. This to be fair was what we expected. This kind of solid sheet boarding floor may not be the strongest, but it will get the job done very well and it also helps keep the overall cost of the shed down.
Treatment Requirement And Warranty
The shed will come to you with the wood being dip treated. This is the most basic kind of treatment you can get and it is exactly what we expected when we first saw the Forest 5×3 Sheds Mower Store. This kind of treatment will look after the wood during delivery, installation and even the first few days of the sheds life. You will need to give it a coating of wood treatment shortly after construction and then once a year thereafter.
One of the most frustrating aspects of this shed is that they do not actually tell you what the guarantee is. Now here at WhatShed we have seen a million sheds, and in our experience, we think that this comes with a ten year anti rot guarantee that is only valid as long as you treat it. Just be sure to ask about the guarantee before you buy so you know exactly where you stand.
Doors And Windows
The Forest 5×3 Sheds Mower Store is designed to be a mower store, so even though it is a little small in size, they have made sure to put a large set of double doors on the shed. These doors take up nearly the whole width of the shed so you will have just over 4 feet of room to get things in and out of the shed. Each door is kept in place with two hinges. We do feel that
they could have used a third hinge on each door just to give them that extra bit of strength.
This is a shed that is fully boarded, so there are no windows at all.
Security And Privacy
The large double doors can be kept closed with a turn button catch. Each door has its own one so you can have one door open and one closed if you want. While these will keep the doors closed, even when it is windy, it is not the most secure way of keeping your belongings safe. So you may want to have a think about adding some kind of padlock.
As there are no windows at all on this shed, anything that you place inside of here will be kept out of the view of thieves and nosey neighbours.
Customisation Options And Extras
The Forest 5×3 Sheds Mower Store is actually a very easy shed to customise. This is a shed a shed that requires treatment and we can tell you that there are a ton of different coloured wood treatments on the market these days. This means that you can give the shed a little bit extra personality if you want.
A Security Hasp and Padlock Set priced at £4.99 is the only extra that they have on offer here. To be honest with you, we are fine with this as this is a great set and the price is very fair. It would make perfect sense to order this the same time you order the shed as you will then have a security system ready for as soon as you have installed the shed.
This is certainly a budget priced shed and they have clearly used some cheaper materials, but we feel this is just as well made as other similarly priced sheds.
Longevity Of Materials 8/10
This is certainly a shed that will give you many years of use, but in order for this to happen you will have to take some of the responsibility and ensure you are looking after it properly.
While this is designed to take up as little space as possible, we must say that this is one of the smallest 5 x 3 sheds we have seen. Still with the right organisation, we are sure that you can actually make this storage space go pretty far.
Ease Of Installation 9/10
We would recommend that you get a person to help you out. With two people who can tell the difference from a screwdriver the tool and a screwdriver the drink, you should have this up and ready for storage in 4-6 hours at the most.
The asking price for this shed is very fair. Just make sure you realise that this is a budget priced shed so some of the materials may not be of the highest quality.
Final Thoughts: For those who do not want to spend a lot of money and those who do not want a shed taking up major real estate in their garden, the Forest 5x3 Sheds Mower Store could be just what you are looking for. This is a very good budget priced shed and we really do like the rustic look of that overlap cladding. We know it is not the thickest, but the frame will help make up for this. Plus the shed is just over £150, so in all honesty any thicker cladding would have made the price go up, possibly by as much as £50-100! If you want a compact sized shed that is not going to make your wallet cry, then we suggest you have a closer look at this shed.
Prices around: £128.99
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