6′ x 4′ Forest Overlap Dip Treated Apex Wooden Shed Review
First Added - August 4 2022
Last Updated - August 4 2022 - 0 Data Points Updated - 75 Data Points Added
Reviewed & curated by a panel of garden building experts. Using methodology 1.1
Product ID: SKU: ODA46MHDBUN
Size: 6' x 4'
Merchants Checked: 12
This 6′ x 4′ Forest Shed offers both strengths and weaknesses. Highlights include durable flooring and above-average hight. However, potential buyers should note thin cladding and weak roofing material. An option for those weighing pros and cons.
The 6′ x 4′ Forest Overlap Dip Treated Apex Wooden Shed comes with an apex style roof, holds a 10 Years guarantee, is fit with lockable single doors that use a plate hasp & staple locking system, is treated using a dip treated process [1], and makes use of certified sustainable materials: FSC certified timber[3]. The 1 window used on this particular 6′ x 4′ use a 0.75mm polyethylene [2] material.
Our experts like the…
Floor thickness (14mm)
The generous 14mm floor used for this shed surpasses a 12mm threshold established by our experts; in fact, on similar-sized sheds assessed, we found 16 different floor thicknesses [16]. Despite the Expert Score of this shed being 8 points lower than average for a 6′ x 4’ with a 14mm thick floor (62 vs. the average of 70), flooring thickness is not the cause, as we found this shed among the best when flooring thicknesses is considered on 6′ x 4′ sheds.
(Above) 14mm OSB thickness as used on this floor.
Height
One crafty way shed manufacturers cut corners is to reduce the height of a shed, but our experts were pleased to find when reviewing 6′ x 4′ sheds this one tops-out 10% higher than average. Height is not always an indicator of good quality with sheds, but worth consideration, especially if you are tall. This shed is 1942mm (6′) tall, providing172.0mm (0.6′) extra headroom over an average 6′ x 4′ shed.
Doors
Reducing door size, as well as height and window dimensions is another way many shed manufacturers economize, so our experts always check out how shed doors compare. The door here is 1,692.00mm (6′) tall, some 7% or 116.44mm (0.4′) taller than an average 6′ x 4′, but door width is 582.00mm (2′) wide, so a considerable 44% or 256.44mm (0.8′) narrower than average.
Our experts don’t like the…
Cladding (Overlap)
Disappointingly, our experts feel overlap board cladding as used here, is the worst construction material for shed walls of the 4 types [4] we’ve identified on same-size sheds. It adds minimum structural strength compared with tounge-and-groove cladding, and is easily prised apart, rendering the shed less secure. Our expert’s concerns are known by manufacturers; just 8% (494 of 5,933) of sheds assessed [5] use this cladding, with overlap board used on 20% of 6′ x 4′ sheds (90 in total) [7].
(Above) Exterior corner of the 7mm overlap cladding.
(Above) Exterior picture of the 7mm overlap cladding.
(Above) Interior picture of the 7mm overlap cladding.
Cladding Thickness (7mm)
Our experts were most unimpressed with this shed’s 7mm cladding; they rate it the very worst thickness of all 26 same-size sheds examined [8]. Of sheds analysed (all sizes) we found only 3% had cladding of this thickness [9]. Some 9% of 6′ x 4′ sheds (37 in total) assessed had 7mm walls [11]. Of the 572 products in our top 10% of sheds [10] all have cladding thicker than 7mm.
Roof Material (Oriented Strand Board)
OSB is far-from the material of choice for shed roofing among our experts, in fact, they rate it least favourable of the 3 types we’ve found on same-size sheds [12]. Despite this, OSB can be suitable if it is thick enough, ideally 12mm plus; any thinner and long-term durability is questionable. It is not surprising we found just 14% of sheds analysed used OSB for roofing, a proportion rising slightly to 16% of 6′ x 4′ sheds (72 in total).
(Above) OSB shown in roof construction.
Roof Thickness (8mm)
Unfortunately, this shed’s roof features OSB just 8.0mm thick. It was the thinnest of all found by our experts among sheds of a similar size [13], although it is a quality that varies, with 18 different thicknesses identified overall. Interestingly 8.0mm OSB was found in a tiny 2% of all sheds we analysed, and only 6% of 6′ x 4′ sheds (25 in total) use 8.0mm thick roof boarding, demonstrating its limited suitability as a durable roofing material.
(Above) 8mm OSB as used for this roof.
Flooring Material (Oriented Strand Board)
Our experts would not immediately recommend Oriented Strand Board (OSB) for shed flooring; they regard it an average option, although it depends on intended use. Thickness is also important; anything below 12mm offers limited weather resistance and disappointing long-term structural durability, not an issue with this shed. During our analysis, we found 17% of all the sheds we examined used OSB for the floor. Specifically, among 6′ x 4′ sheds (86 in our sample), 19% used this for the floor.
(Above) OSB shown in the floor construction.
Glazing Material (Polyethylene)
This shed features Polyethylene windows, which our experts rate about average out of the 7 glazing types we found on 6′ x 4′ sheds [17]. This type of glazing is used on only 3% of all windowed sheds, in fact none of our top 10% of sheds choose to install windows with this kind of glazing, and just 11% of 6′ x 4′ sheds with windows (24 in total) use polyethylene windows.
(Above) Interior picture of the 0.75mm polyethylene window.
Glazing Thickness (0.75mm)
The Polyethylene windows on this shed are just 0.75mm thick and our disappointed experts rated these as the thinnest of all found on same-size sheds [x]. Glazing thickness varies, with 9 different grades, but only 1% of all windowed sheds we analysed feature windows 0.75mm thick. Indeed in our top 10% of sheds (344 in total), none use this low grade, and just 4% of 6′ x 4′ sheds (8 in total) use the same glazing.
Your questions answered:
Are the materials used good quality?
Not really. Our market analysis found 93 % of sheds use better materials. It’s not all bad news; some components are of quality (especially the thickness of the OSB flooring) offering durability, ensuring some stability and resilience. That said, other construction materials are of average or poor quality, potentially affecting longevity. Of concern to our experts was the poor cladding material, its thickness (7mm) and the thickness of the roofing (8mm). While 93% of sheds analysed used better materials for longevity, this shed could still be an option for those prioritising factors other than durability.
Is it easy to assemble?
Yes. Our experts confirm this shed will prove straight-forward to erect. In our experience Forest Garden usually provides clear assembly instructions, this is particularly applicable to the 6×4 sheds they make. It typically takes 2 people around 3 hours, around average for a shed of this size.
How sturdy and secure is it?
Variable. Our experts’ assessment of the shed’s sturdiness and security reveals mixed results. The shed’s excellent floor thickness certainly gives it some stability and resilience, but at the same time, other construction materials give cause for concern, namely basic cladding, cladding thickness (7mm) and roofing materials (8mm). These are all rated poor, and will likely offer minimal resistance against high winds or physical damage, reducing the shed’s durability. Other components proved to be of only average quality, such as glazing material and glazing thickness, making the shed potentially easy to break-in. While these disappointing components led our experts to question how secure and sturdy the shed is likely to be, this option is still a contender if other factors are of higher importance.
Is it good value?
Yes. Our experts found this 6×4 shed to offer excellent value for money. Significantly, it is priced at 26% less than an average example of this size, resulting in a potential saving of £166. We feel this could represent a true bargain, despite the shed having clear shortcomings.
Should I buy it?
Possibly. While there are better quality sheds of this size available, our experts feel that for buyers happy to settle for a trade-off between overall quality and price, this shed could make a good low-cost option. We found the floor thickness to be of great quality, but suspect the cladding and roofing materials will affect long-term durability and security.
You might also consider…
We found 5 6′ x 4′ sheds with comparable specifications. The 6′ x 4′ Forest Overlap Dip Treated Apex Wooden Shed has an Expert Score that is 3% lower than average and is £4 less expensive than average. If you are looking for the best value or highest expert scoring sheds out of the 5 with comparable specifications the following might be of interest.
Best value – If you are looking for something comparable that costs less, then you could save £10 with this 6′ x 4′ Forest Overlap Dip Treated Windowless Apex Wooden Shed. It is priced at £320, this is 3% less than this and has an Expert Score of 80, 7 points higher than the 6′ x 4′ Forest Overlap Dip Treated Apex Wooden Shed.
Highest Expert Score – With an Expert Score of 80 vs 72 for this product, the 6′ x 4′ Forest Overlap Dip Treated Windowless Apex Wooden Shed is the best 6′ x 4′ shed with comparable specifications, and is priced at £320, that’s £10 less than the 6′ x 4′ Forest Overlap Dip Treated Apex Wooden Shed.
High Wind Area – If you live in a particularly exposed or high wind area then having a shed with a thicker cladding and higher than average frame thickness can be preferable. We found at least 3 sheds that have a combination of features that can make them more suited to higher wind areas.
Redlands 7′ x 5′ Shiplap Pent Bike Shed
Oren 8′ x 4′ Shiplap Pent Bike Shed
Redlands 5′ x 6′ Shiplap Modular Apex Bike Shed
Coastal Consideration – If you live in a particularly wet or harsher environment such as by the coast then you might want to consider something with a more robust pressure treatment or something made from metal or plastic, both materials that are particularly suited to such harsh environments. We’ve found at least 3 sheds that have a combination of features that can make them more suited to higher wind areas.
6′ x 4′ Lotus Heritage Green Pent Metal Shed
6′ x 4′ Yardmaster Green Metal Shed 65GEYZ
Public-Facing – Extra security measures might be more of a concern if you’re placing your building in an area that is more public-facing than a garden. Features such as security windows or even having no windows at all, and the ability to lock all opening doors are usually much more important when you have something that is more public-facing. We found at least 3 sheds that have options that you might find a better fit if this is a concern you have.
6′ x 4′ Yardmaster Platinum Tall Pent Metal Shed
Redlands 7′ x 5′ Shiplap Apex Bike Shed
Redlands 5′ x 6′ Shiplap Modular Pent Bike Shed
More Child Friendly – If you have children and you are looking for something that has that little extra in terms of durability then tougher glazing options might be a better option. Here we have at least 3 other options that will fill those needs.
6′ x 4′ Forest Premium Tongue & Groove Pressure Treated Apex Shed
Product Details
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Merchants Checked
12 different sources were used to research information on this product, and 5 contained information that we were able to use to compile the data used on this page.
The following merchants were checked on the 06 August, 2022 to see if they stocked this product.
Wickes – 19576 products checked, found 1 match.
ManoMano UK – 922302 products checked, found 1 match.
Buy Sheds Direct – 1635 products checked, found 1 match.
sheds.co.uk – 1999 products checked, found 1 match.
Shedstore – 1373 products checked, found 1 match.
Waltons – 231 products checked, found no matches.
B&Q – 78905 products checked, found no matches.
Wilko.com – 21232 products checked, found no matches.
Homebase – 35509 products checked, found no matches.
BillyOh – 1244 products checked, found no matches.
Garden Buildings Direct – 1284 products checked, found no matches.
Tiger Sheds – 635 products checked, found no matches.
1. Dip Treated: Dip treating is a temporary protective base coat treatment that is mainly designed to help protect the building during transit and for around one month after it is assembled. This water-based treatment is the least time-consuming and cheapest type of wood treatment. It involves dipping the wood in a protective water-based preservative and then leaving it to dry. The action of dipping is where ‘dip treatment’ comes from.
A dip-treated garden building is not considered fully treated with wood preservatives; it’s vital to re-treat your dip-treated building, preferably with a solvent-based (or oil-based) wood treatment. Then re-treat it on an annual basis using a solvent-based (or oil-based) wood treatment.
If you don’t want to treat something on an annual basis then a pressure treated wooden building might be a better option, this is where the wood undergoes a process called tanalisation (pressure treatment) during production. This is where the timber is submerged in specialist wood preservatives (such as Tanalith E, this is actually the origin of the word ‘tanalisation’), the wood then goes into a high pressure vacuum tank to draw out excess moisture and air and force in the preservatives. This deep penetration of the exterior wood protects it from the elements and all forms of insect attack. Wood treated this way can last many years without being re-treated. The Wood Protection Association has a good article/video on this. ↩
2. Polyethylene: Polyethylene (Low Density) LDPE, LLDPE is not commonly used for the construction of garden buildings or storage units. The most common use for LDPE is in the thin film used to cover poly tunnels.
According to data from the British Plastics Fedaration the physical properties of Polyethylene (Low Density) are that it is not very good when exposed to high heat with a maximum continuous use temperature of 65 °C. This is however offset by the outstanding Notched Impact Strength data that showed ‘no break’. ↩
3. FSC Certified Timber: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organisation that is “dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.” When you see the FSC certification it means the forest where this wood was sourced from is being managed in a way that preserves biological diversity, while ensuring it sustains economic viability. FSC-certified forests are managed to strict environmental, social and economic standards. FSC certified timber is comparable to Certified Timber. ↩
4. Cladding types identified: interlocking log, overlap board, pine, shiplap tongue & groove, timber, tongue & groove, wood ↩
5. Global cladding data sourced from: All overlap board sheds ↩
6. Top cladding data sourced from: Top 436 overlap board sheds ↩
7. 6′ x 4′ cladding data sourced from: 367 6′ x 4′ overlap board sheds ↩
12. Roof material types identified: osb, sand felt, shiplap tongue & groove, tongue & groove ↩
13. Roof thickness types identified: 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 16mm, 19mm ↩
14. Roof covering types identified: mineral felt, polyester felt, sand felt, shingles ↩
15. Floor material types identified: osb, shiplap tongue & groove, tongue & groove ↩
16. Floor thickness types identified: 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm ↩
17. Glazing material types identified: acrylic, horticultural glass, polycarbonate, polyethylene, security windows, single glazed, styrene, toughened glass, toughened safety glass ↩
18. Glazing thickness types identified: 0.75mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 7.5mm ↩