Garden buildings have been popular for centuries and were associated with luxury gardens during the Renaissance. The concept of garden buildings then spread north of the Alps and into the United Kingdom, and they are now very much part of the traditional English landscape.

Garden buildings remain popular in today’s garden, such as: garden sheds, summerhouses, or log cabins. They come in variety of shapes of sizes to fit any household need. The size of garden building you opt for isn’t necessarily related to cost, but to how much available space you have in your garden. Ideally you should have a clear space of least 18” wide on all sides of the building to ensure easy access for installation and future maintenance.

Garden buildings are usually made from wood, but metal or heavy moulded plastic is also an option. Wooden garden buildings can blend into the garden or stand out as an attractive addition. The wood will need protecting from the elements, termites, mould and damp, and therefore a good wood finisher needs to be applied once a year to protect the garden building. Plastic garden buildings are durable, will not degrade and hardly need any maintenance. Metal garden buildings often do not come with a floor. Consequently it is advisable to mount metal sheds on foundations to reduce rust problems, insects and ground water seeping into the building.

Small garden buildings, such as sheds, are often used for storage: garden tools, work tools, bicycles, and anything else that can’t find a home in the house. Sheds and men have often been associated together, but the traditional viewpoint has to change: women have recently discovered the joy of ‘shed time’ and subsequently the sale of sheds have increased.

Larger garden buildings, for example: sheds or log cabins, are extremely versatile. No longer are they regarded as just somewhere to store the gardening equipment. A popular option for a larger garden building is a home office. The smallest size for an office is generally 8’ x 10’ and the most popular sizes are 12’ x 8’ and 12’ X 10’. There are companies that specialise in garden buildings for offices and they can advise on such matters as: planning permission, location, foundations, and utilities. Large garden buildings can also be used as a workshop, to house a whirlpool or as children’s playroom/playhouse. There are purpose built garden buildings for children, and manufacturers have let their imagination run riot. There are castle playhouses, mini-home playhouses with four windows at the front, a door in the middle and an upstairs! There are playhouses on top of climbing frames, jungle huts, and playhouses in the shape of a rocket – how fantastic is that! They will keep the children amused for hours.

Garden buildings are ideal for entertaining friends, colleagues or family at home, when space is lacking in the house. Summerhouses make an ideal option, and they are also great to relax in on a warm day while the pesky insects buzz around outside. Summerhouses are attractive and can be tucked away in the corner of the garden if space is limited, or act as focal point for the larger garden. They start from a small and simple design, through to a large, hexagonal summerhouse containing a built in stove, vent and chimney; therefore you could barbeque any time of the day, whatever the weather – and you’ll have the most popular garden in the street!

It is hard to find a garden without a garden building because they are useful, practical and versatile. Furthermore, some garden buildings can increase the value of a property – another reason why a garden shouldn’t be without a garden building.