Quick answer
Wooden sheds are the most flexible and easiest to adapt or insulate, but need treating regularly. Metal sheds are secure and almost maintenance-free, but can suffer from condensation unless the roof is treated against it. Concrete sheds are the toughest and longest-lasting, but are heavy, need a concrete base and are hard to move or change later.
By Craig Davison, Director, Lichfield Garden Buildings · 14 years selling garden buildings and involved in more than 1,000 sales
We sell all three, so I've no reason to push you one way. In my experience the right material depends on three things: what you're storing, how much upkeep you'll really do, and what your garden and base will allow. Here's how they compare.
Side by side
| Wooden | Metal (steel) | Concrete | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upkeep | Re-treat regularly; how often depends on the treatment | Very low, no painting | Very low |
| Security | Good, better with a security model | High, especially with a steel door | High |
| Condensation | Low, timber breathes | Can be an issue; look for an anti-condensation roof | Can be an issue; ventilate |
| Fire and rot | Can rot if neglected | Won't rot | Won't rot or burn |
| Base | Firm, level base | On our steel range, solid and reasonably level ground | Concrete base |
| Looks and choice | Widest choice of styles, sizes and colours | Clean, uniform, colour choice | Practical, utilitarian |
| Insulating | Easiest | Harder | Harder |
| Best for | Most gardens, workshops, potting sheds, rooms | Bikes, tools, low-upkeep storage | Heavy-duty storage, garages, long life |
Wooden sheds
Timber is still the most popular choice, and for good reason. It looks at home in a garden, comes in more styles and sizes than anything else, and is easy to adapt. You can add shelves, benches, insulation and power without special fixings.
The trade-off is upkeep. How much depends on how the timber is treated:
- Dip-treated sheds are coated at the factory and need re-treating every year. For example, Power Sheds' 10-year guarantee against rot, decay and insect attack is subject to annual re-treatment inside and out.
- Pressure-treated (tanalised) timber has preservative forced deep into it. Suresheds' pressure-treated buildings, for example, carry an anti-rot guarantee of 10 years on 12mm cladding and 15 years on 16mm and 20mm.
Our guide to pressure-treated vs dip-treated timber explains the difference. Browse our wooden garden sheds, or our security sheds if security is the worry.
Metal sheds
Steel is the low-maintenance choice. It won't rot, warp or need painting. The steel sheds we sell use galvanised steel with a PVC coating on a rigid box-steel frame, with a solid steel door and a choice of colours.
Three things worth knowing:
- Condensation. Steel cools quickly on cold nights, so moisture can form inside the roof. Our steel sheds have anti-condensation treatment on the roof sheets, but ventilating on dry days and not storing wet items still help.
- Floor. A timber floor screwed to steel runners keeps the floor off the ground.
- Installation. Our Lifelong steel sheds and garages are delivered and put up by Lifelong's own team on the same visit, straight onto solid, reasonably level ground with no concrete or slab base required. They carry a 15-year guarantee.
We also sell secure steel bike stores and motorcycle garages, which do need a firm, level base, ideally concrete. See all our metal sheds.
Concrete sheds
A concrete shed is built from precast concrete panels. It's the toughest option: it won't rot or warp, it stands up to knocks and damp, and with a steel door it's very secure. That makes it popular for heavy tools, mowers, motorbikes and workshops.
- Base. A concrete base is required, and getting it ready is the customer's job. The maker's structural guarantee doesn't cover problems caused by an unsuitable base, so it pays to get it right.
- Installation. Our Beeston concrete stores and garages include professional installation. Delivery is free within 20 miles of our Buzzards Valley site; further away we confirm the charge for your postcode before you order.
- Guarantee. Beeston give a 10-year structural guarantee.
- Extras. Steel doors, uPVC windows and guttering are available as extras.
The downside is permanence. A concrete shed is heavy, so it's not something you take with you if you move. See our concrete garages and stores.
How to decide
Choose wood if...
You want the widest choice, a particular look, or a building you'll work in, heat or insulate. Be honest about whether you'll treat it.
Choose metal if...
You want secure, tidy storage for bikes and tools and never want to pick up a paintbrush.
Choose concrete if...
You want the toughest, longest-lasting store or garage, you're staying put, and you can provide a concrete base.
Before you buy, whatever the material
- Size. Most customers wish they'd gone a size bigger. See what size shed do I need?
- Base. Every material needs the right one. See what base do I need for a shed?
- Planning. Height and position rules apply whatever it's made of. See do I need planning permission?
- Delivery and installation. These are handled by each maker and differ by range. The product page shows what's included.
See them in person: compare timber sheds and a steel shed side by side at our Display Site at Buzzards Valley, between Lichfield and Tamworth (B78 3EQ). What's on show changes, so ring 01543 398778 before you come. Garden buildings in Lichfield, Tamworth and Staffordshire.
FAQs
Which lasts longest: a metal, wooden or concrete shed?
Concrete and good-quality coated steel both last a very long time with little upkeep. A timber shed can also last for many years, but only if it sits on a good base and is re-treated as the maker advises.
Do metal sheds get condensation?
They can, because steel cools quickly on cold nights. Look for an anti-condensation roof, ventilate on dry days and don't store wet items inside. The steel sheds we sell have anti-condensation treatment on the roof sheets.
Does a concrete shed need a concrete base?
Yes. Concrete sheds are very heavy and need a proper concrete base, which is usually the customer's job to have ready before installation day.
Which type of shed is most secure?
Steel and concrete are harder to break into than standard timber, especially with a steel door and a good lock. A timber security shed with a stronger frame and better locks closes much of the gap.
Can I insulate a metal or concrete shed?
It is harder than with timber. If you want a heated workshop, office or hobby room, a timber building or log cabin is usually the easier and warmer starting point.