Metal garden buildings are an alternative to traditional wood or brick construction and offer plenty of benefits. The best metal sheds & garages are maintenance-free and easy to assemble.
The choice of garden buildings is expanding all of the time, with new designs and construction techniques being used. Garden buildings constructed from metal are increasingly in popularity as buyers see the range of benefits they can provide. Before deciding which building is right for your garden, be sure to understand the benefits provided by traditional and metal garden buildings.
A shed or garage can be used for a variety of uses, far more than just storing garden furniture. Large buildings are great for use as a garden workshop or hobby room. Larger sheds also provide easier access with wide doors and more space to move around inside. Metal sheds don’t usually feature windows, so if light is required inside a power source will also be required, such as electricity or solar lighting.
Once it’s been decided that a metal shed or metal garage best fits your requirement, it’s time to begin finding the correct garden building for your space. Metal sheds feature standard designs, which means they are often in stock for delivery within a few weeks. Small metal sheds also don’t require professional assembly, with large metal panels suitable for a DIY installation between two people.
Let’s take a look at some of our favourite options for the best metal sheds and garages.
Best Metal Sheds
With lots of choices available, it can be difficult to find the best metal shed to suit your needs. While many may look similar, the build quality can vary between manufacturers. Be sure to do your own research and check out reviews from previous customers.
Yardmaster Green Metal Shed
This shed from Yardmaster is perfect for those who need a location for storing tools and garden furniture. The stylish design is built from galvanised steel and features green walls with a white roof. This allows the building to blend easily into any garden without standing out. For peace of mind, a 15-year anti-rust guarantee is included.
The front features sliding doors for fast access to the contents inside and a wide opening. For security, anti-tamper bolts are included and the door can be locked. This metal shed is maintenance-free and once in position can be left without any additional painting or treatment required.
Castleton Anthracite Metal Shed
Even metal sheds can look stylish, and many come in new exciting colours such as this anthracite Castleton model. The design is perfectly suited to a contemporary garden without looking out of place. As the building is maintenance-free, it will continue looking good for years into the future.
A number of size options are available, perfect for storing larger items such as bikes or garden table & chair sets. An optional three-shelf system can be selected to make the best use of the space inside and allow quick access to tools you need regularly. The sliding door provides security by allowing for a padlock to be attached.
Best Heavy Duty Metal Sheds
A heavy-duty metal shed is constructed from premium materials for increased security. They make a great option for storing expensive items inside such as bikes and tools. Heavy-duty sheds typically weigh a lot more than standard metal sheds, so the base needs to be solid and capable of supporting the shed.
Asgard Citadel Shed
This Citadel metal shed is constructed from premium materials throughout to create an unbeatably secure garden storage location. The building is police-approved and perfect for keeping valuables safe in the garden. Manufactured in the UK, the building is heavy, weighing over 300kg without anything inside.
This maintenance-free shed is completely weatherproof, meaning zero maintenance and is unaffected by rust. Several colour choices are available to suit different environments including green, ivory and grey. The doors feature a five-point locking system which is both drill and pick resistant.
Asgard Vanguard Storage Shed
Not all heavy-duty sheds need to take up lots of space. The Vanguard storage shed is extremely compact, allowing for secure storage to be added to any garden. The size makes it perfect to store a lawnmower or other garden tools. A 10-year anti-rust guarantee is included for peace of mind that the storage shed is designed to last.
A choice of colours is available including green and grey. As this metal shed is maintenance-free, we don’t have to worry about treatments to maintain the colour in the future. The design features a modern pent roof and wide double doors at the front for easy access. A 2 point locking system includes a deadbolt to ensure the contents inside are kept secure.
Best Metal Sheds with Floors (Floor Support)
While metal sheds don’t include a floor, some feature optional floor support kits. This is a metal frame installed in the shed to allow a raised floor to be installed on top. The flooring is not included and needs to be purchased separately.
Yardmaster Shiplap Metal Shed
The traditional design of the Yardmaster Shiplap metal shed fits perfectly into any garden. An apex roof creates increased space inside and makes this shed a great option for storing bikes and other large items such as garden furniture. As well as stylish looks, the shed also features 7 layers of protection to eliminate the risk of corrosion and ensure the appearance of the shed looks great for years to come.
The optional floor support kit features galvanised steel to allow for wooden boarding to be installed. This shed’s exterior is fully weatherproof and won’t warp or crack due to extreme weather conditions. Easy access is provided through a large sliding door on the front.
Best Metal Garages
Large garden buildings such as garages are perfect for storing vehicles or spending time inside. Metal garages now look contemporary and stylish, making a great alternative to traditional brick construction.
Absco Metal Garage Workshop
This Absco metal garage is perfect for creating a utility room in the garden. The large 10’ x 20’ space is ideal for a workshop or even just as storage for large outdoor equipment. Built-in Australia, the garage is constructed from high-tensile steel, which makes it incredibly robust and weatherproof. A leading 30-year anti-rust guarantee is also included.
The design features a pale eucalyptus colour, which looks modern and allows the building to blend into the surroundings. The tall apex roof allows for more space inside and also improves rainwater run-off. Wide double doors allow for easy access and can be used with a padlock to keep the contents inside secure.
Asgard Motorbike Garage
Metal garages are great for motorbike storage, ensuring the vehicle is kept secure and protected from weather conditions outside. As motorbikes are high-value, the garage needs to be secure but still allow easy access. This metal garage is designed with security in mind and constructed from high-strength galvanised steel. The steel base also protects stored items from ground moisture and damage.
Double doors open wide for easy access and feature a 5-point locking system. The interior is extremely spacious, allowing plenty of room to store access as well as a motorbike. Green walls and roof appear modern and look great in any garden.
Guide: How to waterproof a metal shed
Benefits of metal sheds & garages
Metal garden buildings are a great alternative to traditional materials. Sheds are commonly produced from timber. While this looks great and allows for flexible designs, timber can begin to rot if left untreated in a damp environment. Wooden garden buildings require maintenance yearly to keep them in the best condition, which can be both time-consuming and expensive.
How garages are built can vary widely, with many featuring a brick construction. However, this can be expensive to build and also take a long time. As each brick garage will be built on site, it’s not possible to choose a pre-built model and assemble panels once it arrives.
No maintenance
Once a metal shed or metal garage has been installed, it does not require any further maintenance. The building can be left for years throughout all weather conditions without having to apply any sort of preserver. During construction, a protective coating is applied to the metal which is designed to last for the lifetime of the building.
Metal garden buildings are great if it won’t be possible to maintain the structure in the future or you simply don’t want to. This is very different to wooden sheds which require several coatings with treatment during installation and then yearly maintenance.
Easy assembly
Metal buildings feature high-strength steel, meaning the thickness that is required is far less compared to a wooden structure. The design also uses large panels that join together when the shed or garage is assembled on site. Both of these allow for a construction that is lightweight and durable.
Metal buildings are common in locations where it is difficult to deliver to. Each panel can be carried to the final destination much easier than an alternative wood or brick building. As there is often no flooring included, this reduces the overall weight even further. It can also be possible to move metal sheds in the future, as the panels can be disassembled and reassembled at the new location.
Long lifespan
Throughout the year, sheds and garages are exposed to all extremes of the weather from freezing temperatures to direct sunlight. All of this can affect the building, leading to maintenance being required in the future. Metal buildings are far more durable than wooden alternatives, making them a popular choice when the building needs to last a long time.
The metal provides increased durability, with galvanised steel often used for the wall panels. To increase the lifetime further, an enamel coating is applied to the metal. As well as adding colour, this also provides protection against the effects of the weather such as cracking and rust. Large metal garages have a particularly long lifespan with many offering a long anti-rust guarantee.
Fire safety
A large wooden building is often not a good idea in areas where fire safety is particularly important. Metal sheds are fire retardant and will melt at extremely high temperatures instead of burning, reducing the risk of a large fire starting from the shed. This makes metal sheds a better choice where fire safety is concerned.
If the shed is kept somewhere that catching fire could cause significant damage, such as near a house, a metal shed may be the best solution.
Drawbacks of metal sheds and garages
While there are plenty of benefits of metal garden buildings, there is also some additional considerations. Not all use cases are suitable for metal buildings and sometimes a wooden shed or brick garage can make the best solution.
Floor often not included
Whereas wooden sheds include a floor as standard, it’s not common for the flooring to be included with a metal shed. Instead, the shed is assembled above a solid base such as pavement or concrete underneath. This makes metal sheds unsuitable for locations that don’t have the correct type of base, such as gravel or soil.
The base will need to be installed in advance of the shed’s assembly to allow adequate time to dry. A base that isn’t completely level could allow water to get in, damaging the contents inside. Sealant can also be used around the bottom of the walls of a metal shed to ensure no water ingress over time.
Condensation
A challenge with metal sheds and garages is that condensation can form on the roof. As metal is a good conductor of heat, the roof quickly cools during the evening. This leads to condensation from moisture in the air forming on the cold metal. This doesn’t occur with wooden sheds as they don’t conduct heat as well.
Additional steps can be taken to stop condensation from forming in a metal shed. Ensuring items are dry before storing them inside is a common way to reduce the amount of moisture inside the building. Air vents can also be fitted to increase airflow and reduce the amount of condensation forming.
Guide: Metal vs wood sheds
Finding the best metal shed or garage
When choosing a new garden building, there are lots to consider. Once assembled, the shed or garage will be in place for years into the future, so it’s important to select the right model. Be sure to consider how the building will be used and any changes to the surrounding garden that is likely to happen.
Size
The size of a shed or garage can have a massive impact on how the building will be used. If it’s just for storage, a small shed may be suitable. If you plan to use the building as a workshop, a large metal garage may be needed that’s comfortable to spend extended periods of time.
We often recommend going as big as the space allows. Unlike wooden structures, we don’t need to leave much space around the sides for maintenance in the future. Having extra space will allow for more storage or additional uses if something changes in the future.
Colour
Unlike timber sheds, metal sheds come pre-treated by the manufacturer and will already have a colour applied. It’s best to leave the building in its original colour, as the coating has been specifically designed to keep the metal protected.
Popular colours are green and grey. Both of these blend in well with the surrounding garden, ensuring the shed blends into its surroundings. Some manufacturers will offer contemporary designs such as anthracite grey to make the garden building stand out.
Security
Garden buildings such as metal sheds and garages are a common target for opportunist thieves. Gaining access to a shed in the garden is easier than a house, and most contain lots of valuable gardening equipment inside.
We recommend considering security when looking for a new garden building. Features such as heavy-weight fixtures and locks make it difficult for anyone to gain access without permission. For an extra level of security, a shed or garage alarm can be installed.
Summary
Overall, metal garden buildings are a great alternative to a timber or brick structure. The best metal sheds and metal garages are easy to assemble and can be installed quickly. Metal buildings also require minimal maintenance, whilst lasting for a long time.
When choosing a metal garden building, be sure to consider how the building will be used both now and in the future. Once the structure is installed, it’s going to be there for a long time. A key starting point with metal sheds is to ensure a solid and level base is fitted for the shed to be assembled on top.
Leave a Reply