We put a lot of love and hard-work into our buildings and customer care. At Gillies & Mackay we manufacture and assemble our own timber buildings from our workshop in Errol. And of course, the costs of our hige-quality materials contribute to the cost of the buildings we make.
And with that comes with a price tag💰 We don’t shy away from the fact that we are more expensive than many other garden buildings available.
But you might be wondering:
“What am I really paying for? And what factors impact the pricing of a G&M building?”
For us, the quality materials that we use to create our buildings contribute to the cost. In fact, our materials equate to roughly 65% of all of our costs.
Making a choice between ‘that’ll do’ and ‘that’s better’ is something you need to decide based on importance and value to you and your needs.
For Gillies & Mackay it’s always been about ‘that’s better’ and we are very particular about our suppliers for G&M – which does make our buildings more expensive.
What timber do we use in your G&M building?
The timber we use is extremely important. We put a huge amount of trust in our suppliers, to ensure that the wood we are provided with is to the highest of standards.
Let’s explore the timber we use in a little more detail.
Cladding; Tongue and Groove Weatherboard Kiln Dried* Dressed Scandinavian Pine (Redwood)
At Gillies and Mackay – it’s easy, all our cladding is 19mm (dressed, as it comes to you) thick or thicker.
*Kiln Dried is basically a big oven that speeds up the drying process for fallen timber. The less moisture content the wood has the better it is for using as timber structures.
**Dressed just means they’ve made it pretty 😉 planed it down to a smooth finish. It’s important to note the measurement of dressed vs cut size. Because as manufacturers we pay a premium to have our wood dressed, some shed builders will advertise the sawmill size rather than the size of the finished boards. They may have been 16mm thick before machining, but your finished shed walls are actually 14mm thick.
Our cladding is 19mm after machining, meaning that the walls of a Gillies & Mackay Shed are 19mm thick.
Framing; Regulated C24* Eased Edge & Celcurised**
We use pressure treated timber for all our exposed wood (floor joists, bearers, donks (roof strips)) and for the internal frames of our Sheds and Garages.
For our Garages and Garden Rooms we also use pressure treated weatherboard as standard because of their 3 tier wall make up.
*C24 means the timber is graded and certified to withstand specific loads. The higher the grade the wider the span/length can be used. C24 is a grade of timber used for building houses. We use C24 rather than C16 or ungraded framing to ensure that our buildings last, no matter how much of a hoolie is blowing.
**Celcurised means that the timber is also pressure treated (green) which protects the timber from the inside out, Celcure is a chemical treatment that protects the timber against rot, fungi and insects.
Related content: A guide to wood in your shed; weatherboard, sarking, studs and bearers
What roofing do we use in your G&M building?
The roof keeps out the weather, so we need to make sure we use the right materials, to ensure it lasts a long time. There are a couple of different options for your G&M building roof:
- Steel Box Profile Sheeting
- Bitumen Shingles
There used to be a long-standing ‘discussion’ shall we say, between the directors at G&M. Some believed roofing felt on Apex Sheds should be the norm. It gave a neat finish, provided the durability expected (10 years) and was hand tacked directly to the roofing boards allowing the tar side to bond to the wood (which created a seal).
Others in G&M didn’t give felt the time of day. They much preferred to use steel box profile sheeting on any pitch because of its 25-year guarantee and assurance there is no water ingress to be had whatsoever.
All in all, both have their advantages.
Do Gillies & Mackay use roofing felt?
But felt has become increasingly more and more expensive, and the perks of the simple installation are no longer so perky since our buildings last far longer than the life expectancy of the felt.
We had been using steel box profile on our big builds for years – things like Garages and Garden Rooms – but it was introduced as standard for Pent Sheds a good few years ago. The Pent pitch had a tendency to let water sit on the seams allowing water to run back up the cap. Not cool. We had also monitored its behaviour on large Sheds and decided they would only be done in steel box profile too.
There is a fair price difference between steel and felt but vs the return visits to a problem that had no solution other than to reroof in steel – it seemed only sensible to start with steel and ensure the longevity of our build.
Now all of our Sheds and Garages come with steel box profile roofing as standard. This roofing is guaranteed for 20 years and has a life expectancy of a whopping 40 years!
As for our Radiata Garden Rooms, the Rannoch and Vorlich models come with steel as standard. The Deuchny and Kindrogan models use Isola shingles. Because of the shaped roof pitch and the way in which they are fixed, the shingles are a welcome specification, durable (25 years) reliable, and PRETTY!!
Our larger Blackstone Garden Rooms use steel as standard, although some customers prefer the aesthetic of shingles, so we offer these as an additional upgrade.
What ironmongery do you use in your G&M building?
Everything from the nails to the 5-lever locking system in a set of doors is crucial to the working ability of our buildings.
The man in charge is Dean and he does not suffer fools gladly.
When it comes to procurement Dean is one step ahead of any sales rep or supplier. He does his research, he tests, he compares. Dean knows we’ll never have ironmongery like the ‘old days’ and since everything is imported (mainly from China) we need someone who takes on the challenge to get the best for your money.
It’s a hard compromise. We’re joiners and we make 90% of the building by hand so when it comes to the Ironmongery it’s always a heavily scrutinised area.
Thanks again to amazing suppliers like SIIS in Fife and our long-standing saviours Prisma down South, we are looked after, and the relationship between them Dean, and G&M as a whole is a trusting one. We know they’re doing their best by us and you by sourcing ironmongery fit for the longevity of a G&M build.
Why is a Gillies & Mackay more expensive?
So there you have it. When you buy a G&M building, you are paying for quality materials, alongside handcrafted timber buildings that last a generation.
All this comes with a price tag 💰
Every product we have comes with transparent price lists, and any extra charges are detailed on our product pages, just like they should be!
