Shed Buyer's Prep Guide
If only you could just ring us up, order a shed and all of a sudden it's ready to go – wouldn't that be fabulous! Getting your shedlife in order isn't quite as simple as that, but fret not; that's what we created this guide for.
Throughout this guide you'll find links to our blogs and videos explaining certain parts in more detail, and as always, we are happy to discuss any queries you might have. We've been at this shed game for over 30 years, and trust us, we've seen it all! You can rest assured we've got you covered.
Contents
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Planning permission is asking if you can do certain building work around your house. It's not often you need planning permission for a building in your garden, but it is required in particular circumstances.
More often than not, this is one of the first questions a customer will ask us. And the answer is always… it depends.
There are nine questions that will help you determine if your G&M will need planning permission and what you need to consider when choosing the position of your building in your garden.
In accordance to planning law a permitted development (meaning you don’t need permission) is one that answers NO to all of the following questions...
- Is your shed for business use?
If you’re running a multi-million pound empire from your garden shed, the council will want to know about it. They love a bit of business rate action on that kind of thing.
If it’s not for business, you don’t need permission.
- Is your shed going to be outwith your garden?
It’s a serious question… You can’t just put a Summerhouse up in a public park where you like to sit sometimes. Although we think this really applies to communal grounds, where you may have a plot for a Garage but the access is shared and there is maybe a certain size or style you need to adhere to.
If it’s in YOUR garden, you don’t need permission.
- Do you live in a tenement block?
This one’s for the neighbour who thinks it’s appropriate to erect a 9ft tall Pigeon Loft 3 inches away from your kitchen window #DBAD The council like to have a say on where you want to put the building in tenement or shared garden situations.
If you’re not in a tenement block or you don’t share your garden, you don’t need permission.
- Is your shed going to be within 1 metre of a boundary?
This is my favourite! When we ask our customers this question they always look at us as if we're about to burst into a clever 5 line limerick… we're not, it’s a genuine question.
“For if the 1mtr boundary is crossed
You must keep your Shed Bossed
Below 2.5mtrs in height
Will save you from your plight
Remember this to keep you right”
This is achievable for smaller buildings but becomes an issue for Garages and Cabins. Oh and a boundary is whatever separates your garden from the rest of the WORLD!
If your shed is not going to be within 1 metre of a boundary and is under 2.5 metres in height - you don’t need permission.
- Do you live in a conservation area?
Conservation; to conserve the historical environment against unsavoury changes. I think 'unsavoury' is the right word but you could say – to stop you from putting up an ugly shed. Conservation Areas only like really, ridiculously good looking Sheds. The same rule applies if your house is a Listed Building.
If you’re not in a conservation area and you are not in a listed building, you don’t need permission.
- Is your shed wall height more than 3 metres?
Seriously doubt it. Unless your housing the BFG, a 3mtr wall height is ridiculous. The standard wall height is roughly 1.980m (see what I did there, that’s not roughly, that’s accurate, there’s nothing roughly about me).
If your shed wall height is under 3 metres, you don’t need permission.
7. Is your shed roof (overall) height more than 4 metres?
Again, this is just CRAZY! I can get a two storey building under 4mtrs but it’s really hard to do that – chances are if you’re going two storey then you’re already doing Building Control so will need Planning regardless.
If your overall shed height will be under 4 metres then you don’t need permission.
- Is your shed being used to create a boundary?
So let us say if you’re thinking of putting your building inline with the front elevation of your house to create a boundary between you and the rest of the WORLD then… The council will want to tell you what colour to paint it and maybe say you can’t put it there at all because you have too many freckles (no-one understands their logic, no-one).
If your shed won’t be used to create a boundary then you don’t need permission.
- Is your shed going to take up more than 50% of your garden area?
For example; you’re trying to erect a 3 bedroom detached house and class it as a shed in your back garden. Good luck. The council hates that.
Keep it in proportion to the rest of the garden and don’t go mental big. In fact, you can’t make it bigger than 30m2 anyway as that requires Building Control.
If your shed won’t take up more than 50% of your garden and is under 30m2
We can apply for planning for you to save you the hassle. There is a charge to this, of course, as it takes up some of our time.
(To date, we haven’t been refused any planning applications)
Seen this mentioned on this page and you want to know more about what it is? Read our blog: Does a Shed Need a Building Warrant?
Okay, if there's one thing you need to be absolutely sure of it is:
We build your shed in the workshop as panels then deliver the panels to your site. On your site, the deliverers will piece the panels together and BOOM! You're ready for Shed Life!
If gaining access to your site is essentially as follows...
"You can park in our massive driveway, unload the sectional building right outside and carry it, say 10 metres, to the actual site without anything at all in the way..."
Then you can skip this bit. You are our favourite kind of site access and KEVIN LOVES YOU
- Distance
Is the carrying distance, from where the guys can park their van to where the G&M building is going, more than 30 metres?
If YES: Please let us know the exact distance and the terrain so we can calculate an additional labour charge for long distance access.
- Tight Turns
Are there any tight turns between existing buildings, walls or fences that will restrict the team when carrying the panels to your site?
If YES: Please let us know as we may need to conduct a site visit to ensure access is doable with the standard panel sizes or whether we need to make adjustments to suit. There will be an additional charge for this.
- Obstacles
The lads' nemesis is the dreaded plant pot! Are there any obstacles in the way of the guys when they're carrying the panels to the site or erecting the building?
If YES: Please make sure you move all planters, pots and ornaments out of the way before the guys arrive.
We cannot be held responsible for any accidental damage to garden furnishings should they not be moved out of the deliverers' way.
- Watch Your Head!
Are there any overhead restrictions? Our guys will be carrying panels above their height. Are there any arched gateways or through-wall access that will stop them from being able to do this?
If YES: Please let us know as we may need to conduct a site visit to ensure access is doable with the standard panel sizes or whether we need to make adjustments suit. There will be an additional charge for this.
With this kind of access if you can measure the diagonal of the opening, it's a great help to know that measurement on order.
- Steps
Are there steps up to or down to your site? Is your garden elevated in tiers?
If YES: Please let us know. Feel free to send us in pictures and give us the exact amount of steps or tiers.
If you don't tell us about your unusual access before delivery it means that when the guys come to deliver they won't have enough time to do so.
This will mean your building won't get assembled on that day and you will be expected to pay a re-delivery charge as well as following the lead time for a new date.
Health and Safety
Your garden or land becomes a construction site from when our deliverers arrive until they leave. For your own safety we ask that you remain indoors whilst the team construct your building. Our deliverers will give you the all clear when they are finished then you can enjoy your brand new G&M.
This is super important! We don’t provide the bases for your building so it’s something you’ll need to consider as an additional cost. You’ll need to source someone to do it for you.
Please note: We highly advise you obtain landscaper quotes for base work before ordering your Gillies and Mackay building to obtain a full and clear picture of project costs.
If you want your building to be sturdy and last – having the right base is our no.1 rule. If the deliverers turn up on delivery day and your base is not right, they will not be able to assemble your building, the panels will be left with you and there will be a re-delivery charge.
It is so important that you follow our specification of; digging down to firm ground, compacting type 1 hardcore, laying and then levelling slabs on top.
Base plans are available from us for all individual sizes and designs. If you have any concerns with regards to your shed
base, please get in touch so we can arrange a site visit.
This is extremely vital to make sure your G&M building lasts and minimises the common issues when dealing with wood.
Timber is a natural material and it will deteriorate over time if it is not properly protected. When your G&M leaves our workshop it will have one coat (basecoat) of Sadolin on it.
Once the building is assembled on your site, give it a three week settling period to allow the timber boards to contract and then paint it up good and proper.
You will need to purchase your Sadolin colour for your second coat.
After you have applied the second coat, you should re-apply every 3-5 years depending on exposure.
Unfortunately, we are not a registered Sadolin stockist so you will need to purchase the paint elsewhere.
A tin of Sadolin ranges between £20 - £70 depending on the size of your building and how much paint you will need.
Our recommended Sadolin stockists:
- Bannerman’s Dundee or Perth
www.bannermanscolourstudio.co.uk
- Decorating Warehouse Online
https://www.decoratingwarehouse.co.uk/
Take a look at the selection of paint colours available in our range here at Gillies & Mackay.
If you're confident about your space and what you are after then book an appointment to come out and see what we have on display.
If you're not 100% sure about what space you have or what design would suit, we can do a no obligation site visit for you.
You can do this over the phone, on email or in person. Whatever suits you best.
We need to know:
- What building you’re going for
- The size of the building
- The style (including window and door placement)
- The colour
- Any additional features
- That you understand the base requirements
- That you understand paint requirements
- What the access is like to your site
We'll take your name, delivery address, telephone number and email address so that we know where to deliver to and that we can contact you where necessary.
Delivery and Assembly dates are scheduled every Thursday.
The logistics of delivering up to 20 buildings a week takes careful planning. Please allow Cara to get back to you with a date within the week of placing your order.
If you are not available on the date offered, Cara will do her best to offer an alternative date. If you wish to specifically request a date, please make it known on order.
Our delivery time is usually around an 8 week wait. Please take this into consideration when thinking about ordering your building.
If you need a shed right now then we may not be the right company for you. If you’re ok waiting, then let’s get you booked in 🙂
On order, we'll ask for a 20% deposit, to secure your building and delivery date, with your remaining balance to be settled 7 days prior to your delivery date. The reason we ask this is because we will start making your building around 7 days before it is due for delivery.
- Bank Transfer
This is our preferred option because we don't get a charge for this 🙂
Our Details:
Sort Code: 83 47 00
Account No: 10156978
Ref: Your Name
- Cheque
Either pop it in the post with your name as a reference.
Our Details:
Gillies and Mackay
East Inchmichael,
Station Road, Errol,
Perthshire PH2 7SP
- Cash
We no longer take cash on delivery. If you'd like to pay by cash we ask that you pop out and pay in person at the office.
We will deliver and assemble your building to you on the arranged date.
We are unable to give out a specific time for delivery or arrival as there are many factors to take into consideration and we don't want to be rushing the delivery team. Their job is to make sure everyone's building is assembled to high standard. And they do just that.
We will be able to give you an AM or PM delivery slot.
Once your very own Gillies & Mackay shed is sitting pretty in your garden, you're ready to enjoy it. Just remember to get it painted after 3 weeks to keep it protected and looking BEAUTIFUL!
