At G&M, we’ve been making single-skinned Sheds for over 35 years. More recently, we introduced our 3-Tier Workshops to the market. If you’re unfamiliar with either of these terms or wondering which type of timber building you need, then stick around! In this post, I’ll explain what a single-skinned Shed is, what a 3-Tier Workshop is, and the differences between them. When you’ve finished reading, you’ll understand the unique benefits of each and be able to confidently choose the one that’s right for you.
What is a single-skinned Shed?
Our standard sheds are single-skinned, and this is what you’ll typically find from most timber building companies. Single-skinned simply means that there is one layer of material making up your shed. In our case, this is timber, meaning a single-skinned Shed has one layer of timber for its walls. So, the inside wall of your shed is also the outside wall of your shed. For this reason, any single-skinned timber building is susceptible to water ingress.
What is Water Ingress?
We make our sheds from 19mm Scandinavian Redwood. This is serious stuff and does a great job at keeping the water out of your Shed.
However, all single-skinned timber buildings are susceptible to water ingress because timber is porous. Believe it or not, this is actually a good thing. The porous nature of timber is ideal for making sheds because it’s breathable. The breathability of timber is great for balancing moisture levels inside your shed. However, it means that sometimes in very wet conditions, moisture can get in.
Water ingress can happen when the outside of the shed gets particularly wet. This causes moisture to travel through the inside walls. Most of the time, this is not a problem. You may see a small patch where the wood on the inside of your shed looks damp. But don’t worry. With ventilation, this will dry up.
When does water ingress become a problem?
A problem arises when the same spot inside your shed is experiencing water ingress, again and again, with no time to dry out. This can happen particularly in winter when there’s been lots of rain and no chance to open your shed to dry out the wetness. Without a chance to dry out, water ingress can cause the spot to become rotten or mouldy. If a board of your shed does become mouldy or rotten, then you can sort it out by replacing that board.
What is a 3-Tier Workshop?
When we started building timber Garages, we quickly learned that the bigger the timber building, the more susceptible they are to water ingress. To combat this problem, we developed our 3-Tier specification.
This new specification involved building the walls out of multiple layers of timber and including an air cavity. The 3-Tier specification guarantees that our Garages stay watertight! Now, we build all of our Garages and our 3-Tier Workshops in this way. It’s the perfect solution for anyone looking for a watertight timber building.
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How Does Our 3-Tier Construction Work?
The picture above illustrates how the walls are constructed in our 3-Tier Workshops. Let’s take a look through it:
- Tanalised Scandinavian Redwood Weatherboard: This is the outer layer of your building. It’s what you’ll be able to see when looking at your Workshop from the outside. This layer deals with all the water and moisture from the outside elements.
- Batten Breather Cavity: This layer creates an air gap. This is essential for preventing water ingress as it stops water from moving through the outer layer to the inside of your Workshop.
- Breather Membrane: If water had somehow got through the outer layer and across the breather cavity, it would not be able to permeate through this barrier.
- OSB: This layer adds to the sturdiness of the wall structure. It’s a great material to use as long as it doesn’t get wet (here it won’t!)
- C24-Graded Pressure Treated Frame: This is the inner layer of your Workshop, and is treated to prevent mould and rot.
All the layers of construction work together to ensure water cannot travel from the outside of your building to the inside, leaving your 3-Tier Workshop completely watertight!
What are the key differences between the 3-Tier Workshop & single-skinned Sheds?
Size
Our single-skinned shed sizes range from 7′ x 5′ to 12′ x 10′. Any Shed that is larger than 12′ x 10′ needs to have the 3-Tier specification to eliminate potential water ingress issues.
Our 3-Tier Workshop sizes start at 10′ x 8′ and go all the way up to 20′ x 10′! (Custom sizes are available.) If you’re looking for a building larger than this, a timber garage is what you need.
Price
A 3-Tier Workshop is more expensive than our single-skinned Sheds due to their superior specification. Their layered walls and uPVC door and window increase material costs and require skilled labour to assemble, resulting in a higher price.
For example, a 12′ x 10′ single-skinned Shed costs £4,914, whereas a 12′ x 10′ 3-Tier Workshop costs £8,845.
So, depending on your budget and shed needs, this will impact which type of timber building you go for.
Security
A single-skinned Shed comes with a standard timber door, whereas a 3-Tier Workshop comes with a uPVC Fully Clad Door. This uPVC door features a 5-Lever locking system, which is insurance-compliant, allowing you to store valuable items in your Workshop with peace of mind.
The 3-Tier Workshop also features a uPVC Horizontal Opening Window. This window is more robust compared to a standard shed window, which is only single-glazed. If security is important to you, the uPVC features of the 3-Tier Workshop will fit your needs more than a single-skinned Shed.
Maintenance
All of our timber buildings do require some level of maintenance. For a single-skinned Shed and a 3-Tier Workshop, we’ll add the base coat of paint before delivery in our factory. You should add the second coat 3 weeks after delivery, to allow the timber time to settle.
With a single-skinned Shed, we recommend you repaint it every 3-5 years in Sadolin Superdec or Sadolin Quick Dry to keep the timber protected from moisture, insects, and UV.
The 3-Tier Workshops’ pressure-treated cladding naturally keeps it shielded from rot and insects. The layered walls of the Workshop also mean that it’s safeguarded from water ingress. For these reasons, it’s not as imperative that it stays well-painted, compared to the single-skinned Shed, which relies on paint to aid in keeping moisture out.
Still, we recommend that you repaint your 3-Tier Workshop every 5-7 years. UV weathers timber over time, so you’ll find that panels of the building that get a lot of sun exposure will need to be painted more often than those that sit in the shade.
Further Reading: How much maintenance does a 3-Tier Workshop need?
What can I use my building for?
Do you have a specific use in mind for your timber building? Let’s take a look at whether a 3-Tier Workshop or a single-skinned Shed is best suited for you and your needs!
What can I use a 3-Tier Workshop for?
Electrics: 3-Tier Workshops are especially good if you’re looking to hook up your space with electrics. Whether you’re charging your power tools, plugging in a lamp, or maybe even getting cosy next to a heater, with electrics, you can expand the use of your building. The watertight construction of a 3-Tier Workshop means you don’t have to worry about any water ingress – allowing you to safely add electricity to your room.
Year-round Use: Thanks to their layered construction, the 3-Tier Workshops provide a reliable environment even in the harsh Scottish weather. Whether you’re using it as a hobby room, workshop, or home gym, you’ll have a dedicated space that always stays dry, no matter the season. Meaning more time doing what you love.
Secure Storage: If you want to store valuable or sensitive items like expensive tools, art supplies, clothes or fabrics, a 3-Tier Workshop is the way to go. Its watertight design offers you peace of mind that your belongings are always safe and dry.
What can I use a single-skinned Shed for?
Gardening or Potting: Single-skinned sheds are the perfect place to set up your gardening HQ. Whether you’re potting plants in one of our Deluxe Potting Sheds or storing gardening tools, a single-skinned shed provides you with a reserved spot to focus on your gardening projects without distractions.
Storage Solutions: A single-skinned Shed is a great option to store items such as bikes, garden furniture, kids’ garden toys or even sports equipment. If you’re looking for somewhere to house your everyday items, then a single-skinned shed is right for you!
Seasonal Use: Planning on spending a lot of time in your shed in the Spring and Summer? But you’ll probably only pop on occasion during the colder months? A single-skinned Shed will fit you well, providing you with plenty of shelter for your seasonal activities.
How do I know whether I need a 3-Tier Workshop or a single-skinned Shed?
If you’re deciding between a 3-Tier Workshop and a single-skinned shed, the important things to think about are: what you’re going to use it for, what size you need it to be and whether you need it to be watertight.
When should I choose a 3-Tier Workshop?
- You need a building 12’ x 10’ or larger.
- You plan to use your building all year round.
- You need a timber building that is guaranteed to stay watertight.
- You need a dedicated space for a workshop or hobby.
- You need an increased level of security.
When should I choose a single-skinned Shed?
- You need a shed to store garden equipment or everyday items.
- You want to work inside the shed seasonally.
- You don’t need to guarantee the shed stays watertight.
3-Tier Workshop vs single-skinned Shed?
The main deciding factor between each of these options is whether or not you need to guarantee that your space stays 100% watertight. If you’re comfortable with the possibility of a little water ingress, a single-skinned shed will do you just fine! But, if you must guarantee your building stays completely dry at all times, a 3-Tier Workshop is the best option.
If you’re still undecided between a 3-Tier Workshop and a single-skinned Shed, check out our Learning Centre for more information on both of these buildings.
Are you ready to start your G&M journey, or still need some help deciding? Book a no-obligation Consultation to find your dream building today!
