You’re shopping around for a timber workshop, but the prices online are all over the place – from £500 to £5000 and beyond – it makes it hard to know what you’re actually paying for. That’s where we come in.
We’ve compared the Tiger Sheds XL Heavyweight Workshop with our 3-Tier Workshop, so you can see exactly what you’re getting for your money. We’ll look at cost, construction, materials, and service – without the confusing marketing claims.
How much does a Workshop cost?
These Workshops sit at very different ends of the spectrum in terms of cost – one prioritising affordability, and the other a lifetime investment. Let’s see which one suits your budget:
How much does a Tiger Sheds Workshop cost?
For this comparison we’re using the 14’ x 8’ XL Heavyweight Workshop from Tiger Sheds, which costs £1,485.99.
How much does a G&M Workshop cost?
Our 14’ x 8’ 3-Tier Workshop costs £8,525.
This includes VAT, delivery (within 40 miles of Errol) and assembly of the building. We deliver to the whole Scotland, but beyond the 40 mile radius there will be a small delivery charge.
How is each Workshop made?
It’s easy to assume the Tiger Sheds Workshop is a bargain and the G&M Workshop is overpriced, but these buildings are completely different when it comes to performance, durability and longevity. Let’s see how each is made:
What type of wall does a Tiger Sheds Workshop have?
The Tiger Sheds Workshop uses a single-skinned construction: one layer of timber forms the entire wall. The cladding is attached directly to the frame, with no cavity or additional layers.
Single-skinned wall
- 12mm tongue and groove shiplap cladding (European softwood)
- 28mm x 44mm framing
Single-skinned buildings are cheaper to manufacture, but naturally experience water ingress because timber is porous. They’re fine for occasional use, basic storage, or summer projects, but if you need a watertight space, you need a workshop with a more substantial construction.
What type of wall does a G&M Workshop have?
Every G&M Workshop is built using our 3-Tier wall system, designed to keep your building structurally strong and 100% watertight.
3-Tier Wall
- 19mm Tanalised Scandinavian redwood tongue & groove weatherboard cladding
- 22mm cavity and damp-proof membrane
- 9mm OSB structural board
- 75mm x 45mm pressure-treated C24-grade framing
Any moisture that gets through the cladding cannot pass any further than the cavity and damp-proof membrane, and dries out before reaching the interior. This leaves you with a Workshop that stays dry all year round.
What cladding does the Tiger Sheds Workshop have?
The cladding used is 12mm thick, which is pretty thin considering it’s the only thing separating the inside of the Workshop from the outside environment.
At G&M, we recommend you look for a timber building with cladding that’s at least 16mm thick. 12mm cladding isn’t going to provide you with enough protection against wind and rain, especially in Scotland.
Tiger Sheds also don’t specify where in Europe their timber is from, which will impact the performance of the Workshop massively. Trees grown in colder climates are going to be better suited to the Scottish weather than those grown in warmer places, so it’s important to know where your timber is coming from.
What cladding does the G&M Workshop have?
G&M uses 19mm Scandinavian redwood, which is typically Swedish pine. This timber grows slowly in cold climates, producing tight growth rings and a dense, stable board – perfect for use in Scotland.
We’ve found that 19mm is the sweet spot for cladding thickness: thick enough to provide plenty of protection, without being too thick and causing excessive timber movement.
Further Reading: Whitewood vs Redwood
What framing does the Tiger Sheds Workshop have?
Tiger Sheds framing is 28mm x 44mm thick. Again this is pretty thin. The framing of your Workshop is like its bones, and framing this thin is going to make the Workshop pretty flimsy and weak. Watch out during stormy weather!
Further reading: Prevent Storm Damage to Your Shed, Garage or Garden Room
What framing does the G&M Workshop have?
Our G&M Workshop uses 75mm x 45mm C-24 Graded framing. This framing is not only much thicker than Tiger Sheds, but is also structurally graded meaning it’s super strong. This quality of framing results in a much stronger and sturdier Workshop compared to the Tiger Sheds option.
What roofing does the Tiger Sheds Workshop have?
The Tiger Sheds Workshop comes with heavy duty black mineral felt. Felt is cost-effective and fairly simple to install, but it generally needs to be replaced every 10 years or so.
While they do include a timber roof underneath the felt, they don’t specify the thickness, making it difficult to judge its long term durability. Felt isn’t the most weatherproof option, so there’s risk of water getting through and damaging the timber beneath.
Further Reading: What’s the best roofing material for a workshop?
What roofing does the G&M Workshop have?
G&M Workshops come with a Nova Mica steel box profile roofing that features a 20-year manufacturer’s guarantee. Beneath the steel is a cavity, breathable membrane and 16mm tongue and groove timber roof. This construction ensures that any moisture on the underside of the steel evaporates before it can reach the timber.
Steel is our preferred roofing material here at G&M. We find that it offers the best performance for Scotland – protecting our buildings from high winds and heavy rain.
Download the G&M Workshop Buyer's Guide
Everything you need to know on how to start your #ShedLife in one easy-to-digest guide!
Enter your details below to access your copy.
Does the Tiger Sheds Workshop come with windows and doors?
Tiger Sheds Workshop features timber window frames, and timber double doors. The single-glazed windows don’t provide much insulation to the space and can’t be opened to let you ventilate the workshop either. There’s the option to have your windows placed on either side of the Workshop, but no customisation options beyond this.
The large timber doors will be great for easy access but will also be prone to timber movement, and may need adjustment in the future. The doors feature a basic press lock – meaning they aren’t the best choice for anyone who wants to store valuable items inside.
Does the G&M Workshop come with windows and doors?
The G&M Workshop comes with a fully clad uPVC door fitted with a 5-Lever insurance-compliant lock – perfect if security is a priority. The Workshop also features a horizontal opening uPVC window, which allows you to let in light and air to your space easily.
There’s always the option to upgrade or alter your uPVC choices to suit your needs. For example, you can upgrade to double uPVC doors, or a double or triple vertical uPVC window.
The double-glazing choices work with the 3-Tier wall to maintain warmth and keep the building protected from the elements.
What level of service are you getting?
It’s not just all about the construction, it’s important to know what comes along with your purchase, and what you’re going to have to figure out yourself. Let’s see what level of service you should expect:
Is delivery and assembly included?
Tiger Sheds offer free delivery across most of the UK, but assembly is not included. Their Workshops are designed as DIY flat-pack buildings, but you can pay extra (around £500 – £600) for their professional installation service.
At G&M, our prices include VAT, delivery within 40 miles of Errol, and assembly. We deliver all over Scotland, but outside our 40 mile radius a small delivery charge will apply. Our expert delivery team will always assemble your Workshop to their high standards.
Is a project management service included?
Tiger Sheds don’t offer a project management service, but they do have some advice on their website about bases and planning permission. You can pay extra for a plastic grid base (£314.99), but beyond this they don’t offer any base, electrics or planning permission service.
At G&M, we fully project-manage your Workshop from start to finish. Whether you need a base put in place, electrics installed or a planning application submitted, we can arrange it.
Does the Workshop come with a guarantee?
Tiger Sheds advertises a 20-year guarantee which sounds impressive until you dive into the details. The guarantee only covers timber rot, timber decay and insect infestation, which appears to be the guarantee of the pressure-treating process, rather than the Workshop itself.
Their 20-year guarantee implies that the Workshop will last this long, and within this time they’ll fix anything that goes wrong. However, if they’re piggybacking on the guarantee of the pressure-treated timber, this is unlikely to be the case, and is very misleading to the buyer.
At G&M, our Workshops, along with all of our other buildings, come with our 30-Year Guarantee. This guarantee covers the whole building. If anything goes wrong with your building during this time, we’ll send our team out to fix it.
Our Workshops have been designed to last a lifetime, so if you look after it, it’ll last decades beyond the 30-year guarantee.
How much maintenance does a 3-Tier Workshop need?
Which Workshop is right for you?
By understanding how you want your Workshop to perform, how much you want to pay, and what you’ll use it for, you can make a decision that you’re proud of.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly workshop for occasional use the Tiger Sheds Workshop could be the choice for you. But remember that you’ll be building it yourself, and the single-skinned construction means that it won’t always stay dry.
With the G&M 3-Tier Workshop you’re guaranteed a space that will always stay sturdy, watertight, and secure, however, it’s a bigger initial investment compared to the Tiger Sheds option.
One is an affordable flat-pack design. The other is a professionally crafted building that’s made to last. Which one will you choose?
To discuss your 3-Tier Workshop plans with our expert Sales Team book a Consultation. They’ll get to know what you want from your Workshop, and help you design your ideal space.
