Argos sheds are they any good?

I’m thinking of getting a 7’ x 5’ shed from Argos for £229 made of feathered edge board.

Does anyone have any experience of these sheds are they any good?

I did once get a cheap shed some years ago and it was rotten after only 3 years.

I want the shed to be dry for storage etc.

Simon, no experience of these but the price suggests it will be a very budget shed, my brother in law once purchased a cheap shed an asked what I thougt, my reply was “there was more wood in a Swan Vestas match box after the matches were removed !”

Joking apart a good quality shed suitable for a workshop will cost considerably more and you really need tongue and groove weather board of a good thickness. I would think a decent shed will be in the region of £700 minimum and maybe more.

Just my opinion of course! John

Edited By JohnF on 13/03/2018 22:05:32

No not tongue and groove. Water wicks through the close fitting joint by capillary action. Feather edge tends to have gaps so is not very airtight. Shiplap is the better option.
A cheap shed will only have 1in framing so only just holding together and if the roof is some sort of composite board it will sag as it gets damp.

So budget for replacing the roof with ply and getting proper roofing felt from Wickes instead of the tissue paper they supply. Also arrange to line the inside, roof walls and floor with thick plastic sheet taping all the joints and covered by the thinnest ply you think you can get away with. The ply will compensate for the crap frame. The door will warp so add some bracing, plastic and ply and some 3x2 extra frame so you have something solid to attach your security bars to.
Cheap sheds come untreated so cost that in too.

These sheds are OK for storing garden tools, garden furniture, logs etc but not much else.

Feather edge boards will warp and leave gaps, the floors and roof are flimsy. The framing is the minimum needed to hold it together. Think of it as a big cupboard.

Much better is to go to a shed specialist where you can see sheds that have stood outside for a few years and assess the stability in person. Will cost more, but making the Argos shed into something decent would also cost, and you still end up with an Argos shed.

I will ask the question, is it for a workshop or just a shed?

Don't waste your money, the quality of this type of shed is usually very poor. I bought one about 15 years ago and have had to almost rebuild it over the years. Everything is the cheapest quality, the roof felt being not much better than cardboard. Just recently I looked at one in the local DIY store and it was even worse than the one I bought so things have not improved over the years.

They are shoddy, shoddy, shoddy, don't go anywhere near them!


Doug

We use a steel shed for garden storage. On concrete it was always wet, despite attempts at sealing the base joint. On a timber base, it's always dry inside. Lot of air gaps sheltered from rain help.

It will be much cheaper to build your own and not difficult. Get down to a farm supply yard and price up the timber, get properly treated timber ,will last years.

As has been said, the build quality of a DIY store shed is rubbish.

I don't buy them any more, I build them from scratch myself.

I have now built five sheds, three of them in the last 18 months.

Sides and roof timbers are normally 47x75 C16 structural planed and treated studs, walls clad in building grade treated featheredge on a vapour barrier, roof in 18mm OSB, covered in roofing grade felt.

Not cheap, but solid and will last a lifetime.

Hi last shed I built for the garden (I stay in a very windy area) 50mm square frame, then osb boards, on top of the boards building paper, then 15mm strapping to allow 12mm shiplap, roof 50 with osb board and two layers of felt, floor rai;way sleepers, 75 *50 then 22mm ply. Shed size 8 by 12 feet, cost around £500 and a couple of weekends work

Shed has never moved, leaked or damp inside, three years later

Least if you make it yourself you can get doors , windows size to suit you, one thing I would suggest if you plan to use as workshop, strengthen the floor where you plan to place machines, this is the only bit you can’t get back to

Without putting Argos in the firing line,all such cheap sheds are just that cheap !,in every way. They make good kindling for one or two fires, and not much more. They are a waste of time and money,I,ve seen better dog kennels.

As advised,build your own,not that difficult,and at least you know what you have.

Remember you can,t expect much for that kind of money.

My 'shed' was a proper timber built item from a company in Saltburn by the name of Taylormade.....

Proper timber frame with shiplap cladding and roofing felt. Even the nail heads were punched below the wood surface and filled in....How's that for attention to detail?

Cost at the time was a whopping £200 inc delivery, but that was about 1982 prices....We still have it, lasting well it is, had to replace the roof because next door's shrubbery abraded the felt and the rain got in...

Only maintainance done was a lick of creosote once in a while....they dont make 'em like they used to....

Unless you buy from a proper manufacturer steer clear from the usual shed sellers.....is my advice.

Edited By John Rudd on 14/03/2018 15:52:41

Simon,

I've got an Argos 10 x 8 at the bottom of my garden where I store my Stationary engines etc, they are bone dry as its not damp in the shed, took my Son in Law and I half a day to erect, I retreat the wood every couple of years, now 6-7 years old and the roofing felt is the original. Would buy another. My only criticism is the floor it is ok for normal use but with two ton of engines inside I laid another 3/4" board all over to take the weight.

Martin P

Edited By martin perman on 14/03/2018 16:48:49