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I want a little shed on my allotment

(59 Posts)
Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 12:53:08

Does anybody know of a shed that comes in panels that will fit in a largish family car?

I want to put a shed up on my allotment.

Local shed firms won’t erect one of their sheds on the allotment because I can’t provide a concrete base.

Online shed firms will deliver to my house but not to the allotment so I would need to transport it there.

So what I need is a shed that comes in bits small enough to fit in the car - which I think means the sides in two horizontal pieces as I can’t fit 6ft height into my car.

I’ve tried local ‘handymen” the no job is too small type, but it isn’t a job they want.

I’m really stuck. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Chardy Sun 01-Jun-25 13:20:04

Are there not places that sell sheds and also hire out vans for people to take bulky stuff home? Like IKEA have a deal with Hertz for hourly van rental. Don't B&Q do something similar?

Casdon Sun 01-Jun-25 13:21:23

I’ve never seen a shed which doesn’t have the panels in one piece up to roof height. It would probably easier to find somebody with a trailer or large van who could collect and deliver a normal shed to your allotment for you I think - you could try your community Facebook page?

Jaxjacky Sun 01-Jun-25 13:23:11

Is it for sitting in Lathyrus3 or storage?

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 13:24:03

Oh I’ll look at that but I have to admit that the thought of driving a hire van fills me with😱.

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 13:27:31

Ideally to have a chair in as well as some storage. I’ve been managing with a tool store and putting the lid up when I need to rest in the shade but I think I could stay for longer at a time if I had somewhere to have a decent sit for half an hour.

I have tried the “man with a van” route but either I haven’t had any response or they say they’ll get back to me and don’t.

grannysyb Sun 01-Jun-25 13:49:25

We bought ours from a firm in Wellingborough. Putting it up was included in the price. You had to have the base ready, a friend put down slabs. It took the two men less than an hour to put up a shed measuring 5 feet by 8 feet, well worth it!

Barbadosbelle Sun 01-Jun-25 14:02:27

.

Costco do neat little garden sheds.
HDPE but look quite 'woody' but won't rot. Has floors but you need a level base. Feel sure they must be flat packed.
.

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 14:31:57

grannysyb

We bought ours from a firm in Wellingborough. Putting it up was included in the price. You had to have the base ready, a friend put down slabs. It took the two men less than an hour to put up a shed measuring 5 feet by 8 feet, well worth it!

My problem is the allotment doesn’t allow slabs or concrete bases, I found a local firm that would deliver and erect but only in a concrete base. I had put down one of those plastic honeycombbases that said it was fine for a small shed but the shed firm said no😬

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 14:32:30

I’ll have a look at Costco. Thanks.

NotSpaghetti Sun 01-Jun-25 14:36:33

Is there a house next to your allotment that you could speak to about using their address as delivery?
They may not like it but they may be obliging?
My friend often has tea with the people in the house next to hers and she gives then vegetables when she has a glut.

David49 Sun 01-Jun-25 15:03:26

You need a friend with a car and trailer (a van isn’t big enough) and half a day to spare, plastic is a nice idea but looks tatty, whatever you choose it has to be securely fixed or it will blow away

loopyloo Sun 01-Jun-25 15:18:57

Could you ask other people on the allotment with sheds what they did and what base the sheds are on?
Am surprised they don't allow a few concrete slabs.

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 16:24:59

NotSpaghetti

Is there a house next to your allotment that you could speak to about using their address as delivery?
They may not like it but they may be obliging?
My friend often has tea with the people in the house next to hers and she gives then vegetables when she has a glut.

It’s next to a Cemetery 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 16:25:38

David49

You need a friend with a car and trailer (a van isn’t big enough) and half a day to spare, plastic is a nice idea but looks tatty, whatever you choose it has to be securely fixed or it will blow away

Is that an offer😳😂😂😂😂😂

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 16:33:25

loopyloo

Could you ask other people on the allotment with sheds what they did and what base the sheds are on?
Am surprised they don't allow a few concrete slabs.

There aren’t very many sheds (now I know why!) and those that are there look as if they’ve been there for ages and are a collection of bits and pieces sort of hammered together. The site had fallen into disuse and had been vandalised in the past but it now has a fence and gate and frankly, not much else except bindweed and mares tail.
There’s even a couple of little plastic ‘Wendy houses’.

I never thought for a moment it would be this hard to get a shed🤷🏽‍♀️

Grammaretto Sun 01-Jun-25 16:46:36

I have a henhouse/woodshed which sits on the ground. It's at least 40yrs old and extremely heavy so doesn't blow away.
The man who made it also delivered it ready made. I think it cost £50 and seemed expensive back then.
We have replaced the roofing felt but no other repairs.
I hope you find a solution. It would be good to have a shed with a seat in it.

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 16:51:20

Henhouse! I’ll look into it.

I’ve actually been perusing playhouses in desperation 😬

Casdon Sun 01-Jun-25 16:54:23

David49

You need a friend with a car and trailer (a van isn’t big enough) and half a day to spare, plastic is a nice idea but looks tatty, whatever you choose it has to be securely fixed or it will blow away

As my shed arrived on a long wheelbase van, I can guarantee that will definitely carry a shed - or a bigger (are they called Luton) van would do. A pick up, or horse box will also do the job. My neighbour has a pick up, and often does small jobs for other people, I’m sure there must be somebody near you who does the same, you could try asking your neighbours, people in the local shop etc.
Another option is to contact a handyman or fencer who puts sheds up as part of their job and see if they will collect and erect the shed on site for you.

Feelingmyage55 Sun 01-Jun-25 17:14:10

Railway sleepers? They might be the answer. It also means your shed could be slightly off ground level. Our local sawmill used to supply these (but has closed down).
Do you have a men’s shed in your area? You need to find “someone who knows someone”.
Good luck and keep us/me updated. I am about to embark on a similar project but as it is for my own garden, I have some autonomy. Except for my mysoginistic neighbour. Do I take his views into consideration re location or keep myself happy?

David49 Sun 01-Jun-25 19:01:02

Casdon

David49

You need a friend with a car and trailer (a van isn’t big enough) and half a day to spare, plastic is a nice idea but looks tatty, whatever you choose it has to be securely fixed or it will blow away

As my shed arrived on a long wheelbase van, I can guarantee that will definitely carry a shed - or a bigger (are they called Luton) van would do. A pick up, or horse box will also do the job. My neighbour has a pick up, and often does small jobs for other people, I’m sure there must be somebody near you who does the same, you could try asking your neighbours, people in the local shop etc.
Another option is to contact a handyman or fencer who puts sheds up as part of their job and see if they will collect and erect the shed on site for you.

A neighbour with a pickup is just perfect

Sadgrandma Sun 01-Jun-25 19:16:37

Lathyrus3
I hope you manage to get your shed but, when you do, just a word of warning, don’t leave any valuable tools in it. Sheds on our village allotments have been broken into several times and tools stolen so no one leaves anything of value there anymore. Best not to lock it either, if thieves can open the door and see there is nothing worth taking they will leave it alone. If they can’t they will break the door down. Perhaps check with other allotment holders to see if it has ever happened.

Redrobin51 Sun 01-Jun-25 20:05:32

I am sure locally there would be "a man with a van" who would transport it from yiur adress for a fee. I often see adverts on our Next-door Neighbour page advertising that service. Good luck.

Lathyrus3 Sun 01-Jun-25 20:22:55

Thanks but I’m ve tried all the local handyman/man with a van adverts and nobody is interested in delivering to the allotment site. It is hard to access individual plots because of the way it was originally configured and the subsequent neglect, so I do understand it’s not a job they want.

I have a biggish family car. What I need is a shed that comes in panels that will fit.

I’m beginning to think it will have to be a plastic greenhouse. They do seem to come more in separate panels. It would give shelter from the wind but would be awfully hot to rest in in Summer so not really what I want.

loopyloo Sun 01-Jun-25 20:42:18

Perhaps you should get elected on the committee and get the rules modified a bit. No wonder the site is rather run down.
I really wonder why you can't have 6 or 8 slabs to put a little 6ft x4ft shed on. As to getting it there, company could deliver to entrance then you could wheel in on a wheelbarrow.