Understanding Garden Shed Guarantees
Garden shed guarantees can be difficult to compare.
Some manufacturers advertise guarantees lasting 10, 15 or even 20 years. At first glance, that can sound like the whole shed is guaranteed for that length of time.
In many cases, however, the long-term guarantee is specifically an anti-rot or timber guarantee and is subject to maintenance conditions. It does not necessarily mean that every part of the shed, every fitting or every aspect of its construction is covered for the full advertised period.
At Harts Timber Sheds, we believe the important question is not simply:
“How many years is the guarantee?”
It is:
“What does the guarantee actually cover, and what does the customer have to do to keep it valid?”
Harts Timber Sheds 12-Month Guarantee
Every Harts garden shed comes with a 12-month guarantee covering defects in materials and workmanship.
This includes defects in areas such as doors, floor boards and roof construction.
If a roof leak is caused by a defect in materials or workmanship, the affected part will be repaired or replaced.
The guarantee does not cover problems caused by misuse, inadequate foundations, accidental damage or lack of reasonable maintenance.
Our guarantee is designed to be straightforward and easy to understand.
Materials and Workmanship
A manufacturing guarantee covers problems caused by the materials supplied or by the way the shed has been manufactured or assembled.
For example, if there is a genuine manufacturing defect in a door, floor or part of the roof construction, that is very different from timber changing naturally over time or damage caused by poor maintenance.
This is also different from an anti-rot guarantee, which normally relates specifically to timber deterioration and may have separate conditions attached to it.
Why the Number of Years Does Not Tell the Whole Story
A 10-, 15- or 20-year guarantee may sound more comprehensive than a 12-month guarantee, but the headline number alone does not tell you what is protected.
Long-term timber or anti-rot guarantees can have conditions relating to treatment, maintenance, foundations and installation.
Depending on the manufacturer, customers may also find that certain components or circumstances are excluded from the long-term cover.
When comparing guarantees, check:
- Whether the guarantee covers the whole shed or only timber rot
- Whether doors, floors, roofing felt and glazing are included
- Whether installation workmanship is covered
- Whether annual treatment is required
- What type of treatment must be used
- Whether maintenance records or evidence may be needed
- What base or foundation conditions apply
- What exclusions apply to natural timber movement, wear or weather exposure
- Who is responsible for labour or replacement parts if a claim is accepted
Annual Treatment Conditions
Some long-term anti-rot guarantees require timber buildings to be treated regularly, and in some cases annually, to keep the guarantee valid.
That is an important condition for customers to understand before buying.
A shed may still look well protected after twelve months, but if the written guarantee specifically requires treatment every year, the customer may still be expected to carry out that treatment in order to comply with the guarantee conditions.
This is why the maintenance requirements should always be read alongside the advertised guarantee period.
What About Longer-Lasting Exterior Paint?
At Harts Timber Sheds we recommend Protek Royal Exterior Paint for long-term protection.
It is a high-quality exterior timber coating designed to provide longer-lasting protection, and depending on exposure and conditions it can last for several years before recoating is required.
We have used and tested Protek Royal Exterior ourselves with very good results.
This raises an important point when comparing guarantees.
If another manufacturer's guarantee specifically requires treatment every year, a customer should not assume that using a longer-lasting coating automatically changes that requirement.
The written guarantee conditions still apply.
That is why customers should check exactly what maintenance schedule is required before relying on a long-term anti-rot guarantee.
Harts Timber Sheds and Maintenance
Every Harts shed receives a protective external basecoat before delivery.
This basecoat is not intended to be the final long-term finish, so the shed should be painted after installation with a suitable exterior timber coating.
We recommend Protek Royal Exterior because it provides good long-term protection and reduces unnecessary frequent repainting when the coating remains in good condition.
Our 12-month manufacturing guarantee does not rely on advertising a long anti-rot period with a complicated annual treatment schedule.
Reasonable maintenance is still important, as it is with any timber building.
The Shed Base Matters
A garden shed needs a suitable firm and level base.
An uneven or unsuitable foundation can cause the shed to move out of alignment. Doors may stop fitting correctly, panels can move and excessive moisture can reach parts of the timber.
Problems caused by an inadequate foundation are not manufacturing defects.
This is why we ask customers to have a suitable base ready before installation.
Timber Naturally Moves
Wood is a natural material.
Changes in moisture and temperature can cause timber to expand, contract, move or develop small splits over time.
When comparing guarantees, it is worth checking whether the manufacturer's long-term guarantee covers natural timber movement or whether it applies only to decay or rot.
A long guarantee should not automatically be assumed to cover every change that can occur in a timber building.
Inspect a Shed Before You Buy
We encourage customers to visit our St Helens factory and see fully assembled sheds before ordering.
Walk inside the shed. Check the floor. Look at the tongue-and-groove wall cladding and roof. Open and close the doors. Inspect the framing and overall construction.
You can also talk directly to the guys who make wooden sheds every day.
We would rather customers compare the actual construction and guarantee terms before buying than make a decision based only on a headline guarantee period.
How Harts Timber Sheds Are Built
Our standard garden sheds are manufactured using 12–13mm tongue-and-groove timber wall cladding, 12–13mm tongue-and-groove timber floor and roof, 34mm × 34mm solid timber framing, ledged and braced timber doors and anti-rip polyester mineral roofing felt.
Our 15mm sheds are constructed in the same way. The difference is the 15mm tongue-and-groove wall cladding and 15mm tongue-and-groove floor.
Every shed also receives a protective external basecoat before delivery.
You can learn more about the company, our manufacturing and our shed construction on our About Harts Timber Sheds page.
Buy Direct from Harts Timber Sheds
Harts Timber Sheds has been manufacturing wooden garden sheds in St Helens since 1989.
We sell directly from our factory and provide professional delivery and assembly throughout our standard delivery area.
Payment is made after your shed has been delivered and professionally assembled in your garden.
If you have any questions about our guarantee, construction or maintenance requirements, talk to us before ordering.
Harts Timber Sheds
181 Broad Oak Road
St Helens
Merseyside
WA9 2AQ
Factory entrance:
Moorfoot Road Industrial Estate
St Helens
WA9 2DY
Factory: 01744 730004
When comparing shed guarantees, don't just ask how many years they last — ask what is actually covered and what you must do to keep the guarantee valid.