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FAQs

In this section, we have answered all of the common questions we get asked.

Why should I buy a shed, summerhouse or log cabin from Carr Garden Buildings

We’ve discovered a lot about what makes a great garden structure over the past 50 years. For us, providing the best value for our consumers means giving outstanding quality at competitive prices.

With robust stud work, recessed joints, and screwed together panels, we create units from the ground up and maintain quality throughout the whole process. Our doors and windows are manufactured by joiners, and we exclusively utilise redwood for our timber. Our doors are crafted by joiners using triple-laminated wood.

How do Carr prices and quality compare to those online?

We know that there’s lots of choice on the internet, so why should you choose a Carr garden building?

We believe that all our products offer fantastic value for money. We use superior redwood timber and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques so that you can be sure that, with the right aftercare, your building will last for many years to come.

  • We’ve been around for over 50 years so know a thing or two about great garden buildings!
  • We believe that only the best quality will do, we only offer great products at a great price.
  • We care!  Our friendly team will work with you to make sure you get the right product for you.
  • Our team will deliver and assemble your building. FREE OF CHARGE
  • We only use high quality redwood timber in our buildings as we believe that it gives you a beautiful yet durable building.
  • All our joints are recessed, making every structure strong.
  • We use thicker timber for the framing of all our buildings to help them stand up to the rigour of years of use.
  • All our prices include a high-quality roofing felt or rubber roof as standard depending upon building type.
  • We screw (not nail) all our stud work and panels.  Not only does this make them stronger, it also means that your building can be taken apart and can move home if you do.
  • We don’t expect you to pay for your building until it has been delivered and built (we only ask for a small deposit when you place your order).

We proudly display our buildings at numerous locations – we encourage you to visit any one of them to see before you buy.

Some companies offer a delivery only service - do you do that?

The delivery and assembly of our garden buildings is as important as the manufacture, hence delivery and assembly is fully included within the price to the customer for all our products. Your building will be delivered on a Carr vehicle and built by Carr employees who are fully insured and trained in health and safety.

We can do delivery only too, please call on 01268561450 for more details.

I live slightly outside your delivery area but would like to buy one of your units - is that possible?

Yes, we are happy to deliver within a reasonable distance however this may incur a small charge. Please give us a call on 01268 561450 to discuss. Please note that for larger log cabins and buildings we are happy to travel further.

Do I need Planning Permission for Log Cabins and Garden Offices?

We would always advise that you check with your local planning authority or online, the points below are general guidelines. Carr’s are not planning experts so please check if unsure.

Outbuildings must not cover more than half the area of land around the “original house”.

You must apply for planning if your building or structure is to be used for running a business or storing commercial goods.

You must apply for planning for separate self-contained living accommodation and for microwave antennas.

Garden buildings are not permitted development forward of the principal elevation of your house. This means the house as it was originally built or as it stood on 1 July 1948.

Buildings or structures that are positioned within 2 metres of your boundary (in England) must not exceed 2.5m in height. We can design your garden office, summerhouse or log cabin to be under 2.5m in height to keep the planners happy!

Buildings or structures that are positioned more than 2 metres from your boundary must not exceed 3 metres in height, or more than 4 metres high with a ridged roof. (Most of our buildings are under 4 metres in height).

You must apply for planning permission if your house is listed, you live within a conservation area, a national park or the broads, an area of outstanding natural beauty (A.O.B.) or a world heritage site. In these areas, the total area of any building (more than 20 metres from the wall of your house) must not exceed 10 sqm.

What type of roofing material do you use?

The standard material on our sectional sheds and summerhouses is roofing felt (dark grey) which comes with a one year guarantee. The standard roofing material on our log cabins is EPDM rubber roofing which is glued to the roof boards. Although we buy the best felt available for sheds, we do feel that the EPDM is a far superior product as it comes in a single sheet with no joins and is very reilient- we recommend this as an optional upgrade on sectional buildings. EPDM rubber roofing comes with an extended guarantee.

What access is required to deliver my shed?

Most of our orders include installation and build. We will deliver and build the shed on the same day by prior appointment with you. Our Customer Care team will contact you to arrange a suitable day and time for delivery and assembly.

A clear access route is required from the lorry to the prepared base, with no access or height restrictions. The sections are often large flat panels which may be as long as the building. Possible restrictions include archways, narrow passages, sharp corners and flights of steps. Access through the house may be possible with advance notice only. If required, larger panels can be made in smaller sections, this may incur a small surcharge. Please let us know about any access restrictions that you may have when booking your delivery date with our team, ideally, at the point of ordering as well.

What to do if there would be any moisture and mould Issues with your Garden Building?

Your garden building can suffer from moisture and damp issues at certain times of the year, especially Winter and Spring when there can be a high level of moisture in the air, as timber is a perishable material. Making sure there is adequate airflow ensures better temperature control and a drier atmosphere.

Effects of Moisture can be –

  • Premature rot
  • Mould on interior panels, roof and interior fittings.
  • Warping and sagging of timber

Preventing Damp Issues

A major cause of rot is rising damp caused by water being absorbed through the floor bearers and into the floor. To help stop moisture entering the building we do use tanalised floor bearers so that the floor does not sit directly onto the concrete base.

Handy Tips –

  1. The type and quality of the base on which your building sites is also crucial, your concrete base must be flat to allow water to run off and prevent it from pooling. A shed sitting in puddled water will inevitably absorb water. Please see our Base Information sheet for more information.
  2. That you allow the building to vent as often as possible to enable fresh air to circulate around the building by opening and closing doors and windows on a regular basis to stop moisture from building up.
  3. Try not to store damp or wet items in your building, dry off bikes, tools etc before storing them.
  4. Siting your shed so that the prevailing airstream hits the end gable is best, and installing small vents high up on each gable wall gives a healthy throughflow of air. Make sure the vents are mesh backed to prevent bugs.
  5. If you do find mould forming remove it as quickly as possible with an anti mould cleaner before it penetrates and permanently damages the timber.
  6. Skylights or a roof vent allows hot air rising to escape and draws in cooler air from outside.
  7. For larger buildings being used as a work space, an air source heat pump will pump in cool air on hot days and warm air on cooler days keeping the temperature stable.
  8. Apply a suitable preservative to the exterior panels on installation and annually to ensure they are protected during the wettest months of the year.

What type of base do I need?

We believe that there is little substitute for a solid, flat, concrete base.

For sectional buildings the base should be ideally the exactly same size as the unit ordered, Example, if you are having the Shudio summerhouse, 12′ x 10′, the base should be ideally 12′ x 10′.

For 44mm cabins, the base should be the internal cabin size (i.e. the size ordered) +3″ or 100mm. Example, if you have 16’x10′ (internal size) log cabin, the base needs to be 16’3” x 10’3”.

For 68mm cabins, the base should be the internal cabin size (i.e. the size ordered) +5″ or 150mm. Example, if you have 16’x10′ (internal size) log cabin, the base needs to be 16’5” x 10’5”.

You should always ensure that water is not able to gather under or around the shed or log cabin, all units sit on pressure treated wooden bearers to allow ventilation under the floor, water should not be able to sit in this area.

Can I buy cheaper coming direct to the factory rather than through your agents?

No, our direct sales team have the same prices as our agents so there is no difference.

Do you provide after sales care?

Yes we do. If our customers experience any issues that are within our warranty guidelines we will visit as soon as we are able to correct the problem. To report a problem, please send an email with images to customercare@carrgardenbuildings.co.uk.

Infomation On Planning Permission

Customers should check before ordering if their building requires planning permission or building regulation compliance is required for the proposed use of the building. It is the Buyer’s responsibility to ensure that they are not going to use the building provided in a way that will breach Building Regulations.

Building Regulations are intended to apply to larger, more heavily used buildings than your typical garden shed (such as timber residential or holiday houses, commercial units etc.). However, any building installed by the Seller is done so on the understanding that the Buyer does not need to meet Building Regulations. Our sheds and cabins are sold as storage units and ot designed for residential use.

Normally, outbuildings are considered to be permitted development and it is not necessary to gain planning permission subject to the following restrictions. Every local authority is different but here are some guidelines:

No outbuilding should be in front of the front wall of the main dwelling.

Outbuildings and garages should be single storey with an eve height of 2.5m. For dual pitch (apex roof), the apex height limit is 4m. For any other type of roof, the high point should be no greater than 3m.

If the building is within 2m of a boundary wall, maximum height is 2.5m.

No more than half of the ground to the rear of the ‘original dwelling’ should be covered in a building.