Sheds & Bases · Reading, Berkshire
Sheds & Bases, properly built - for Reading homes.
A small, family-run team building sheds and bases across Reading and the surrounding Berkshire postcodes. Same crew on site every day, work that's meant to age well.
Workshop in GU15 - close to Reading
Same team on site every day
10+ years across Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire
Typical book-in is two to four weeks; build one to three days on site.
What we mean by sheds & bases
The bit beneath the surface.
Half the sheds we're called to look at have nothing wrong with the shed - the base failed. Concrete pads laid too thin, paving slabs on unprepared ground, timber bearers rotting against soil. Get the base right and a good shed lasts twenty years.
Bases sized to the building
Concrete pad, paving on a proper sub-base or pressure-treated bearer grid - each chosen for the building and the ground beneath it. Level, drained, ventilated.
Weather-tight builds
Roofs felted or EPDM-membraned properly, eaves detailed to throw water clear, doors hung so they still close in February.
One trade, base to handover
Ground prep, base, build and surrounding tidying by us. No co-ordination gap between groundworker and shed supplier.
Why this works in Reading
Locally tuned, not location-swapped.
What we build for Reading gardens isn't generic sheds & bases - the materials, the falls and the finish are tuned to the houses we see across the area.
Older Reading suburbs often have long, narrow gardens with original boundary walls. We design with the proportions in mind - wider terraces close to the house, planted zones, and a quiet end-of-garden destination.
- Long narrow proportions - Zoned layouts with planting screens make a long garden feel larger and more interesting than a single open run.
- Limited rear access - Barrowed materials, careful route protection through the house when needed, and a tidy site throughout.
- Mixed Victorian boundary walls - Protected during dig, repaired where they need it; the existing fabric is usually worth keeping.
Recent sheds & bases
A few from in and around Reading.
Hand-picked from recent projects across Berkshire. Same approach, different gardens.
How we build it
The detail, in plain numbers.
Concrete pad
100mm C20 over 100mm Type 1, polythene DPM
Paving base
Type 1 to 100mm, slabs on full mortar bed
Bearer grid
C24 treated, levelled on plastic shims, ventilated
Roof
Felted shingles or EPDM with proper drips
BudgetMost shed bases sit between £900 and £3,500 depending on size and ground prep; supply-and-fit jobs add the building cost on top.
TimingTypical book-in is two to four weeks; build one to three days on site.
Common questions
What Reading clients usually ask about sheds & bases.
How long does a base take to lay?+
Most bases run one to three days, depending on size and ground prep. Concrete pads add a day for the cure before the shed goes on top.
Can you supply the shed too, or do you just lay the base?+
Both work. We're happy to supply and build a quality shed from one of two or three suppliers we trust, or we'll prep the base ready for a building you've already chosen.
Will the base need planning permission?+
For most family gardens, no - sheds under 2.5m at the eaves and within size limits sit under permitted development. We'll flag any exceptions on the first visit.
Will the shed stay dry on our wetter Blackwater-side plot?+
Yes, if the base is detailed for it. We raise the bearer line above wet ground, ventilate the perimeter and detail the roof properly. Most damp sheds we're called to fix are damp because the base wasn't designed for the conditions.
Other work in Reading
Same team, different parts of the garden.
Nearby
Sheds & Bases in nearby areas.
Reading · Berkshire
Start a conversation about your Reading garden.
A short WhatsApp with a photo or two is the easiest way to start. Same-day reply, often within the hour.