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Security and the wooden garden shed
Sheds used as outdoor storage are unfortunately often going to be the target of break ins.
There are several features in the way they are built that can help to protect against this and it is well worth researching different types of sheds with this in mind.
The prebuilt modular design of a garden shed is focused primarily on ease of transport and installation rather than security; it arrived on the back of a lorry so, in theory, could also be taken away on the back of a lorry! Generally, the criminals are good enough to leave the actual building but it is the contents that disappear.
Security in a shed has the same rules as security in a house: make it as hard as possible to get in.
Walls
These need to be as strong as possible, metal or if wooden have a plywood core. Plywood is a laminated timber sheet and very hard to just bash your way through. Ensure the walls are mechanically (screwed) fixed to the base. Nails and staples are normally used in shed construction due to the ease of putting them in with an air gun, but are very easy to lever out. But a screw actually ties the two pieces together and cannot be easily levered out.
Windows
If you have opening windows, put security catches on as you would in a house. If they are non-opening then ensure that the glass cannot be removed from the front, again it is surprising how often this is the case. If you are having difficulty doing this, a good tip is to fix it with clear silicon. This provides a good seal and has an adhesive effect.
Roof
The roof needs to be firmly fixed to the top of the walls. It is often the case that when fitted the roof slots over the walls and is perfectly able to withstand wind and weather. However, a crow bar gives a very different set of forces and it is very surprising how many shed roofs you can just push up, even if there is no evidence of damp. Ensure your roof is screwed to the walls from the inside along the eaves.
Door
This is the main point of access. Obviously it must open, but you need to ensure that it locks. A mortice lock rather than a surface mounted lock, or often just a thumb turn lock, is always better and a 5 lever is the lowest level of security that would be sensible. 3 lever locks are often used and very easy to pick. If the door is a bit flimsy, fix an additional metal security bar across it and fit a heavy duty padlock, again a 5 lever. Remember to use security screws in all outside fixing points.
Summary
- The walls and floor of the shed should be attached together, so the shed cannot be easily lifted off its base
- Strong Walls are more resistant to break ins
- Shed doors do not have to be flimsy, why not build them as you would except to find in a house with a 5-lever mortice lock
- Windows can be glazed in polycarbonate, which is significantly harder to break than glass.
- Add window locks to the window stays or choose non-opening windows or even a shed with no windows at all!