Need Extra Living Space?

If you’re looking for an extra living space in your home, a garden room could be the perfect solution. Garden rooms offer a variety of benefits, from providing a tranquil retreat to creating a functional office space. Here are some of the reasons why you might consider installing a garden room:

1. Create a peaceful haven: Garden rooms provide a quiet and comfortable space to relax and unwind. Whether you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life or just need a place to escape to, a garden room can be the perfect sanctuary.

2. Increase your living space: A garden room can be used for a variety of purposes, from an extra guest bedroom to a home office. Having extra living space can be crucial in a busy household and can help you to make the most of your home.

3. Enjoy the outdoors: Garden rooms provide the perfect opportunity to bring the outdoors in. With large windows and doors, you can enjoy the view of your garden while still being protected from the elements.

4. Add value to your home: Garden rooms are a great way to add value to your home. They’re a great selling point and can help you to get a higher price if you ever decide to sell.

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat or an extra living space, a garden room could be the perfect solution. With a variety of benefits, it’s easy to see why garden rooms are becoming increasingly popular.

New To Taylors This Week!

We have listed some exciting new products on Taylors this week!

To compliment our range of Arbours and Gazebos we have added three new models from one of our most popular manufacturers – Rowlinson.

The Britannia Arbour

The Britannia Arbour

First up we have the Britannia  which, as we are sure you will agree, is a most attractive arbour and sure to make a stunning centrepiece to aby garden it is placed in. It is maufactured with quality FSC softwood and comes inclusive of comprehensive instructions and all necessary fittings. This arbour has been designed to be assembled easily by 2 people and will bring you many years of happy trouble free service.

The Bramble Arbour

The Bramble Arbour

Our second new product is the Bramble. This sturdy arbour is from the same collection as the Britannia and like its sibling comes with instructions and all the fittings that are required to build it. The side panels are half tongue and groove / half lattice with a pleasing octagonal motif and the seat is specially shaped for added comfort.

Buckingham Gazebo

Buckingham Gazebo

Our third new recruit is the Buckingham Gazebo, this is an eight sided structure which is ideal to fit a furniture set underneath if you fancy some outdoor dining. The half trellis panels are pressure treated against rot as is the floor which comes as standard with this model.

There are lots more brand new products coming every week so watch this space!!

Love Is In The Air……

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August is  “National Romance Awareness Month”.

Most people are romantic at heart even if they refuse to acknowledge it, this applies to a lot of our customers too going by some of the items they have bought over the past few months!

This week we thought we would have a run through some of our most popular products which have been designed with romance in mind. You might even find something to ignite your passionate side – who knows!?

First up is our Paris Loveseat.

The Paris Love Seat

The Paris Love Seat

The French capital is of course considered by many to be one of the most romantic places in Europe with its countless restaurants and art galleries. In fact a recent poll showed that the top of the Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular places to propose marriage  in the whole world!   All of this should spring to mind when you and a partner are relaxing in this attractive seat, it has a laid back style for optimum comfort and both seats are connected by a central table – just right for a nice bottle of red wine and a couple of glasses.

Along similar lines to the Paris is our Emily Love Seat.

The Emily Love Seat

The Emily Love Seat

This outstanding model is manufactured with FSC certified wood  and has a ten year guarantee against rot. This seat also has a central table for drinks, flowers or books but the seats are angled slightly toward each other, which of course can encourage coversation between its occupants.

Another variation on this design is the Frecan.

Frecan Wicker Love Seat

Frecan Wicker Love Seat

This double seater is made with wicker and includes soft grey cushions in the price (one per seat). The construction of this seat is very light which is ideal if you wish to move this seat around at different times of the day (to either sit in the sun or avoid it). The seat is finished in an anthracite grey colour and is completely water proof, frost proof and tear resistant.

The Poseidon Swing Seat is a more traditional spin in our romantic thread.

Poseidon Garden Swing Seat

Poseidon Garden Swing Seat

This delightful two seater is manufactured from high quality planed timber sourced from managed forests. As the name suggests, the seat on this product swings backwards and forwards which in itself is very relaxing. The Poseidon also has solid roof sections which can provide a little  shelter while strengthening the structure of the seat further. Did we mention that it is also on special offer!? save £30 until the end of August!

Another avenue worth exploring could be the trusty picnic  blanket which is ideal for day trips or a surprise soirée at the park or by the seaside.

The Molly All Purpose Blanket

The Molly All Purpose Blanket

This is waterproof thanks to its coated underside and has insulated padding made from 200g/m2 hollow fibre and a cuddly flannel surface.This blanket features practical clips for ease of transportation and, thanks to a zip, the headpiece can be converted in to an extra cushion.

So there you go! Romance is the theme this month so why not treat yourself and your partner to one of our romantic, lazy day items and enjoy the lovely weather while we still have it!

National Romance Awareness Month!

National Romance Awareness Month!

It All Starts With The Base

One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a new shed is the base on which it is going to stand. Without a decent base at its foundation your shed, summerhouse or garage is at serious risk of developing major structural faults, pretty much as soon as it has been built.

Without a sturdy level base underneath your building will start to lose its shape and develop large cracks and gaps which, besides being unsightly,  jeopardize its weatherproofing and in a worst case scenario can lead to the building collapsing.

This is due to the nature of  the construction which means that as soon as the building has been completed it gradually snuggles itself in to its new surroundings and settles wonkydown. Without a level base it will settle at an odd angle which is where the gaps will start to appear and doors will stop opening properly etc. This also applies to the strength of the base too, even the smallest 6×4 wooden shed has a considerable weight to it and it is essential to use materials in the base that can take the weight of the job, if the base is not strong enough you will again see gaps and jammed windows galore!

We always recommend either a concrete base or paving slabs.  By using one of these you can be confident that your building will remain in shape, be weatherproof and give you many years of trouble free service!

Here is a quick guide on how to lay these two different bases to give you an idea of the job involved and whether you can do it yourself (with someone to help of course) or use an outside party such as a landscape gardener.

For a concrete base you need the following;

  • Building Sand
  • Cement
  • Hardcore
  • Timber
  • Tape Measure
  • Pegs & String
  • Hardcore

Once you’ve picked your location, measure out an area that is 5cm larger than your building on all sides. Remove any vegetation from this area and dig down 6 inches (or less if you want the base to be raised above ground level).

 

building-shed-base

For the cement to take shape  you will need to measure and cut a timber framework to line the edges. Ensure that this is sitting perfectly flat on the ground and flatten out the entire surface using a spade and rake. Next put down a 3 inch layer of hardcore,  covering generously with sand.

 

 

For the concrete you can either mix 1 part cement to 5 parts ballast, or use a pre made dry concrete mix.

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  • Slowly add water to the mixture, ensuring that it does not become too sloppy.
  • Spread the concrete evenly into the framework, filling to slightly above the timber.
  • Use another long piece of timber to level off the cement, rest the wood against the framework and move across it in a slow sawing motion to level out all of the concrete.
  • If wet weather is likely cover the base with plastic or tarpaulin for 24 hours.
  • In particularly hot or dry conditions covering with damp sacks and topping up with water occasionally can prevent your base from cracking as it dries.

If you decide to build your shed base using paving slabs instead you’ll need:

  • Flat Face Paving Slabs
  • Building sand
  • Standard cement
  • Rake
  • Standard cement
  • Tape measure
  • Spade
  • Standard cement
  • Pegs and string
  • Rubber mallet

Choose your location carefully and measure out the area for your base as outlined above in the concrete base guide. Dig down to the required depth (about  2.5cm, but differing depending on the thickness of your paving slabs and whether you want a level or raised base).

Next combine one part cement with eight parts building sand to make a dry mixture. this needs to be spread evenly across the base area (about 4cm deep)  and levelled out with a rake. Working out from a corner lay each slab and tap into position using your  mallet, whilst regularly checking the flatness with a spirit level to ensure all slabs are in line with each other.

Installation of paving slabs

Do one last check with a long straight edge, making any adjustments to ensure a perfectly level surface, and brush away any excess sand or cement.

Starting out with a solid, level base will make things much easier when it comes to building your shed, and will protect the building from damp or muddy conditions. Even for relatively simple projects like this it’s vital that you choose the best selection of tools and materials. Our expert advice and comprehensive range of products will save time and ensure that your project runs smoothly.

By using the above as a guide you should be able to successfully create your base and be confident that it is adequate for your buildings needs. However, if DIY is not really your strong point we strongly recommend getting someone in to do the job for you – by doing this you are not only guaranteeing a professional finish but you are also supporting local businesses!

Base instructions were sourced from another website

10th July Is National Teddy Bear Picnic Day!

10th July 2015 is officially “National Teddy Bears Picnic Day” and while we don’t sell much in the way of actual teddy bears we do have a nice range of Picnic Tables available.

The weather recently has been absolutely spot on for outdoor activities and looks to be remaining that way for a little while longer before the nights start to draw back in . This means of course that there is still time to grab yourself a bargain or two from Taylors and get some use out of it before the colder weather starts to appear!

We have a good selection of picnic tables for sale on our site and have models from the more traditional four seater type with built in bench seat to smaller versions in bright colours for your little ones (it is teddy bears picnic day after all!). In addition to that of course we also have a range of benches, we will take a quick look at one of these first..

Solid Garden Bench

Our most popular bench!

Without a doubt our most popular  bench is the Solid Garden Bench which is manufactured with slow-grown northern pine. This bench is a very sturdy model which is built to last  and has attractive finishings including a stylish leg design with smooth rounded timber. With a length of 5’11 (1.8m) and width of 1’10 (0.55m) this is sure to give many years of comfortable and trouble free  use in your garden.

Hardwood Junior Picnic Table

A colourful option for children

As I said we have a nice range of picnic tables to choose from with something for everyone of all ages, a popular one that we sell is the Hardwood Junior model which has a traditional look to it with a twist. It is designed to resemble the familiar 4 seater / built in benches variation that you often see in parks but as well as being a mini version for children it is also painted in bright cheerful colours which are very eye catching.

Children's Circular Picnic Table

Circular with 4 seats

If you are after another colourful bench for your kids how about our  Children’s Circular Picnic Table? Again with colourful built in seats, this model is circular with a brown table and is particularly handy if space might be at a premium.

Alice Children's Picnic Table

Seats 4 – 6 children

If the bright colours of those two might not fit in to your garden we also have a more traditional childrens version that is a natural wood colour, this model is called the Alice and seats 4 – 6.

Hardwood Picnic Table 210

For a large group.

For the grown-ups amongst us a popular picnic table is our Hardwood range. There are 4 sizes available in this collection ranging from the smallest at 160cm (5’3) in length up to the largest which measures in at 210cm (6’9). as the name suggests, these are manufactured in strong solid hardwood with sturdy 35mm planking. This table is suitable for use all year round and is sure to bring you many summers dining in the sunshine.

Superior Pine Picnic Table

Measures 3m in length!

The Superior Pine Picnic Table is another model we sell which has proven to be very popular, this beast of a table measures in at 3m in length (9’8) and has the added bonus of foldable seats. Due to its size, this table would be very handy for a large family or for a household that likes to throw parties and barbecues.

The Katie 80cm Round Picnic Table

Can be easily stored away

Of course, not everyone has a huge garden at their disposal (myself included!) so there isalso a nice smaller size selection  including some very stylish round models such as the Katie 80cm which can be stored away when not in use.

Picknick Easy Set

Easy to store away

Another worthy option is the Picknick Easy Set, this model has benches which are not fixed to the main table which allows you to be more flexible with the seating arrangements and as an added benefit the whole set can be folded away for easier storage. This model would be very good for people who like to go camping!

Take a look at our whole range!  A picnic table set is a highly attractive and functional addition to any garden and with so many sizes, colours and shapes available there is bound to be something for every style of garden in England!

Happy Teddy Bears Picnic Day!!

Garden and Outdoor Play

Happy Teddy Bears Picnic Day!

Hot Summer Days

Hot Summer Days

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Gorgeous Sunny Weather

Today is the 1st of July, according to news articles on the TV and internet it is set to be the hottest day so far this year notching up a glorious 30°!

 

 

 

We are sure may of our customers will be outside today enjoying the lovely warm weather and soaking up a few rays, many of them will undoubtedly be using their benches and patio furniture that they have bought from us in the past few months.

 

Outdoor Sports and Games

Outdoor Sports and Games

Today would be a good day for some outdoor fun too! How about a game of Dominoes or Snakes and Ladders? We have these and other popular games especially designed for use outside complete with extra large pieces and playing boards. Of course we also have a  more traditional range of playthings available – croquet anyone?

 

 

Stainless Steel 6 Burner Gas Barbeque

Stainless Steel 6 Burner Gas Barbeque

Barbecuing is another popular outdoor activity in the warm Summer months as all our wannabe Jamies and Nigellas fire up and knock out burgers, steaks and jacket potatoes. The range of barbecues and accessories on offer on our site is considerable with a whole plethora of different items available with everything from top of the range gas barbecues to toasting forks!

 

 

I’m  not going to keep you any longer!

Whenever we get a day as wonderful as this we need to take advantage of it so get out there and enjoy yourselves but please remember to take precautions and slap on some sun cream first!

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Slap It On

 

Not Just For Grown-ups……

It’s not just the grown-ups who can find something at Taylors.

As well as a vast range of Summerhouses, Sheds, Garages and Storage Solutions we also have a range of Playhouses, Games and Vehicles for your little ones. It may well be the ideal time to start looking for something for the summer to keep your little ones amused, especially as the dreaded summer holidays are rapidly approaching!

My KIngdom

My kingdom

One of my favourite things when I was little was my wendy house, it was  very flimsy looking back (it was basically just a push together plastic framework affair with a cover over the top). It wasn’t the grandest of houses but it did have a plastic window and pair of flaps acting as a doorway (it was very similar to the one pictured on the right except mine was vinyl – with the added luxury of a real chimney I might add!). I loved it and spent a lot of time in it with my action figures recreating key scenes from the latest Doctor Who episode or Star Wars movie (that little yellow house was everything from the TARDIS to Jabbas Palace on the inside at various times!).

How times have changed!

We have “Wendy” houses on our site but long gone is the need to weigh them down with rocks and stones on a windy day, also long gone is that searing temperature inside that shot up in the summertime as the hot sun penetrated the plastic covering. The houses available nowadays are often made of wood and have all the luxuries such as real doors and windows, felt roofing and even, in some cases, stairways leading up to a second level (oh to be a child again!).

Swiss Cottage Playhouse

Swiss Cottage Playhouse

We have many Playhouses available on our site starting from as little as £200, we have designs that range from the classic apex style with forward facing window and door all the way up to Swiss Cottages and Dutch Barns. Many of our playhouses can be painted a colour of your choice (quite often more than one colour if need be). We have playhouses that are raised up on a platform with balustrades and ladders which provide safety and are ideal for wannabe pirates or space invaders!

The Jailhouse 8x8

The Jailhouse 8×8

We have a very nice range of Ready Built Playhouses which are very popular, for a set price you can have your building delivered and installed all in one go (depending on your location). This takes all the stress out of frantically trying to build the house while being hassled by a mini Darth Vader who is desperate to get inside his new kingdom to plot universal domination!

These buildings are long lasting , durable and guaranteed to give many years of fun and excitement for your children. Buying one of these can be  a real investment but not just in financial terms, money can increase and decrease in value all the time.

Childhood memories? They are always priceless!!

Childhood memories

Childhood memories

The Lotus Metal Shed Range

Our popular Lotus Metal Shed Range is enjoying healthy sales and continual positive feedback from our customers, both new and returning. With Spring now finally on our doorsteps and the likelihood of better weather on it’s way we have decided to give more of our customers the opportunity to own one of these magnificent buildings by introducing our new “pre-easter” special offer.
These buildings are perfect for storage of garden machinery and implements as well as deck chairs and cushions, maybe even bicycles – the list is endless!

Features of this fantastic range include the following;

  • Ventilated gables
  • .3mm hot dipped galvanised steel
  • Straight forward assembly
  • Solid heavy gauge galvanised steel frame and base rails

Solid heavy gauge galvanised steel frame and base rails

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Padlockable Steel Door Handles

This special price is running until April 1st 2015, get yours while you can!

Lifetime Dual Entrance Storage Shed

Introducing the brand new all singing all dancing Lifetime 10x8ft dual entrance storage shed!

This fabulous new 10-foot wide Outdoor Storage Shed has several innovative features, including skylights to maximize natural lighting. They also include single-hinged double doors that open nearly 180 degrees, a slip-resistant polyethylene floor and low-maintenance, steel-reinforced construction.

Dimensions
  • Nominal size 10×8
  • Roof size 305x243cm
  • Base size 295x234cm
  • Overall height 244cm
  • Wall height 180cm
  • Weight 232kg
Standard features
  • 2 large skylights
  • 4 small skylights
  • 2 windows
  • HDPE floor

Condensation In Metal Sheds – advice from one of our top manufacturers

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Metal Garden Sheds are an incredibly popular alternative to traditional timber sheds and outdoor buildings, they are more weather resistant, secure, fire retardant and virtually maintenance free. Although metal sheds suffer from very few of the labour intensive problems associated with other types of shed, they can sometimes be affected by the condition of their surroundings. In a word ‘condensation’!

A high quality metal shed will incorporate design features like ventilation, which should avoid the issue of condensation, however occasionally dampness can be caused by external sources. If there is any moisture in the foundations, the warmer air inside the shed will rise and settle on the cold metal panels. The damp will then condense and drip down, creating a cycle, and once this process is established it is not terribly easy to halt, making prevention rather than cure, a better idea. If you have yet to create the foundation for your metal shed, there are few rules to ensure that condensation never raises its ugly head.

Make your base whether concrete or slab, a few inches larger than the base rail of the shed,

then:-

  • Place a damp-proof membrane into the foundations at least two inches higher than ground level.
  • Ensure that the newly laid foundations of your shed are allowed to cure for around 3-7 days, or longer if conditions are damp. This will avoid creating possible water related problems caused by insufficiently dried concrete.
  • When ready, bolt down your shed to the base and apply a silicone or mastic sealant to the inside shed base rails. By applying this to the inside you will facilitate trouble free drainage, while preventing water seepage into the shed.

If you have already constructed your metal shed and base and are currently faced with the problem of condensation, there are still ways of tackling this.

  • Remove your shed from its base and place a timber floor which is a few inches larger than the shed base measurements on raised bearers.
  • Secure the shed to the wooden floor using wood screws, and mastic seal the inside base rails of the shed.
  • Ensure regularly that water cannot stop ventilation by collecting underneath the floor.

Alternatively:-

  • Wait for a nice warm day, and begin by wiping down the underside of the roof panels with methylated spirits.
  • When dry attach polystyrene tiles to the underside with spray glue which is designed to bond polystyrene to metal and is impervious to heat and cold.
  • This insulation cannot eradicate moisture within your shed, however condensation should no longer be an issue.

This blog was originally published on one of our manufacturers pages, with years of experience behind them we are more than confident in sharing their tips and advice.