Shed Repair and Refurbishment in West Kent and East Sussex

A leaking roof, a soft floor or an area of rotten timber does not necessarily mean that your whole shed needs replacing. Many well-built sheds and garden buildings can be repaired for considerably less than the cost of a new building, while retaining the parts that remain sound.

We repair and refurbish timber sheds and related garden buildings around Tunbridge Wells and across nearby parts of West Kent and East Sussex. Our work ranges from resolving one particular fault to coordinating a substantial refurbishment involving the roof, floor, walls, doors and windows.

Before recommending work, we try to understand why the problem has developed. The aim is not simply to cover the visible damage, but to make a practical repair that gives the building a worthwhile future.

Is Your Shed Worth Repairing?

A tired-looking shed can still have a sound underlying structure. Conversely, a relatively tidy building can conceal problems beneath its floor or behind its cladding. The important question is not simply how old the shed is, but which parts have deteriorated, why they have failed and how you would like to use the building in future.

Repair is often worthwhile where damage is localised. A failed roof covering, rotten floor edge, decayed bearer or damaged section of cladding can frequently be replaced without dismantling the rest of the building. If several parts have deteriorated, a coordinated refurbishment may still compare favourably with demolishing the shed, clearing the site and buying a suitable replacement.

There are also occasions when repair would not represent good value. If the roof, floor, supporting structure and several walls have all reached the end of their useful lives, replacement may be the more sensible recommendation. We will give you an honest assessment rather than assuming that every old shed should be saved or that every damaged shed should be replaced.

Shed Repair Services

Shed problems rarely fit into completely separate categories. A leaking roof may have damaged the roof boards and wall below it, while a rotten floor may have been caused by failed bearers, poor drainage or direct contact with the ground. We therefore consider the building as a whole, even where the immediate repair is limited to one area.

Leaking Shed Roofs and Roof Replacement

A shed roof can begin leaking before water becomes obvious inside. By the time damp patches or drips appear, the covering may have failed some time ago and the boards beneath it may also have started to deteriorate.

We repair leaking shed roofs, replace damaged roof boards and install new roof coverings. For many ordinary sheds, we recommend an EPDM rubber roof because it provides a durable, low-maintenance alternative to repeatedly replacing short-lived shed felt. We also work on summerhouse roofs, cedar shingles and more unusual garden-building roofs where the appearance and original character of the building are important.

Roof work may also include repairs to rafters or trims, new drip edges, wall flashings, gutters and improvements to the way rainwater is carried away. These details matter because a good roof covering will not protect the building fully if water continues to run behind the fascia, down the walls or around an adjoining structure.

EPDM on this shed in Sevenoaks will have a long life with no leaky seams or nail holes

I changed this roof structure, near Hawkhurst, from a flat felt roof to a pitched roof with metal tile effect roof sheets. This gave extra headroom and eliminated persistant leaks

Rotten Shed Floors, Bases and Bearers

A soft or springy floor is often the first indication of a problem lower down. The floor boards may be damaged, but the decay can also extend into the joists and bearers supporting them. In other cases the supporting base has settled, leaving the shed uneven and causing doors to jam or walls to distort.

Depending on the condition of the building, it may be possible to support or lift the shed while the damaged floor structure is removed. We can replace rotten boards, joists and bearers while retaining sound walls and roof sections. Where practical, we also improve the way the repaired building is supported and separated from damp ground.

A lasting floor repair must address the source of moisture. This might involve improving ventilation beneath the shed, correcting local drainage, replacing unsuitable supports or preventing timber from remaining in contact with soil or paving. We can also discuss appropriate flooring materials, including tongue-and-groove OSB3 and more moisture-resistant upgrade options.

This repair involved casting a new section of concrete base (left hand side of the picture), removing the existing decayed floor + bearers and then moving the shed about 60cm away from a fence (on the right hand side). We then reconstructed the floor + bearers and completed some frame and cladding repairs.

This summerhouse had decayed bearers and a damaged floor. We lifted the shed and removed the existing floor and repaired it. We then installed new bearers with protective plastic cradles before reinstalling the floor.

Shed Doors, Windows and Cladding

Doors, windows and cladding are the parts of a shed most exposed to weather and everyday use. Doors can swell, warp or drop on their hinges. Window frames and glazing can deteriorate. Cladding can split or decay, particularly near the ground, beside leaking gutters or where plants and stored materials prevent the timber from drying.

We repair damaged wall framing and replace individual areas of shiplap, feather-edge or other timber cladding where the surrounding material remains sound. We can also make replacement doors and windows to suit an existing opening rather than forcing a standard factory-made component into a building of a different size or character.

Localised repairs may be combined with new trims, glazing, ironmongery or protective details around vulnerable edges. Where a larger area of cladding has failed, we will consider whether it is better to replace one elevation, improve the construction behind it or incorporate the work into a wider refurbishment.

This repair required a new panel with fresh cladding and a new window

This shed required a new door after it had been broken into and the existing door damaged.

Complete Shed Refurbishment

Some buildings need more than one isolated repair. A roof leak may have affected the cladding, or a failing base may have distorted the doors and windows. Treating each symptom separately can be inefficient if the problems have a common cause.

A coordinated refurbishment might include lifting and supporting the shed, replacing the floor and bearers, repairing wall framing, renewing cladding, fitting purpose-made doors or windows and installing a new roof. Guttering, drainage, ventilation and other vulnerable details can be improved at the same time.

This approach is particularly useful for substantial sheds, workshops and well-made older buildings that would be expensive or difficult to replace. It allows us to retain sound parts, preserve the appearance and character of the building and concentrate the budget where it will make the greatest difference.

This shed is about the limit of an economic repair. It required a new front panel (with door and window), floor and roof covering.

Summerhouses, Log Cabins and Larger Garden Buildings

We also undertake repairs to summerhouses, log cabins, workshops and other substantial timber garden buildings. These structures can justify more specialised repairs because of their original cost, distinctive appearance or importance within the garden.

Log cabins require particular care because their interlocking walls move as the timber expands and contracts. Summerhouses may have decorative windows, unusual roof shapes or cedar-shingle finishes that need to be retained or carefully adapted. Larger buildings may require temporary support while decayed lower sections are repaired.

We frequently repair Malvern summerhouse, roofs, doors and windows

Interlocking log corners are a frequent repair to log cabins

Explore log cabin repairs

See an example of a summerhouse roof repair

How Our Shed Repair Service Works

1. Send Us Some Initial Information

Tell us where the building is, its approximate dimensions and what you have noticed. Photographs of the complete building, the damaged areas and the inside of the roof, floor or walls are particularly useful. You do not need to diagnose the problem yourself.

2. We Review the Likely Scope

We will consider whether the building appears repairable, whether the project is within our working area and what additional information may be needed. Some straightforward work can be initially assessed from photographs and dimensions.

3. Inspection and Quotation

For most substantial repairs and refurbishments, we will need to inspect the shed before preparing a detailed quotation. This allows us to look at the supporting structure, identify related problems and describe clearly what is included.

4. Repair and Improvement

We retain sound parts where practical, replace failed components and improve vulnerable details where this can help prevent the same problem recurring. Because we are a small business, you deal directly with the people assessing, planning and carrying out the work.

Repair, Refurbish or Replace?

A focused repair is usually appropriate when the damage is confined to one part of an otherwise sound building. Refurbishment becomes worth considering when several related elements require attention but the main structure remains useful. Replacement is generally more economical when most of the roof, floor, walls and supporting structure have failed.

Cost is important, but it is not the only consideration. An older shed may fit its site particularly well, hold valuable memories or have a weathered appearance that belongs in the garden. Repair also avoids discarding sound material unnecessarily. On the other hand, a replacement building may offer better value where your needs have changed or the existing structure has little left that is worth retaining.

Because we undertake both repairs and bespoke construction, we can consider the alternatives with you. If replacement is the better option, we can design a building around the available space, ground conditions and the way you intend to use it.

Experienced, Practical Shed Repair

Secrets of Shed Building is run by me, John Coupe, with my son Simon. My background is in civil and structural engineering, and I co-authored The Haynes Shed Manual, published in 2018. Simon plays an important role in workshop preparation and work on site.

We combine an understanding of how structures behave with practical repair and construction experience. That means looking beyond the most visible defect to consider water movement, ground support, ventilation and the way the building has been put together.

More about John, Simon and Secrets of Shed Building

Where We Work

We normally work within approximately 15-20 miles of Tunbridge Wells, covering nearby parts of West Kent, East Sussex and South London. This includes Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Wadhurst, Crowborough, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Orpington and surrounding villages across the High Weald.

We occasionally travel further for larger or particularly specialist projects. Please include the project postcode in your enquiry so that we can establish whether we are likely to be able to help before arranging a visit.

Tell Us About Your Shed

If your shed or garden building needs repairing, improving or replacing, send us the project postcode, approximate dimensions, a short description and a few photographs. We will review the information and let you know the most useful next step.

Next step:

Now you know my background and how the shed repair service works you might like to have a look at some of the projects that I have undertaken to see if they match your requirements. Example shed repair projects

I am continually coming up with new and innovative solutions so even if you don't see exactly what you need give me a call or drop me a line.