Shed assembly service
Garden shed installation and assembly in Colchester
We build flat-pack garden sheds, including Dunster House bike, potting and alleyway sheds, for homes in Colchester and across North Essex and South Suffolk. We can lay a level base, build the shed to Dunster House's instructions and fit the roof covering.
- Based in Colchester, covering North Essex and South Suffolk
- Base, build and finishing from one local team
- Built to Dunster House's published instructions
- Free, no-obligation quotes
Why a pre-cut shed kit still needs two people
Dunster House's garden sheds page says "All wood is planed, pre-cut and pre-notched". Even so, clause 14.1 of Dunster House's terms expects "Competent DIY assembly by two or more adults". Walls need holding square while they are fixed, and the roof goes on at height.
With a willing helper and a level base, you may well manage it yourself. Our shed assembly service is for when one of those is missing, or you would rather hand the job over.
From the driveway to a tight side passage
Dunster House's help centre page on delivery explains that the kit arrives "to the first point of contact at the front of your property e.g. on your driveway", no more than 20m from the delivery vehicle. The same page adds: "We will not carry items through a back gate, garage, house".
On a terraced street in Colchester or Ipswich, the route to the garden may be a narrow side passage or a shared alley. For an alleyway shed, every wall panel and roof board has to come through the side gate and past the bins. Measure the gate and the narrowest point, and send us photos of the route with your enquiry so we can take access into account when we quote.
A level shed base and a felt roof fitted to the instructions
A shed on uneven ground can twist out of square, and the door may start to catch. We prepare and lay concrete or paving-slab bases, or lay a RapidGrid base if you ordered one with your shed. Our garden building bases page compares the choices.
Dunster House's garden sheds page lists "FREE Superfelt" on its sheds. We fit the felt as the instructions show, with the overlaps and edges fixed down. If you bought shingles or EPDM as an upgrade, we fit that instead.
Paint and a path to your shed door
Painting and decorating is one of our services, so once the shed is up we can paint it in the colour you choose. Landscaping is another, so we can also lay a paved path from the house to the shed door.
How it works
- Tell us about the shed and the route Send the model and delivery date, plus photos of where the shed will stand and the way through from the front.
- Count the parts Go through every panel and fixing against the component list. Dunster House's terms say anything missing or damaged must be reported "within 2 calendar days from receipt of delivery". We can check it alongside you.
- Free quote, then a date Once the parts are checked, we send a free, no-obligation quote and agree a build date.
- Base and build We lay the base, then build the shed to Dunster House's instructions.
- Roof, door and handover We fit the roof, check the door shuts without catching and walk round it with you.
Garden buildings, bases and timber work we have built
Real photos from our own jobs around Colchester. See more in the project gallery.
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Garden building, Coggeshall -
Base preparation, Lexden -
Timber canopy with trellis, Lexden -
Raised deck with balustrade, Witham
Questions we are often asked
Can you build a potting, bike or alleyway shed?
Yes. Each type has its own instructions, and we build to the ones for the shed you ordered, whether that is an Overlord potting shed, a bike shed or an alleyway shed.
Does a Dunster House shed need treating?
Dunster House's garden sheds page describes them as "Pressure treated, NOT dip treated". Dunster House's help centre says that with its pressure treated products "you will not need any timber treatment", and asks owners to "annually coat the wood with a clear water-repellent as soon as possible after constructing". If a board has to be cut, Dunster House's guarantees page says to apply Ensele end grain wood preservative to the cut surface, and its 10-year timber guarantee depends on correct installation.
Can a bike shed go in my front garden?
The Planning Portal's permitted development rules say "No outbuilding on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation". On designated land, such as a conservation area, it says buildings at the side of a property need planning permission. Rules depend on your property, so check with Colchester City Council, Ipswich Borough Council or Tendring District Council first.
What should I do with the packaging?
Keep it until the build. Dunster House's terms say the packaging "is likely to help with protecting stored parts" until the product is fully installed. The same terms say packaging "must be disposed of by the customer", so plan how you will get rid of it after build day.
What should I sort out before build day?
Check every part against the component list, clear the spot, and move anything that blocks the route from the driveway, such as bins or bikes. If you would like the shed painted, mention it when you ask for a quote.
Other garden buildings we build
Tell us what you have bought
Send us the model name and size, your delivery date and a photo of where it will go. We will come back to you with a free, no-obligation quote for Colchester, North Essex & South Suffolk.
Independent installer. McKenzie Property Renovations Limited is an independent building contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of Dunster House Ltd. "Dunster House" and product names are used only to describe the products we build and remain the property of their owner.
Information about Dunster House is quoted from its own help centre and terms, and planning guidance from the Planning Portal, checked 27 September 2026.
