Welcome to the Trimetals Blog

Did you know that nearly 400,000 bicycles are stolen every year in the UK? That means that once every 90 seconds, a bike is taken from an unsecured shed, a front garden or from a public location.

There is no ‘might’ about it – if you don’t properly secure your bike, it will get stolen sooner or later. Here is what you can do to deter the thieves and stop your bike from becoming an easy target.

Buy a decent cycle lock (or two)

The key thing to remember about any thief is that they need to work quickly. They want to get in and get out fast, as it reduces the chance of them being caught. A weak, cheap padlock will break within seconds; if you invest in a stronger lock, though, it will take them much longer to remove it from your bike. This will make them more likely to abandon your bike and try another. [read more...]

Garden sheds can be amazingly useful for storing all kinds of things. In most, you’ll find a mix of garden furniture, bicycles, tools and toys, all kept secure and safe from the wind and rain. It’s a great way to create more room in your home and garage, and to ensure the space you have outside remains tidy.

The easiest route to shed ownership is to buy a pre-designed one from a reputable supplier, but if you want to learn how to build a shed from scratch, there are a few things you might need to consider. [read more...]

A bike can be a great investment. With more and more cars clogging up our roads, what better way to get from A-B than cycling? Benefits include fitness and cost-efficiency among so many others.

Once you’ve covered the initial purchase price, your running costs are pretty close to nothing, but with bicycle theft still rising across the UK, you’ll want to keep your new ride safe at all times. So how do you go about storing it at home?

You have a few bike storage options, each with their own pros and cons, so let’s get down to comparing them. [read more...]

Here at Trimetals, we’re constantly on the lookout for inspiration when it comes to producing our next high quality metal product. And like most of you, we also often find ourselves sat raptly in front of the television some evening. Inevitably, there’s been a degree of crossover in these activities, with many gardening shows proving informative and inspirational when it comes to determining he design and functionality of future Trimetals stock.

We’ve compiled a list below of our top 10 UK gardening TV shows; many have offered us some great ideas, or reinforced some of our existing thoughts. Some we just enjoyed! [read more...]

There are a number of ways to store gas cylinders but this article concentrates on enclosed stores used predominantly by mobile home sites and industry.

Storage of gas bottles within an external housing – to prevent tampering, theft, or for aesthetic reasons – presents a number of important considerations.

Metal storage perfect for gas bottles

Obviously, the materials used to construct the store must be fire resistant. Therefore, wood or plastic stores are not permitted.

Concrete, brick or metal are all suitable materials, with most manufacturers using metal as it can be prefabricated then flat packed and built up fast and easily on-site. [read more...]

If your home has a smaller garden than most, you can find your options for a shed or storage unit are considerably limited.

This needn’t be a lasting problem however, as we stock a wide range of high quality metal garden storage options at Trimetals. No matter what your specific storage needs, we are confident that we have the solution.

In order to help you make the optimum choice when it comes to locating the ideal garden storage product, we have taken a look at some specific categories of garden storage, and recommended the best options within those categories for smaller gardens. [read more...]

We’re passionate about all of the products we sell at Trimetals, from our range of superior quality metal sheds and garages to our Police Approved cycle storage units and new range of Patio / Decking boxes.

However we are really excited about the new Guardian storage cabinet, it is the first product we have sold which is not manufactured by ourselves.

Cycling is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, it is now also a very popular pastime to help keep healthy and a viable method of transport for commuting (especially in cities such as London where there has recently been a huge investment to promote the benefits of cycling).

People are also spending considerably more on their cycle and equipment and many dedicated cyclists often own more than one bike, maybe a road bike, mountain bike and possibly also a hybrid.

Unfortunately, cycles (unless they are the clever foldable versions) are not that easy to store, they take up a fair amount of space and if used regularly must be kept accessible i.e. they cannot be placed at the back of a crowded garage. [read more...]

Here at Trimetals, we’re proud to unveil the latest product in our comprehensive selection of garden storage options; the garden patio box “Protect•a•Box” range.

Coming in two different size options, this new range of metal garden storage solutions has been manufactured with a focus on design as much as storage capability; the Protect•a•Box is about adding as much value and function to your garden as possible, on top of being a secure and protective storage space for garden tools and accessories. [read more...]

Of all the items that can be stolen from an individual’s property, gardening tools and equipment are perhaps the easiest for prospective thieves to take. They generally offer a good level of value to thieves, with minimal risk involved in the act of theft, especially when compared to items of comparative worth that are contained within your house.

To counter this risk, we’ve collected some useful tips on how to best protect your garden, along with the tools and equipment stored within, from thieves. [read more...]

Purchasing a shed can be a great way to add much needed storage space to your living quarters. However, choosing which type of shed to use can be a difficult and confusing decision.

We’ve listed the pros and cons of each type of material to help you find which shed is best for you.

Wooden Sheds

A wooden shed is the most traditional of the three and can be customised to create a very specific size or shape.  They can be painted any colour to match your house or surroundings, and they can easily be dressed up with unique features such as trellising  or window flower boxes. [read more...]

Anyone who owns a shed knows these are not just places to store tools and equipment – they are part of our homes and used for a variety of different purposes. Having said that, I was quite sceptical when I heard about one man’s shed. Apparently, it contained a perfect recreation of the Titanic’s interior.

Ok, that’s not entirely true. Obviously, he hasn’t constructed a bridge, cargo deck, passenger quarters etc, but his recreation of the historic ship has certainly raised one or two eyebrows. Rather cynically, I logged onto the Derby Telegraph to find out more. [read more...]

We are pleased to be working alongside Thames Valley Police to keep bicycles safe and secure with the Trimetals Protect a Cycles Pro range.

The Thames Valley force has installed Trimetals cycle stores at the new neighbourhood police office in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. When the station was relocated from a site which had a structural garage, to a new facility where space was more limited, secure cycle storage became a must-have. In terms of security, Protect a Cycle Pro simply cannot be bettered. [read more...]

With the rate at which everyone accumulates possessions seeming to increase exponentially, it’s fair to say that in today’s world, space is at a premium.

This is no different in the garden, as space can quickly be eaten up by large equipment (lawnmowers, hedge trimmers), garden furniture (lounge chairs, picnic tables) and sporting equipment (football nets, bikes).

One of the most obvious (and certainly most effective) fixes for a cluttered garden is to store the offending items in some form of garden storage solution. [read more...]

A Garden Shed is an important feature in any garden, allowing for a wide range of potential uses. Many people use their sheds for the all weather storage of outdoors tools and equipment, from lawn mowers to power saws. Other more green fingered shed owners will utilise their garden sheds for the potting of plants, and to store their various gardening tools and implements. The sky really is the limit in terms of utility; but new shed owners quickly find that their shed becomes an integral feature of their garden. [read more...]

National Shed Week is our favourite time of year – a time when enthusiasts and fans of everything shed-related come together and celebrate the wonders of these little huts.

Sponsored by wood care solutions company Cuprinol, National Shed Week has been running for the last eight years and has gathered quite a following. Consequently, it seems likely that this event will be continuing for some time.

However, those who are new to gardening or don’t own a shed might question the merits of such a celebration. After all, aren’t these huts just part and parcel of any house? [read more...]

Storage space is always a problem no matter how large your house. However, it is even more of a consideration when you own a mobile home or a static caravan, where owners consider new purchases in terms of “where will we put it?” rather than “do we really need it.”

This is especially true of more bulky items, it’s great to have a barbeque set for those long summer evenings outside, bicycles for exploring into the countryside, fishing rods to relax next to the local river or lake, outdoor chairs and tables; the list goes on – but where do you store them? [read more...]

Storage is a common problem for schools. With many staff and pupils all in the same place, there is always a huge amount of equipment that needs to be put somewhere. Schools are often restricted on space, so smart solutions are hard to come by and much needed. Whether it’s in the class room for children’s work or outside for the caretakers, you have to think smart for effective storage.

Storage for School Groundskeepers

For any school, keeping the grounds and sports fields in good shape and ready for any matches take a lot of time. It also usually involves some sizeable items of grounds keeping equipment as well. Kit including lawn mowers, line marking equipment and sprinkler systems are expensive and often represent a considerable investment for a school, so secure storage is a must-have. On top of that, it’s heavy and difficult to move around, so having it stored close to the areas it will be used is another essential. [read more...]

No plans for the weekend? Visit the RHS Flower Show, Tatton Park.

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park has a fresh and vibrant feel, bursting with sizzling colour and summer perfumes. Seize the last chance of the season to pick-up expert advice, shop for all your gardening needs and enjoy top class dining at this spectacular summer finale.

Wednesday 20^th July – Sunday 24^th July 2011. Buy on the day, £28.00 for non members

www.rhs.co.uk