Every BES shed starts from the same foundation - quality framing, proper construction, and a finish that holds up to Ontario conditions. What separates one model from another is the roofline, the exterior profile, the details on the front elevation, and what each one is best suited for.
If you are trying to figure out which shed fits your backyard, this guide breaks down each model in plain terms.
Two questions narrow the decision quickly. First, what do you need the shed to do - pure storage, pool equipment, a more visible feature in the backyard? Second, what does your house look like - is it contemporary, traditional, suburban? A shed that clashes with the house draws attention for the wrong reasons. One that complements it disappears into the property in the best possible way.
Size is a separate decision. Most BES sheds are available in multiple sizes, so the model choice is about design and use, not just footprint.
The Essential is the most straightforward shed in the lineup. Steel siding on three sides, a finished pine front wall, a low-slope roof with proper overhang, and a pressure-treated subfloor. It is built like an exterior wall - structural backing behind the cladding -- rather than a panel shed with thin walls fastened to a basic frame.
The result is a shed that looks considered rather than generic, holds up through Ontario winters without ongoing maintenance, and can be re-sided later if you want to change the exterior finish.
The Essential works on almost any property. It is the right call when storage is the priority and you want a shed that looks good without making a statement.
Best for: general storage, lawn equipment, bikes, seasonal items, pool equipment. Buyers who want clean and practical without a lot of fuss.
The Advanced starts with the same structure as the Essential and adds the two details that change the whole look of the front elevation: a bold roof overhang and frosted transom windows above the door. Those two things shift the shed from practical to architectural.
The extended overhang gives the Advanced a stronger roofline that reads well from across the yard. The transom windows bring light into the front of the shed and give the facade a finished look that plain shed doors do not. It is a wooden garden shed at its core, with a presence that earns its place in a well-designed backyard.
Best for: homeowners who want storage with more visual presence, properties where the shed is visible from the house or patio, buyers who care about how the shed looks from the outside.
The Cube has a flat roof profile and a sharp, squared-off form that reads differently from any other shed in the lineup. Steel siding on the body, a warm pine front wall, and a clean cubic silhouette make it the most contemporary option BES builds.
It is particularly well-suited for pool areas. The Cube sits low and clean beside a pool without competing with the landscaping, and its form works naturally as a pool equipment shed, a poolside storage unit, or a base for a pool bar setup. It also works well on modern or recently renovated properties where a traditional gable roof shed would look out of place.
Best for: pool sheds, modern properties, backyards where a contemporary design is the priority, homeowners who want something that looks different from a standard shed.
The Suburban has a classic shed profile - gable roof, enclosed rafters, traditional proportions - updated with contemporary details including a distinctive round window and premium material choices. It is the most recognisable shed shape, done properly.
The round window is the detail that sets the Suburban apart. It gives the front elevation a character that a plain gable shed does not have, without pushing into anything overtly modern. If you have a traditional or transitional home and want a shed that feels like it belongs rather than one that makes a statement, the Suburban is usually the right fit.
Best for: traditional and transitional properties, homeowners who want a classic shed profile with more character, buyers who want something timeless rather than contemporary.
The EcoShed is the most distinctive shed BES builds. It carries a living green roof - sedum and native plantings grown directly on the structure - that reduces stormwater runoff, supports local pollinators, and blends the shed into the garden landscape rather than sitting on top of it.
Beyond the green roof, the EcoShed is built to the same structural standard as every other BES shed. It is not a novelty - it is a proper garden shed with a roof system that happens to be covered in plants. For homeowners who care about sustainability, want to reduce lot coverage impact, or simply want a shed that looks like it grew out of the garden, the EcoShed delivers something no other model does.
Best for: environmentally conscious buyers, properties with mature gardens, homeowners who want a shed that integrates with the landscape rather than standing apart from it.
The quickest way to narrow it down:
If you want clean and low-maintenance: Essential If you want storage with more visual presence: Advanced If you have a pool or a modern property: Cube If your home is traditional or transitional: Suburban If sustainability and garden integration matter: EcoShed
All five models are built in BES's London, Ontario shop and installed across southwestern Ontario - London, Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge, Brantford, Woodstock, and surrounding communities. Most installs are completed in a single day.
If you are not sure which model fits your property, get a free estimate and we can talk through the options based on your backyard, your home's style, and what you need the shed to do.
Today is the day to start building the structure of your dreams. Share your design ideas with us so we can get started on bringing your shed to life.
