Hi all,
Do many people on here have a garden office? I can see I'm going to need one and wanted to check what other people found effective for them.
I have about 2.5x3 metres in which to put one and will need it to be warm enough to work in all year round.
I don't need it to be soundproof at all - I am only planning to work in there, not make music (sorry to be no fun!)
I've considered getting one of those timber kit ones (insulated) or having one built from breeze blocks etc (double skin).
Other than needing it to be warm and secure, my only other consideration is not wanting to spend too much. I would spend £10k if absolutely necessary but would be much happier with £5k or less.
If it helps I'm handyish at DIY but building with blocks is not something I've done before.
Any recommendations would be gratefully received.
Thanks!
Comments
Was perfect year round, only don't use it now as we moved house.
As long as you have a chop saw and a circular saw it is perfectly reasonable for someone pretty handy.
https://dunsterhouse.co.uk/garden-offices
You can either build it yourself - will take a few days full-time - or pay them a small sum to put it up (in half a day). Then budget some time to paint it with some appropriate preservative.
Some second hand pvc windows and doors, plasterboard/dry line interior and clad outside in whatever you like the look of/whatever is cheapest (I currently love the look of PVC coated box section sheets running horizontal as a quick, long lasting and cheaper than wood alternative given the current timber prices).
@Edm123 if you went for larch cladding and searched Gumtree for some cheap double glazing and a UPVC door you'd save a fair bit too
He wore out the bearings in my chop saw though...
They also have a youtube channel with vids detailing their builds which is useful for DIY.
Timber costs and building materials in general are very high at the moment. Bear that in mind if someone tells you they spent £5k a couple of years ago - you could add a grand or more now for material costs.
months but haven’t settled on what yet. I’m after one at least 5 x 3m so the costs will be a bit higher. Best one I’ve found so far is £13500 fully fitted and finished using SIPS with good insulation properties.
As well as everything already mentioned, the one thing I'd not cut corners on is insulation. I use oil filled rads and they are plenty enough.
Put a good floor in, well insulated too.
Gutters- useful.
think about some sort of AC as well. They get surprisingly hot quite quickly, even if it's not really hot outside.
Dedicated consumer unit and plenty of sockets, I know that may seem obvious.
last thing - security. Mine is alarmed and has proper doors and windows on it, recently replaced with upvc ones, with tons of locks. A window you can lock on a vent is useful as they can get a bit stuffy.
Guess it's all obvious stuff really.
I have found a YouTube channel by Ali Dymock that is very helpful as well.
I will certainly look to self build going by the prices quoted above.
@underdog ,it looks like you aren't far from me so if you fancy giving me a hand, just let me know
Let me finish the little cabin I'm doing at the farm and I'd be happy to lend a hand.
Edit: for internet I'd just run a cable from the house, cat6 cable designed to be used out doors per metre is cheap enough and just cut the correct length and run it along a wall or fence etc to your new building.
or to MESH or other repeater in it
plain CAT6 is pretty resilient along walls, fences, though the air