Garden Office

[wiggy001]

Our house move has fallen through at the last minute after 8 months. A baby (our second) on the way will see me lose my office/spare room and as we actually quite like where we are (and other reasons why we don't want to attempt to move again) I'm looking into the possibility of a garden office.

Has anyone got one and have any real-world experience of them? I'm hoping (time permitting) to visit a supplier/installer tomorrow to discuss the options but wanted some personal experience of using them as either an office or spare room (or both).

Looking at something relatively modest (2.5m x 3m with electric and ethernet) which I believe will likely be around the £12.5k mark (based on a quick design on thegardenoffice.co.uk). Most of the options I'd want are relatively cheap (extra light, windows etc) but I noticed the option to have the office plastered for £1400 - is this worth the cost?

The blurb on every supplier's site say they are well insulated and can be used all year round - is this really the case? Is an oil-filled radiator sufficent for the winter?

Lastly, do they need sound sound proofing (it'll be in a relatively small garden) with a TV and radio during the day while I'm working.

Any thoughts and experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[GetCarter]

I had one built as a recording studio in my garden 20 years ago (down south). Very sound proofed, with it's own bedroom and loo... worked really well when guests came round so we didn't have to put up with them in the house!

Getting out of the house to work is a really good plan, even if it's just 20 yards away. Makes working a lot more disciplined.

[timetex]

I posted up a very similar question earlier this week, although for something a little larger it was for similar things.

We've been comparing the company you mention, along with The Green Room https://the-green-room.co.uk

What we didn't like about the first was that the plaster finish wasn't standard (and it needs it, I think) and The Green Room look very flexible, and will even take care of installing a toilet / sink.

We'll be replacing an existing 4x3 summer house, and going a bit bigger to accommodate working space, toilet, and a small kitchen / wet area. (not to cook with, just for washing up the odd mug, housing a fridge, etc.)

The ones we visited felt lovely and warm inside, and very suited to the purpose.

[anonymous-user]

When I needed a temporary office I bought a shepherd's hut. It is only small but some creative Ikea purchases mean's it has a double sofa bed, a small desk 2 office chairs and some filing etc.

Easily big enough for 1 person but you wouldn't really want a meeting with anyone.

An oil filled radiator sorts it out whatever the weather - so yes, with the correct insulation they are usable all year round.

I went for a shepherd's hut due to certain planning constraints I was under at the time.

[BoRED S2upid]

timetex said:

I posted up a very similar question earlier this week, although for something a little larger it was for similar things.

We've been comparing the company you mention, along with The Green Room https://the-green-room.co.uk

What we didn't like about the first was that the plaster finish wasn't standard (and it needs it, I think) and The Green Room look very flexible, and will even take care of installing a toilet / sink.

We'll be replacing an existing 4x3 summer house, and going a bit bigger to accommodate working space, toilet, and a small kitchen / wet area. (not to cook with, just for washing up the odd mug, housing a fridge, etc.)

The ones we visited felt lovely and warm inside, and very suited to the purpose.

I read somewhere the more you put in it I.e toilet, kitchen, wet room the more chance of the council saying it's habitable and increasing your council tax. Worth doing some research before putting too much in.

[Blim_bug]

I'm just about to embark on my own build garden room.

I couldn't justify the £20k price tag of the garden room companies charge, when I realised the materials etc would only cost in the region of £4.000.

There's loads of videos on youtube to help understand how they're put together, i really don't think its outside the realms of a half decent DIY'er to build one.

Ask me again in a couple of weeks when (if) I've completed it...

[wiggy001]

timetex said:

I posted up a very similar question earlier this week, although for something a little larger it was for similar things.

We've been comparing the company you mention, along with The Green Room https://the-green-room.co.uk

What we didn't like about the first was that the plaster finish wasn't standard (and it needs it, I think) and The Green Room look very flexible, and will even take care of installing a toilet / sink.

We'll be replacing an existing 4x3 summer house, and going a bit bigger to accommodate working space, toilet, and a small kitchen / wet area. (not to cook with, just for washing up the odd mug, housing a fridge, etc.)

The ones we visited felt lovely and warm inside, and very suited to the purpose.

I did see your post earlier which is what led me to thegardenoffice.co.uk, so thanks for that and this response. In addition to the info on your thread, I was hoping to get some opinions from people that have had one built in order to know what I should and shouldn't look out for.

contemporarygardenrooms.com have a showroom near to a client I am visiting tomorrow so I am going to see if I can pop in and have a look/ask some questions.

[timetex]

BoRED S2upid said:

I read somewhere the more you put in it I.e toilet, kitchen, wet room the more chance of the council saying it's habitable and increasing your council tax. Worth doing some research before putting too much in.

Very true, hence it won't have a kitchen (a couple of kitchen units and a sink is not a kitchen) and the main thing the council are concerned about is it being ancillary to the main house.

Ours will very much be ancillary, and will be setup and used as a garden office / photography studio / craft room, without cooking or bed facilities.

I think as soon as you move a bed in, or put standalone cooking facilities in, the council could get very interested - but if you keep to the right side of things, its absolutely fine.

[wiggy001]

Just a thought as I look into this a little more - what is the situation regarding house insurance for these offices? Would they be covered under a standard home buildings and contents policy?

[thebraketester]

I built this last year. Cost me about £6.5K all in. Its part music studio (sound proofed) and part shed. Full electrics.

[Russ T Bolt]

wiggy001 said:

Our house move has fallen through at the last minute after 8 months. A baby (our second) on the way will see me lose my office/spare room and as we actually quite like where we are (and other reasons why we don't want to attempt to move again) I'm looking into the possibility of a garden office.

Has anyone got one and have any real-world experience of them? I'm hoping (time permitting) to visit a supplier/installer tomorrow to discuss the options but wanted some personal experience of using them as either an office or spare room (or both).

Looking at something relatively modest (2.5m x 3m with electric and ethernet) which I believe will likely be around the £12.5k mark (based on a quick design on thegardenoffice.co.uk). Most of the options I'd want are relatively cheap (extra light, windows etc) but I noticed the option to have the office plastered for £1400 - is this worth the cost?

The blurb on every supplier's site say they are well insulated and can be used all year round - is this really the case? Is an oil-filled radiator sufficent for the winter?

Lastly, do they need sound sound proofing (it'll be in a relatively small garden) with a TV and radio during the day while I'm working.

Any thoughts and experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks

We had one put up by these people over 6 years ago. www.boothsgardenstudios.co.uk.

Insulation is very good. It was built in November 2010 and I got the job of painting the interior. Happened to wake early on the Sunday following build (before house heating came on) and it was warmer in the office than the house.

It came free with an Aircon/heater unit, but my wife who uses it tends to use a small oil filled radiator much of the time, it is ample.

[Russ T Bolt]

wiggy001 said:

Just a thought as I look into this a little more - what is the situation regarding house insurance for these offices? Would they be covered under a standard home buildings and contents policy?

Ours is. I asked them specifically

[MoelyCrio]

Been working in mine today. Toasty warm with just a 2kw heater. Lovely watching the snow fall whilst speaking to colleagues in New York from a garden in Wales!
Was expensive (13k) but it is composite outer and pretty high spec inside. 3 x 3m.

[beazer]

wiggy001 said:

Our house move has fallen through at the last minute after 8 months. A baby (our second) on the way will see me lose my office/spare room and as we actually quite like where we are (and other reasons why we don't want to attempt to move again) I'm looking into the possibility of a garden office.

Has anyone got one and have any real-world experience of them? I'm hoping (time permitting) to visit a supplier/installer tomorrow to discuss the options but wanted some personal experience of using them as either an office or spare room (or both).

Looking at something relatively modest (2.5m x 3m with electric and ethernet) which I believe will likely be around the £12.5k mark (based on a quick design on thegardenoffice.co.uk). Most of the options I'd want are relatively cheap (extra light, windows etc) but I noticed the option to have the office plastered for £1400 - is this worth the cost?

The blurb on every supplier's site say they are well insulated and can be used all year round - is this really the case? Is an oil-filled radiator sufficent for the winter?

Lastly, do they need sound sound proofing (it'll be in a relatively small garden) with a TV and radio during the day while I'm working.

Any thoughts and experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks

I was in the same position as you in 2014 with a second child on the way. I went with thegardenoffice 3x2.5 design and it's been perfect for all year round working. The quality of the materials is good and the office looks as good as new 2.5 years on. The office is well insulated and really cosy throughout winter just with a 2kW convector heater. I use TPLink power line plugs to bring the internet in via the electrical cabling. I wouldn't bother with plastering, the standard finish is fine. Construction was quick and efficient with 2 visits. Recommended and you get what you pay for.

[StuTheGrouch]

MoelyCrio said:

Been working in mine today. Toasty warm with just a 2kw heater. Lovely watching the snow fall whilst speaking to colleagues in New York from a garden in Wales!
Was expensive (13k) but it is composite outer and pretty high spec inside. 3 x 3m.

That is awesome!

[wiggy001]

Thanks again for the responses. In the (proper) office today and mentioned it to a colleague - straight away I realised that 2 people I work with have them and 2 more are looking into them, so they're pretty popular!

These guys have an office near a client of mine that I visited yesterday. I'm awaiting a call back to arrange a time for them to come round and start speccing up what is possible and likely costs. They were suggesting:

£1300 per square metre, partly in order for it to meet fire regs etc... I know others have been done for nearer £1100.
£1500 for the base (it needs to be raised to meet the existing patio
£1000 for electric and ethernet connection. This seems steep at first glance, but my fuse board is at the front of the house and I am mid-terrace so it could be a tricky job?

Will see what they say when I speak to them.

[wiggy001]

Got the company I mentioned in my last post coming round for a site visit tomorrow and waiting for a second to call back and arrange a visit. Be interesting to see what they say and compare the two.

[NorthDave]

I had one built out of block (actually block - 100mm insulation - block again) and then rendered - it is really well insulated even with a long side of bifold doors. I'm pretty sure it is 5m wide x 3m deep and just under 2.5m tall. I actually have a step down in to it to give more head height inside. I run electric underfloor heating and havent noticed a difference in my electric bill so the insulation must work. I think it cost about £20k all in but I can't remember if that included the doors - probably not.

I love it and much prefer it to working out of a bedroom.