Fancy a new garden office? Do It Yourself
Add some value to your property and make working from home more comfortable with an insulated workspace, says Liz Connor.
Keen to boost your home’s value? If you have outdoor space at your disposal, there’s an easy way to bump up your house price.
According to DIY retailer MyToolShed (mytoolshed.co.uk), building an office in your garden can add five per cent on to the value of your property and it’s an investment that can make life easier if you work from home too.
If you’re a confident DIYer, you don’t have to spend £20,000 on a swanky outhouse either.
Ross Goodwin, managing director of MyToolShed, said: “If you don’t have the option financially to buy an outbuilding, and you have the time, then building one can be a great way to improve your garden and increase the value of your home.
“Building your own garden building has the advantage of you being able to design it exactly the way you want, for it to complement your garden and surroundings perfectly too.”
Here’s how to get started... 1 Get permission You may need to apply for householder planning permission to erect a garden building if it affects your neighbours, so it’s a good idea to check the UK planning portal (planningportal.co.uk) before you start. You’ll be able to check any restrictions and make sure you’re falling within legal guidelines – otherwise you risk your beautiful new office being taken down before you’ve even had a chance to use it. 2 Level off the ground Once you have the green light, it’s time to roll up your sleeves. You’ll need to level and prepare the site, choosing a dry patch of grass that avoids swampy areas and steep grades.
Ross said: “We recommend you level your garden building on paving slabs, tarmac and or concrete. Many people make the mistake of thinking that because their lawn is flat they do not need a base but when the rain comes it will soon start to lift.” 3 Add base framing and decking It’s now time to add more support to ensure your foundation is as sturdy as possible. A joist network that sits directly on a base of concrete is your best option and you can directly deck over the top.
Luke Spear, MyToolShed’s garden office ambassador, stresses you shouldn’t skimp on joists, and you should use timber that’s strong enough to support plenty of weight.
He added: “Get the timber merchant to pre-cut as much as possible. Longer lengths have higher per-metre cost, so make sure to factor this into your budget.” 4 Raise the wall frame This is a two-person job, so plan to have someone from your household or bubble ready to lend a hand. You’ll need to work out the height of the shed structure and cut your lengths of timber for the wall frames, if your timber merchant hasn’t cut them to size.
Luke suggests using reverse angled screws on your poles to hold them in place whilst fixing them to an OSB base (a type of engineered wood that forms the walls) and to each other. 5 A roof with a decent sized overhang will provide more
Lay the roof
protection from heavy rain than a smaller one and a flat roof is the simplest option for beginners.
Luke said: “Consider using a membrane around your roof before adding steel sheets. The wrap will stop any water that gets through the steel from wetting the OSB sheathing below.” 6 Add windows, doors and cladding If you’ve decided to install a window in your building, you’ll need to cut a hole for it in the siding and frame around it with sturdy timber. “Although windows can be an expensive part of this process we recommend you don’t cut costs on this as keeping the air circulated is important to ensure it is well ventilated,” said Ross. 7 A home office needs a decent wi-fi connection but we’d always recommend leaving electrics to the experts. Luke estimates that contracting a professional will cost around £500.
Consider electrics
8 Luke said: “Always buy a roof covering with ridges to ensure water can be dispersed and the roof is protected from any leaks.
The best place to cut metal roofing is on the grass and you’ll need to be confident using a steel grinder if you’re doing this at home. Get a tradesman to cut the roofing to size if you don’t have the right experience or equipment. 9
An office without insulation is going to be very cold in winter. Luke said: “Fibreglass is a costeffective option for insulation but you should consider wearing a mask when working with it, as direct contact with fiberglass or breathing airborne dust may irritate the nose and throat.”
Depending on your local climate, you may also want to consider a vapour barrier to reduce the risk of condensation issues and maximise heat retention. 10 Set to work on plaster boarding and plastering Ross said: “You are going to want to get a decent trowel, a
Cover the roof Add insulation and a vapour barrier
plastering hook as well as a plaster mixer for this step. And before doing any plastering, check to see if your walls are high suction. If they are, you need to dampen the walls before plastering to avoid the wall and plaster from crumbling.” 11 Lay the flooring Hiring a professional can double flooring costs, so Luke recommends shopping around for a deal on laminate. He estimates you should be able to pick some up for £6-£8 per sq metre and skirting for about £1 a metre.
You can lay laminate floors as it doesn’t have to be glued and doesn’t involve grout or mortar –but you will need to measure and cut the planks.
The final step? Making your office a work from home oasis by hanging some pictures and adding
some plants.