Hi guys, I'd appreciate any input!
I want a 12m x 3m workshop in my garden which can be used comfortably all year round. I'm in the North of England so temp ranges from -5 to 28 with lots of wind and rain.
Situation:
Firstly I'm on a budget of around £5k for a phase 1 which needs to get me a weatherproof (non insulated) structure. Extra doors, windows and electricity can be phase 2. So whilst I want a permanent and quality solution I may have to this in stages.
I've only got basic DIY skills and haven't done this type of thing before.
There are already 3, 30+ year old concrete slabs covering 13m x 3.5m in place. They are in decent condition, but are stepped with 1-2 inches height difference. I don't know how thick the slabs are.
Option 1: Traditional brick build
Get the slabs smashed out and get concrete foundations poured for a brick building.
Pros: Permanent, quality solution.
Cons: £5k might just get me up to a concrete floor! Probably at least £15k total cost. Importantly it would probably be £10k before I had a weatherproof structure...
Option 2: Convert a shipping container
Pros: Cheap, (a used 40ft goes for £2k delivered) I'll have a weatherproof structure immediately. Would only need to resurface the slabs to a uniform level surface. 'Easy' to modify steel for window/door apertures at a later date.
Cons: After looking into this it seems I would need a crane would to put in place which would cost thousands!! Doh!
Option 3: Wooden workshop
Pros: Relatively cheap (6k?), Would only need to resurface the slabs to a uniform level surface.
Cons: would need building regs signoff due to size and it's proximity to the boundary. Can only fit wooden framed glazing since the wood will expand/contract??
Option 4: Metal workshop
Pros: Very cheap (£3k), Would only need to resurface the slabs to a uniform level surface. Can cut apertures and get glazing units or doors fitted easily at a later stage
Cons: Insulation would require stud, rock wool and ply lining... not sure about floor
Are these the only sensible options?
Have I missed any obvious pros or cons?
Thanks in advance
Jim
I want a 12m x 3m workshop in my garden which can be used comfortably all year round. I'm in the North of England so temp ranges from -5 to 28 with lots of wind and rain.
Situation:
Firstly I'm on a budget of around £5k for a phase 1 which needs to get me a weatherproof (non insulated) structure. Extra doors, windows and electricity can be phase 2. So whilst I want a permanent and quality solution I may have to this in stages.
I've only got basic DIY skills and haven't done this type of thing before.
There are already 3, 30+ year old concrete slabs covering 13m x 3.5m in place. They are in decent condition, but are stepped with 1-2 inches height difference. I don't know how thick the slabs are.
Option 1: Traditional brick build
Get the slabs smashed out and get concrete foundations poured for a brick building.
Pros: Permanent, quality solution.
Cons: £5k might just get me up to a concrete floor! Probably at least £15k total cost. Importantly it would probably be £10k before I had a weatherproof structure...
Option 2: Convert a shipping container
Pros: Cheap, (a used 40ft goes for £2k delivered) I'll have a weatherproof structure immediately. Would only need to resurface the slabs to a uniform level surface. 'Easy' to modify steel for window/door apertures at a later date.
Cons: After looking into this it seems I would need a crane would to put in place which would cost thousands!! Doh!
Option 3: Wooden workshop
Pros: Relatively cheap (6k?), Would only need to resurface the slabs to a uniform level surface.
Cons: would need building regs signoff due to size and it's proximity to the boundary. Can only fit wooden framed glazing since the wood will expand/contract??
Option 4: Metal workshop
Pros: Very cheap (£3k), Would only need to resurface the slabs to a uniform level surface. Can cut apertures and get glazing units or doors fitted easily at a later stage
Cons: Insulation would require stud, rock wool and ply lining... not sure about floor
Are these the only sensible options?
Have I missed any obvious pros or cons?
Thanks in advance
Jim