Outbuilding, refurb or replace?

[gary1981]

Hello,

I’ve a single bricked skinned outbuilding (think it used to be a wash house as it also has a toilet) with a corrugated metal pitched roof with a chimney. It’s approx 14x14ft and about 9ft high. The brickwork could do with some TLC but looks in ok condition, the sides and bottom of the window and door frames are pretty much rotten and will need replaced in the not so distant future. The whole thing sits in a concrete base (unsure of depth). The previous owners kindly dug out a 8x14ft next to the outbuilding (it was for decking but never done). The roof beams are secured to timber which runs along the top of the brickwork and also makes up the tops of the window and door frame.

I’m debating whether it’s worth refurbishing to add in double doors at the front (which involves removing a window) extending out the back with a timber framed structure which would involve putting in a base and creating an opening in the other side. Or I could just get it demolished and start again.

Any thoughts?

 

[Notch7]

Its a fair size structure, in metric is about 4.2m x 4.2m

Demolition and rebuild would cost a fair bit.

It probably comes down to whether the foundation and concrete slab are structurally sound and damp proofed, as you wouldnt want spend a lot of money doing something up that is going to have structural or severe damp issuss.

If you want to make the single skin brickwork dry on the inside, you could clad the exterior which could make your timber frame extension to it all matching.

 

[gary1981]

Should have added that I’m also thinking of having the roof removed and changed to a pent type

 

[nickjb]

I'd definitely refurbish. Less waste and less new materials. What you have sounds pretty decent and if its been there a while it probably isn't going anywhere. Adding to it should be less work than starting again.

 

[gary1981]

I’ll post up some pictures later with a description of what I’m planning on doing

 

[gary1981]

1st picture is the general state of it, door on the far left I want to remove and fill in
2nd picture is the rear where I’d create the opening, prob take it as far as the nearest edge of the closest window and keep that same width on the other, soil stack I’m looking to cut and fill with concrete, there’s a water pipe below which I’d cut and re-route.
3rd pic is the front which I’d probably cut to the same dimensions as the rear and fit double doors there.
remaining pics are internal to show how the roof’s held up, I’d like to remove the roof and fit a pent style as there’s only one drain which is between the building and the boundary.

 

[scbk]

Lovely old building, a lick of paint would make a huge difference.
Keep the roof as it is!


You don't say what you want to use it for?

 

[gary1981]

Lovely old building, a lick of paint would make a huge difference.
Keep the roof as it is!


You don't say what you want to use it for?

Workshop and more storage, we’ve currently 4 bikes in there which take up a lot of space, even hung up as does the chimney and fire area