Garden Office in rear garden

[Robert Taylor]

Hi,

I was wondering if you may able to assist. We are looking to have a garden office in our garden under permitted development rules. However we know that bricks and concrete blocks is always ideal but is very dear due to brick / block laying, foundation etc. Timber outer frame outbuilding I know can also be considered but requires regular maintenance.

My question is some builders suggest building timber C24 outer frame and then rendering with mesh and then concrete tiles on top on the outside as a more cost effective solution. Other builders reckon it is bad idea due to the fact that the timber can go weak over time and damp can occur. Others have suggested timber frame with plaster finish on the outside and paint or cladding on the outside on timber.

Has anyone got any thoughts on these innovative alternative options? Do they really cause timber to rot and damp over time?

Inside it will be just insulation boards (Rockwool), dot and dab with 12.5mm plasterboard / skim finish.

Thanks.

 

[motorbiking]

How big?
I built this for 4K - its insulated to 0.2 U with 100mm celotex in the walls and ceiling and 50mm + 100mm of poly in the slab. The roof is triple layer shed felt. Walls are timber frame + t&G cladding/marine ply in the areas you can't see.

 

[Robert Taylor]

Hi, it would be 4m x 3.5m. 2.5m height. For the ground, did you create a foundation or use floating rafter?

 

[motorbiking]

See pics below 15m2 just under so same size as you are thinking.. Slab was 150mm hardcore, sand, DPM, 100mm polystyrene and then 100mm slab and screed. Floor was 50mm celotex, everything else was 100mm celotex (benefit of hindsight 70mm celotex would have been fine and easier to fit in 100mm studs (which are dried to 95mm).