My Garden Office Project

[hashman]

Hello all.... so... lockdown began and locked in with 3 kids and wife in the house motivated me to finally get the elbow grease out and get knocking on the hammer in the garden to get something useful - with about 2 weeks of lots of reading and researching, and about 8 weeks of painful build - i finally have a space away from the house where i can work peacefully, but more than me the kids love their new office.... i just fear they will soon kick me out!

A quick journey replay to inspire others, and save them the mistakes that can cost £££ !
However, a BIG DISCLAIMER: This is probably my biggest DIY project and I am in no sense whatsoever a builder. I am a computer geek - and before this project i could not tell you the difference between a drill machine and an impact driver.
SO I have probably made some very basic mistakes, but the room is up and working for me for the past 6 months with no issues, and if it lasts another 6 months it would be worth the money and experience just don't take this as a how-to guide as there are some shortcuts i took which builders will probably frown upon.

Step 1: Prepare the terrain - i focused on building concrete pillars myself, so used free bricks and paving slabs i got off the internet (collection) and rubble - to create a number of pillars that would support the base




Step 2: created the base
this is probably the one where you want to take the most time, as any uneven surface will just create issues in the future - so DO not rush this part
make sure the base is completely straight - use a level in all directions - check it again 3x if needed.... because otherwise you will regret it once the structure is up and you feel a slight slunt

 

[hashman]

Step 3: Structure up
The hard part is done - now its just easy and fun - screwing the structure together is probably the most awarding part of the build - and the easiest too

Step 4: Get the outside done
I know many will not agree with my cost saving approach - but i chose to direclty put the cladding on the structure - and behind the cladding i would be putting the insulation directly - this was sufficient for me. and in the current 2-3 degree temperatures, with my small electric radiator it is still the warmest room in the house

 

[hashman]

Now comes the most painful ! inside works - this is where for days and weeks you will see little to no progress, as the hard work will have nothing to show for!
Step 5: I started with the floor insulation - i used jabalite for this as i got this free again from a build project. It was random odd sizes, but i got enoguh to do my flooring and roof

As you can see on the right hand corner side, i pulled in the electric wires there as well as network wire to provide full speed broadband in the office - this needs planning and is always easy to do at build stage than doing it later.
Also you can notice that foam falling from teh sides - i used a few cans of expanding foam to make sure there are no gaps anywhere

Step 6: Flooring - before installing the flooring, i stuck a waterproof membrane on top of the jabalite, alumium foiled to the sides to avoid any cold air and condensation
BIG TIP : Remember i mentioned the prep - make SURE your floor base is on same size as your floorboards (ie. if you buy a 2200cm floorboard, install the joists accordingly so that you can screw all edges of the floorboard to the base), do not let the floorboards hanging - i had to pull things apart as i realised this too late and had to re-install joists in the base to get that solid stable flooring

Step 7: Roof jabalite - make sure to wear a hat as these things keep falling - nothing special here i just cut to size and attached it to the top
but once more, get the wiring through before doing all this as its easier to plan for. I was going to put led lights so put the wires through accordingly

Step 8: Wall insulation - i just used a simple aluminium foil insulation - these are usually for airconditionning and are not the most insulating - but worked for me given the price benefit, and as mentoined above, despite the cold weather this remains the warmest room in the house!
I have now covered all walls - roof and floor with membrane/plastic to avoid any condensation. Works so far with no condensation - but then again its only been a few months

 

[hashman]

Step 9 - getting the walls ready
this will be fun part too, as it starts to take shape.
I used simple plasterboard across the walls and roof

Step 10: Complete finiishing
fresh paint - floor board - et voila! we are ready to work

 

[hashman]

And now the final result from the outside - the kids desk corner, and my desk corner - keeping an eye on them

 

[hashman]

RESERVED FOR LATER - now the breakdown - of what material i used, how much it cost me etc
keep in mind, that i spent much time online buying used stuff, that is how i kept cost low - all in all, it cost me £1,879.39 for a 5m x 2-3m (i.e. 2m on one side and 3m on the other, as you can see my land is in an angle so i wanted to use all the space)

much of the furniture used is also second hand, with alot of free stuff given people were getting rid of their old "junk"... it is indeed true, one mans junk is anothers treasure

will provide breakdown and sites where i bought stuff from here later as there are savings to be made, especially on the upvc cladding that is probably one of the most expensive single item needed for this build.

 

[ktuludays]

Looks brilliant, well done.

 

[kingandy2nd]

Excellent work and good write up too. Thanks for sharing