Press Release March 2006

Things to think about when building a garden building

Whether it is a garden office, fun room or studio, careful planning and thinking ahead could make all the difference.

Your garden building if planned properly will be one of the most rewarding projects you will probably ever undertake.

A usable garden building is not a shed (sorry I need to emphasis this as it catches most people out), so think big - with a pitch roof it will be 4M (13Ft) high, that's twice the height of a shed. This will wow you and shock your neighbours - also think about keeping them informed! - this will save loads of problems later on - an informed neighbour is a happy neighbour.

You will most likely have a specific use in mind for your garden building, i.e. an office, fun room, workshop etc, try to think further down the line when the kids are teenagers will it be big enough for them as a chillout room, if it is to be an office can it double up as a games room, so when you go home the kids can use he space to have a bit of time to themselves - families get on better when they all have a place to get away for awhile.

Is a quality garden building a good investment. Putting aside the additional quality of life your garden building can bring, a garden building will make your home more sellable as most people today are looking for extra space for work or play. A survey carried out in London concluded that homes that do not have space for an office just don't sell as well. When selling your home with a garden building think about selling the garden building separately, which means you won't only sell your house quicker, you will also get your money back to build your next garden building in your new garden.

How much should I be looking to pay?

Let's assume you will be spending a reasonable amount of time in your garden building, so it needs to be warm and comfortable, a bit like any of the rooms in your house. Good insulation is the most important element, get this wrong and you have a building that is too cold in winter (or too expensive to heat) and too hot in summer, in other words, you have wasted your money. You will hopefully be talking to a few local companies, I say local, because you will be paying for their travel time if they aren't. If you have 4 craftsmen in a van for 4 hours a day, that is 2 days of man hours wasted on every day of travel, someone has to pay for that. Don't ask for a price on the phone as it is impossible give an accurate figure, this will also set a incorrect expectation.

What am I paying for?

The shell building is the quickest part of the project, so those cheaper quotes probably won't include the all important finishing touches - the finishes, insulation, plasterboard, electricity, lighting, painting, good quality doors and windows take most of the time an will determine whether the end product will be desirable (usable) or not. Most companies that are in this business for the right reason will want to meet you as much as you them, as any good company will choose their customers carefully and you should do the same. Lastly ask for references and call them, it could save you a lot of money and sleepless nights.

Is the company able to do everything?

It is advisable to employ a company that will be able to complete all the various types of work involved as there are many skills required, which include, groundwork/landscaping, carpentry, plastering, electrics, plumbing, soundproofing, lighting, decking roofing etc.. Working with multiple companies/people will cost more and extend the length of the project. Also if there are any problems you will avoid the pointing of fingers. There are exceptions where you might know the best local craftsmen and want to do the project management yourself.

What about Cabins and Flat Pack Wooden Buildings?

The main advantage is that they will cost a bit less and you can erect them yourself. On the downside they are not normally insulated especially the sides as the manufacturers suggest that a thicker 2 inch wall doesn't need insulation - we know they do. Doors and windows again are not double glazed and tight fitting, so by the time you add insulation and upgrade the doors and windows plus your hourly rate and stress factor into the equation, having one built for you will be cheaper, quicker and a lot less stressful. If you are a keen DIYer with a need for a summerhouse, then a flat pack garden building might be for you otherwise leave it to the professionals

Other considerations

* Pathway between the house and garden building
* Wooden decking can be used for entertaining and enhance the look
* Burglar alarm for peace of mind and to keep the insurance premiums down
* Lighting - good lighting does not cost a lot and will make a huge difference
* Water - handy but will add to the total cost. Will required a soakaway for the waste water. Most people have a water dispenser, small fridge and kettle
* Electricity - a must for lighting and heating
* Type of heating - mostly thermostatically controlled convection heaters, underfloor heating very desirable but will add a few thousand to the total
* Sound proofing - some professions will require it, using good quality insulation provides a reasonable level of sound proofing
* Doors and windows - definitely double glazed - wood looks nicer, but is more expensive that UPVC
* Floors - choose hard wearing, good quality laminated flooring. Carpets are rare. Solid oak or oak veneer are more expensive but a must if you can find the extra budget
* Roofing - mostly good quality felt tiles, but can be clay or slate tiles
* Plastered plasterboard provides the best finish to paint on
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Press Release January 2006

Extending the Outdoors into a Comfortable, Usable Space for Work or Play

If space is all that is between you and enjoying the freedom of working from home, then please read on.

(PRWEB) January 13, 2006 -- If you read The Popcorn report from 15 years ago, the author Faith Popcorn was right - what she calls cocooning, a new phenomena where people spend more time at home - made possible by new technologies and driven by the need for people to have more flexibility, spend less time travelling and more time with the family - has happened.

We probably live in one of the most exciting times with so many new options available - just a generation or two ago controlled factory workers would never have imagined that their great grand children would have a space in their garden where they worked from with total flexible working hours.

Most people have a strong desire to work from home, despite having little free space in their homes and even if they did have sufficient space working at home is often too noisy with many distractions and what about mum not wanting you in her space, whose space?, well admit it you are supposed to be at the office during the day.

Besides the strong desire and endless benefits for people to work from home there has been one draw back - SPACE. The shortage of space has, until now, inhibited many people from giving up the humdrum of a 9-5 working day in place of creating a peaceful comfortable space to work in.

Most of us know an extension will cost about £50,000, assuming your house can accommodate one, and what about planning permission - even then your office is still part of the house.

There is however one perfect solution: a timber building at the bottom of your garden away from everything - a place where you can double your productivity and at the end of the day you can lock the door and be home in a few seconds. You do not need planning permission or a huge loan and when you move your home will be worth more, in fact a lot of homes don't sell easily if they lack office space.

For Outdoors specialize in building quality garden offices that are comfortable, warm, with a feeling of space that provide the very best life / work balance. If you would like to learn more about building that special space then please call Roy Jackson on 01483-889666 or visit our website www.gardenofficeco.co.uk.

END

Garden Office Press Release October 2005

Is working from an office in the garden cost efficient?

Building a garden office to boost productivity, improve your quality of life and save on petrol bills has a lot more advantages than you may first think.

(PRWEB) October 9, 2005 -- It all started in the 80's with the advent of the personal computer and very slow dial-up connections to the companies mainframe, which allowed employees to work from home in the 3rd bedroom, dining room or garage. Although the concept was practical the technology did not provide the through put.

It has taken almost 25 years for the techology to provide acceptable productivity levels: broadband offers a speedy connection and personal computers have never been cheaper. More importantly working from home has gained acceptance by companies who now see employees actually becoming more productive.

As more people find working from home becoming the norm, using the 3rd bedroom, dining room or garage is too close to the daily activities and distractions, so are now seeking to create space outside their home. An extention is a messy and lengthy project and there won't be much change out of £50,000. This leaves one other option and that is to build a timber framed garden office. These buildings are well insulated, bright and airy and cost from £6000.00 for a 12ft x 8ft and can be erected in 10 days. You can declare your office as a capital item which will allow you to reduce your income tax by 20% of the cost per annum plus you can claim the VAT back.

Other savings on average are 15 hours more productive time, as this would be your commute time and £440.00 per month saving on travel costs. Even when leaving out the productivity increase your saving will pay for your garden office in the first year.

There are other benefits as well, if your clients visit you, they don't need to enter your home anymore, this means mum does'nt feel your business is encroaching on her space and also you don't need to worry about noisy children. A lot of people working from home feel they don't get away from their work as it is often too tempting just to pop into the bedroom office and check for emails, having a garden office means you can lock up at the end of the day and come home.

Although your garden office is designed to provide you with a comfortable working space, this quiet comfortable space can be used by kids for doing their homework, studying or chilling out with their friends and what about mum when she needs a peaceful environment to read, relax or catch up with her work.

Just one word of advise, when planning try to think beyond your work requirements, think about the kids and maybe using this space for recreational purposes like pool, table tennis, computer games etc.

END

Garden Office Sites that might be of interest:

For Outdoors
Suppliers of Teak Patio furniture, Trampolines, Swimming Pools, Table Tennis Tables, BBQs, Firepits and everything you need to have fun outdoors
THE Garden Sheds Directory
For Garden Sheds, Summer Buildings, Conservatories, Garages, Log Cabins, Playhouses, Greenhouses and Garden Accessories from all over the World!!