Weatherproofing - breather membrane The weather here is going from bad to worse, but earlier today I dashed out in a quiet spell to try and fit the window frame only to get caught in an unbelievable hail storm – some of the hailstones were about 1cm across and they were hammering down – I really needed to stay out long... The weather here is going from bad to worse, but earlier today I dashed out in a quiet spell to try and fit the window... Nick 03-Jan-2014 workshop weatherproofing
Putting on the roof Finished off the walls by fixing the structural posts and beams in the near corner (these will frame the window and door). A post is needed to support one corner of the roof. When I did the drawings I arranged it so that the post sat directly on the sub-frame inside a cut out in... Finished off the walls by fixing the structural posts and beams in the near corner (these will frame the window and door). A post is... Nick 29-Dec-2013 workshop construction
Erecting the Walls There was a welcome break in the weather between Christmas and new year, and we ended up with a couple of sunny days in which some construction work could be done. Happily the two clear days were in succession and coincided with my brother staying over, so we got a lot done. I am eternally... There was a welcome break in the weather between Christmas and new year, and we ended up with a couple of sunny days in which... Nick 27-Dec-2013 workshop construction
Speed Square we continue to enjoy rain and wind of biblical proportions, but I managed to get an hour or two on Saturday to cut the remaining osb splines. The weather forecast looks grim for the near future so I have revised my plans and now will attempt to get the walls and roof up in one... we continue to enjoy rain and wind of biblical proportions, but I managed to get an hour or two on Saturday to cut the remaining... Nick 24-Dec-2013 workshop construction
Constructing the floor A surprisingly nice day today and I even saw the sun on a couple of occasions. I had a few more hours to finish the floor, which was good Re. the weather – I do realize the sensible thing to do would be to wait for dry conditions, but this is the only spare time I... A surprisingly nice day today and I even saw the sun on a couple of occasions. I had a few more hours to finish the... Nick 21-Dec-2013 workshop construction
Subframe Today I did the subframe – it is complete over-engineered.... Today I did the subframe – it is complete over-engineered.... Nick 14-Dec-2013 workshop design
Estimating the cost of your build How much does it cost to build your own garden room? Those of you with a good memory may recall that my original estimates on the build costs were around £6,000-£7,000, which after a bit of cursory research I imagined being spent like this: * SIP panels and sub-frame = 3300 * plinths (footings) = 700... How much does it cost to build your own garden room? Those of you with a good memory may recall that my original estimates on... Nick 10-Dec-2013 workshop costs
Installing the footings I laid out the footings at the weekend. Finally place the concrete mini-plinth concrete tops and steel supports on to the grids:... I laid out the footings at the weekend. Finally place the concrete mini-plinth concrete tops and steel supports on to the grids:... Nick 03-Dec-2013 workshop foundations
Clearing a Space I finished clearing the site at the weekend: I then realised – rather belatedly – that: 1. the tree I had planted 7 years ago will be pressed right up to the front of the new building 2. a 3.6×3.6×2.7 meter building is actually pretty big compared to your typical shed These... I finished clearing the site at the weekend: I then realised – rather belatedly – that: 1. the tree I had planted 7 years ago will be... Nick 20-Nov-2013 workshop foundations
Building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) what is a SIP? A SIP is a prefabricated panel consisting of two layers of Oriented Strand Board (OSB) sandwiching a layer of expanded polystyrene or urethane foam. The history of building with SIPs SIPs are a relative novelty in the UK – the majority of our houses are still built with brick and block – but... what is a SIP? A SIP is a prefabricated panel consisting of two layers of Oriented Strand Board (OSB) sandwiching a layer of expanded polystyrene... Nick 13-Nov-2013 workshop construction
Workshop drawing tools: SketchUp When thinking about how to design my workshop I did some cursory research on design software and found most were both expensive and complicated to use. Then I had a thought – surely this is something that Google will have sorted out by now? And it turns out that they’d had a hand in doing... When thinking about how to design my workshop I did some cursory research on design software and found most were both expensive and complicated to... Nick 03-Nov-2013 workshop costs
Workshop Foundations - mini plinths traditional footings The standard way to construct the footings for a modern house, is to dig down to suitable subsoil and to lay a concrete bed. A few years ago I had a small 4m single story extension added to my house, and the builders had to dig down 2m to before the building inspector... traditional footings The standard way to construct the footings for a modern house, is to dig down to suitable subsoil and to lay a concrete... Nick 28-Oct-2013 workshop foundations
Workshop Foundations - footings ..or why we care about pressure. Why do buildings subside? Well the answer is, not surprisingly, that they are too heavy for the ground that supports them. How do you know if your house is going to subside? Well, the answer depends on two things – how much your house weighs and how much pressure the... ..or why we care about pressure. Why do buildings subside? Well the answer is, not surprisingly, that they are too heavy for the ground that... Nick 27-Oct-2013 workshop foundations
Workshop Foundations - introduction There will follow multiple posts on foundations for a tiny wooden building <groan>. It’s overkill, I know. The normal caveats apply, namely that I have no qualifications in this area, so please do not do any actual building work based solely on the below. Here is what I already knew about building... There will follow multiple posts on foundations for a tiny wooden building <groan>. It’s overkill, I know. The normal caveats apply, namely... Nick 24-Oct-2013 workshop foundations
Planning Regulations Planning permission in the UK governs the relationship of a building to its surroundings, including its external appearance, position and size. There follows a brief summary of the rules concerning garden buildings. If you are considering a building in your own back garden please do not assume this is correct – you need to contact your... Planning permission in the UK governs the relationship of a building to its surroundings, including its external appearance, position and size. There follows a brief... Nick 23-Oct-2013 workshop construction
Location, Location, Location I am lucky enough to have a reasonably large back garden, at least by British standards, it is wider than the other gardens on my street because I am on the corner, but it is also reasonably long (about 65’ between the house and the rear hedge). The obvious place to put a new mega-shed... I am lucky enough to have a reasonably large back garden, at least by British standards, it is wider than the other gardens on my... Nick 21-Oct-2013 workshop planning
