ChatterBank0 min ago
Garden Room/summer House
18 Answers
hi i have recently moved into a house with a massive garden. Our medium to long term plan was originally to extend out the side. or perhaos convert the loft, which is big. However, i have been thinking that a garden room might be better and suit our family better. I would be thinking of putting it at the end of the 120 ft garden. I would also like it to have electricity.
has anyone got any advice or experience? prices? planning issues? that sort o thing?
has anyone got any advice or experience? prices? planning issues? that sort o thing?
Answers
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My wife and I put a summer house at the end of our long garden a couple of years ago, facing the house.
My wife mainly uses it and it has a small sofa in it, a small coffee table, plus its is used as a "memory" store for all sorts of family memorabilia (family photos, holiday momentos etc. ). No electricity yet, though it is in our plans.
We spent quite a while looking and in the end got it made by a local garden centre who sell sheds, summer houses etc. We had a small "veranda" built as part of the summer house which has some plant pots on it which looks great.
We also put a patio in front of it, and a swing bench, and now we sit there far more than we do on the patio near the house.
Think about what you are going to use it for, is it going to become an outside office for example?
If so you need to spend more on it as it needs to be able to withstand the cold in winter. That of course pushes the price up. You can buy "outdoor offices" at garden centres etc so do go and look round.
Make sure you get one of a decent size, it is amazing how it soon fills up with seating, tables, shelves etc. We also store things like deck chairs and so on in it in the winter. I think ours is 10x8.
Often the ends of gardens are horrible with sheds, compost bins, tools etc so a summer house at the end (with space behind for all the horrible stuff) is a great way to brighten up the end of the garden.
Do make sure you leave space behind the summer house (6 or 8 feet), don't push it right to the end of the garden as it is amazing what you can hide behind there.
My wife mainly uses it and it has a small sofa in it, a small coffee table, plus its is used as a "memory" store for all sorts of family memorabilia (family photos, holiday momentos etc. ). No electricity yet, though it is in our plans.
We spent quite a while looking and in the end got it made by a local garden centre who sell sheds, summer houses etc. We had a small "veranda" built as part of the summer house which has some plant pots on it which looks great.
We also put a patio in front of it, and a swing bench, and now we sit there far more than we do on the patio near the house.
Think about what you are going to use it for, is it going to become an outside office for example?
If so you need to spend more on it as it needs to be able to withstand the cold in winter. That of course pushes the price up. You can buy "outdoor offices" at garden centres etc so do go and look round.
Make sure you get one of a decent size, it is amazing how it soon fills up with seating, tables, shelves etc. We also store things like deck chairs and so on in it in the winter. I think ours is 10x8.
Often the ends of gardens are horrible with sheds, compost bins, tools etc so a summer house at the end (with space behind for all the horrible stuff) is a great way to brighten up the end of the garden.
Do make sure you leave space behind the summer house (6 or 8 feet), don't push it right to the end of the garden as it is amazing what you can hide behind there.
that's really helpful - living up to your name!
i have a 3 year old (and won't be able to afford the summer house for a few years anyway) and was thinking it would be an ideal place for her and her friends to hang out when she's a bit older. I was thinking facing the house too, we have a south facing garden so if it's facing the house, it's not ideal for sitting int he sun!
i have a 3 year old (and won't be able to afford the summer house for a few years anyway) and was thinking it would be an ideal place for her and her friends to hang out when she's a bit older. I was thinking facing the house too, we have a south facing garden so if it's facing the house, it's not ideal for sitting int he sun!
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This will help you on the planning situation:
http://
http://
Bednobs, you really need to get a builder or two round to give you an accurate quote. Prices will vary depending on distance from the house, how accessible the site is, the ground conditions of the site, adjacent trees etc etc. getting a ball park figure from someone with a similar unit could be very misleading.
bednobs, I think the summer house cost about £1,100.
As I said, it was built (to our size and shape) by a local garden centre who build and sell sheds, summer house etc. They also came and erected it for that price.
We had the base laid by another person who just laid normal "slabs" in a 10x12 shape (allowing for veranda) for the summer house to go on top of.
We also had guttering fitted by someone else to take the water into a butt for watering the garden.
Plus we had to pay for the patio in front to be laid.
There was an old green house on the site plus loads of conifers and other plants so we had to clear that first. I have to honest and say that from start to finish it took us about two years (we had a family crisis in between) so it could be done in one summer if you set your mind to it.
We really do make good use of it so it is worth doing, like adding an extra room to your house.
As I said, it was built (to our size and shape) by a local garden centre who build and sell sheds, summer house etc. They also came and erected it for that price.
We had the base laid by another person who just laid normal "slabs" in a 10x12 shape (allowing for veranda) for the summer house to go on top of.
We also had guttering fitted by someone else to take the water into a butt for watering the garden.
Plus we had to pay for the patio in front to be laid.
There was an old green house on the site plus loads of conifers and other plants so we had to clear that first. I have to honest and say that from start to finish it took us about two years (we had a family crisis in between) so it could be done in one summer if you set your mind to it.
We really do make good use of it so it is worth doing, like adding an extra room to your house.
As an alternative to having one built, Nobs, do have a look at ready-made timber buildings. It is often the case that a sectional, prefab one is much cheaper than having one built on site from scratch.
Speaking from experience, I've priced these before, and still advised the client to go for ready-made.
The most cost-effective option is to have a simple timber construction (bare timber walls), then have someone fit internal wiring ........... then dry-line all the internal surfaces with loads of insulation (including the roof.)
This way, you'll achieve levels of insulated cosiness similar, if not better than most houses.
Speaking from experience, I've priced these before, and still advised the client to go for ready-made.
The most cost-effective option is to have a simple timber construction (bare timber walls), then have someone fit internal wiring ........... then dry-line all the internal surfaces with loads of insulation (including the roof.)
This way, you'll achieve levels of insulated cosiness similar, if not better than most houses.
Hello :)
Me and my family had the same thoughts, when we bought our new House with Garden. Our Solution was a big military/medical Tent from http://
Regards :)
Me and my family had the same thoughts, when we bought our new House with Garden. Our Solution was a big military/medical Tent from http://
Regards :)
"Garden not flat"...perfect excuse to hire diy digger for a hole big & deep enough for a glasshouse covered pool.
http://
http://
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