Garden rooms

Garden rooms come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles and building regulations will not normally apply if the floor area of the building is less than 15 square metres and contains no sleeping accommodation. However, as with any building/property projects, it is worth checking that you don’t require planning permission before you start.

There are a plethora of designs for garden rooms to meet styles and budgets but the main difference is the type of foundation used in construction. You can either have a solid concrete foundation on which to build or you can now use ground screws, which are an innovative alternative and can cost considerably less. With a ground screw construction, the screws are pushed into the ground creating a frame that holds the garden office off the ground so reduces the chance of damp getting into the building. Also, this type of installation process removes the need for any groundworks so can be carried out in a few hours rather than days. It is also suitable for most ground conditions and requires no heavy machinery, skips or mess. If you have very restricted access, this could be a really good choice for you.

With a garden office, you will have to lose some of your garden and also your office is always in plain sight. Even when you are relaxing on a Friday evening with the sun going down, the pull of the PC could be strong. If you are looking for an area to work, where you can go, concentrate and then leave and shut off, the garden room might not be your best option, depending on the size and shape of your garden. Expect to pay anything from £5,000 to £20,000 for a small garden office. Prices for a medium to large sized garden office will be anything from £12,000 upwards, depending upon the quality of the build and bespoke features.

Loft extensions

Tucked away out of sight, an office in the rafters can seem like a great idea. Converting a loft can be a great way to create extra living space for a home office (or a new master suite or guest bedroom) but there are some considerations apart from cost - the main one being the sort of roof your property has. If you are in your loft, an easy way to check is to see if there is 2.2 metres or more above your head from where you are standing to the tallest part of the attic roof. If there is, there is a good chance your roof can be converted. If your loft has a lower head height, a conversion is still possible but it will cost a lot more. Costs typically start at £20,000 for a basic loft conversion but can reach up to £50,000 and in contrast to a garden room, the project can a be a lot more complex and expensive. Also, although you are gaining room, don’t forget you will lose some space as stairs will need to be installed in the floor below.

When it comes to planning, loft conversions don’t usually need it as building work within certain limits is automatically allowed under ‘Permitted Development’. However, you will need building regs. Building Control inspectors will look at issues such as structural support, stairs, thermal insulation and escape from fire as you will be adding an additional floor to your house. To get building regulations approval, any alterations will need to be specified by a qualified structural engineer. With a loft alteration, we recommend getting some professional advice before starting work to ensure your project runs to plan and budget. You can get more details and things to think about in our free Loft Conversions for Beginners guide.

Before starting down one project or another, try and be critical about how you will feel about working at home on a longer term basis. You may realise that you want some extra space but actually you want a panic room or a wine bar at the end of the garden – and that calls for a whole different sort of planning!

If you are looking to make some home improvements, you may find some of these services useful