From game rooms to summer house to garden office, extra space in your garden could transform your working or family life. However, to get the most utility and pleasure out of your garden building, there are a couple of practical details that you’ll need to consider. Here are ten tips to consider when setting up a garden structure from www.quick-garden.co.uk .
1. Size
The structure should be large enough to evolve as your needs change. For instance, to go from a playhouse for your kids to an entertainment space. However, it should not be big that it creates too much shade, is out of proportion compared to your garden or has too much space that you can’t furnish it. To see how the garden structure you are thinking of will sit within your garden, use canes or tent pegs to mark out the building’s dimensions (there are building plans, complete with dimensions and measurements, on each product page.) Looking for garden building design inspiration?
2. Log Thickness
We have a comprehensive timber wall thickness guide that’s designed to help homeowners pick the best log thickness for their garden structures. However, if you intend to use your garden building on summer days, then timber that is up to 28 millimetres thick should work just fine. For spring days and summer evenings, 34-millimetre timber is good enough. However, if the structure will be used all year round, then go for 40 millimetres or, if possible, 70 millimetres logs.
3. Windows
When choosing windows for your garden structure, select them according to how you intend to use the building. While plexiglass windows are cost-effective, they offer lesser insulation than glass. Even though single-glazing is warm enough for spring and summer, double-glazing is best for all-year-round use cabins as it provides more warmth. And just like with log thickness, all our products have icons that show the window type – double glazed+, double glazed, single glazed, or plexiglass. Quick Garden also offers a variety of window styles, with options ranging from large single panel, tilt and turn opening windows, and divided panel windows.
4. Longevity
The type of wood you use to build your garden structure will have an impact on how long it lasts according to www.quick-garden.co.uk. Slow-grown trees are denser and far more durable than fast-growing trees. There are a few extra factors that boost longevity. Examples here include pressure-treating foundation joists and using laminated wood as frames for your doors. Also, consider the size of your roof’s purlins – to ensure that you build a garden structure that lasts for decades, consider going for a structure with thicker roof purlins that run from one apex to the other (it is a straightforward mark of durability and quality.
5. Doors
The dimensions of your doors will determine how practical your cabin will be. If the structure is to be used for storage, make sure you consider accessibility – can things like garden equipment and bikes get in and out of the building easily? An important thing to think about is door width. For storage purposes, a double door is your best bet. With a garage, which option between up-and-over doors and front-opening doors will suit your needs best? As is the case with windows, each product page on our website has an icon that specifies the dimensions of the different doors we have to offer.
6. Roof Angle and Flooring
If your roof’s gradient is different from that of surrounding buildings, then your garden structure could end up looking out of place. When building your structure, try matching its roof gradient with that of other buildings nearby. For your convenience, there are icons displayed at the foot of each product page that show the height, overhang, gradient, and exact size (in square meters) of each roof option. As is the case with log thickness, thicker floor materials and ceilings are best for year-round use, whereas thinner materials are perfect for summer.
7. Sustainability
If you are conscious about the environment and would like to get timber that’s not been harvested illegally, then consider going for timber that is FSC certified – it should have an FSC-certified icon. This type of timber used in our products comes from well-managed and sustainable sources.
8. Planning Permission
Planning permissions in the UK vary depending on the type of structure you are looking to have built (for more on this, check out our detailed planning guide by clicking here.) To build a garden structure that’s over 2.5 metres within 2 metres of your boundary, you’ll need to get planning permission before erecting it. Fortunately, we stock a range of garden buildings that are less than 2.5 metres tall. If you plan to have the structure connected to mains electricity or you plan to live in a cabin located in the woods (even the woods are your property), you’ll still need to apply for planning permission.
9. Construction
Most people aren’t DIY enthusiasts while some just don’t have the time to get things done. When shopping for garden building options, Dweller Power suggests considering how easy the options you are considering are to construct. Is the structure you are considering built for someone with do-It-yourself skills? Does its construction require the use of speciality equipment or is professional setting up recommended?
10. Budget
At Quick Garden, we stock garden buildings and cabins of all sizes and budgets. Nevertheless, you are still advised to weigh your options to get a product that suits your taste and budget – there are so many variations to choose from from our list of products and options.
However, to ensure that some products are more affordable, some items do not include floors – which makes them great for placing on existing paved or concrete surfaces. There are even some that do not come with roofing materials for even more cost-saving (these are great for anyone who’d like to finish the roof themselves.) Apart from that, a majority of the higher-priced products – made using 70-millimetre wood with double-glazed windows – are also available in similar designs but with cheaper and thinner wood and single glazing.
