Do you work from home? Many people find it very difficult to separate home life from work. If you’re one of them, don’t despair, a garden office might just solve all your problems. Don’t believe me? Try reading our article on why you need a garden office. 

If you’ve decided such an office sounds perfect for you, it’s time to start doing your research. There are a few things you need to know before buying a garden office. 

Let’s get started. 

What Is A Garden Office?

Before getting a garden office, you might want to make sure you know exactly what you’ll be signing up for. To keep it short and simple, a garden office is a building in your garden that is used as a place of work. 

This office space is usually separate from the main house and serves as a dedicated place of work. As long as this building is similar in size and construction to a normal shed, you don’t usually require building permission to set it up. This means it’s much simpler than traditional home extensions, less messy and takes much less time to get a result. 

Now that you know what exactly this building represents, let’s look into what you need to know before building a garden office. 

Before buying a garden office

Getting a garden office isn’t something you should just do on impulse. There are quite a few tidbits to consider beforehand. If you don’t want to regret your decision later, make sure to pay close attention to the following points.

  • Have you decided on a budget?

The first thing you need to do is decide on how much money you’re willing to spend on your new garden office. If you don’t know, you might end up in a situation where you find your dream structure, but you just can’t afford it. 

By setting out a budget from the start, you will avoid financial problems as well as disappointment in the near future. Your budget will also help you to decide on the size of your new workspace as well as what will go in it. 

Since you’ll be the only one to use it, you might not want it to be too big. A smaller structure will be cosier and will also cost less. This means you can spend more on the furniture and other decorations for your new office space. 

  • Do you have the space?

If you have a very small garden, a garden office obviously may not be an option. Before you even consider getting one, you might want to take some measurements. 

Garden offices placed in the right location can add to your existing garden. If you think of a garden shed, it’s not necessarily a nice picture that comes to mind. Fortunately, garden offices are much more modern and come in many designs. 

This means that you will need to figure out the size that suits your garden before you start thinking of buying a garden office. If you get something too big, it might take up all the space and make the whole place feel cramped. 

You will also need to think about placement. Many people suggest placing a garden office away from the main building somewhere at the end of your garden. This may work for some, but it might not be what you need. Make sure to take into consideration that you’ll need to somehow supply power to your workspace as well. 

  • What kind of access is there to your garden?

A garden office can be delivered already constructed, or it can come in bits and pieces. If you have easy access to your backyard like a large gate, it should be easy to deliver a fully constructed garden office. If there’s only a small gate, it might have to come in bits and pieces. In some cases, there’s no access. In this case, some cranes might be required. 

You need to take note of the installation requirements since they might add to the costs. You’ll need to budget for it. 

  • Check the planning rules

In most cases, you won’t require planning permissions to set up a garden office. If you’re not sure, however, it’s always better to check since there can always be exceptions to the rule. More often than not, garden offices fall within permitted development. 

Make sure the following points apply to your garden office if you want to keep it within the permitted limits:

  • It’s a single-story structure with a maximum height of 4 meters for a dual pitched roof or 3 meters for any other roof.  The maximum height for the eves is 2.5 meters. 
  • The structure must be at least 2 meters from the boundary
  • There are no verandas or balconies exceeding 0.3 meters
  • No more than half of the land around the original house may be covered by a new structure
  • The new structure will not be on land forward of a wall making up the principal elevation of the house. 

It’s always important to check since some local authorities may not view working from home 5 days a week as permitted for a garden office. If you’ll only be using it every other day, you shouldn’t have problems. 

  • Do you need to do any construction?

You will need to do a small amount for construction to put up a garden office. It is absolutely vital to have the correct foundations for this building if you want it to stand the test of time. That means preparing the area where the building will be placed. 

To do that you will need to read up on laying a foundation and get to work doing just that. The company from whom you’re buying the garden office might also be able to help you out. 

  • Consider your day to day needs

Before ultimately choosing a garden office, make sure you know exactly what you need it to do. If you only need the space for work once or twice a week, you might not want to get the biggest one available within budget. If you’ll be spending a lot of time there, however, you might need a bit more space. 

You’ll also need to consider what needs to go in there. All your work equipment and furniture need to fit quite comfortably. It won’t help anyone if you feel trapped in there. 

The last need you’ll need to consider is how far away you want to place it. If you’ll be using the building often, you might not want it to be too far from the main house, especially if you need to move between them often. You’ll also need to consider how to get internet and electricity to the garden office, so you might not want it to be too much of a stretch. 

  • Do you know the style you want?

Before buying a garden office, you will need to decide on the style. They come in many shapes and sizes and you’ll need to decide which of those fit best into your garden aesthetics. 

You might have a modern style or a more ancient look. What you ultimately decide on is all up to your tastes. Just know that it’s not easy to change once done so make sure you choose wisely. 

  • Will your garden office be used year-round?

Another thing to consider is how you’ll be using this office. Do you need it only once in a while or will you be using it almost every day? It’s also important to consider the seasons. 

If you’ll be using the garden office year-round, you want to make sure that it’s properly insulated. That means it will retain heat in winter and stay cool in summer. You will also need to think about installing heating as well as cooling systems to cater to all kinds of weather phenomena. 

  • Talk to an expert

Not exactly sure what will work best for your garden? Try talking to an expert. Experts in the field should be able to help you to pick the right structure for your backyard. They can also help with instructions to lay the foundation and help with fine planning details like how to get the building where it needs to go. 

In short, if you have questions, ask. No question is ever a silly question so if you’re not sure, contact us before it gives you some grey hairs… the stress isn’t worth it. 

  • Go and see a garden office building before you buy

In some cases, it’s possible to go and view an already set up structure before you buy. If you’re not sure if this is an option for you, make sure to contact the company you plan to buy from. 

Some companies have demo structures you can view, interact with, and experience before you buy. This will help you to evaluate the quality of the materials used, the functionality of the structure and get a feel if it’s the right thing for you. 

  • Take your time

This might be the most important point, take your time. There is absolutely no rush. You don’t have to decide right now. Take some time to think of exactly what you want. You can even draw up some plans and do the measurements. 

This will give you time to do the proper amount of research, decide what you really want and get your finances in order. Once you’re ready, you can go for it without any regrets. 

FAQs

Are garden offices a good investment?

In most cases, yes. They add value to your existing property and have a lot of benefits. If you want a healthy work environment without a lot of commuting, garden offices are the way to go. 

What base is needed for a garden office?

Concrete pile foundations, a cross between concrete slabs and plinth foundation, is a popular choice for garden office foundations. The foundation blocks will be evenly spaced under the building. The size and depth of the foundation will depend on the size of the building as well as the conditions of the immediate environment. 

How long do garden offices last?

25+ years. Garden offices use good quality materials that are designed to last a few decades with minimal maintenance. With a bit of maintenance and care, your garden office may last even longer. 

Final Thoughts

Now that you know a bit more before buying a garden office, it’s time to make your final decisions. Remember there’s no pressure so if it takes you a few months or even years, nobody is judging. Once you’re ready, you can make your choice and have your garden office set up in no time

Happy garden office shopping!