Very long story but due to some family circumstances i need to convert my garage into a room and ensuite for a family member to come and live with us. However what this does mean is that for this to happen i need a man cave / log cabin in the garden, size is going to be 4.5m length and 2.5m wide- has anyone got any similar set ups for inspiration or places to look at? i want something insulated so i can hide out there during the winter and also keep the bikes warm cheers Trev
You might need a custom build - that’s what I did for a classic car / bike solution. I left one side half open for ventilation / light (that faced away from the weather). Does make it look like a birdwatching hide though
If you don’t need a custom build have a look at Dunster House. I built one of theirs at my previous home and had it up and watertight in a day. Approx 15x10ft
That's quite a cool looking space. Doesn't look to be "something insulated so i can hide out there during the winter and also keep the bikes warm" LOL!
Depending on what you want, and where you are, : https://www.willsheds.co.uk/ I bought one of their 'workshops' 6m * 5m Ended up only putting half of it up as we moved and there wasn't enough space at the new place, they will erect for you too but you'll need to lay the base, there will be other suppliers for sure but will give you an idea on price and quality
We had a Dunsters House garden room/gym at our previous home. Upgraded on the insulation and double glazed doors & windows. It took the wife & myself a weekend to get the basic structure up & roof on, built on a level concrete pad I’d prepared. I gave it 3 coats of Cuprinol and when we moved 7 years later it was still in fantastic condition. Great value for money product, though heating them is costly.
Yet another happy Dunster House customer. We put up a 5m x 3m cabin in a couple of days on a concrete base. We didn't go for the insulated logs just the bit of insulation under the floor and on the roof, along with the double glazed door and windows. Expensive when you factor in the base but excellent quality. Cools down overnight but warms up quick enough. If you're serious about a warm/dry workshop garage, then consider Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) on an insulated concrete base - probably overkill and better insulated than the house
We are “down-sizing” into a “no outbuilding” situation from a four bay garage/man cave. Going to have to get very creative in the very limited garden. Was thinking bikes on ground floor, “man cave” upstairs? Anyone seen/tried this?
Depending on where you live, a “garden room” with a roof height sufficient to accommodate a mezzanine floor is unlikely to be “permitted development” so could require local planning permission. This link, https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/outbuildings/planning-permission, be of use. Andy
thanks all, i have spotted the dunster house versions and at the moment they have a discount on which is useful. I was going to go with the fully insulated version ie walls and floor and roof just trying to weigh up how if i needed to reinforce a wall i could - you cant physically go and see them
Sorry, couldn’t add text. This was the Dunsters House building we had. Nice solid construction with only minimal movement in the timber in the 8years we used it, door and window frames still worked well and quite secure. If you wanted to increase the internal wall then a 12mm or 18mm would do the job
I build my own from scratch. I would build it in panel sections so it can be dismantled and moved (or sold) if required. I'd buy sawmill timber, not imported pressure treated crap, and treat with creosote. 3x1 stud walls with PIR insulation in between and ply-lined on the inside. Feather-edge of shiplap on the outside and an Onduline roof. If you plan it carefully you can build wiring into the wall panels as you go with junction boxes to connect it up afterwards. Pre-made kits are tempting as someone else does all the work but you pay a premium and they're built down to a lighter weight than I would like for ease of manufacture.
I’ve also recently built a Dunster house cabin. Insulated floor and roof. Added Wi-Fi, sky and air conditioning too. Like a sauna in the winter and a fridge in the summer.