Building a Garden Office Advice Required

[Markymark]

Hi All

I am attempting to build a 14' x 10' Garden Office from 2"x4" Frames and a Pitched roof. I have never undertaken such a task and have downloaded a basic frame shed plan to give me an idea how to form a window opening and a door opening in a stud wall. I am going to clad it with ship lap (Tanalised) and then fit kingspan or equivelent batts in the wall and then clad internally with 1/4" Ply. Please can anyone advise me the best way to form a pitched roof and how to cut the correct angles for the roof timbers? Any other hints and tips would be welcomed as I do beleive in learning from others mistakes.

Another challenge is that my back garden is quite steep and requires at least four posts/ columns to sit the floor frame on to level it up. Can anyone advise what the best method of installing these would be. Cost sensitive of course.

Awaiting your comments

Mark

 

[laird]

Starting at the bottom, I think you'll need a lot more than 4 posts to level it. A simple way is to dig drainage pipe (min 8" dia) in - the depth depends upon the soil and slope - and fill with postcrete.

 

[cambournepete]

I don't want to be a party pooper - but check whether you need planning permission - we're inspecting a plan for a garden office at our next council planning meeting.

 

[Markymark]

Thanks

I did check with planning and they say I can put a shed in the rear garden with a height of less than 3 metres as long as it is more than 2 metres from the boundary.


I do like the idea with the concrete piles. Not sure I can get deep enough as the ground has a lot of flint in it. What do you think to stacking concrete blocks set in motor at each corner and maybe in the centre also?

Mark

 

[jasonB]

If its going to be 10ft wide then you won't get much of a fall on the roof if you are to keep it below 3.0m, maybe a monopitch would be better and it will also depend wher they measure the height from if its on sloping ground.

You would still need to dig out some soil to get a firm footing for the block piers to sit on so either way its going to involve some digging. And remember the longer the span between piers the thicker your floor joists will need to be thus reducing overall height.

Jason

 

[jasonB]

Just remembered this series of photos of a nice office build may be of some use, can't remember who it was now may have been a member here once or on another forum

http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd6/ ... ?start=all

Jason

 

[laird]

Thanks
.....................I do like the idea with the concrete piles. Not sure I can get deep enough as the ground has a lot of flint in it. What do you think to stacking concrete blocks set in motor at each corner and maybe in the centre also?

Mark

Do you have an HSS or similar near you ? Hire a petrol auger, strain taking fence post digger. 1 day should do it. I'd dtill be looking at posts a lot closer together than 7 feet, maybe 18"/2feet tops.

 

[chipchaser]

Hi Mark,

what is the slope on your site and which way will the building sit relative to the slope?

When you say needs 4 posts were you thinking one at each corner?

I guess you don't want a solid concrete slab base but are looking at timber joists with a ply floor.

What sort of stuff might go into the proposed garden office? I am thinking in terms of weight and the floor loading.

Graham

 

[Deejay]

Mornin' Mark

Have you seen this sticky ...

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/buil ... 39389.html

I don't think Mike is very active here, but you could try The Wood Haven site.

When you've decided on the size and type of roof etc.

http://www.blocklayer.com/

might be useful.

Don't forget to post pictures.

Cheers

Dave

 

[chipchaser]

HI Mark,

this site has tables for floor and ceiling joists and rafters

http://www.home-extension.co.uk/tech2.html

this site has a calculator for floor joists and one for roofing but, as far as I can see, covering quantities rather than structural sizes

http://www.tommy-software.co.uk/

Hope that is of some use

Graham

 

[Markymark]

Thanks everyone

This is a great help. I feel I still need some help with the foundations and floor joist layout. The Office is going to house the usual Desk and 4 draw filing cabinet. PC and Printer and may be a two seater settee.

Any more help gratefully recieved.


PS Like the calculators [/code]

 

[Markymark]

Hi Mark,

what is the slope on your site and which way will the building sit relative to the slope?

When you say needs 4 posts were you thinking one at each corner?

I guess you don't want a solid concrete slab base but are looking at timber joists with a ply floor.

What sort of stuff might go into the proposed garden office? I am thinking in terms of weight and the floor loading.

Graham

Hi Graham

I am trying to work out how to attach photos. The back garden is on an incline up to a small coppice which is where I want to site the time framed office on a floor made of joists and a frame. This is to be suspended and levelled by what ever means possible. My initial thought was three concrete piers at the front and the rear of the shed would almost be sitting on the ground. I am a novice at this so need some coaching. I was going to hire a builder to make the block or concrete piers to sit the frame on. I think I can go to 3m high as I am more than 2 metres away from the boundary.

Thanks Mark

 

[Deejay]

Morning Mark

I am trying to work out how to attach photos.

See ...

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/addi ... 14776.html

Cheers

Dave

 

[Markymark]

Ok Here goes

I have posted three photos of the potential site of the garden office.

Not sure if you can get the feel for the incline. The office is going in a clearing in the copse. There will be roots and plenty of Stones and Flint to deal with.

What I would like to know is using 2x6 or 2x8 construction grade timber how many concrete filled posts would I need to create to sit the suspended timber floor on.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/51385874@N02/?saved=1


Thanks

Mark[/url]

 

[ByronBlack]

Ok Here goes

I have posted three photos of the potential site of the garden office.

Not sure if you can get the feel for the incline. The office is going in a clearing in the copse. There will be roots and plenty of Stones and Flint to deal with.

What I would like to know is using 2x6 or 2x8 construction grade timber how many concrete filled posts would I need to create to sit the suspended timber floor on.

Thanks

Mark

Mark - you need to put the link to the actual image in the brackets rather than the page url..

 

[Markymark]

Thanks. Tried the img tag but all it did was put img and /img at either end of the text.

Mark

 

[big soft moose]

Thanks. Tried the img tag but all it did was put img and /img at either end of the text.

Mark

they need to be in square brackets and also not to have any spaces between the img tag and the file url (also the url must end in the file extension ie .jpeg, .gif, etc )

 

[Markymark]

Thanks to ByronBlack the images are now published. See previous page for location of shed.

Mark

 

[jasonB]

I would check again with your local authority as they may well measure the 3.0m height from the lowest ground level, so whats 3.0m at the back of the office could be getting close to 4.0m at the front. It may mean you have to cut into the bank so you can have 3.0m all the way, it wouldn't need a retaining wall as the ground could be angled back.

I would have thought one pier in each corner and one mid span of the long edges would do you, so six in total. Double up 8x2s to form a perimiter beam and then use joist hangers to support 8x2 joists spaning the 3.0m width.

Jason

 

[Markymark]

Thanks Jason

I feel thats good advice. Do you think 6x 8" circular concrete piers will suffice assuming they go deep enough to reach clay or bed rock? The use of drainage tubes as formers or do you think it will need bigger mass filled holes and a larger pier?

I am checking with Planning and Building control. I await there decision.

The next help I will need is completing a Mono pitch roof. What Pitch and what coverings?

Thanks for the help so far all.

Mark