Do you Make the Most of your Garden?

Space! We all wish we had more of it and often we have – right under our noses! We just don’t make use of it.

Think about your garden.  Whether you have a modest plot or vast acres, there’s always more we could do with it.

Many people have a garden far bigger than the footprint of their house, but there’s paper work constantly spread across the kitchen table, or gym equipment tripping you up in the bedroom or guests sleeping on a sofa bed in the lounge…sound familiar?

There is a simple solution!  A garden building could give you the extra room you need and it is certainly a far cheaper and simpler solution than moving to a bigger house!

“I’ve already got a shed”, you say?  Well that’s great for storage but what about having a nice warm space that can be used all year around? It would enable you to enjoy your garden, whatever the weather and, most importantly, make use of space you already have that only gets used during the few weeks of warm weather we have every year.

Many families have grown up offspring who are unable to get on the property ladder but desperately want their own space, so a log cabin is an ideal solution.

At the opposite end of the scale are people with elderly family members who want their independence but need to be close by to be cared for appropriately. Once again, a log cabin with one or two bedrooms is a perfect answer.

Many people have a hobby they would like to devote more time to – painting, sewing, crafting, pottery, stained glass, the list is endless. A garden building means that you have the space to set up a studio and you can pick up or put down your hobby whenever you like, without needing to clear it all away, often the reason it doesn’t get started in the first place and why it doesn’t get done more frequently.

Home offices are becoming popular.  It is speculated garden buildings have saved many marriages by providing a couple with new space which means that paperwork isn’t taking over the whole house anymore!  It’s also useful to have a space separate from the house if you are working from home – fewer distractions in the form of children, chores, television, and the like.

If all of this inspiration now means you can’t decide for which reason you wish to purchase a log cabin, the answer is quite simple – partition.

Ask your garden building designer to design a dual purpose space by partitioning separate areas. You could, for example, have a home office with a separate sleeping area for guests to stay in, or partition a “man cave” area next to a “she shed” to keep every one happy in their own space.

The process of having a garden build built is pretty straight forward in most cases. Firstly you need to decide on where you want the structure and what size you require, then decide on the thickness of the wood. This is very important as chilly days are rather frequent here in Cornwall!

You want to be able to use the room all year round, so the thicker the wood the better really and of course insulation will keep you extra toastie!

Roof covering is also an important consideration as rainy days are also fairly regular in Cornwall, felt covering is a standard option but has a comparatively shorter life span compared to its competitor; rubber. This is usually a ‘one piece’ covering that is glued down securely, ensuring no leaks or lifting.

Next you need to decide where you want your openings – ideally these should be double glazed of course, will secure locks. Dual opening windows are a particularly nice feature as you have the option to tilt them forward for ventilation or swing them wide open on those (currently rare) sunny days.

You may wish to have plumbing and electrics in your garden building so that it is light and bright all year round and has a w/c facilities or a sink/kitchen area.

Finally you need to decide if you would like it painted a certain colour or have a clear wood treatment put on in order to protect it from the elements.

All of the above will need to go on a solid base, of course.  Contact your local garden building supplier for further information.

This blog was provided by Vicky from Garden Buildings Cornwall.