Garage doors are virtually the only moving parts in a garage although if they are electric there are a fair few components that can go wrong. Repair is possible, but, as with anything mechanical, regular maintenance makes repair less necessary. Types of garage door and opener We have already covered [...]
It’s said that size is everything but is that true with a greenhouse? Well, yes it is, although that doesn’t necessarily mean that bigger is better. It means that getting the right size for you, your garden and your gardening interests is very important, whether you end up with something [...]
A greenhouse is a great way to grow flowers and other plants all year round. If you are considering buying a greenhouse, you will probably know there are many different options when it comes to deciding what type of greenhouse to buy. Once you have decided on the shape and [...]
"Of course, this story is really anything to do with us," said Ian Baker*, as we stood in his walled garden in the Cotswolds. We were looking at the right-hand side wall, as it ran down the hill, in a market town where wool trading, then milling, had been the [...]
We've already written about shelving in greenhouse, so this article is more about closed storage, cupboards and the like. Shelves are more popular in greenhouses for many reasons, not least that they allow more light into the growing space. But there is a case for closed storage as well. Security [...]
If putting up a garden building isn't a possibility where you live, have you considered putting up a patio awning or canopy? Garden Building not an Option? For many people there aren't the funds for a garden building, conservatory or extension at the back of the house. Or perhaps the [...]
Building a lean-to greenhouse may be an excellent solution if you are trying to fit a greenhouse into an awkwardly shaped garden or back yard. The idea is to use a wall, either a garden wall or a free standing wall surrounding the garden, as the back wall of the [...]
There is a huge variety of greenhouses on the market and the right choice depends a great deal on budget and size. But when it comes to the materials, with a few exceptions the choice tends to come down to wood or aluminium for the frame and glass or plastic [...]
The side return is the name for the wide path that runs down the side of the kitchen in many terraced properties built in the first half of the previous century and the latter half of the nineteenth century. They were particularly predominant in semi-detached or terraced homes built during [...]
Erecting a lean-to shed can be a great use of space, particularly if you have a narrow passageway or side return in your garden. You can either make it from scratch or adapt a self-assembly shed, effectively splitting it in half. There are also some garden shed suppliers who produce [...]
First time greenhouse owners might be a little confused by the need to heat a greenhouse. After all, isn’t the main point that they make use of the sun's rays to heat up the inside, to grow plants earlier in the season? Importance of Heating and Cooling That's true, but [...]
So you've decided whether to have a wood framed or aluminium greenhouse, you've chosen between glass or plastic for the glazing, you've picked the site, laid the foundation and erected the greenhouse. Job done, right? Well, not exactly. Depending on exactly which plants you are going to grow you will [...]
If you don't have the room for a full-size wood or aluminium framed greenhouse you can still get the benefits on a smaller scale by putting up any one of a number of small glass or plastic glazed constructions. It doesn't just have to be because of space. You might [...]
As we pointed out in our article on the selection and erection of wooden greenhouses, many of the issues are the same regardless of the choice of material. The factors surrounding the location, size, price and shape of any greenhouse are largely the same whether it is made from wood [...]
There's no doubting that a wooden greenhouse looks better and more traditional than an aluminium framed one. It's also intrinsically warmer so it's more pleasant to be in. But what sort of wooden greenhouse do you want in your garden and what's involved in erecting one? There are a variety [...]
It might be because of the uncertain summer weather in the United Kingdom that we are more likely to try things that will allow us to enjoy the garden, even if the heavens open. But it's not just rain we have to cope with, there's wind and sometimes even hail [...]
Working at home is becoming more common these days and garden offices are a relatively cheap way of adding the office space a home needs. Year Round Garden Buildings Many businesses start out in the corner of the lounge, on the landing, or in a spare bedroom but garden offices [...]
Many people see the word gazebo today and immediately think of a small plastic or canvas tent with no sides, and that’s exactly what we’ll be covering in this article. Permanent Gazebos Gazebos were originally small pavilions in public and private parks, and of course many of them still exist [...]
Probably the first garden building that pops into your mind is the humble garden shed, or perhaps a greenhouse. But there is a massive number of garden buildings on the market now, big to small, cheap to expensive. And they are used for so many different purposes nowadays too. As [...]
A pergola can be a stunning addition to any garden and it a very versatile one too. This article will cover pergolas and other similar garden landscaping structures that are used to make walkways or divide sections of gardens from each other. Landscaping History Pergolas developed from natural occurring green [...]
If you want to build a garden building that will be warm, dry and stand the test of time, blocks and bricks are your best bet. You may not need planning permission either, or building regulations approval, so that makes the project a lot easier than ‘proper’ building, like an [...]
Garden buildings are gaining in popularity as they become cheaper in real terms and we seem to gather more stuff that needs storing. We are also trying to use our gardens for longer than the usual summer in the United Kingdom will allow. So which are the top five garden [...]
Polytunnels have proved to be very hardy in their relatively short life as garden buildings. Many people worried that they would act like tents and be carried away by the first strong wind but that hasn't been the case. Get the Correct Grade Cover Of course a polytunnel is not [...]
Choosing garage doors used to be simple. It was a case of either traditional wooden double doors that swing open or, more common these days, a one piece up-and-over door. And the material choice was simple too, traditional swinging double doors would be wood and the newer up-and-over doors were [...]
Electric gates are becoming increasingly popular, mostly for security reasons, but also for convenience. If you already have gates at the end of your drive then you can fit an electric gate opener. If you have the DIY skills it is possible to buy an electric gate opener kit and [...]
A polytunnel is, quite simply, a bigger version of a cloche. Whereas a cloche is normally used to protect a small number of plants or an individual plant, a polytunnel covers a much larger area of your garden. In construction terms is a row of hoops with a plastic cover [...]
Electric door openers are becoming cheaper and more easily available although the up-and-over door is far more popular and easier to convert. This doesn't mean that traditional garage double doors can't be electrified, it just means that there are fewer options on the market, making them more expensive, and they [...]
Whether you have a garden shed or a greenhouse you will need foundations to support it. What kind of foundations you need will depend on the size and type of structure you have in your garden. Preparing the Construction Site For any garden building you will first need to clear [...]
Why should you consider a wigwam or other type of large tent? Some people don't have the space or the funds to build a permanent structure in their garden and others may find they need extra storage for only a short period of time. Whatever your reason you may find [...]
One-piece up and over garage doors don't usually need a lot of maintenance but, as with many other aspects of maintaining garden buildings and outbuildings, a little every now and then keeps them in good nick. If you don't look after your garage doors they become noisy at first and [...]
Choosing furniture for a garden building depends a great deal on the use of the building and the construction method used. For example, soft furnishings are likely to get damp if left in a wooden summerhouse over winter yet would be perfectly all right in a brick built, insulated studio [...]
When you're planning a garden building you're likely to be looking to put windows in it, but what type of windows? Basically your choice is between plastic or glass. For the purposes of this article we're going to ignore greenhouses, this is more about wooden garden buildings. Glass vs Plastic [...]
Electric garage doors are getting more popular as they come down in price and more models reach the market. Once the preserve of the rich and famous, they are now within reach of the majority of households with garages. People can now take advantage of the convenience and security that [...]
What do you do if you have a three acre paddock in front of your house and two young boys desperate to get out and play? Well, if you're Alan Gerrard you use it as an excuse to build a huge tree house. Perfect Setting "There's a number of things [...]
In the search for new and different garden buildings the yurt has gained in popularity since a number of companies began manufacturing in the United Kingdom in the 1990s. They can be made from natural materials which fit with increasing ecological awareness. What is a Yurt? Yurt is the name [...]
There's been a great deal of innovation in the garden toy market over the last ten to twenty years with all sorts of climbing frames and other large toys that will complement a wendy house, summerhouse or other garden building. The main choice is whether to choose toys made from [...]
Getting mains electricity to any garden building can be a real pain. Using solar power means that you can cut down on all the hassle of running cables through the garden and tapping into the domestic power supply. But are the available solar powered products good enough? Running Electrical Cables [...]
Maintaining a garage is vital but how you do it will depend on the material it is constructed from and what you use it for. For example a garage that's dedicated to protecting and securing a valuable car will be maintained in a different way to one that has become [...]
Roofing felt is very common on garden buildings, particularly wooden ones, as it's cheap, lightweight, easy to lay and remains waterproof as long as it is looked after. But there's the rub, it's not as resilient to the elements as proper tiles or solid roofing sheets. That's where regular maintenance [...]
Garden sheds are getting more popular as modern living appears to demand that we all have more stuff to store. Regular maintenance of a garden shed makes a lot of sense as it can seriously improve its lifespan. Work From the Ground Up The lifetime of a wooden garden shed [...]
Metal garden buildings are durable and long-lasting as long as they have been proofed against rust and other corrosion. Maintenance should be straightforward and repair should really only be necessary if damage has occurred or the building is very old. Keeping Metal Buildings Straight The sheets of metal that make [...]
Metal-framed greenhouses are light and relatively cheap compared to their wooden alternatives although harder to heat and more prone to condensation. Regardless of the preference for wood or metal frames there's no doubt that regular maintenance and care of any greenhouse will make it last a lot longer. Corrosion on [...]
The main point about plastic sheds and outdoor storage cupboards is that they are cheap, certainly compared to wooden alternatives, so we shouldn’t really expect too much of them. They are not expected to be able to withstand a great deal of shock or damage but it’s unusual to be [...]
Wooden greenhouses have made a bit of a comeback in recent years thanks to cheap imports. Aluminium framed greenhouses had dominated the cheaper end of the market for many years because of their light weight and durability but a wooden greenhouse has a lot more charm and is generally considered [...]
A summerhouse is a valuable addition to a home and a garden. It gives you and your family a place to relax and enjoy the summer. It can provide shelter that allows you to extend your enjoyment of the garden for longer than the climate of the United Kingdom would [...]
As more and more people in the United Kingdom warm to the idea of using their garden as an extension of their house, hot tubs and whirlpool baths are getting more popular. In this article we'll focus on what you need to do in order to prepare your garden for [...]
Installing a Jacuzzi or other whirlpool spa pool in a garden isn't particularly difficult and in many cases the supplier of the pool will install it for you. But there may still be some groundworks necessary to provide a flat platform and access to the necessary utilities. Whirlpool Baths and [...]
Gardens are getting smaller these days and many homes don’t have the space for a large shed, garage or garden studio. Modern houses tend to be built with the premise in mind that people don’t have the time for lots of gardening. No Space For Garden Buildings Many older properties [...]
A dovecote in the garden can be a delightful addition, whether it attracts birds or not. Dovecotes can be bought from garden centres or from some garden building companies, come in all shapes and sizes and can easily be made by those with rudimentary carpentry skills. History of Pigeonaires and [...]
With the current growth in sales of wood burning stoves and boilers a wood store could be a very handy asset for a garden. The interest comes from two areas, cost and environmental. Ecological and Financial Drivers With gas and electricity prices soaring in recent years, a wood burning stove [...]
Putting a studio in a garden is an excellent idea if you have a hobby or even a craft-based business that needs to be in a separate room. For crafts that can be messy or smelly, like painting, pottery or dyeing clothes, a studio in the garden can not only [...]
No, it would almost certainly not be ok to build a conservatory on land that a covenant reserves for gardening.But that doesn't necessarily mean that your mother may not be able to have her conservatory. Covenant Law – A True Minefield The first thing to point out here is that [...]
Garden buildings need a suitable roof to protect the contents from wind and rain and apart from greenhouses there's a multitude of choices for roofing materials. Your choice should be dictated by cost, the size of the garden building, and the use to which is it going to be put. [...]
Faced with a need for a potting shed for the vegetable plot in his garden and a demand for a summerhouse from his wife, David Enstone* looked for a way of achieving it as cheaply and as ecologically aware as possible. "As we're tenants, there's little point in ploughing lots [...]
Many garden buildings are fine without heating, sheds and summer houses are good examples. But what if you want to make use of those buildings all through the year and when the sun goes down as well? With the growing tendency for householders to use garden buildings as extensions of [...]
Sheds and other garden buildings for storage can be simple structures but if you're going to start keeping animals then you need to build shelters that can keep them warm and safe. We're not really talking about hutches for rodents but more the sort of animals that you might keep [...]
It's getting more and more popular these days to have chickens in a garden or back yard and you can't really keep them without some sort of poultry house to keep them safe and warm over night. But they aren't the only poultry that are suitable in this context, ducks [...]
As more and more people return to using gardens for food production, as well as pleasant places to pass the time, there is renewed focus on garden buildings being used as storage places for produce. One way of using a shed or other garden building as part of the storage [...]
This question had us scrabbling back to the new planning regulations that came into force in England and Wales in October 2008. Outbuilding Planning Regulations Our gut feeling was that the regulations are intended to apply to the most forward part of the building, which is usually the house, but [...]
Once you’ve got your garden building in place, you’ll want to make sure that it is kept in good condition for as long as possible. This is particularly important if your garden building is constructed using timber. The most common types of timber used in the frames of garden structures [...]
You may have already ordered your garden building, having chosen and decided on every important detail such as flooring material, roof tiles, timber paint colour, interior furnishing and even the smaller details such as window locks, door knobs and exactly which door mat you’ll have down. However, the chances are [...]
When choosing or constructing a garden building, you’ll find that there are many different flooring materials on offer. The external part of a garden building is pretty easy – a weatherproof tile or wood patio decking is the norm, as these have to be functional as well as attractive. But [...]
Insulation and ventilation is pretty much taken for granted in the home. But what about those garden buildings you intend to use throughout the year? Without heating, insulation or ventilation, they can be out of bounds at certain times of the year. But if you want to maintain a pleasant, [...]
Whether you use your garden building as a place to relax, a home office, as a play area for the children, if you plan on using it throughout the year, then you will probably want to install a heating and lighting system. Bare brick walls and especially self-build timber-framed garden [...]
You might be considering constructing a new building in your garden. And of course you’ll want to do everything properly, from having accurate plans drawn up, laying the right foundations, to choosing the right materials, waterproofing and insulating as appropriate. But sometimes the most daunting aspect of constructing at home [...]
A Conservation Area is a designated location that is desirable because of the (mainly) historical or special architecture situated there. So it’s not surprising to learn that the UK is home to a plethora of Conservation Areas, thanks to its rich and colourful cultural and social history. Although an historic [...]
There’d be nothing worse than constructing a beautiful, fully-functional garden building, only to be told that it must be pulled down or considerably altered and rectified because it contravenes planning laws. Yet, if you don’t apply for planning permission, this could actually happen. If you are in any doubt of [...]
Your family car will definitely benefit from being parked within a sheltered area, particularly during the harsher winter months. Wind, rain and strong sunshine can all contribute to the decaying and wearing of your car’s engine, seals and bodywork. Therefore having a sheltered area for parking up is one sure-fired [...]
Garden buildings are excellent additions to your property. But if you really want to increase their usefulness to your gardening, you will probably want to install electricity and water. You can always get by for a while with an extension cord and a hosepipe, but this sort of temporary arrangement [...]
Would you like to have functional and nice-looking garden buildings without spending a lot of money? There's no reason why a limited budget should prevent you from having an enjoyable and useful garden. By contributing some labour, salvaging building materials you can reuse and planning carefully, building on a budget [...]
Gardens are beautiful in their own right. But the effective use of garden walls can enhance your garden's natural beauty. They allow you to segment your garden into different outdoor rooms, they provide increased privacy and can even shield you from the bitter north wind. Why Create a Feature Garden [...]
You may not have realised just how versatile a treehouse in your garden can be. For children, they provide fantasy and adventure playhouses. For adults, a treehouse offers relaxation and escape from the pressures of the day. If your garden is blessed with the right kind of tree, designing and [...]
A smokehouse is a small house or enclosure used to smoke meat. If you fancy smoked meat and fish, or even if you are looking for a way to preserve meats at home, you might be interested in learning how to construct a smoke house for your garden. Purchasing a [...]
Did you know that there's actually a difference between greenhouses and hothouses? The idea behind both is similar. They provide an enclosed garden space and allows you to grow plants that would not survive on their own outside in the local climate. These buildings are also useful for "forcing," which [...]
Is it time to build a new shed or some other type of garden building? Are you keen to do your bit for the environment as well? Then you should seriously consider building using reclaimed materials. Why Use Reclaimed Materials? When you take construction materials that have been previously used [...]
If you have the spirit of a true gardener, you might want to consider having a green roof on your garden shed. When you construct a green roof, you transform a plain, functional surface into a living texture that is both beautiful and beneficial. This extra expanse of flowers and [...]
Whether you are concerned about the effects of global climate change or just tired of paying high prices for water from the mains, you should learn more about how to harvest rainwater. The idea is simple. Thousands of litres of water go down the drain every time there is rain. [...]
Have you considered a pre-fabricated structure for your next garden building? There is growing interest in pre-fabricated structures in the UK. Although this construction method can be used for practically any type of building, it is seeing greatest use in smaller structures like garden buildings. Large portions of a building [...]
Until recently, the use of steel for framing was limited to commercial or industrial construction. However, steel framed buildings are becoming more popular and more widespread throughout the UK, including the residential sector. Garden buildings are no exception to this trend. Several garden buildings can now be purchased with steel [...]
The idea of a home office can be very attractive. Working from home can slash the cost of petrol and transform your arduous commute into a short shuffle down the hall. Between the development of technology and continuing globalisation, there's actually very little reason to travel to a centralised office [...]
Although a house of straw may not be part of your vision for the future, the concept is gaining ground among those in the natural/sustainable building movement. Manufacture and transport of construction materials is responsible for up to half of all greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, western-style dwellings consume up [...]
As energy costs rise and environmental damage mounts, it is essential to find environmentally friendly ways to live and work. One of the easiest ways to have a personal positive impact is to build an eco-friendly garden building. By using a range of environmental products, it's possible for each individual [...]
For the gardening aficionado, a potting shed is more of a necessity than a luxury. Potting sheds are used as an additional workspace, their function being more definitive than your average shed. Whilst the more compact potting sheds are used as a place to store all things gardening related such [...]
When considering how to design a garden room extension to your home, the most important issue to keep in mind is how will it add to your home's value. Garden rooms tend to add more value than a conservatory, as they are seen as a true extension to your home. [...]
Children love to have a space of their own, an area where their imagination and creativity can have free reign. As it's often difficult to accomplish this indoors because of limited spaces and stainable surfaces, a playhouse for the children is a nearly perfect solution. Playhouses are available in a [...]
The British orangery has its roots in the 17th century. The building of orangeries was taken up by the nobility in England who wanted to cultivate orange trees in the cool climate of Britain. Although today's orangery may or may not hold budding orange trees, the modern usage of the [...]
A gazebo provides a more dramatic focal point to your outdoor landscaping than a patio or deck alone. More than just a design element, gazebos are functional too. They provide a covered space for eating outdoors and a protected place for leisure and relaxation in a natural setting. Some sources [...]
If a garden room brings the outdoors inside, then a summerhouse brings the indoors outside. Imagine being able to enjoy the beauty of an outdoor garden without being affected by inclement weather. One landscaping expert has described the summerhouse as being closely related to the garden shed, but with less [...]
Building a home annexe is one way to create more space within the boundaries of your property. It’s also a great way to maintain a degree of separation or privacy for the annexe building’s occupants, whilst retaining a strong link to the main heart of the family home. For this [...]
The humble shed is perhaps one of the most versatile of all garden buildings. You’d be hard pushed to find a British garden that isn’t also playing host to a shed. When you consider the popularity of sheds, it’s not then surprising to learn that for the average shed-buying consumer, [...]
The log cabin is a fantastic addition to any garden and home. Log cabins can be converted into a fully functioning and versatile living space to suit you and your family’s needs. Desperate for more room for the kids? A log cabin can provide you with the extra breathing space. [...]
Conservatories are an extremely popular addition to many homes across the UK. Since the luxury-loving Victorians boosted their popularity, they have come to serve as light, bright multi-functional rooms that allow us to enjoy the delights of outside, whilst being sheltered and protected inside. Conservatories tend to be multipurpose, and [...]
The Finnish people definitely got it right when they invented outdoor sauna rooms! A sauna is perfect for cleansing, relaxing and calming both body and mind. And what better retreat from the average fast-paced, stressful and hectic modern lifestyle, than a home sauna in your garden? How Does An Outdoor [...]
It is an unfortunate fact that British weather is just not ideal for year long enjoyment of an outdoor swimming pool. Even if the pool is heated, you won’t be able to get out at certain times of the year without enduring icy, sub-zero temperatures! Continuously erecting a gazebo during [...]
