Looking for someone who can design and build workshop shed

7 years ago

Can anyone recommend someone who can design and build a workshop shed. I'm not sure whether to look for a landscaper or someone in design and build.

I'm looking to build a custom designed contemporary workshop for doing carpentry and related tasks. We are based near Croydon.

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PRO

Create Perfect

7 years ago

Hi Sevenupcan.

I would agree with man about the house, that you need to get a great carpenter who can build it for you, to your needs and requirements.

We offer a design service where we could come and take a look for you, to discuss your needs in more detail. We would work with you to design the unit and get 3D's drawn up to allow you to visualise and check the designs. We can then arrange/help you find a reliable carpenter to build it for you.

Our packages are competitively priced and include a free consultation if you wanted to drop me a message.

All the best, Gina

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Comments (9)

PRO
User
7 years ago
I think i'd probably approach a good Carpenty company, they would most certainly be able to build it, and have some good ideas on what would be suitable / of good use for you.

Is there a particular reason why you cannot buy an 'off the shelf' workshop, after all, it's what's going in it that's the most imortant ( with that kind of use in mind ), not so much what it looks like. It would depend on what you're making as to what tools and machines you need, so make sure you've got room to work on the machines, or move the machines about ( i have to move my Flat bed saw quite often, it's a big beast on wheels ).

There are plenty of places to buy, such as Garden Buildings Direct, Dunster House and Tunstall garden buildings direct
Gavin McFarland
Original Author
7 years ago
I wanted something custom because I would like it to fit with the rest of our house and garden and none of the pre-made options I could find suited my needs. Having said that maybe I just need to keep looking. Thanks for the comments and links.
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PRO
User
7 years ago
What is it about the 'off the shelf' ones that you don't like? You do need to take in to account the cost versus the overall increase in value to your home. After all, we are talking about a workshop here, not a fully insulated home office / seperate guest room, that would add the most value in the long run.

A workshop to me is a functional space for manual labour. I do a lot of carpentry as it's my passion in life amongst other things ( re-building constantly my AC Cobra ), so, i'ts dirty, covered in saw dust even with extraction machines on, and oil etc

So, my question, can we not find a way to buy an 'off the shelf' one, and then adapt it to fit in with your home and garden? It would be considerably cheaper than paying for a 'Design and custom build' option. Let's say the average off the shelf is around 5-7K, surely a design and build option must be nearer to £20k.

I agree that if you were going to build in brick etc like we have, with the outside rendered to match the house, then it does add the value back, is that more of the kind of thing you wanted, as it's a proper building.

I do understand the need for aesthetically pleasing, we live in an old 1850 cottage and everything we've done outside had to fit in and look as if it were always there to some extent, as it was of particular importance to us. Therefore, even the 3 car carport had to be custom made out of reclaimed timber and was then hand carved wtih a rope detail by my wife, the summer house is connected to this and is of the same ilk.

So,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what is it that you actually would like?
Gavin McFarland
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you very much Hugh for your interest and help. I agree with all your points. I was considering contacting a local company to help me build the workshop but since then I have been looking at ways to reduce cost by doing as much as I can myself.

I didn't want to overcomplicate my original post but the building will be multipurpose with it's primary purpose cratering for my amateur hobbies, carpentry, gardening, fixing things.

The look matters to me a lot because in a way this is also a hobby of mine and I want this building to look unique. The look I'm after is not eccentric by any means but very simple and clean. I have been particularly inspired by this tractor shed which I saw a few weeks ago.

I like it because it is very clean and minimal and will also compliment the rest of our house which has dark grey windows and roof. I particularly like the wide sliding door which I can open during the summer. I imagine something similar but a lot smaller (I don't need to fit a tractor in it).

I can create my own CAD designs so I'm hoping save some costs by designing it myself. What I've been doing at the moment is looking to see if I can buy ready made frames for the walls and roof and then find someone who can cut corrugated metal or cladding to measure (I think this will be my biggest challenge). Then I would need to find some appropriate doors and windows to install myself. If I can't find a company who provide ready made wooden frames then I might contact a carpenter who I can give my plans to.

So in essence I'm I am thinking concrete floor, wooden frame, metal cladding. With windows and doors bought specifically for this project and some electrics for lighting and power.

The other option would be to a) keep hunting for something off the shelve or b) find an off the shelve solution nearest to my idea and adapt it like you have suggested.

Would love to know your thoughts and suggestions.
PRO
User
7 years ago
Nice Tractor shed ! Normally when constructing wooden wall, you would just create the openings in the frame for the windows and doors out of the same timber as you go by changing the postition and length of the noggins. You don't buy frames for the windows as they just screw to the wood. Door frames are easily ordered off the internet, so when you're doing the construction, know in advance what size windows and door frames you want.

The challenge is the roof construction as it needs to be sound and the whole building will likely need to comply with building regs, therefore, i'd suggest that unless you can design this to comply with building regs yourself, then you'd need a structural engineer to do it for you. You need allsorts of different sized timbers for different points on the building and roof, so best to either find one that you can order from the net and amend a little or get the structural engineer to tell you what you need. ( he would do that anyway on his plan )

Plans too are often available off the internet, but you pay for the service as it's a skilled and time consuming job.

If you're not happy with all of the construction yourself, then i'd still suggest a good carpenter. I'm sure you can find one that will be happy for you to work along side and not just take over, as i get the impression that's what you'd like.

I've done the same for some customers. However, you must be prepared for the fact, that you may slow him down and time is money ( no offence, I don't know your abilities with regards building construction ! )

Here's a good guide for planning permission etc on Timber framed buildings Timber frames

There are some wonderful buildings on here that may suit, or the carpenter could amend :- Warwick Garages

As for the Sheet cladding :- It's a specialist fit job really as there are all sorts of bits and bobs you need to bolt them together and then to make the roof ridge. You would be best to use a site like 'My Builder' to find a specialist in your area that can do it for you. Again, with this, you need to find out the sizes of the sheet materials available before you can plan for the roof timbers because, the sheets come in particular sizes, the roof timbers need to be the right distance apart to bolt to the timbers without the need to cut each one to size with an angle grinder.

Here's and example of sheet cladding suppliers Steel roof sheets

It all sounds very complicated I know, to people that build stuff all the time it's not that bad, you just need to know an awful lot if you're going to start from scratch and not buy pre-fabricated.

Hope this has all helps. I wish you bags of luck with your project, it sounds very exciting.

Get a structural engineer and chippy on board to help you and you'll be fine!
Gavin McFarland thanked User
Gavin McFarland
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the advice, its invaluable and I appreciate you giving up your time to share your knowledge.

I know exactly what you mean regarding slowing down whoever I work with, I guess that's one downside to trying to have creative control and trying to save money. I try to be conscious the time I take up when working with anyone, but I've learnt that even not knowing the right terminology can slow things down (I have very little building knowledge by the way, but understand the concepts.).

Regarding the building regulations I believe that if the outbuilding floor area is under 15 square metres and contains no sleeping accommodation then building regulations do not normally apply. I expect it to be around 12 square metres so I'm not too worried. I might seek advice from a structural engineer or builder just to make sure what I'm building won't wall over.

With regards to the walls I was wondering if I could buy a ready made stud wall, but judging from what you said, it might better to build this myself or hire a carpenter so I can adjust the noggins.

Thanks very much for the advice regarding the cladding, it's something I might have overlooked and has made me realise I should have plan everything before I order anything or attempt to build anything.

I'm still considering other solutions so I will have a good look around before I commit to anything. Thanks again for your help. If anything becomes of it I'll be sure to share my work.
PRO
User
7 years ago
Yes, you definitely need to know what materials you're using what the dimensions of them are etc and honestly.............building a stud wall is easy, sometimes on a build i've done it myself with the help of my son when Hugh's been off site - Youtube it! Good luck and look forward to the finished pics, best regards Nicky ( hugh's wife - the chief planner and orderer of all materials! )
Gavin McFarland thanked User
PRO
The Classic Barn Company
7 years ago
Would oak framing be of interest to you? Naturally it comes at a premium when compared to softwood style sheds but oak will last a life time and represent something more permanent. Theres many more examples where others have utilised our Classic Barns for workshop and garden room purposes in [our brochure [(https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/porch-idea-dsvw-vd~4428324?n=11)that maybe of interest to you. Heres some images from a barn we built in Norfolk that housed a workshop, office above, gym and logstore.

A 2 bay Classic Barn garage, office and gym, all packed into one building space · More Info

A 2 bay Classic Barn garage, office and gym, all packed into one building space · More Info

A 2 bay Classic Barn garage, office and gym, all packed into one building space · More Info

A 2 bay Classic Barn garage, office and gym, all packed into one building space · More Info

A 2 bay Classic Barn garage, office and gym, all packed into one building space · More Info

A 2 bay Classic Barn garage, office and gym, all packed into one building space · More Info