Working from home has great benefits, but to fully enjoy these perks, you need to have a dedicated workspace. While some people prefer to create space in their home for a home office, others opt to build a garden office.
Although a garden office is great for separating work from home life, it can be costly to build. You will invest a lot of time, money, and energy to put things in place. But the good news is that the return on investment is far greater than the cost.
Aside from building a garden office from scratch, you can opt to buy a prefab one that is constructed offsite. However, taking your time to build your garden office can be far more rewarding.
Here, we explain the costs of building your own garden office and how to hire a good contractor.
What Is A Garden Office?
Garden office has become a popular term in the corporate world these days due to the rise in remote work. It’s easy to define a garden office as “an office in your garden”. But it may surprise you that there is more meaning to the term.
A garden office is any separate building in your yard or garden used as a dedicated workspace. It is a great way to make extra space in your home for work.
A garden office is similar to a garden room, only that a garden room can be used for other purposes. While a garden office is used only for business purposes.
A garden office is legally classified as an outbuilding due to its method of design and construction. Therefore, it is considered an accessory building that is not used as a residence. Other outbuildings are gazebos, patios, sheds, sunrooms, etc.
Garden offices are good alternatives to home extensions, ADUs, and home improvements. This is because they are cost-effective and can be tax deductible.
Your garden office can add considerable value to your home if it is built and maintained well. Quality garden offices are built with premium materials, insulation, and sturdy finishes. It is also weather resistant and can last for several years.
Usually, garden offices fall within your permitted development rights. So they don’t require planning permission. But this can depend on some factors like your location, intended purpose, and size of the garden office. So you will have to check with your local authorities before you start building.
Why You Need A Separate Home Office For Remote Work
As a remote worker, it is easy to mix other affairs with work if you don’t have a dedicated workspace. Working from your bedroom, your couch, or a nearby café may seem like a convenient way to work. But aside from dealing with distractions, health problems like back pain can arise.
Setting a clear boundary that separates your home from your home office trains your brain to recognize a defined working area. An extra room in your house can serve as a separate home office, the same goes for a garden office.
If you are still wondering why you need to have a separate workspace in your home, check out the following reasons:
-
Helps To Improve Your Productivity
Remote work is generally result-based. This implies that the amount of work you get done is more important than your work time.
A separate home office (like a garden office) can help you stick better to your work by taking you away from home to focus on your job. The freedom to design your workspace to your convenience may also help keep you productive and stress-free.
-
Creates Work-Life Balance
Working from home allows you to attend to other affairs asides from work. But a downside here is that you can get engrossed in mixing up work with other matters. This can rob you of the precious time you need for work.
You can avoid this by creating a separate home office. It takes you out of your home life to your workspace as its boundaries keep home life away from work.
This way, you can focus better during your work hours and attend to other affairs at the given time. As a result, you manage your time better and increase your work performance.
-
It Makes You Appear Professional
Being professional is underrated. It is important to convince your employer or clients that you are competent for the job. Aside from your dressing and composure, your environment can also make you appear professional.
Your home is designed to look like a home and not an office. But how can you appear professional when working from home and dealing with clients or your employer? It’s by having a separate home office.
When you have a separate home office, you can design it to be elegant and professional to support work-related activities.
-
It Reduces Distractions and Helps You Focus
Asides from stealing your time, muddling up life affairs and work can steal your time and focus. It’s easy to get distracted and this may affect your work performance.
A separate home office has boundaries that keep distractions away. A garden office, for example, makes you leave your main home and go to work in your office. This can rid you of things that steal your focus and help you switch on the work mode.
-
Helps You Stay Disciplined and Dedicated to Work
A sense of discipline is a skill that remote workers are required to have. It comprises the ability to motivate yourself, stay dedicated to your work, and be productive.
A good way to build this sense of discipline is by having a separate dedicated home office. It rids you of distractions and keeps you focused and consistent.
Is It Cheaper To Build Your Own Garden Room For Remote Work?
A garden room can cost thousands of dollars to build. But it is cheaper than building a home extension. A garden room built from scratch can be more expensive than a prefab one. This is because you need to get materials, hire a professional, and include costs for extras or building regulations.
On average, you can spend up to $10,000 for a medium-sized prefab garden room. This can cost more if you need one with high-quality materials. Extra costs for installation and other add-ons like electricity and plumbing can increase the cost to more than $15,000. This is because you are more likely to hire professionals for the jobs.
If you opt to build your garden room from scratch, it is probably because you need a durable, convenient, and unique garden room.
If so, you need to go for high-quality materials and choose a sturdy area in your garden for the work. You can also hire good contractors that can deliver quality services. All these will require extra costs, so it’s important to set a budget to accommodate them.
A bespoke garden room built from scratch can cost up to $30,000. But this price can vary depending on the size, design, construction, and location. You may also need to include the cost of building permits and planning permission.
However, compared to a home extension, a garden room is less expensive. The cost of a full home extension can range from $45,000 to $50,000. It can cost more depending on your location and if you need quality materials and services for the construction.
You can reduce the cost of building your garden room if you do the work yourself. You can also hire a building company to do the work for you. It is important to identify your needs first, set a realistic budget, and create an action plan to guide you in the building process.
Read: 20 Garden Office Design Ideas For Remote Workers
Cost of Building A Garden Office: The Key Considerations
Building a garden room from scratch can be challenging if you don’t know much about it. But before you get started, check out some of the things to keep in mind:
#1: Determine Your Needs
The first step to building your own garden room is deciding what you want. This includes choosing the type and size, design (interior and exterior), and construction. The available space in your garden/yard can affect your garden room size, so it’s good to be mindful of it.
Typically, a small garden space will need a small garden room, and thus, lesser costs. While a larger garden space can accommodate a big garden room and incur more costs. The design type and construction can also affect the overall building costs as they may or may not be expensive.
#2: Set A Realistic Budget For Building A Garden Office
As you identify your needs, you have to set a budget to accommodate the amount you are willing to spend. A well-crafted budget will contain the breakdown and sum of possible expenses that will be incurred in the building process. It should also go along with the amount at hand.
A budget will guide you in making the required expenses according to the amount you want to spend. This will help to prevent unnecessary overspending and tailor your needs according to what you can afford.
#3: Check Out The Cost of The Type of Materials You Need
It is recommended to keep an inventory of all the necessary materials you will need for building and designing your garden room. This can help you know what to get and how much to spend.
Ensure to check the cost of the type of materials you need for construction and design. Metal and wooden materials can cost more than other types because they are of higher quality and can last longer. Good quality materials are sure costly, and if it is what you need, you will have to create space for extra costs.
#4: Don’t Forget Shipping/Delivery Costs
Shipping/delivery costs are important to consider as they can make a difference in your expense list.
The weight and type of materials you need can influence the costs of shipping and delivery. Lighter materials like plastic are less costly to ship compared to heavier ones like solid wood and metal.
The distance between your location and that of the vendor can also affect the shipping costs. The farther you are from the vendor, the more the delivery/shipping costs.
To save time and money, consider checking for your materials around local vendors near you. You can also check for vendors that offer a discount on shipping costs or the price of the material.
Read: How Do I Compare The Best External Webcam For Laptop?
#5: Determine If You Need Professional Services
Building a garden room requires a level of skill and expertise. Constructing one yourself can be time-consuming and energy-sapping. But it will be less costly compared to hiring a contractor.
If you want to hire a building company, look for a qualified and well-experienced one to give you quality. It may cost more, so it’s good to keep that in mind.
If you need to install electricity or plumbing in your garden room, it’s advisable to hire professionals.
#6: Confirm If Building A Garden Office Requires A Permit
A garden room usually does not require planning permission. But this can depend on several factors like your location, garden room size, and purpose.
Make sure to confirm from the local authorities if you need a building permit and planning permission for building your garden room.
Usually, if your garden room exceeds the required standard size, you may need to apply for planning permission. If you add features like plumbing and electricity, you may need a building permit before constructing.
Getting a building permit and planning permission may require extra costs. So you may need to include it in your budget as well.
#7: Include the Cost of Additional Installations
The additional features you choose to include in your garden room can increase the overall cost of building a garden office. The cost can also depend on what you want to use the garden room for.
For example, if you intend to use the garden room as an extra room, you will have to add a bathroom, kitchen, and insulation. All these additions will cost you extra.
Unless you are a professional, never attempt to install electric wiring or do the plumbing job yourself. Ensure to hire experts to get the job done and avoid unnecessary hazards.
How To Compare The Quotes For Building A Garden Office
If you decide to hire a company to help with building a garden office, the first step is to research the best companies and request brochures. This helps you narrow down your options to the best few.
Brochures also give you a rough idea of the cost of building the garden room and tell you which companies can work within your budget. You can request these brochures through phone calls or email.
The next thing to do is to invite the companies for a site survey/visit. The site visits are essential for the companies to check the size of available space and how to go about the construction. It also allows you to express your layout, design, and other features you wish to add.
The companies will then issue you an actual quote containing a detailed specification, layout, timeframe, payment terms, and project price.
To compare the quotes, start by looking for the ones with the best combination of features and pricing. Ensure that the outlined specifications of the garden office suit your needs and style. Below are some of the features that you should compare:
- Size of Garden Room
- Layout And Design
- Foundation and Core Structure
- Cladding
- Type of Building Materials
- Insulation and Heating
- Electric Installation
- Door, Windows, and Interior Finishing
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Value Does A Garden Office Add?
Your garden office can add up to 5% to 10% value to your property. It makes your property attractive to future buyers and can give you more profit when you sell it. Usually, well-built and well-designed garden offices tend to last longer and add value to your property.
Read: Air Conditioner vs Air Purifier: What Should I Buy?
Is It Worth Building A Garden Office?
Yes, it is worth it to build a garden office in your yard. A garden office can help you separate work from home life. It keeps you productive and provides a professional workspace to leave a good impression on your clients. A garden office is a cost-effective way to create extra space in your home and add value to your property.
How Long Does It Take To Build A Garden Room?
The timeframe for building your garden room depends on its size, the builder, the layout, and the design.
If you are buying a prefab garden office, it can take a day to a few days to install the building. But if you are building from scratch, it may take you a few days to weeks to get it done.
What Base Is Needed For A Garden Office?
The best base used for a garden office building is a concrete base. It is a good foundation material that provides an even and solid surface to hold the building in place. A concrete base is highly durable and perfect for heavy timber garden office buildings.
Can You Use A Garden Room All Year Round?
You can use a garden room all year round if you constructed it with strong and durable materials. Quality materials used to build a garden room can be costly. But they ensure durability and high resistance to wear and tear in your garden room.
Read: Best USB Headset For Work
Conclusion
Having a separate workspace such as a garden office has many benefits, but it can be costly to build. Still, it proves to be a worthy investment as it can also add value to your property.
Before building a garden office, identify your needs and set a budget to accommodate all building and design costs. You can opt to construct the garden room yourself or hire professional services. But first, confirm from your local authorities if you will need planning permission and a building permit.
The easiest way to find the best company to build your garden room is by requesting and comparing quotes. Make sure that the quote you choose encompasses your desired features for your garden room.
