An Insulated Garden Office: Is It Really Worth It?

Whether you’re thinking of starting your own business or trying to get into shape, a year-round garden office lets you do so from the comfort of your home.

Garden rooms can be customised and transformed into anything from a yoga studio to a home office. But a fully-insulated garden or a premium, insulated garden room can even help you save on commuting and energy costs whilst raising productivity.

To see if garden office pods are the right way to go for you –  keep scrolling.

Garden Office Uses:

One of the biggest benefits of outside rooms is their sheer adaptability. Not only do they offer extra space in general if your house or home office is too cluttered, but they offer dedicated space to whatever you use them for.

Working comfortably in the peace and quiet of your micro garden office has been shown to up productivity by around 13%. Let’s have a look at the benefits of a garden workspace:

Garden Office

If you’ve got a garden office design then you might be thinking a little bigger than simply converting a garden shed. And creating a bespoke garden office can start to pay for itself.

It’s true that garden rooms do add value – by increasing the square footage of a property’s living space. But it’s the cutting down on community costs and invaluable extra time that you’ll get to spend with family that are some of the biggest draws.

Insulated Garden Office Benefits

If you are thinking of investing in a garden office pod, then make sure that it’s set up for office use. This means:

• Digging or hiring someone to dig a cable trench to hook up your office with electricity
• Marking out your intended office site with stakes to get a feel for the best size building for your needs
• Positioning your outdoor office to maximise on natural light
• Potentially installing pipework to connect your garden room with running water and other utilities

Why not head over to our customer stories to see what they’ve done with their garden office buildings On top of that, we’ve also had customers use their outside rooms as:

Garden room uses (From Which)

A Garden Studio

The contemporary design of an insulated garden room often lends itself to use as anything from a yoga studio to an art studio. Natural and natural-looking materials blend with most garden designs and buildings with tall doors and lots of windows prioritise a bright, airy interior.

A Home Cinema

If you’re a cinephile or have friends and family that love to watch movies, then an outdoor pod is the perfect space. Create your very own cinema safe in the knowledge that you will reduce your carbon footprint from driving to the cinema.

Your wallet might even thank you in the long run if you factor in fuel, ticket, and snack costs!

Customer Spotlight: Sophie’s Pent Garden Office

Sophie is no stranger to interior decoration and renovations, and her Instagram is jam-packed with aesthetically pleasing projects that she’s completed over the years. Honestly, it’s one of the best we’ve ever seen!

A Home Gym

Creating a home gym in one of our fully installed garden rooms might finally be the excuse you need to stop making excuses!

How many of us join the gym each January only to get put off by trekking through the rain or driving to get a workout in? Well, say goodbye to broken promises with your own home gym. The beauty of a garden gym is:

• No waiting for machines
• No journey to the gym
• Closer to the kitchen and healthy, energy-boosting snacks!
• Build as big (or small) as you want – How about an office-by-day, gym-by-night?
•  No prying eyes

So now that you know what you want to do with your insulated garden room, let’s look at decisions to make before buying:

Ultimate Garden Office Interior Guide

The idea of working from home might seem stressful to some, you might not have a set workspace yet, maybe it’s too noisy and you need some peace and quiet.

Guest bedroom

Guest bedroom benefits: A comfortable and private space for visitors.

Proper insulation lets guests enjoy a cosy stay regardless of the weather. It allows guests to unwind and enjoy a good night’s sleep without disturbing the main household. Such a garden room layout makes excellent use of your garden space.

Playroom for children

Playroom benefits: A perfect extension of children’s play area.

An insulated garden office makes for an ideal playhouse for kids. By offering a safe environment, children can play freely and creatively. The temperature control provided by insulation also ensures a comfortable atmosphere year-round. This enables the little ones to engage in indoor activities no matter the weather.

Home library

Home library benefits: Offers a tranquil escape for book lovers!

The structure’s insulation maintains a stable climate. This preserves the condition of books and provides a quiet space for focused reading. Natural light through well-insulated windows also enhances the ambience. In return, it promotes a peaceful reading experience with the beauty of the outdoors.

Insulated Garden Room Considerations

Bespoke insulated garden rooms are going to cost you for quality. So if you only want something to use in the warmer months, consider whether you might be better suited to a summerhouse.

Size

The first thing you need to decide is – how big do I need my insulated building to be?

• Are you planning on having clients come for meetings or appointments?
• Does your office pod need to house more than one employee (or even business)?
• For leisure: do you want to cater for guests regularly?

35 Reasons To Buy An Insulated Log Cabin

Earlier, we told you to start by marking out a space in your garden and walking around it. Figure out how many people need to be in your insulated office or studio at one time and what’s comfortable.

Ultimately, you want to find a middle-ground between budget and quality where your building starts to pay for itself after a few years. That may be from saving on fuel to the cinema or not commuting which uses up around a whole week of your life and almost £2,000 a year on average!

Our fully-insulated garden room comes in <strong>under-budget on average</strong> for high-spec buildings (Credit)

Budgeting

We said that quality costs, and it does. The best-insulated garden offices also tend to be some of the most expensive.

So first, you need to figure out if a fully-insulated building is within your budget. Look ahead to the future – with minimum 10-year guarantees and 15-year guarantees on our pressure-treated models, a garden office is an investment.

A Full Comparison Of Sheds vs. Cabins vs. Insulated Garden Rooms

That’s why we also offer finance options at Garden Buildings Direct on minimum spends of £560 and up with a 10% deposit. Remember to factor in the cost of installing utilities in your plan and to check the exact of your insurance policy in case it needs to be updated.

Finance options offered by Garden Buildings Direct

And remember, it’s an investment! The upfront cost will usually be matched by an increase in home value on a pound-per-square-foot basis!

Did you know – An insulated building could save you up to 15 % on heating costs!

The Outpost – The Perfect Insulated Garden Building

Owning a garden building that you can enjoy all year round, regardless of the biting cold or scorching heat is something that many of us dream of.

Design and layout

Thoughtful design and layout optimisation ensures an efficient and inspiring workspace. Proper arrangement of furniture, storage, and equipment fosters productivity. Maximising natural light through insulated windows enhances aesthetics and functionality, to add.

Electrical wiring and lighting

Effective electrical wiring and lighting are crucial for your BillyOh Kent garden office. Adequate power outlets and lighting fixtures facilitate the seamless operation of electronics. Most importantly, they create a comfortable working environment. Overall, this enhances both task performance and ambience.

Heating and cooling systems

Proper insulation contributes to efficient heating and cooling systems. For one, an electric stove heater addition maintains a comfortable temperature during winter.

Heating and cooling units work to provide the best of both worlds! A cosy workspace during cold winters and a cool refuge in hot summers.

Connectivity (Internet, Wi-Fi)

Reliable connectivity is essential for a garden office. A strong internet is essential for remote work or creative pursuits. However, insulation can shield Wi-Fi signals. Thus, planning for proper network coverage within is vital. That way, you can enjoy seamless communication and access to online resources.

Security and safety measures

Insulated garden rooms should prioritise security and safety. Reinforced insulated doors and windows, along with secure locks, deter unauthorised access.

Additionally, fire-resistant insulation materials and smoke detectors contribute to a secure working environment. They offer peace of mind while focusing on tasks.

Insulation Materials

The materials used will differ slightly for insulating metal sheds, log cabins, wooden sheds, and even when trying to insulate a summerhouse.

Your choices include everything from Celotex and Kingspan insulation boards that fit in between wall, floor and roofing panels, to wool insulation. There are even some budget-friendly methods to insulate your office after construction.

Even something as simple as installing a low-energy heater and using a draught excluder can help a bit. Keep scrolling for some quick explanations of what’s on offer.

(Video Credit)

SIPs and walls

One of the largest surface areas of your outdoor office that has contact with the outside air is its walls. To reduce heat loss at this point of your thermal envelope, you really need some solid insulation.

Structurally insulated panels (or SIPs) are comprised of foam insulation sandwiched between two panels of interior and exterior cladding. They’re a high-quality building material used in residential and commercial construction their benefits include:

• Excellent thermal regulation
• Combats damp and moisture build-up
• Structural strengthening
• Improved air quality

All About Cladding Thicknesses

There are various ranges for your log thickness. Starting at 19mm, going up to 28mm, 44mm and even 65 and 66mm. All of these will offer different strengths and levels of insulation.

Roof membrane

If like our fully-insulated garden office options, your building utilises tongue and groove panels, they’ll need a cover.

Whilst shingles, felt, and even roof tiles are suitable for most garden buildings, a roof membrane can help with temperature regulation as well as offer protection from water ingress and dampness.

For flat roofs, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is a top-of-the-range option that’s:

• Fully waterproof
• UV-resistant
• Flexible
• Resistant to becoming brittle due to changing temperatures

Insulation Guide & Tips

Double glazed windows

If you want a bright and airy space in your garden office then it’s a given that you’ll want large windows and even a glass door.

Double-glazed windows are comprised of two panes of glass with a gas-filled cavity between them. Due to the spaced-out particles in a gas, heat transfers more slowly both in and out. This means that your office would stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Doors

As we just mentioned, if you’re investing in a home office, you’ll want glazed doors to see your garden, your kid’s playing,  and sunlight in general.

And if you’re entertaining, or hosting clients, double doors act as a real statement piece.

Floor insulation

Contributing to around 10% of heat loss, the floor is another area to consider when buying or building a fully insulated garden room.

Kingspan or foil-backed logs and pressure-treated bearers can help to reduce heat loss and combat moisture build-up from the ground.

Treatment

Whilst pressure treatment can help combat dampness in flooring, it won’t necessarily improve the insulation of your office. Wood treatment can, however, protect your insulated garden building from harsh weather conditions in wet and cold winter months.

Another option would be to buy an insulated garden office made from composite cladding. Composite cladding is extremely low maintenance with no need for treatment and waterproof qualities that make it perfect for exterior walls.

Customer Spotlight: Sophie’s Home Office

This week, we caught up with property developer Kirsty, to see how she had transformed her BillyOh purchase.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of an insulated garden office presents a significant advantage. At its core, it aligns with eco-conscious living and sustainable practices. Several factors contribute to this positive influence, making it an eco-friendly choice.

Energy efficiency

Proper insulation reduces the need for excessive heating or cooling. This minimises energy consumption and lowers carbon emissions in return. Overall, this efficiency contributes to a reduced ecological footprint.

Reduced commuting

Working from a garden office reduces commuting, lessening traffic congestion and air pollution. This shift promotes greener transportation habits and contributes to cleaner air.

Sustainable materials

Opting for eco-friendly insulation materials reduces resource depletion. Great examples are recycled or natural options, which minimise environmental harm during production.

Solar potential

An insulated garden office can be designed to incorporate solar panels. Meaning it can harness renewable energy to power the workspace. Moreover, it can potentially feed surplus energy back into the grid.

Longevity and adaptability

Durable insulation materials extend the lifespan of the garden building. This reduces the need for replacements and associated resource consumption.

Low maintenance

Proper insulation can lead to fewer repairs and maintenance. This results in reduced waste and the use of materials in the long run.

Planning Permission

Depending on the size of your operation, you may want to select an office that’s spacious enough but doesn’t require planning permission.

A garden room can also be a great alternative to extending your main house, with no need to wait for permission or material wait time. As such, all garden buildings from Garden Buildings Direct as measured and designed to adhere to planning regulations.

Our buildings fall under what’s called ‘permitted development‘ and won’t require planning permission unless:

• You plan to use it for permanent residential use (like a garden bedroom)
• It takes up more than 50% of your garden space (as it was first built or as it stood on 1st July 1948)
• It’s built past the principal wall of your main house

Otherwise, our offices and outbuildings are single-storey. They’re also built with eaves and ridge heights for both flat and dual-pitched roofs that satisfy ‘permitted development’ requirements. These planning regulations may vary due to where you live and whether or not previous owners built extensions.

FAQs