There are lots of materials and finishes to choose from when considering the cladding for a garden office. One finish that is gaining in popularity is composite wood cladding. There are garden office buildings that make use of composite materials both inside and out. While they are durable, they are not the most stylish options on the market. Mixing composite wood cladding with other materials, however, is the best of both worlds = durability + style.
This recent project by Miniature Manors is a fine example of mixing composite wood cladding with other materials to create a stylish home office building.
Miniature Manors were commissioned by a couple who were running a home business from their spare bedroom. They decided that they wanted to create a dedicated HQ for their business and to free up a room in their house. Looking outside the box, the realised that an unused area of their garden could be revitalised by adding a low maintenance garden office.
The area of the garden that was chosen wasn’t ‘square’, but as bespoke designers, Miniature Manors were able to create a building with angled walls to make full use of the space available. A large office was created with an overall size of 4.8 meters by 4.4 meters. The building has an overall height of 2.5m.
Miniature Manor’s clients wanted to create a building that would be low maintenance and maintain its ‘new’ appearance. Timber claddings need regular maintenance to retain their new look, but finishes such as composite wood will maintain their colour without ongoing upkeep.
Composite wood cladding is made from a mixture of resins and real wood fibres. Together they create a tough, durable finish that will last for decades. Unlike real wood, the cladding boards are dimensionally stable, so will not twist and warp as they weather. The boards are coloured during manufacturing and will maintain their colour without painting. They come in a range of colours from browns to blacks and have a textured surface. In this case, the customers chose a contemporary stone grey finish which works well with the darker grey uPVC doors and windows.
The garden office has been built upon screw pile foundations. This type of foundation has become popular because they are quick to install and easy to level, even on sites that could be considered tricky. The timber frame core structure is insulated with 50mm of Celotex. The roof is finished with an EPDM roof membrane, another durable, long-lasting material.
Inside, the office has a light and airy feel; the sliding doors and windows on the front elevation, plus an additional window on the side wall flood the room with natural light. The floor is finished with a moisture resistant laminate flooring while the walls and ceiling are clad in a white hygienic board.
The completed office has allowed the family to separate home and work life. Here is what they have to say about the project:
“We would like to thank Miniature Manors for a superb garden office. The team were very professional, and they delivered the project in less time than anticipated.¬†Due to weird angles, the entire building had to be designed and built bespoke, and it is faultless.”
To learn more about creating a garden office with composite cladding talk to the Miniature Manors team on 01403 610 619 or send them an email. Learn more about their work at www.miniaturemanors.co.uk