The Garden Room Guide

Garden room, garden office & garden studio buyers guide

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Connecting a garden rooms electrics to the mains

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One of the few extra costs when buying a garden room, office or studio is the connection of the electrics to the mains supply.

Any electrical work on your garden room needs to comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, this means that a certified electrician needs to undertake the connection of the garden rooms’ electrical system to your houses main supply.

The connection involves laying an armoured cable in a trench running from the garden room to the house, this trench needs to be quite deep, around 500 – 750mm so it’s not disturbed by gardening and should have a warning tape buried above the cable so that anyone digging in the future will be warned that there is an electrical cable below.

So, how much will this electrical connection add to your garden room project? Well that all depends on how far your garden room is from the house as the trench digging and armoured cable is expensive and how much work needs to be done on your fuse board, but as a general guide you should allow £500 to £1,200 for this connection.

Once your garden room has been connected to the mains the electrician will test the circuit and issue you with a certificate. Visit the NICEIC website to find a certified electrician to carry out this work.

Perhaps the greatest ever Father’s Day gift…

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Make it Father’s Day every day of the year by giving your father the greatest gift ever – a room of his own! There’s no greater joy than that of being a father, but there are just times when you want sometime to yourself, and a room at the bottom of the garden could be what every father craves!

We’re not talking about dusty old sheds here, but contemporary, light and airy spaces in which the modern father can spend his time. A garden room has so many possible uses your father will be spoiled for choice, will he use it to…

…gat fit?

Garden rooms make fabulous home gyms; you can equip it with all your favourite exercise equipment and escape there whenever you need without the cost of monthly membership.

…play music?

Does your dad like to strum on the guitar or play rock loudly, well why not give him his own room, he won’t bother the neighbours as many garden room suppliers offer acoustic insulations packs to make the garden room soundproof!

…play games?

Why not create a big boys games room with pool table, dart board and Xbox, you could even install a bar for boy’s night.

…watch films?

A garden room lends itself to being a home cinema, large screen, comfy chairs; all you need to add is the popcorn!

…to work?

Perhaps the most common use of a garden room is as a home office, ideally situated away from the distractions of the main house.

Whatever your father might use a garden room for, every father should have one, and because they are fully insulated and electrically wired he will know he can escape to it whenever he likes.

The gift of space – the greatest father’s day gift – ever!

Take a look around this site and the supplier’s directory for inspiration.

A Business Can Grow In An Atelier Garden Studio

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Contemporary garden studio suppliers Atelier share a case study of how a garden studio can be the perfect base for a business:

It’s not just plants that grow in a garden. Down the years more unusual items have flourished as well; such as silver bells and cockle shells, ably assisted by pretty maids all in a row.

Now, thanks to Atelier’s garden studios, businesses are flourishing at the bottom of the garden as well.

Atelier studios provide a remarkable combination of natural light, sound and thermal insulation; which makes them perfect for office use all-year round. And, with running costs a fraction that of more conventional office space, they are proving to be an exciting alternative to the usual office options.

While conventional home offices may take up space in a bedroom or extension, and suffer from the distractions of everyday family life, Atelier’s garden studios provide delineated working space within walking distance of the family home.

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Furthermore, their use as ‘work’ space can span all requirements; from traditional office use to utilisation as an artist’s or photographer’s studio, or beautician’s spa room.

Trevor and Sarah, live in Hampshire, and have run a successful PR agency for the last 15 years, and decided to invest in an Atelier garden studio when the lease came up for renewal on their previous company office.

Trevor said, “We had been based in a formal office setting ever since establishing our company in the mid-1990s. It had served a purpose, but the premises were not ideal and the daily commute was taking longer and longer. Our lease was coming up for renewal and after we had done our sums we realised that it would be cheaper and more convenient in the long-term if we built our own offices at home.

“We looked at various alternatives, but plumped for an Atelier studio when we realised how flexible its use could be. We will be looking to retire in the next decade and sell the company, but we can then use the studio as a summer house to relax and entertain friends, or a play room for the grandchildren.”

Sarah added, “The Atelier studio is absolutely gorgeous, and I am the envy of my friends. I am able to do a full day’s work and within thirty seconds of finishing for the day I am in my garden enjoying the rest of the day. It is more than an office. To me, it is providing us with a lifestyle we could only dream about a few years ago, and once we have retired the studio will continue to serve a wonderful purpose for our family and friends.”

In addition, to their use as office space for the home, Atelier’s garden studios can also be used in a commercial environment as breathtaking additional office space; highlighted by Atelier’s current work designing and constructing a new tourist information centre for Oystermouth Castle, South Wales.

Such is the practical design of Atelier’s modular, studio range that even the most complex requirements can be accommodated and structures constructed within 7-10 days.

This stunning range of eco buildings incorporate the latest timber and glass technology; with under-floor heating, folding sliding doors, connection to electricity mains and a hidden drainage system, as well as the further option for a fully functioning kitchen and/or shower unit – meaning the studios are perfect for almost any business use.

Furthermore, with the studios enjoying less planning restraint, they offer flexibility for increased floor space that extensions or conservatories don’t have – although it is always advisable to check with your local planning authority before construction.

The highly-acclaimed Atelier studio concept is changing gardens across the country, and with prices starting at around £17,858 (inc. VAT, delivery and installation), they offer a durable, long-term investment for any property, for just the price of a new family car.

For details of Atelier’s full range visit: www.atelierzone.com.

Garden Studios TV

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We are pleased to announce a new addition to The Garden Room Guide – Garden Studios TV! There are a plethora of garden studio videos on You Tube and Vimeo but sometimes you have to do several searches to find them all – not anymore Garden Studios TV places them on one easy to use site.

Videos are categorised by supplier and by subject matter but there is also a search box for general keyword searches.

Videos listed on Garden Studios TV cover subjects such as planning permission, garden studio construction and design features, there are also a selection of customer interviews which give an insight to working with the different garden studio suppliers.

There are nearly 100 garden studio videos listed as we launch, but if you are a supplier and we’ve missed your video just complete the submit a video form.

To start watching, visit www.gardenstudios.tv

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