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We like to keep up to date with on-trend ways of decorating both the interior and exterior of our garden buildings. In this category we showcase ways in which our customers have used interior design and landscaping to style their garden rooms. Our bloggers also share the latest design trends.

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Garden Lodges and planning permission

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Garden Lodges

vaulted in garden

So what are the rules surrounding a Garden Lodge?

 

A common question we get asked by our customers is regarding planning permission. In some extreme cases if you are a victim of a planning ruling you could find that you need to remove a building, so it is important to use a company that knows what it is doing and understands the planning rules. Luckily, the rules are quite simple – most people can, in fact, build a garden lodge without planning permission within permitted development rights. Permitted development rights mean you can build a minor development without applying for planning permission, so long as the building is not going to be used for permanent living accommodation.

flat roof white wall

Where can I build a Garden Lodge in my garden?

 

Firstly if you intend to build a Garden Lodge in front of your house, this will almost certainly require planning permission. Building on the side of your property is possible unless you live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, in an area such as this you must build within 20m of any part of the house. If you do build further than 20m from the house then the subsequent building must be no more than 10 m2

buckbardis3

Does a Garden Lodge have to be more than 1 metre from the boundary?

 

This is something we often get asked, as its common to think that all garden buildings need to be built at least 1 metre from the boundary. A garden lodge that does not meet building regulations must be built 1m from the boundary if the size of the building exceeds 15m2. This is due to non-building regulation buildings not always being constructed from non-combustible materials. For a building to be built less the 1m from the boundary the entire building would need to meet building regulations.

background-garden-studio-2

Who has permitted development rights?

 

Not all properties have permitted development rights, people who live in flats, maisonettes and listed buildings may find that they have none. Sometimes an article 4 condition is also associated with a property, which can also restrict the permitted development rights available. Article 4’s are made by the local planning authority. The intention is to restrict the scope of the permitted development rights or a particular area or site. However, it is true that the majority of homes do in fact have permitted development rights.

Donhead Lodge interior

What are the permissible uses of a Garden Lodge that does not require planning permission?

 

Basically, it is possible to use your Garden Lodge for any use that is the same as in the main house, as long as it is not for permanent sleeping accommodation.

 

Garden Office with Red Cedar Decking

How can Garden Lodges help if you do need planning permission?

 

There is no need to worry if your garden lodge does require planning permission. We can submit an application on the client’s behalf at an additional cost of £1672.00 inc VAT.  This includes creating the scaled drawings, planning statement and liaising with the case officer until the decision.  We use a company called Plainview to carry out all the planning submissions. With our breadth of experience with planning and building regulations, we will be able to advise you on the best course of action and suggest which design would work best, while also being acceptable to planning authorities.

While its fresh in your mind why not book a free site survey today. CLICK HERE

 

 

 

Posted in Home and Garden, Planning Permission

Festive additions to your Garden Lodge

Posted on December 7, 2018April 10, 2020 by Garden Lodges

flat roof white wall christmas tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that the festive period is around the corner, your thoughts might be turning to how to make your garden a more inviting Christmas spectacle. There are plenty of ways to make your outdoor space part of Christmas, without having to spend a lot of money.

Depending on the plants you have already in your garden, it is possible with the addition of some outdoor fairy lights or coloured glass baubles to add a real injection of Christmas into your front or back garden.

If you have a large fir tree in your garden, now might be the time to pay it some attention with a few ribbons or lights, you can also use some of the boughs to create an evergreen wreath for the door.

Pots and planters are a way to create some festive flair if you do not have many trees or plants in your garden. Large plastic pots can be bought quite cheaply from your local garden nursery and plated with some evergreen shrubs, these smaller sized evergreens are not expensive to buy and can be planted later in the garden when they outgrow the pot. Add a few red ribbons, tinsel and lights and they can create a fantastic entrance to your garden lodge during Christmas.

 

 

A garden lodge can be a great asset over the Christmas period, providing you with much needed extra space that could be used for socialising, or maybe as a spare room for guests or a place for the kids to blow off some steam with their new toys while your busy making Christmas lunch.

A garden lodge also lets you have extra storage during the holidays and is a real benefit during busy periods like Christmas, if you need to clear out a spare room or make extra space around the dining room table, then you might be wondering where to put everything during this period, a garden building can be the perfect place for dumping everything you don’t want in the house.

 

vaulted in garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have decorated your garden lodge this Christmas we would love to hear from you and see some of your pictures and with your consent post a few of the best-decorated lodges on our website!

 

While it’s fresh in your mind why not book a free site survey today. CLICK HERE 

 

Posted in Christmas, Home and Garden

10 of our favourite Garden Studios.

Posted on July 24, 2018July 24, 2018 by Garden Lodges

flat roof white wall

 

Here at Garden Lodges, we are very proud of the range of Garden Studios we have built for our customers. All of our Garden Studios are bespoke buildings, built to the specification of our customers, so there is plenty of scope for a great range of styles and configurations.

 

Some of the most popular designs we build are cedar clad, flat-roofed garden studios with bi-folding doors, this is one of our most sought after designs and creates a very modern versatile studio space in the garden. We also build studios with vaulted ceilings that can create an even greater feeling of space and light.

 

oak clad vaulted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This vaulted ceiling garden studio built for a customer uses horizontal cedar cladding paired with floor to ceiling glazing and a vaulted tiled roof. One of our favourite garden studios, not just because of how stunning it looks from the outside, but also the commanding views it enjoys in its rural location.

 

vaulted with view

 

A vaulted roof with floor to ceiling glazing is the perfect choice for making the most of the fantastic views our customer is lucky enough to enjoy. Settled into the hillside we feel this is the ultimate building for retreating to and relaxing. Currently set up as a studio and gym, we can see why this owner is so happy with her garden studio.

 

vaulted in garden

 

Another example of one our vaulted ceiling Garden Studios, this time built in a more urban garden setting. A popular and modern design choice is the inclusion of dark matt grey window frames, that really works well with the cedar cladding. An amazing feeling of light and space has been created through the use of large floor to ceiling windows and french doors, making this studio one of our favourites for the amount of space and light it provides the new owners.

 

flat roof bifolding garden studio

 

Some of the Garden Studios our customers have created with us exude class. This Garden Studio makes a fine office, with large bi-folding doors opening spectacularly allowing the studio space to be connected with the garden. This can be perfect in the summer months, instead of working in a stuffy office, this garden studio allows you to work in the relaxing surroundings of your garden.

 

Front Exterior 1

 

This landscaped park location allowed us to build a stunning garden studio that took advantage of its amazing location overlooking the River Thames. With black framed sliding glass doors and cedar cladding, this studio makes a strong impression on its elevated position. The square design provides a large, practical space that is multifunctional, being used as both a studio and garden gym.

 

Verona-Build-Garden-Lodge

 

With echoes of Van der Rohe, this palatial studio is certainly one of the more striking Garden Studios we have created. Sitting in its garden position with a curved winding path leading to its entrance, we were able to fulfil the brief set to us by our clients to produce a garden lodge that would be a bold and striking feature of their garden. A more unusual feature of this Garden Studio is the use of a canopy area that provides a shaded area in which to relax, perfect for the heat wave we currently experiencing.

 

white clad flat roof small

 

Slightly smaller than some of our Garden Studios, this studio makes up for its smaller dimensions through its clean, crisp design ethic. White timber cladding contrasts with the mat grey window frames to create a modernist, contemporary feel, which works brilliantly in its urban garden. A versatile and peaceful place to work from, this Garden Studio is a great addition to the owner’s property.

 

buckbardis3

 

For some people, having a low maintenance garden is a great benefit. For those with busy lives or who are not green fingered creating a garden that requires minimal work can be perfect for their needs. This Garden Studio works very well in its surroundings, cedar cladding compliments the gravel and decking areas, while the matt grey window frames stand out against the lighter wood. 6 large floor to ceiling glass panes creates a Garden Studio that really connects to its surroundings and brings in plenty of light.

 

Donhead Lodge Exterior

 

This Garden Studio works great in its copse of trees, the space looks like it was designed with the Garden Studio in mind. This Studio was built with the intention of being a small classroom within the grounds of an educational facility. The Studio works especially well as its cedar cladding allows it to sympathetically blend into its surroundings, as the cedar weathers it will only look better with age.

 

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A key concern when we are building our customers Garden Studios is how it is going to work with the environment it is set in. Decking areas and bi-folding doors help to blur the boundaries or outdoors and indoors. What makes this Garden Studio unique is the extra detailing gone into the decking areas, which incorporates trees and shrubs into the indoor/outdoor area.

 

While its fresh in your mind why not book a free site survey today. CLICK HERE 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Garden Studios, Home and Garden, Office Garden

Best ways to create extra space in your home. Garden lodges vs conservatories or extensions.

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Garden Lodges

vaulted in garden

 

It’s a common fact that our houses are not always providing us with the space that we need. With the cost of moving house very expensive, now currently estimated at an average of £8900, it is no wonder that people are looking for alternative ways to increase the living space in their current homes. Now instead of moving to a larger house, building a garden lodge, conservatory or extension might be the most cost-efficient way to improve your habitable space.

In the past, an extension of conservatory might have been one of the only options available, but with the development of construction methods such as SIPs panels (Structurally Insulated Panels) building a bespoke garden office or lodge has certainly opened up more possibilities.

Garden Lodge Vs Extension

 

white clad flat roof small

 

If you just want to add extra room to your existing space then you might find an extension is the best bet for you. An extension will allow you to enhance the size of your kitchen or living area. The most popular extensions are usually those that increase the size of a kitchen to create a kitchen-diner or family room. These are certainly popular on people’s wish lists when searching for a new home.

Garden lodges can work better when the extra space you require would benefit from being away from the main house. Good examples of this might be a garden office, music room, gym or art studio. In these cases, it might well be an advantage to be away from the main house where concentration and quietness would be appreciated. Also, many people see a psychological advantage of having their garden office separate from the main house as it allows them to detach work from home and set a clear physical boundary between the two.

 

flat roof bifolding garden studio

 

Because a garden lodge can be constructed in its own space it is also less restricted than an extension that is obviously reliant on the positioning of the main house. This means that a garden lodge can be constructed anywhere where space allows giving more scope for its dimensions. Also, people might find that an extension is simply not viable, either there is not enough room to build or perhaps there are caveats put on the building such as it being grade 2 listed.

 

Garden Lodge Vs Conservatory

 

vaulted with view

 

Conservatories were very popular in the 80’s and 90’s and can be a great way to add extra space to the ground floor. However, they were not without their drawbacks. People have found they do not always use their conservatories as they are sometimes too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter.

Also, a conservatory is almost always attached to the main house, which would make them not suitable for a home office or gym, especially if the temperatures were hard to control. With the modern building materials we use in our garden lodges, temperature is very easy to control. SIPs panels are extremely good at insulating, meaning that our buildings are cheap to heat in winter and remain cool in the summer, perfect for a garden office.

These days traditional white conservatories look a little bit dated and it’s now a common home improvement to replace a conservatory with an extension or possibly a separate building in the form of a garden lodge.

 

Front Exterior 1

 

Another key consideration for a garden lodge Vs an extension might be planning permission. A garden lodge can often be built within permitted development, meaning that no planning permission would be required, whereas usually, an extension to the main building will require planning permission. If you are in hurry to have your new space available to use this could be a consideration or if you live in a conservation area then you might be wise to have different options available to you.

 

background-garden-studio-2

 

At Garden Lodges we are also able to build our customers extensions connected to the main house, as opposed to a separate garden building. This has all the advantages of SIPs construction, but with the added benefit of extending your existing kitchen or living space. We would be very happy to discuss with you any plans you have for creating extra space in your home and go through the different options that we feel could best benefit you.

 

While its fresh in your mind why not book a free site survey today. CLICK HERE 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Home and Garden, Office Garden, Our Buildings, Uncategorized

How to create a hobby room in your Garden Studio.

Posted on June 15, 2018June 15, 2018 by Garden Lodges

She Shed from Garden Lodges

 

Hobbies are a great way to relax and unwind, especially after a hard day in the office. However, once a hobby starts taking over the house things can get far from relaxing! Building a garden lodge can be a great way to design your own perfect space so your hobby can grow with your own creative development.

A garden lodge opens up many possibilities to take your hobby to the next level, whether you are interested in arts and crafts, yoga, model building, sowing, music production, fitness or photography, we have a garden building that can work for you.

This summer, why not treat yourself and your hobby to the space that you deserve by building a bespoke garden lodge. We are always happy to discuss with you your ideas and start to design your perfect new hobby space in your garden.

Benefits of a garden hobby room.

 

Building a bespoke hobby room in your garden means that everything can be stored in one place, you will no longer need to have everything spread all over your house, instead, your hobby equipment can be confined to one built for purpose space. This means no more packing up at the end of your session or tidying everything away, you can just leave everything in place and start again from where you left off.

Your own personal space means that you can truly concentrate on your hobby, with interruptions from family members, pets or the telephone a thing of the past, you can close yourself off to the outside world and immerse yourself in your hobby.

With all your hobby clutter safely stored in one place, more free space is created in your house. That spare room can once again become useful for guests or a brand new office space, or perhaps room for a new arrival.

 

Creativity

 

Sometimes creativity needs a helping hand. It is all too easy to become distracted by the internet, social media, pets and family. We have all started an evening or weekend with the best intention to crack on with reading a book, painting a picture or getting on with some other creative past time. But one thing leads to another and before you know it you have just spent the last 3 hours looking at cat videos on Youtube. However, replacing wasting time with a creative hobby has many health benefits.

You will find that you can concentrate easier, feel more relaxed, reduce negativity and relieve you of the addiction of scrolling through social media. All great ways to feel an improvement in your life.

 

Garden Office

How to create your perfect hobby space

 

When designing your perfect hobby garden room it is important to consider some important factors. A hobby space for art will require plenty of light, enough room for a large desk or easel, plenty of storage options and perhaps areas to display your work.

A music room might require soundproofing, electrical sockets in the correct positioning and enough room for a variety of equipment.

Garden gyms tend to require a bit more space as equipment can be quite large and bulky and will not fit into a small space, also you might want to consider a shower or toilet in your gym, so that you can workout and then wash in the same building. A shower and toilet also makes a garden space more versatile and opens it up for other uses later on as well as adding more value to the property.

 

Pilates Studio

 

All of our customers have their own unique story for building their own bespoke garden office and we are always happy to discuss with you your next grand design hobby space.

 

UPVC Bi-folding doors

 

When we build a new garden office for our customers, first we sit down and discuss how you will use your new garden space, we offer all our customers (subject to location) a free site survey.

During this process, we are able to see the exact location of where your garden lodge will be built and then advise you on what building would suit the location and the size and the proportions that would work.

After the site survey, we will create a 3D image of the proposed building so that you can truly visualise how it will look, create a floor plan so that you can see where everything will go, and provide a detailed quote so that you can see how much everything will cost.

We offer an entirely turnkey service meaning that we take care of everything from start to finish. This also includes all plumbing, electrical work, foundations and decorating. When we hand you the keys you will be able to enjoy a superbly finished and built garden lodge, perfect for you to take your hobby to the next level!

 

 

While its fresh in your mind why not book a free site survey today. CLICK HERE 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Garden Room Uses, Hobbies, Hobby space, Home and Garden, Uncategorized

Recent Garden Lodges built for our customers.

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Garden Lodges

 

SANDY4

 

At Garden Lodges we are very proud of the new projects we have worked on with our customers and love sharing them with you on our blog to demonstrate the type of garden studios you could have built in your garden.

This 5.5m x 4m garden lodge was built with a number of functions in mind, including a small gym and sauna! This lodge cost £26,000 to build including all groundwork, electrics and decorating. Cedarwood cladding has created a modern stylish exterior, with wide floor to ceiling windows and 2m French doors, providing plenty of light and connection to the garden.

SANDY SAUNA

Our garden lodges are used in many different ways and provide a truly versatile building that will be enjoyed for years to come. One unusual addition, being a sauna, was included in this lodge in Brackley. What a great way to warm up on a cold winter evening! This garden studio is destined to be the ultimate bijou gym and sauna offering the new owner a relaxing retreat in his garden for his family.

SANDY2

This lodge was designed with the view in mind, taking advantage of the owners wonderful garden and landscaping. A flat roof design meant that it was built within permitted development, so that no planning permission was required. We are always very happy to discuss with you the style and size of garden lodge we would recommend for your outdoor space. During our free site survey, we gain a good idea of your requirements and then our designers go to work to create a 3-D drawing to illustrate the design, a detailed floor plan so you can see where everything is going, and an itemised quotation so you know the exact price of your new garden lodge.

 

SALMON DRONE4

This next fantastic build was undertaken in Minehead, destined to be the perfect office getaway, it provides a private and peaceful place to work, next to the main house. French doors provide ample light and a small toilet and shower were also installed for extra convenience.

SALMON INTERIOR

The interiors were fitted with oak laminate flooring in the office space and waterproof vinyl flooring in the shower area. When we build a new office space for our customers we always sit down and carefully discuss where you need your fittings and fixtures. The positioning of electrical sockets is quite important, and not something you want to get wrong in your new office space. We take great care to get all the little details perfect for you so that you are ready to move in as soon as building work is finished. Our quality of work is clearly on display in this photo and serves as a great testament to our team of craftsmen.

SALMON SHOWER

We can build your garden lodge with the possibility of having shower rooms and toilets installed, something that not many of our competitors offer. We have found that our customers like the added convenience of a showroom and toilet in their garden studio as it adds an extra dimension to how the space might be used. This also leaves it more versatile in the future and adds more value onto your home in general.

We offer a range of options for our bathrooms and use high-quality fitting and fixtures.

 

While its fresh in your mind why not book a free site survey today. CLICK HERE 

 

 

Posted in Garden Room Uses, Home and Garden, Our Buildings

Garden Studio Inspiration. Which garden lodge would suit your garden?

Posted on May 15, 2018May 22, 2018 by Garden Lodges

oak clad vaulted

 

Garden Lodges have been building garden studios for our customers for over 10 years. We are extremely proud of the many different projects we have completed and know that our customers are just as happy with the end results.

What makes our garden studios special is the level of choice and bespoke options that are available. We can build a great range of garden buildings, including garden offices, gyms, art studios, music studios, garden annexes, pool houses and rentable accommodation for Airbnb, to name a few!

There are many companies on the market for building garden studios, but few with our level of experience, we have literally built hundreds of offices, studios and lodges for satisfied customers and are very happy to combine this level of expertise with our customer’s ideas and inspirations to build something that can truly transform your garden space.

Below are examples of some of the most popular lodges that we have built for our customers. They range in size and style and give a good demonstration of the sort of garden annexes we create. If there is a building that you feel would work well in your garden please let us know. We would be delighted to hear from you and discuss your new garden studio project.

Call us free on 0800 043 4821, or why not book a FREE SITE SURVEY (subject to location) to get started.

 

white clad flat roof small

This is one of our smaller garden offices we built for a customer who wanted a quiet space in the garden to work from. This stylish build uses a form or white cladding, combined with dark grey, floor to ceiling windows. It has created a very contemporary and clean look that enhances the look of the garden while providing a very useful extra space.

Smaller garden offices can be built from as little as £17,322 including VAT. Key features of our contemporary, flat roof Garden Office range include a choice of uPVC doors and windows, selected because of their great value for money.

 

small flat roof garden office

Another stylish smaller build, perfect for a garden office or studio. Although small the feeling of light and space is maximised through the use of glazing on two sides. An overhang provides shade in the summer so that the office remains naturally cool, while high performing SIP panel construction means that is it warm and inexpensive to heat in winter.

 

flat roof bifolding garden studio

Bi-folding doors are increasingly popular and are a perfect way to bring the garden into your studio space. In summer they can be folded back to create a fantastic feeling of space and light. This example shows how a garden office could transform your work environment. When the weather is good your office space becomes part of the garden!

 

flat roof white wall

When we build a garden studio we first provide a free site survey and discuss with you your requirements. This is one of the reasons why the garden studios we build look so at ease in their surroundings. This sizable cedar clad studio fits perfectly in its garden, with the white wall acting as a platform to allow the studio to enjoy a more elevated position, great for surveying the garden. This size of building is perfect for a number of functions, including use as a gym, home studio or office, or as extra sleeping accommodation.

 

oak clad vaulted

This timber framed garden lodge, shows how a traditional look can be combined with a contemporary feel. The oak frame and cladding creates a timeless design that is becoming increasingly popular. This style of studio is especially popular in conservation areas, where planning restrictions could apply. Terracotta tiles finish the building, creating a stunning garden studio. This design is also perfect for creating a light and spacious feel, with the combined effect of a vaulted roof and floor to ceiling windows.

 

Front Exterior 2

Our garden studios come in a range of shapes and sizes. This stunning build shows what can be achieved in a larger garden. Cedar cladding gives it a contemporary feel and a large sliding door brings in plenty of light while providing excellent insulation and visibility to the garden. This size of build we recommend for gyms or larger offices, where extra space might be needed. The flat roof allows it to usually be built within permitted development law as long as the building is situated less than 2.0m from the boundary of the property and is no more than 2.5 metres in height from the existing ground level.

 

buckbardis3

Dark grey bi-folding doors give an elegant simplicity to this thoughtfully designed studio. The popular combination of dark grey window frames and cedar cladding look great in this garden setting, especially when the landscaping has been incorporated into the look of the new building. A beautiful decked area creates an easy to maintain outdoor space, that works perfectly with the more modern design.

 

Verona-Build-Garden-Lodge

If gravel and decking are not your thing, then a perfectly manicured lawn works just as well. The flowing stone path creates softer lines, contrasting nicely with the modern shape of this contemporary garden studio. With over 60m2 this garden building has transformed how the owners use their garden and is now set up for a number of uses, including a gym, home studio and spare sleeping accommodation.

 

Donhead Lodge Exterior

A similar look and feel is achieved with this garden lodge, nestled in the trees it looks perfect in its location, allowing the owners to work from home while enjoying their garden at the same time. All of our garden studios are made from highly insulated SIP panels. Structural insulated panels (or SIPs) are the number one choice for garden studios, as they provide excellent insulation in winter and are quick to erect. Meaning that we can build a garden office in your garden in between 4 – 5 weeks.

 

vaulted with view

Often a lodge is a brilliant way to take advantage of a spectacular view. This garden studio certainly makes the most of its surroundings, with floor to ceiling windows on all sides. Currently used as a garden gym, what better way to exercise and relax?

 

vaulted in garden

A vaulted ceiling can add a second dimension to a garden studio. With extra headroom, you really increase the feeling of space and light. Extra height can also increase the functionality of the building, with larger gyms or storage possible.

Spring and summer are the best times for building garden studios, it is possible for us to complete a build in 4-5 weeks, meaning you could be enjoying your new garden building much sooner than you might think.

 

While its fresh in your mind why not book a free site survey today. CLICK HERE 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Designing your garden room, Garden Gym, Garden Room Uses, Home and Garden, Our Buildings

SIP’s! What are they?

Posted on May 26, 2017May 26, 2017 by Garden Lodges

SIP’s in the UK have only in recent decades become a noted method of construction, most commonly used in the construction of residential properties and small commercial projects, despite having existed since the 1930’s. The first instance of a SIP’s building was in Wisconsin, USA, 1937 and was even dedicated by the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The building survived the harsh Wisconsin climate and ultimately stood the test of time with its removal to make way for a larger building in 1998. Since 1937 like most things developments have been made and more modern materials used resulting in panels with better insulation and structural integrity.

Wisconsin, Forest Products Laboratory, stressed skin panel building.

A SIP’s panel, simply put, is a form of insulated foam core sandwiched between 2 pieces of OSB this provides a very strong building material which has insulation built in.

There are many benefits to using SIP panels when it comes to construction, a few of those are:

Reduced build time: Due to the format of using large panels wall sections can be erected very quickly, often once a foundation has been placed and the walls ready to be put in place, the shell of a SIP building can be completed in a matter of days. One of our Garden Lodges can be completed in a matter of weeks, depending on size usually between 4-6 weeks of construction time.

Better Insulation: The panels, as it says in the name, have the insulation at the core of the building and because they can be slotted together very precisely there are much less cold bridges and the buildings are very air tight allowing for a better control over temperature.

Less wastage: SIP’s are often prepared in a factory before they are then sent to site, this allows for less wastage on site and very minimal wastage during manufacturing.

Green: The insulation for SIP’s is built into the structure, removing the need to add insulation at a later date, providing a very well insulated home reducing heating bills etc. The OSB used to construct the SIP’s is also sourced from young fast growing trees, which makes for a very renewable source and young trees can process carbon dioxide better than older trees therefore, reducing the overall CO2 emissions created.

Front Exterior 2
Front Exterior 2
SIP Cross Section
SIP Cross Section
Lodge Interior
Lodge Interior
Lodge Interior
Lodge Interior

We have now worked with SIP’s for a considerable time, and we are always comforted when visiting customers and they tell us how warm and cosy their new garden rooms feel, because of the insulation very minimal levels of heating are required to maintain a comfortable temperature in the lodges. They are also often taken aback at how quick the process is, from when the materials turn up on site to when they are able to move into the annexe. If you want to build at a specific time of year through us, then the best thing to do is book a site survey a month or 2 before you would like to build.

It may surprise you that even with these huge beneficial factors of using SIP’s, brick and mortar is still a more commonly used format of which to build and one of the simple answers to this is because it is still functional and it is the most widely known format for building a home. For large homebuilding companies to retrain would provide a fairly substantial cost and ultimately why fix something that isn’t broken? but we ask why not have something a bit better?

Posted in Blog, Home and Garden, Our Buildings

Smart Homes? Is it the way forward?

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Garden Lodges

Smart homes! Should you be installing a smart home system into your home?

Nest-thermostat

Let’s start with understanding exactly what having a smart home means. A smart home allows you to turn your ordinary bricks and mortar home into something that resembles the Jetsons, although sadly without the flying car! Automation is the key word when it comes to smart homes, allowing you to take control of many aspects of your home via an app on your smartphone, smart device (Amazon Alexa or Google home) or a smart thermostat like the ones offered by companies like Hive and Nest.

via GIPHY

This is the ultimate upgrade from the old fashioned clapping lights situation, now you can press a few buttons or even just speak from the comfort of your armchair to change the temperature across your home, turn lights on and off, control security systems, close and open blinds and more. Along with this unparalleled convenience there are many benefits that can come from having an automated home, energy efficiency is one of the key selling points for smart homes, from your phone you can adjust the temperature of your heating, your lighting and electronics allowing you to remotely control these aspects of your home, so if your out and your heating is going to come on at 7 but you miscalculated and are actually going to be a few hours late, then you can simply adjust your heating to come on 15 minutes before you get home, that way it will be nice and cosy for your return and you’ll be saving energy as you won’t be heating an empty house!

via GIPHY

Not only does that make you happy because you can save on your bills but it’s also beneficial for the planet and that is a win-win situation if you ask us!
To get an understanding of a few of the possibilities with smart home functionlity, take a look at this video by youtube Danny Winget, where he gives you a little guidance to some of the products that you can use to smarten up your home.

There are a couple of concerns about smart homes and their security, as you are connecting a lot of your home appliances and systems to the internet, this can open you up to the possibility of having your home hacked and that is quite a scary thought! You have to consider a few things though, with a good security system for your wi-fi you will curtail most attempts at someone trying to hack your home but the biggest thing to consider is that its not common it would be fairly unlucky for it to happen to you. Think of having a good wi-fi security setup like locking your car, a thief is much less likely to steal something from a locked car then an open one.

To conclude our little article, we are pretty sure that we would all welcome smart home integration into our own homes. The convenience that a smart home system allows is quite amazing in most cases, it really seems like we are making steps into the future much like those retro visions of the future!

Posted in Blog, Designing your garden room, Home and Garden

Grand Designs Live Review

Posted on May 8, 2017May 8, 2017 by Garden Lodges

Grand Designs Live!

 

So on Tuesday the 2nd our marketing man popped out to the ExCel in London for the Grand Designs Live show. Upon entering the grand designs corridor which is a bit like walking into some kind of Willy Wonka type world for construction, interiors, home technologies and everything Grand Designsy!

The tunnel of grand design dreams! #granddesigns #tv #themetune #london

A post shared by Garden Lodges (@garden_lodges) on May 2, 2017 at 3:54am PDT

Once through the Willy Wonka tunnel, you are confronted with a small communal area with walkways through to the different sections of the show those being; build, interiors, kitchens, bathrooms, gardens and technology. All of these sections include lots of interesting and state of the art products including smart home technologies, garden/home sculpture, water features, grand designs interiors, jukeboxes, lighting, art, even an infrared sauna which sounds a bit scary but they provide a unique solution for a home sauna.

A great feature at the Grand Designs Live, is the ask an expert in this area you can pop along make a quick appointment and have a free discussion with an industry expert regarding your plans for home improvements, home building and more. The ability to have a free discussion is great as often these kind of consultations might cost a few quid.

One thing that caught our eye were these large hot tubs that double up as a swim spa! They are designed in such a way that they will create a current that you can swim against providing a basically endless swimming pool which we thought was pretty cool! albeit a bit pricey sometimes more than our entry level lodges! .

An item that we took a good interest in was smart home products, we are interested in using a smart home product with our garden buildings and will hopefully see the incorporation of smart home products with our future projects. We like the smart home products as they allow you to control many different functions in your home by using a simple app! Security, lighting, heating and many other things can be controlled by a smart home system.

A highlight of the show was at the Grand Theatre where there were multiple talks taking place. The face of Grand Designs Kevin McCloud had some time on stage discussing the TV show and buildings with some of the homeowners that had featured on the show in the past. They went through their favourite parts of the build and the process, so if you have an interest in self build projects its definitely a show to visit.

Overall we had a pretty good time at the Grand Designs Live event, with lots of potential products that we could see included in our Garden Lodges in the future. The only downside to it is that we think they should put conveyer belts in somewhere, the show takes place in such a large space, during our day there our marketing man clocked up around 19,000 steps! We have added a set of photos from our visit so click below to take a peek. 

Grand Designs Live
Grand Designs Interiors
Grand Designs Interiors
Grand Designs Lexus
Grand Designs AEG Ovens
Grand Designs Jukebox
Grand Designs Lighting
Grand Designs Snooker Table
Grand Designs Hydropool
Grand Designs Water Features
Grand Designs Infrared Sauna
Grand Designs Theatre
Posted in Blog, Designing your garden room, Home and Garden, Man Cave

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