Project Garden Workshop/Mancave build. (Pic Heavy)

[bikertomm]

Hi all,

In another thread about garden builds/workshops/garages/general mancaves I said once I get some time I will do a thread on designing & building my own workshop. Recently me and my dad decided to give it a go.. So hope this will be of interest to someone. Any questions or problems you notice are welcome!

The area to fill is just over 5m x 5m so it will be a relatively big workshop. Would like it to include insulation & lining, windows, felt, guttering, electricity for sockets etc. Worktop space also.

The whole reason for having a go ourselves was because I got some quotes from existing companies which wanted £8000 to £10,000+..

So when I looked at what materials you can get for your money, it turns out we could buy a much higher specification shed for a fraction of the cost. (Obviously excluding labour.) Including a nice thick base / side panels, celotex insulation boards etc.

Basically, this brick built 'thing' was at the bottom of the garden when we moved in:

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/image1_zpsazjtwur7.jpeg

And with the bike back in 2013...

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/20130331_165651_zpsrubq61q0.jpg

I have no idea how it was still standing to be honest.

The mortar holding the bricks together had effectively turned to sand. There was huge cracks, gaps between the window frames, and a leaking roof...

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140808_173548_zpsplh91z1w.jpg
https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140808_173644_zpss4wxpx84.jpg

So where did I choose to store my pride and joy? Luckily, it was fine for over 2 years!

It turns out that the previous owner of the house had lived there all his life (1930's) and we bought it when he died about 12 years ago. It was used to keep pigs in!

This is the whole area we will build the workshop:

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140808_162445_zpsjkjua7df.jpg

So, demolition of the 'piggery' was good fun, trying to avoid being crushed.
With a little help from a sledgehammer, this happened:

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140808_180823_zpsv6mmc6xo.jpg

And then this.

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140808_182038_zpsribibanz.jpg

Once the area was cleared it looked like this:

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140809_182413_zps0zcfcxqd.jpg

Then it was time to move the other shed into the garden, lifting the roof off with 2 people was.. interesting.

Normally with a workshop build you would want a decent concrete base as you want this to outlast the workshop. In our case, to save some money - The 'piggery' sat on a thin concrete base. So once we knocked it down we smashed this up to use as hardcore. Then I found some cheap paving slabs locally on ebay for about £40. Took about 12 trips in the car backwards and forwards though..

Incame a delivery of some sand and ballast, and we started building the concrete base.

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140820_182916_zpsb0cl6bx9.jpg
Area cleared:
https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140823_130355_zps8ru9nuj5.jpg
Coming together:
https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140820_182823_zpskhnrvsny.jpg

After while it looked like this:

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/Mobile%20Uploads/20140907_181123_zpsn28vcifz.jpg



That’s all for now folks, next chapter will be on the design, 2D & 3D drawings!

Cheers, Tom.
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[CaNsA]

+99 points for use of the word "Workshop"
-2 million points for use of the word "Mancave"