Do You Clad The Back Wall Of A Garden Room

Do you wish to have a quiet and private place for an office, or perhaps a gym? If yes, make a room in your garden!

Garden room also serves as a playroom for your children or you can convert it into a man cave or a craft room. The possibilities are numerous! However, the work can be tiring. But if you're determined to build a garden room from scratch, we've got you covered.

Tools for Building a Garden Room

Let's have a look at some of the supplies you'll need while building a garden room, shall we? Remember that this list is general and you have full freedom to tweak it based on your requirements.

1. Door
2. Windows
3. An array of fasteners
4. Insulation
5. Concrete blocks
6. Vapour barrier
7. Breathable membrane
8. Electrical, internet, and heating tools and materials
9. Plasterboards
10. Floor laminate
11. Foil tape for joints
12. Woodworking tools
13. Wall claddings
14. OSB boards
15. Staplegun
16. Shovel
17. Timbers
18. Spirit level

Step-by-step guide on How to Build a Garden Room

Step 1. Know your planning permission and design your room

Before you start on this project you shall know where you stand regarding planning permission and building regulations. Make sure that you'll not be violating any rules and regulations beforehand.

Once you've all the planning permissions and building regulations sorted, you can now design your garden room. Mark the location on where garden where you want your room to be and design the room. If necessary, you can take an architect's or any other expert's help for this process.

Step 2. Make a proper foundation

A proper foundation is a must if you want to build an excellent garden room. Clear the area where you'll be building the room and make the space as level as possible.

For a foundation, you can opt for concrete rafts, slabs, screw piles, or even concrete pillars. One easy way is to use concrete blocks. Dig out footings and fill them using gravel and hardcore as the base. You can then add some concrete on the top to fix the concrete blocks in place.

Decide on the number of concrete blocks you need depending on the size of the room you want to build. Make sure that all the blocks are levelled before you move on to frame the room base.

Step 3. Frame the room base and add insulation

You can then start by connecting the outer four beams. Fixing these beams on top of the blocks by screwing metal strapping or angle brackets on the sides of the beam and the blocks increase the rigidity of the structure.

At this stage, you can staple membrane under the frame to keep the wind out. Now, you can add flooring joists to the base frame. The ideal spacing between the joists is 600 mm. Then, screw the pre-cut noggings in between the floor joists.

Once your floor frame is ready, fill it with insulation. After insulating the frame, you can add a vapour barrier on top. However, if you're using foam insulation, you might as well skip this step. Finish the floor by adding OSBs and start building the wall frames.

Step 4. Build wall frames

The good news is that it is extremely easy to make three walls; two on sides, and one on back. But the front wall might make you scratch your head. Build the frames for the wall and add studs in between and raise them. Make sure to use appropriate fasteners and brackets.

For the front wall, you have to be clear on door and windows requirements. Space the wall studs accordingly. To compensate for the studs lost, you can add headers on top of your door and windows. Finally, add OSBs to the wall frames.

Step 5. Build the roof

Finally, for the roof frame attach wall plates on top of two opposite walls on which the length of your roof rests. Then, make notches for ceiling joists on the plates and fix the joists in place using angled brackets. As we've mentioned before the standard spacing between the joists is 600 mm.

Step 6. Add a door and windows

Once you're done with the roof, you can install your doors and windows. Second-hand doors and windows are readily available if you want to squeeze the expenses.

Doors and windows installation depend upon the type you own. So, read the manual if you have any or consult experts. Internet will also definitely be a big help in such cases.

Pro tip: The more windows you add, the more money, time, and heat you'll be losing!

Step 7. Install wall claddings

Before you install wall claddings, make sure to wrap your room with a membrane. The cladding shall go past down the insulation at the bottom and reach the roof at the top.

Step 8. Electric, internet, and heating requirements

By now, your garden room has already come into shape and your satisfaction meter is about to hit the peak. In that excitement, don't forget to install the electric, internet and heating systems in the room.

To make these arrangements, you might need an expert's help, if you're not one already. Do not make compromises or force yourself despite being unqualified to make the arrangements as a small mistake might result in failure of your equipment, or worse, electrical hazards.

Step 9. Complete roofing

Now, cover your roof with OSBs and cover the boards with a membrane. Avoid simply joining the membrane; i.e., overlap the membrane instead and properly staple it in place. You can cover the membrane with steel sheets for a neater look and increased moisture protection.

If you're on a budget, you can use steel sheets to cover your side and back walls instead of weatherproof cladding.

Step 10. Insulate the room

By now you might have already researched the different types of insulation. Use the type best suitable for your garden room.

Let us give you a major help – fibreglass insulation might be the most cost-effective one. The downside, however, is that fibreglass can be quite toxic. So, if you're dealing with this insulation, make sure you have your safety gloves, goggles, and mask on!

Insert the insulation on the walls and ceiling. You can then add a layer of insulation with a vapour barrier. However, if you're using foil-backed foam insulation, you can skip adding vapour barrier.

Step 11. Finishing the walls

Now, it's time to add plasterboards to your walls. But it hard to get the board lined up by hand. So, we'd suggest you go for lighter boards rather than cutting big ones.

While attaching the plasterboards, be careful of the wires and electrics inside. Finally, join the gaps. The next step is to plaster. In case you want, you can hire a professional plasterer. But if you want to do it anyway, we'd suggest you buy premixed plaster.

Once the plaster is dry, you can now paint the walls. After this step, you might want to add LED lights, breaker box, and any other such electricity items to the walls.

Step 12. Flooring

Finally, shop for an attractive laminate for the floor, decorate the room, and you're done!

Extended Tips

Here are a few more tips for you to keep in might while building a room in the garden.

Make sure that every corner offers a joist to plasterboards

Plasterboards are heavy! It can be quite frustrating to nail through the plasterboard without being sure that there's a joist to hold the board in place. So, make sure that every corner offers a joist to hold plasterboards.

Get a pair of helping hand

Building a garden room is definitely not a one-person job. If you're determined and push through the difficulties, maybe you can. But if you want the process to go smooth and decrease the level of both physical and mental stress, a friend or a helper is a must!

Decking

Adding a deck to your garden room is also a brilliant idea. You can either build the deck in your first build or you can even add one later on. A deck serves you as outdoor seating space and can provide an incredibly relaxing experience during summertime.

Exterior colour and additions

The choice of exterior colour depends upon your personality and how you want the room to look. Do you want the room to stand out in the garden? Or, do you want the room to blend seamlessly to the surrounding? Also, exterior lights can be a great addition to your garden room.

Summary

Though building a room in the garden is a labour-intensive job, it is an absolutely rewarding one. A garden room serves you as a secluded and private space to relax and do your study or office work. Or, it can even serve as a living or theatre room for the entire family to relax and enjoy.

So, building a room in the garden is definitely a brilliant idea. So, if you're thinking to give your garden a proper glow-up by making a garden room, go for it!

In case you've any confusion, you know where to post a comment!

Do You Clad The Back Wall Of A Garden Room

Source: https://www.the-salutation.com/how-to-build-a-garden-room/

Posted by: giesenappy1975.blogspot.com

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