by Mark Bailey | Oct 23, 2014 | GardenLife Magazine
‘Flat pack’, ‘self build’, ‘DIY kits’ and ‘self assembly’ are all-encompassing terms. They cover extremes such as a simple piece of flat pack furniture bought from the local DIY store, or an entire kit-house that you are expected to build from the foundations up.
The same vagueness applies when we talk about self build in the context of garden buildings, such as sheds, summer rooms or a garden office. It could refer to a self assembly DIY kit (complete with detailed instructions and pre-assembled parts), or, at the other end of the spectrum, to something you design and completely construct yourself (without any assistance or technical support).
We’ve seen some beautiful examples of the latter – from rustic log cabins in Estonia and the US, to miniature Gothic follies in British back gardens, but complicated self build projects take time, patience, and pretty advanced woodworking expertise. But because of the DIY skills required for self-build-from-scratch, we’ve also seen a few disasters too – from self-designed bike sheds that crumple at the first sign of high winds, to draughty self-built summer houses with warped doorframes and leaking roofs.
For most people, therefore, ‘self assembly’ is probably the most practical approach to building your own garden summer house. You’re more likely to end up with the garden building you daydreamed about, without the problems that can emanate from selecting the wrong timber, fittings, joints or design.
How do self assembly garden buildings vary?
There’s a huge choice of self assembly garden buildings nowadays – including summer houses, pavilions, garages, and gazebo DIY kits. They come in flat pack form, for ease of transportation and delivery, and are designed to be assembled by people with an unremarkable level of DIY experience.
The contents of these kits vary from supplier to supplier however, so it’s important to check what you actually get, the level of DIY experience that you need, as well as the tools for the job. And different designs may require different levels of expertise and manpower – assembling a timber carport DIY kit is a different kettle of fish from erecting a multi-room holiday cabin, where several people may be required for the job.
It’s unwise to generalise across all self-build kits for garden buildings, but to take the example of a typical self assembly garden room design from GardenLife, the kit would include:
- foundation joists, pressure-treated to protect from moisture and decay, and roof purlins
- wall logs, roof and floor boards, all pre-cut to the correct size
- door and window frames, again cut to the correct size, as well as windows and doors with hinges already fitted
- all fittings necessary for the assembly, including fixing materials, locks and keys, door handles
- easy-to-understand instructions for the build
Depending on the design of the garden room, the DIY kit may also include other elements such as storm braces, roof shingles, metal door sills and metal water gutters. This means that there’s no need to worry when you see the terms ‘self assembly’, ‘DIY kit’, ‘flat pack’ or ‘self build’ on one of our products; they really are designed to be built by people with basic DIY skills and tools.
If you’re still unsure about tackling the installation of a garden building, don’t worry. GardenLife Log Cabins also have a range of even easier-to-assemble garden rooms, which are modern, modular designs. These are constructed from Quick Fit framing and cladding, which are supplied pre-assembled. You can watch a video showing how two people assemble the fairly limited number of parts in one of these buildings.
What’s not included in a GardenLife self assembly DIY kit?
Another way to look at self assembly is to ask about what’s not included. A GardenLife self-assembly log cabin takes care of most of the difficult thinking such as: how to design a building that will survive British wind, rain and damp for year after year; what’s the best type of timber, screw or door hinge; or how to construct a timber roof when you’ve never built a shed before. But there are still some things you need in place already:
- a firm, secure foundation for the building
- a basic tools, including drill, screw driver, spirit level, hammer, saw and a step ladder
- wood preservative treatments, so you can treat the timber as soon as possible
- depending on the roof type, possibly some Soudal roof sealant (normally under £5 from any good DIY store)
- someone to help you erect the cabin, since we usually recommend that two people are needed for the construction
And if you don’t have those things, or are not sure about any of these elements? The answer at GardenLife is to talk to us. We can advise on foundations, wood treatments, which self build design would probably suit your needs best, and any other questions and issues.
We also offer our own construction service, if you want to omit the self-assembly element. Our team can do all the graft of assembling your summer house or garden office kit, and can even in some cases customise elements such as wood thickness, doors or windows. All you need to do is get in touch.
by Mark Bailey | Oct 23, 2014 | How to guide, Timber building videos
How are large garden buildings delivered?
GardenLife have been involved in the design, manufacture, delivery and installation of summer houses, timber offices, log cabins, pavilions and other garden buildings for many years, and when it comes to delivery, we’ve always been able to ship our products to the desired location. Tight turnings, narrow driveways, tall hedges and trees, limited access to gardens – these issues have never stopped us from delivering a garden building as close as possible to the build site.
It’s understandable however, that investing in such a substantial structure can lead to concerns about packaging, shipping and the delivery day itself. For that reason, GardenLife filmed the delivery of one of our biggest garden rooms, to show how straightforward deliveries are (even those involving large garden buildings, such as the Laggan, measuring 6.4m x 3.5m).
Secure packaging
One question commonly asked, is how are garden buildings packaged? As you can see in the video above, all GardenLife buildings are delivered flat pack, and before they leave the factory, all the parts are carefully positioned on timber carrying frames and shrink wrapped in water proof plastic. The carrying frame helps ensure that timbers remain completely flat during the shipping process, and the plastic wrapping helps keep all the wood dry (which means you don’t have to worry about building the summer house the second it arrives). Smaller buildings often fit in one package, but the larger timber buildings (such as the Laggan) come in three carefully wrapped parcels.
Careful delivery
GardenLife always contact customers to arrange a convenient day for delivery, and we ensure that our buildings are only ever dispatched using a Hiab truck with a front-mounted crane. This allows the delivery driver to get close to the delivery site, but even when obstacles stand in the path of the truck, the extending crane allows the driver to lift each package over hedges and fences, or around trees and buildings. You can see in the video above, the experienced driver is able to lift large sections of the building over hedges (whilst keeping the crane below overhanging wires) and then carefully position the timbers in a confined area not much bigger than the package itself.
GardenLife take care of wrapping up your garden building, keeping it dry and flat. We always ensure we deliver at a convenient time, with advanced notification of the delivery date, and our experienced drivers and crane operators ensure that your new garden building is delivered safely to your chosen construction site. If you have questions or concerns about delivery please don’t hesitate to get in touch or give us a call on 0131 660 6333.
by Mark Bailey | Oct 10, 2014 | GardenLife Magazine
Desperate to get your kids away from the TV this half term? Here are some holiday tips
Children of the 1970s and 1980s may remember being forced to watch a TV show called Why Don’t You Just Switch Off Your Television Set and Go Out and Do Something Less Boring Instead? Various precocious children (including Ant and Dec) would suggest alternatives such as craft and magic tricks. Their ideas never seemed that interesting.
The 2010s version would probably involve switching off Snapchat or the PlayStation, but otherwise the parental agenda remains similar: enticing the kids away from the screen and into the great outdoors during school half term. GardenLife have therefore pulled together some holiday ideas that parents (and their children) have recommended; hopefully they will be of use this half term, and during future school holidays. So without further ado, here are some ideas on how to keep kids entertained during school holidays:
Best holiday activities for under-sevens
If you want to drag a younger child away from CBeebies, create them their own garden playhouse – some garden canes and a big bed sheet will work a treat, or if the budget allows, how about a wooden playhouse for more prolonged enjoyment? Paint it in the bright colours that bedeck children’s TV programmes, and theme it according to the child’s current obsession – whether that’s pirates or Peppa Pig.
The other attraction of a playhouse is that children can spread out their toys without colonising your sitting room, and spillages won’t ruin your sofa. Kids love tree houses too, but not all of us have trees big enough to support one (or the DIY skills to build one). The perfect solution is a playhouse on stilts!
Best way for kids to burn off energy outdoors
Opinions vary about trampolines. Children tend to be enthusiastic, but adults worry about safety. Most accidents happen when more than one person is on the trampoline, so set some basic rules about how it is used. One thing that isn’t debatable however, is that using a trampoline is great exercise!
Best garden entertainment (other than a trampoline)
If you don’t like the noise from a trampoline, how about a kids timber play frame? They’re safer than a trampoline, but more interesting and sociable than a single slide or swing. Adding an element such as a tower or a ladder greatly increases the possibilities for pretend games, and if installed on a lawn or rubber play mat then they are extra safe. Be on the lookout for play equipment built to European safety standards EN71-1 and EN71-8, and if you’re environmentally conscious, check for the FSC symbol. All GardenLife play equipment meets such safety standards and is FSC certified, being built from sustainably managed timber.
Best for a break from taking selfies
Parents tend to like the idea of projects, and children will buy into them as long as they don’t sound too worthy. As nearly all kids have mobile phones with cameras, a photography project can be as quick or protracted as you like, with ideas such as:
- a photo safari in the country, the local park or just the garden
- a challenge to take photos of 10-20 different types of insects, birds, flowers or anything else
- a family photo competition for the best nature/wildlife photos
- a competition to take the most unusual photo (such as textures or unusual views)
Best ideas for a change of scene
Camping holidays are great, but vulnerable to weather. And many of the best camp sites are booked weeks in advance. Far easier is some spontaneous backyard camping (or glamping). Children can sleep out alone, without parents getting in the way, and there’s no need for them to struggle with camping stoves or carrying their own food. They simply turn up in the kitchen for breakfast.
If you want to push the boat out, you could always invest in a barbecue hut. The kids would love something like this come rain or shine, plus adults can take over in the evening and use the hut for BBQs and parties.
Best way to sell the idea of a walk
Most children find walks boring unless there’s a purpose or some entertainment. Team up with friends who have a dog, and that’s the entertainment taken care of, especially if it likes fetching balls. Older children may even be may able to earn a few pounds by doing some occasional dog walking for friends – an even better way to persuade them to go outside. Alternatively combine the photography project mentioned above with a hike outdoors.
If you want other ideas for ways to get children outside, take a look at the National Trust’s great list of 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾.
![Build your own shed of the year]()
by Mark Bailey | Sep 15, 2014 | GardenLife Magazine
There may be too many property programmes on TV, but the annual Shed of the Year competition, just finished on Channel 4, is worth watching. It’s feel-good TV, a tribute to British eccentricity and resourcefulness. It’s also a tribute to the joy of the ‘project’– whether it’s a mosaic of 50,000 shells in an air raid shelter, building a pub in your garden, or pursuing a dream of building the perfect birdbox.
How do you build a Shed of the year?
Many of the buildings in Shed of the Year are self-built, using salvaged materials. But not all of them. The winner of the 2014 Summerhouse/Cabin category was a flatpack cabin, turned into a beautiful ‘Caribbean retreat’ through paint colours, fabrics, plants and holiday mementoes. So a cabin from our website could be a great starting point for a future Shed of the Year entry.
It could also be a great starting point for a new job, hobby or way of life. As Sid, a shed graffiti artist who won the Workshop category in Shed of the Year 2014, said, ‘A shed has given our family a whole lot of freedom … it’s a nice lifestyle we’ve got’. Sid also said, ‘Sheddiness is all about being different, individual and quirky’. And even if you don’t have the time, tools or skills to build your own Gothic folly, a flatpack garden cabin can still be unique and personal.
Start with flat pack or self assembly
How about building your very own perfect garden bar, for cocktails, home-brew, or family barbecues?
The Cumber flat pack garden bar, with its fold-down counter, can be customised in various styles from beachcomber to 1950s Americana, and our Lochy self build garden pub also has a large serving hatch at the front, and is popular as a garden drinks bar. And one of our customers is using the Lovat summerhouse as an elegant drop-in Pimms Bar at a holiday park.
Or perhaps you have just retired and finally have time to devote more time to a hobby? Take a look at Tweed Extra with windows on eight sides and 360-degree views – it would make a wonderful hide for watching birds and other wildlife in comfort, or an observatory for amateur astronomers. Or Grace, with a large covered area where a shed graffiti artist like Sid could use spray paints without fumes building up, but without having to worry about rain.
Customise an existing garden building
Adding further scope for individualism is the fact that at GardenLife we can customise many of our designs. This includes adding windows, increasing window sizes, or increasing wall thicknesses. We even have a full bespoke design service if you want to personalise further.
So think of the designs on our website as just the start of a process. Just because a design is labelled as a summer house, it doesn’t mean you have to use it as one. And if you see a cabin that is almost what you’re looking for, but not quite, then ask us about customising it.
And most of all, let your imagination run free. When you see a garden building on a website, it’s sometimes hard to visualise how you could personalise and decorate it. So use events like Shed of the Year or the GardenLife Pinterest page for inspiration – whether you prefer the ease and convenience of a flat pack design or want to search in a skip for materials to upcycle, you’ll find some amazing ideas.
by Mark Bailey | Sep 4, 2014 | How to guide, Timber building videos
Self assembly timber garden office video
If you’re looking to start a new business from home, or if your current home business is in desperate need of additional storage or meeting space, you could consider a timber garden office as an alternative to a portakabin, a costly house extension or renting office premises at another location. Renting office space and extending the house are expensive ventures, and a portakabin isn’t the most attractive location to run a business from. However, a timber garden office can prove highly cost effective; a low purchase cost (when compared to extending and renting), quick self assembly and minimal ongoing maintenance.
Portakabins and house extensions require planning permission, and although this might still apply with the siting of a timber framed office in your back garden, if you can position your garden office a couple of metres away from the boundary, and buy a design that’s 2.5m in height (or less), you may be able to avoid the hassle of obtaining planning permission altogether.
GardenLife Log Cabins specialise in a whole range of different timber framed building styles, all of which are designed for self assembly (even for those who aren’t great at DIY). Despite this, GardenLife also stock a number of modern timber garden rooms and offices that feature a modular Quick Fit design, which is perfect if you’re not that confident with DIY, but still want the pleasure (and reduced cost) of a self build project.
The self assembly timber garden office video above showcases what is involved in constructing the Fiona contemporary garden office. The self build Quick Fit kit for this garden office is delivered with the bulk of the elements already pre-assembled; walls are provided as modular wood framed panels that simply slot together, and the windows and doors are already built, as are the roof frames and apexes (the only separate parts are the foundation joists, floor boards and roof boards). As you’ll see in the video, the tools that are required are a hammer, screwdriver, drill, saw, spirit level and staple gun (although you can use tacks on the roofing felt if you don’t have a gun).
The self assembly video shows two professional installers completing the installation process in about six hours (with a couple of hours for unpacking and organising the parts). So if you’re not a DIY regular, a day in the garden should be all you need to self build your own timber garden office; far less stress, hassle and cost than an extension. If you’re still not sure about undertaking the task, don’t fear, GardenLife can arrange installation for you, just get in touch to find out more.
