Showing posts with label Building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Building. Show all posts

Monday, 15 February 2010

10 Benifits Of A Garden Room

My Garden from above with notes - April 2009Image by jo-h via Flickr

From talking to business owners on the topic of working from home, opinion is somewhat divided. Supporters claim that working from home is the best option: there’s no travel to work, no office politics. While on the opposing side of the debate others say they just can’t focus on work at home. They are a bit reluctant to invite clients to their home, fearing it creates a poor impression. They may find there are too many distractions around home to get on with their work.

There is a choice which will suit all workers: the garden building. Garden Offices/studios are installed in your own back garden, yet remain separate from your house. A garden office offers you the dedicated space to get work done in a comfortable, creative space, with oxygen producing foliage all around, and is a neutral location in which to conduct meetings. The idea that the garden office is separate from your house is a crucial one. It gives you a chance to break away from home life to business life. Modern technology like wireless or VOIP allows you to easily obtain a different phone number just for the office.

1. COST. Garden offices are very affordable when you consider the alternative business rent and rates expense; the purchase cost is an acceptable business tax allowance and the room can be built on a mobile frame – to take with you if you move. Compared to a traditional extension, studios win again on cost, time and disruption.

2. VALUE. They add value to your property so the cost is never lost. Garden offices can recoup their cost in as little as two years. Repayments on a loan for a garden studio are often comparable, or cheaper than, office rental costs.

3. ECO. Garden offices are environmentally friendly when sourced from a reputable company. The commute from home to garden takes only natural footprints, not carbon ones; the best designs have been responsibly sourced and offer eco upgrades like sedum planting or solar panels. High density insulation makes them thermally efficient, so there will be no excessive heating or cooling costs. Finished with a fully glazed south facing wall, natural light is maximized. These measures substantially reduce the building’s energy use.

4. TIME. You can conduct business at anytime. Creativity is not a commodity and cannot be turned on and off so if you have a new idea, walk into the garden office and set it free, anytime. Add up the time saved on the hour’s journey to your former place of work and you have dedicated an extra 20 days each year to spend as you wish!

5. QUALITY. It’s a warm, well-lit, natural environment. No bright fluorescent strips, grey walls and white-noise of stale offices. No annoying traffic jams en route or crisp-crunchers at the next desk.

6. VERSATILITY. It affords a versatile space which could double as a guest room. Many offices are available with partitions for toilet/shower rooms and kitchenettes.

7. ADDED INTEREST WHEN MOVING HOUSE. As an asset to your home it provides the perfect lifestyle showcase to potential buyers, as a home cinema, games room, play room, teenage den or hobby room. People are delighted to exceed their neighbour’s valuations by £10,000 - £20,000.

8. ATTACHABILITY. Few select companies have gone that extra step to achieve BBA accreditation on the structure of their buildings. Those who have can offer to attach their products to an existing building – allowing a fast and affordable extension option.

9. SPEED. Garden buildings all take less time to finish than the same size of a traditionally built extension. Many include a service where the studio is put together remotely then craned into place, offering an instant extra room. This service is very costly and such companies tend to skimp on the specifications of the building, like the thermal qualities or the guarantee offered, to bring their product in on budget to the competitive market. Generally, a flat-pack modular building will be completed in less than 3 weeks. Compare that to the traditional method of building and there is a significant reduction in the dirt, dust, mud and general disruption that traditional building inevitably brings.

10. LIFESTYLE. As THE home improvement of the moment, there are some gorgeous designs out there which will allow you to enjoy your garden more and live in a more flexible way. Some days you may choose to have that dedicated time in your studio to perfect a new solution and some days you may feel up to bracing the early traffic to attend a meeting but the CHOICE is now yours. Come the weekend, pull out the studio’s sofa-bed and have friends stay; although you did not have the space for them before, the studio is perfect in terms of privacy and comfort.

By: jewel

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For more information about garden offices visit Studioni the UK supplier of sustainable garden rooms


Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Hot Tub Gazebos Give You The Privacy You Need!

When you install your hot tub on the deck and start to enjoy it, it is then you realize that you need to have a gazebo or an enclosure to give you privacy from prying eye when you are inside. Hot tub gazebos come in a wide range of designs and will give you this element of privacy that you need.

Not only does such a structure prevent others from seeing you relaxing in the jacuzzi or hot tub, but the sound of the swim spa and the conversation will be muffled. A simple lattice frame covered with greenery will accomplish this so it doesn’t need to be very expensive.

When you look at the many designs of hot tub gazebos, you should consider the size and location of the hot tub and the exterior design of your home and garden when deciding which one you would like to have. For example, if the exterior of your home is brick, you can have a brick gazebo.

If your deck is constructed from pine or cedar, use the same wood in the construction of the hot tub enclosure. You will find many plans for this construction online and in magazines. Many of the plans you find online and free and you only have to download them along with the instructions.

You can also purchase kits for hot tub gazebos that contain all the materials you need. You do need to have the correct measurements if you plan to use one of these kits for building a swim spa or hot tub enclosure with a hot tub cover because all the materials are pre cut to the lengths that you need for the size of gazebo you choose.

When browsing the many kits available, think of how you want to use the hot tub. If this will be a place where you want to entertain guests, you can look at designs that include benches, bar tables and of course, a built-in bar. You will also need to have storage places for towels and hooks for hanging towels and clothing.

Would you like to see the stars when you are in the hot tub at night? This is entirely possible in the designs of hot tub gazebos that do not have a roof. However, there are also disadvantages with such a design because the heat of the sun will be bearing down on you during the day and there is the increased possibility of dirt and debris blowing into the water of the tub. This will give you more work in cleaning the hot tub more than is usually required.

One thing that you do have to consider when choosing the hot tub gazebo, swim spa, or sauna of your dreams is that you have to leave room for getting at the pump and the other components of the hot tub whenever the need arises. You cannot assume that you will not encounter any problems once you have it in place.

Like all other water features you have in your home and your bathroom, there will be an occasion when you have problems with the hot tub and need to have access to the components in order to do the necessary repairs. Get ideas for hot tub gazebos and helpful advice for the construction process by doing a search online. The Internet is a valuable source of information about hot tubs, enclosures, and gazebos.

By: Allison Ryan

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA specializing in home improvement and installing and remodeling spa and bathroom features. For the ideal swim spa or hot tub for your home or backyard, please visit www.mybath.biz/.



Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Thursday, 12 February 2009

Types of Carports

Carport in front of garagesImage via Wikipedia

People today care quite a bit about the condition of their vehicles; they pay a good deal of money to get them and a good deal of money to keep them in good working order. Not every home comes with a two garage to protect their automobiles and not every middle class family can afford to have a big garage built for the purpose.

For those people that love and want to protect their cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles but don't have a garage to do so, a carport can be a very good alternative. There are a wide variety of carports such as metal carports available to suit just about any purpose a person could have; they vary in the materials that they are constructed from, the style of framing and the size - there is one out there for every situation and here is a good cross section of what's available to make the correct decision when choosing which type of carport is right for your situation.

Different Materials
This is probably the most important deciding factor in your choice of carports. It will determine both the price and the structural integrity of the building.
Polyester and polyethylene construction is probably the most economically priced type of carport available, though the prices of all raw materials have gone up in recent years; polyethylene is still a more cost effect alternative to aluminum or steel framing. You won't have quite as sturdy a carport as you would if you'd gone with steel framing, but these carports protect well against the wind, rain, sunlight and light debris. Though they don't have the most rugged construction, they will provide more than enough protection for your automobile in light and regular duty applications and the light weight materials make them much easier to move than their steel counterparts.

Aluminum carports are a bit sturdier than the polyethylene variety and still come in with a lower price tag than a steel carport. The lightweight aluminum carport is fairly easy to assemble and, though not quite as portable as the aforementioned, will still be able to be moved without a whole lot of trouble. An aluminum carport is perfect for situations that need something with some reliable durability, but where cost is still a factor.

Steel carports are among the sturdiest available, but you will pay for the added integrity due to the cost of the raw materials. They offer the same basic principals of protections as both of the aforementioned models, but come with the piece of mind of being a much more permanent structure.

Sizes and Styles
Carports of all materials come in a wide variety of standard and custom sizes and can easily be built to suit any purpose. The most popular sizes are made to house one automobile or are 'triple wide' for those that want to protect more than one vehicle under the same carport. Once you determine how much space on your property you have available and how many vehicles you are looking to protect you can determine what size of carport will best suit your needs.
The styles of carport can be nearly as varied as the sizes; there are standard frames with open sides or fully enclosed, A-frames with open sides or fully enclosed, A-frame 'utility' with an open frame for vehicle protection and an attached enclosed structure for storage. Many manufacturers also offer custom styles where you can decide how you need your carport to be and they will manufacture it to order.

A carport is the most economic and readily available alternative for a homeowner with no garage, who is on a budget. Whatever function you should require of it, whether it's just to provide basic protection of your automobile; or whether you need a fully enclosed, semi-portable steel garage building for secure storage there is a carport out there for you.

By: Amy Nutt

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Offers preengineered, pre-fabricated steel buildings and metal garages, steel carports, barns, workshops and add-on structures for personal, agricultural and commercial use.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tips On Choosing Your Shed

After making the choice to purchase a building, it is important to consider shed plans. These plans are specifically for determining what features and layouts you will want in your new building. There are a variety of options to select from to customize your structure to fit your specific needs and activities. Do you want a cozy cottage look or an industrial all purpose look to the building? Do you want a single floor or multi-floor structure? What type of foundation do you want to use? These are some of the questions that need to be answered when determining what shed plans are best for you.

Many companies offer display models of their buildings with design options available. Whether you plan to store lawn mowers, bicycles or antiques in the structures it is nice to have one that is tailored to your specific tastes and needs. These buildings will be around for a very long time! When purchasing a pre-built building be sure to ask the company about the shed plans that are available for the particular model that has been selected.

Other uses for designs are to build from scratch structures for the yard. These too can be for storing tools, equipment or even extra furniture. Other people choose to make the buildings into workshops or one room residential rentals. There are literally hundreds of designs to select from when building from scratch or from a kit to tailor to your specific desires.

Some shed plans design the building to look like a cottage, small log building or even playhouse for the kids. You can select the square footage, roofing material, structure material, door style, window options, flower box attachments and even a small porch or deck for the building! There are some designs with over hangs and even a fireplace feature. There are small buildings, two-story buildings and split level structures. When selecting a design have in mind the purpose and function of the building.

Selecting shed plans does not have to destroy your budget. There are many different plans available to cater to your needs that are affordable. Some companies offer free designs or even custom design a structure for you if you purchase the building material and supplies from them. Check with your supply dealer and find out if this an option for your area. It saves a great deal of money and time. Creative builders can purchase several designs and combine features to create a completely unique building for their needs.

Shed plans are important to custom designing and tailoring your building structures and features to your needs. If you are pre-purchasing a building the company may have variations of the model for you to select from. For those building their sheds remember the function of the shed and landscaping design where the building will be placed in choosing the right shed plans.

BuyaShed specialize in sheds garages, carports, farm sheds, garden sheds, storage sheds, workshops and much more and we deliver FREE to 100 local depots Australia wide.

By: Tony Shaw

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

BuyaShed specialize in sheds garages, carports, farm sheds, garden sheds, storage sheds, workshops and much more and we deliver FREE to 100 local depots Australia wide.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Monday, 9 February 2009

Delightful Gazebos - Quiet And Peaceful

Music was played at this gazebo, known as the ...Image via Wikipedia

Gazebos are attractive, octagon shaped, pavilion structures that can generally be seen in parks, royal gardens and other public places, although more and more folks are buying gazebos not only to enhance the look and comfort of their personal gardens but to also fully enjoy nature and the beauty of the open. Gazebos are commonly freestanding but some can be attached to walls or even out buildings as most are open on all sides with no windows or doors, so offer a superb little place to take a seat and relax in the summer months. Gazebos are a great substitute to bandstands as well and for practically any other outdoor entertainment purpose as they are very versatile and are a great way of keeping in the shade.


The history of the Gazebo goes back thousands of years and they have often been mentioned in ancient Chinese and Persian text as well as several other classical civilisations, the best examples of early gazebos are the garden houses at Mont acute house. Right through history these garden pavilions have been built using almost any type of building materials, although these days the most frequent materials used are wood, not only because its cheaper and more suitable but also because it looks very effective. In hotter climates wooden gazebos are often built with screen sides as mosquitoes can be a huge problem in these parts of the world and so the sides give a beautiful place to rest and relax whilst being protected from any unwanted irritation from insects and the like.

As a rule, the most common dimensions of a wooden garden gazebo is of 6 to 22 feet in diameter with either fully open or fully enclosed sides, depending of course on the tastes of the buyer or even the purpose by which the gazebo is to be used. Gazebos also make splendid guest houses! You can choose between either a very uncomplicated type of wooden gazebo or a robust type with trellis walls, Victorian mouldings or whatever other architectural type you fancy to add creating your very own style.

The place you want to assemble your gazebo is an additional very crucial choice to make, things such as construction, permits, regulations and other configuration particulars have to be taken into consideration and it may perhaps be a good idea to phone your municipal authority simply to run through the rules and regulations associated to its construction with them.

To make the most out of your gazebo, how about situating your new wooden gazebo by a garden perimeter overlooking a scenic view? Or nearby a garden pond; you may perhaps even put in a few of your favourite plants, trees and benches alongside or you may possibly consider making your very own garden pond nearby if you don’t already possess one. Getting a little sound guidance from an architect would be highly recommended as well simply to avert any possible disappointments later on.

People find that gazebos provide a very restful place to relax and enjoy their surroundings, whether you like to meditate, or use it for family gatherings. A wooden garden gazebo is ideal for relaxation, where noise and air pollution can be at its least.

If you select a calm, peaceful location for your gazebo, you can truly rest and enjoy the beauty of your garden and all the numerous colours of the seasons.

By: Winonline

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tom Gee runs a website about garden buildings. For more information please visit his wooden gazebos and log cabins uk website.