To be peeved at DHs Man Cave

[Hum2]

He's wanted one for a long time. With no spare bedroom or garage he chose a spot in the garden to build a 16ftx8ft shed. We have lost about 1/3 of the garden to it, maybe a bit less.

He works hard so I don't begrudge him it and he will use the space for business storage too so I will get some house space back.

BUT. ..

3 days into the build and I'm now learning that the £620 he paid to his joiner friend has only covered labour and a shed skeleton. Once it's built, he is going to insulate it and board it out to be plastered, this will be another £200 and I'm not sure if that includes the floor covering he wants to lay.

Today I have also been told "its the cladding you want that will be expensive".

I don't want any cladding as such, I just don't want it to look an eyesore in my garden and he knew this from the start.

AIBU to expect a shed would look like a normal shed when it was built for £620(maybe log cabin style). Also, AIBU to be annoyed that once he has the shed built, making it aesthetically pleasing will drop way down his priority list!?

I haven't said anything to him yet as I don't want to 'ruin' his excitement but after 3 days of having my house taken over by stuff out of the old shed, my patience is wearing thin!!

Google image of the way the exterior will look without cladding

Did you honestly think he'd get a decent shed that big for £620??

YABU!

OMG .... cladding would be a blessing surely.

Edit to add ...

Read your OP to DH thinking he might pick up on the irony, but sadly not!! He complained endlessly when out NDN did something similar and inflicted an ugly shed type thing on us. We can see it but they’ve had it screened from their side. But then forgets that he has an office (entirely his own) and a TV room (entirely his own) in out House an£ has turned out once pleasant sitting room into a shrine to his bloody hifi. Sigh .......

Log cabins cost £1000's don't they? I'd be more angry that I'd lost a third of my garden to a shed!

Even getting a friend to do it, he still needs to pay the man a proper amount for his time. You cannot get an attractive looking shed plus that size plus installation for that kind of money. Surely you discussed it and you agreed... So either accept the exterior as it is or pay for what you want.

Just popped back to say that it also looks a bit high. Are there not planning restrictions on heights of garden buildings?

(..... goes off to look up the planning rules and prepares further follow up post advising OP to do likewise ..... )

What do your neighbours think about it?

Doesn’t that need planning permission???

It's not big enough for a man cave.

This one costs $75 for the plans, takes 2 men one day to make and all you need are pallets. What's more it looks beautiful

www.viralforest.com/pallet-house/

I was thinking to get my kids to make one over the summer

@Rocinante1 My issue isn't with the builder, more my DH as he let me assume the fee was for a finished article (at least on the exterior anyway). He never told me this was going to be so unfinished.

I'm pretty sure cladding is quite important in weatherproofing so maybe it is a priority for him. I've asked him and he has said he wants it ALL done ASAP and to get the rest of the garden nice but I just get that feeling it's the man equivalent of 'can I get a bunny I promise I will clean it everyday'(but never does!).

@ThisIsntMeHonestGuv I don't know what would be the expected rate usually as I've never bought wood/hired a joiner etc. before! Also, I didn't get quotes myself as it wasn't my project.

@MrsExpo
Whilst my house isn't a shrine to a hifi, it does contain a lot of his other hobby equipment (a man of many hobbies too!)

@DaisyChainsForever ironically, I think the space will be used more now so I don't mind. I know it's been a dream of his for a long time and we have a front lawn for bigger things like a big paddling pool or bouncy castle hire etc. He does need some storage space for his work stuff too as he has a lot of equipment so what I lose in garden, I gain in house which will be amazing!

@Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname
@BreakfastAtSquiffanys
The only neighbour it affects has said she is 'not bothered' so no issues there.

@MrsExpo

The pictured shed is not our shed, just a Google image. It is quite high at 8ft (like the dimensions of a regular garage) but he HAS got permission for it and has had the permission for a while so no issues there either.

The only issue is me I think 🤣

@gamerchick Not big enough for a mancave???? Why????

@findthegap

"Blimey. We have a proper garden office with foundations, insulation and double glazed windows and it cost way more than £600. I suspect it’s going to cost more than he’s letting on.

What’s the actual problem with it apart from cost?" I think you answered that for me, 1. that he's not let on that it would cost so much more (I was told about £1000) and 2. That the bit that effects me (the aesthetics) will be done half arsed and delayed.

@butterfly990 we looked into pallet wood but I think you need a specific treated pallet and not just any old pallet for it to be robust. Cute though!

It definitely needs cladding, it can be expensive but it changes the whole look of it.

DH has clad his 'man cave' (that we all spend time in!) in Cedar and it's gone from being a bit of a monstrosity to an absolutely beautiful building.

If he is going to put his work equipment in there will it be secure enough?

@scrivette
Cedar? I will look at that, it seems the outside is my bit to choose. I do think we will all use the space as he's putting a log fire in which will be gorgeous in winter, a very large chalkboard on the exterior for our 4 y/o and a punchbag for our older child.

It's not that relevant to my original post but once the 'cave' is made we are going to put some decking in to reduce the waterlogging we get in winter in a particular spot and I am counting down the minutes until I can set my hot tub up that he's just got me ahead of my birthday next month! We'd like to put some some triangle awnings up in the winter so we have a 'garden room'. So yes this is the first part of us all utilising the garden more!

@mindthegap
I'm encouraged that it can be sorted out retrospectively, that's a concern for me but only due to ignorance, I wouldn't know at this point if it was built ramshackle but my OH has supervised constantly so he's confident it's well made and robust x

@Fairypiggy

He has a proper 'front door' UPVC double glazed exterior door and window fitted so I imagine so. He's talking about getting CCTV and security lights for it and the side of the house. 🙈