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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy a shed for long term working from home?

35 replies

thinkful · 28/12/2020 12:18

I'm working from home and have been since March, with no end in sight. I'm currently in my bedroom, before i was in the living room.

Is it possible to cheaply buy a shed for wfh? What about heating? Or will i realistically have to wait till May/june?

Anyone done it?

OP posts:
Doyoumind · 28/12/2020 12:24

You need a proper insulated garden room otherwise you will freeze or spend a load on some kind of heating for it. You'll need power in there. And it would need to be secure if you are putting valuable items in there.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 28/12/2020 12:26

Insulated and heated garden offices with windows and power start at around £10,000 plus VAT from my research into the same subject. But that's for something fairly basic.

Flyonthewall01 · 28/12/2020 12:28

There are really long lead times on sheds at the moment. Took me 16 weeks for mine to be delivered and it was just a bog standard shed.
But yeah as the above pp said you'd need to insulate it and have a power source for it to be in anyway usable and will need to be big enough so you can fit a desk in without it being too cramped. I can't see this being done cheaply.

Ted27 · 28/12/2020 12:31

I installed a shed for my son as a den a few years ago, we insulated it ourselves, carpet and thick curtains across the door. Its heated with small oil filled radiators. He’s had sleepovers down there in January so its warm enough.
If you don’t already have an electricty supply in the garden, it can be expensive to put it in. I viewed it as a long term investment, he’s now using it as a mini gym, I have a second freezer in there. I have visions of a reading room when he’s left home.
It wasn’t cheap though.

antidisestablishmentarianism · 28/12/2020 12:33

how about a caravan? you can pick them up quite cheaply if they arent roadworthy and you could scrap it once you are done with it. They have as a rule electricity and heating.

Ted27 · 28/12/2020 12:34

I think I’ve spent about £2, 500 on my shed, including the power supply, Its a big shed though, can sleep 4 teenage man boys

Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 28/12/2020 12:34

I think you'll be miserable in a normal shed. If you've got the money for something more substantial, great.

We have a workshop that is basically a large shed with windows, power and a light. It's nice, but cold. If I wanted to work in there I'd have to insulate it and add a heater. I think starting from scratch, concrete base, decent workshop type shed with proper windows, electrician to install power and lighting, insulation, electric heater, you'd have to be looking at 6k minimum.

britnay · 28/12/2020 12:35

As others have said. yes, but not cheaply.

There are also huge supply issues with timber that have been going on the whole year. A local company that builds stables and sheds have had to turn away a lot of business this year because they haven't been able to get the timber to fulfill orders.

Margeryprongs · 28/12/2020 12:38

I am very interested in this too. I could spend about 2.5k can anyone recommend where or what to look at in this price range? Caravan not an option

Ted27 · 28/12/2020 12:43

I bought a potting shed from a shed local garden company. Because its a potting shed one wall is nearly all window so its very light.

SeaToSki · 28/12/2020 12:51

If you really really need your own space for wfh, look at un insulated potting sheds (windows). Then buy fiberglass insulation rolls and insulate it yourself, look on youtube for diy videos. If you cant get proper power out there, look at running an extension cord from the house (make sure it is outdoor rated) or just use a lap top and charge it every night and get a battery operated desk light. Hopefully the WiFi from the house will stretch.

Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 12:54

@Doyoumind

You need a proper insulated garden room otherwise you will freeze or spend a load on some kind of heating for it. You'll need power in there. And it would need to be secure if you are putting valuable items in there.
Oh yeah, duh. I have been researching insulation and power etc but didn't even think about security. Back to the drawing board (in the bedroom!)
OP posts:
Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 12:57

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Insulated and heated garden offices with windows and power start at around £10,000 plus VAT from my research into the same subject. But that's for something fairly basic.
Thanks, ahh that's expensive, but i suppose it does make sense.
OP posts:
Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 12:58

@Flyonthewall01

There are really long lead times on sheds at the moment. Took me 16 weeks for mine to be delivered and it was just a bog standard shed. But yeah as the above pp said you'd need to insulate it and have a power source for it to be in anyway usable and will need to be big enough so you can fit a desk in without it being too cramped. I can't see this being done cheaply.
Thank you, i also didn't even consider the lead times!
OP posts:
EttaG · 28/12/2020 12:59

It will be freezing. And you may need planning permission depending on what utilities you install.

Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 13:00

@Ted27

I installed a shed for my son as a den a few years ago, we insulated it ourselves, carpet and thick curtains across the door. Its heated with small oil filled radiators. He’s had sleepovers down there in January so its warm enough. If you don’t already have an electricty supply in the garden, it can be expensive to put it in. I viewed it as a long term investment, he’s now using it as a mini gym, I have a second freezer in there. I have visions of a reading room when he’s left home. It wasn’t cheap though.
Thank you, that sounds lovely for your son! And it would be useful to have a freezer as well.
OP posts:
Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 13:01

@antidisestablishmentarianism

how about a caravan? you can pick them up quite cheaply if they arent roadworthy and you could scrap it once you are done with it. They have as a rule electricity and heating.
Thanks for the idea, i am going to look into this!
OP posts:
Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 13:01

@Ted27

I think I’ve spent about £2, 500 on my shed, including the power supply, Its a big shed though, can sleep 4 teenage man boys
Thanks, that sounds reasonable enough and a fair size.
OP posts:
Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 13:03

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy

I think you'll be miserable in a normal shed. If you've got the money for something more substantial, great.

We have a workshop that is basically a large shed with windows, power and a light. It's nice, but cold. If I wanted to work in there I'd have to insulate it and add a heater. I think starting from scratch, concrete base, decent workshop type shed with proper windows, electrician to install power and lighting, insulation, electric heater, you'd have to be looking at 6k minimum.

Thank you. Seems like a lot of work as well as substantial cost which would be a few months take home salary! If there was another use for it later or i could be sure I'd be wfh for many years i would be more inclined to go for it maybe
OP posts:
Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 13:04

@Ted27

I bought a potting shed from a shed local garden company. Because its a potting shed one wall is nearly all window so its very light.
That's a good idea about the potting shed to let in light, thanks
OP posts:
Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 13:05

@SeaToSki

If you really really need your own space for wfh, look at un insulated potting sheds (windows). Then buy fiberglass insulation rolls and insulate it yourself, look on youtube for diy videos. If you cant get proper power out there, look at running an extension cord from the house (make sure it is outdoor rated) or just use a lap top and charge it every night and get a battery operated desk light. Hopefully the WiFi from the house will stretch.
Thank you very much for your tips!
OP posts:
lillg · 28/12/2020 13:07

We bought a summer house, the father in law is an electrician so he installed electrics which we connect using a caravan type hook up when we are using it and installed insulation ourselves. An electric heater keeps it nice an warm. We don't leave anything valuable in there though. No idea how practical that would be at the moment though with the extra demand. This was a few years ago. It did save us a ton of money compared to buying a full garden Room though.

Original poster
thinkful · 28/12/2020 13:07

@EttaG

It will be freezing. And you may need planning permission depending on what utilities you install.
Thank you, i think it would be too cold. I gave up camping after years of trying all sorts to keep warm. So being cold is my biggest concern. Im actually a planning officer so would go for an option that didn't need permission.
OP posts:
Reedwarbler · 28/12/2020 13:12

It would be so cold! I bet your employers are happy though, they haven't now got to bother about giving you a desk and a heated office to work in, that responsibility and cost now all falls on you. Wonderful.

LadyEloise · 28/12/2020 13:12

What about a shepherd's hut a la David Cameron ?
I'd quite like one of them but they start at £16,000 from RedSky Shepherds Huts