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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to spend £20k+ on a garden office?

110 replies

SpeckledFrogsLog · 09/07/2021 14:29

We need an extra room as DH is going to be full time WFH from now on. At the moment he's in the spare bedroom but it's not very big and there's a lot of background noise when the kids are home. We don't want to turn the spare room into an office as MIL is in poor health and we like to have her stay with us for her safety (and our sanity!) when she's going through a bad patch.

We've looked at moving but would be spending £150k to get the same sort of living space elsewhere with an extra room. We live in a large 4 bed semi so we'd have to upsize to a detached.

We've had a quote on a composite garden room. It really is beautiful-all insulted and totally maintenance free but it's coming in at just over £20k We can afford it but I'm totally torn as it seems such a lot of money to spend on what is essentially a posh shed! But we've looked at the cheaper timber options and are concerned about security, insulation and maintenance.

So AIBU to spend this on a garden office? Has anyone else done it and have good or bad experiences? Help me decide please!!

OP posts:

Perfectlystill · 09/07/2021 14:31

I want one of these. YANBU

Figgygal · 09/07/2021 14:31

Total no brainer if you can afford it I’m going to be working from home now but it’s just me here in the day with the dog and I can tidy most things away at the end of the day and certainly over the weekend so am managing fine as we are
If I had the money that I would build something similar to what you’ve described we have a large space next to our detached garage which would be perfect for one

DareIask · 09/07/2021 14:33

20k for essentially an extra room to your house is a no brainier for me too.

I'd just need to be happy it was cost efficient to keep warm in winter. Electric heating is costly and an office needs to be extra warm ime

Wilkolampshade · 09/07/2021 14:34

We built our own from financial necessity, but I do understand that's not an option for most people.
Having looked around myself 20k sounds about right, and I honestly think it'll be a huge asset to you over the next few years.

CloudPop · 09/07/2021 14:34

Go for it. Ours has been an absolute godsend over the last year or so.

Yolanda524 · 09/07/2021 14:36

We are converting our garage (detached at the end of garden) into a home office. It was only full or rubbish we couldn’t be bothered to deal with. It’s costing us about £10000 including replacing the old leaky roof and getting the electrics done for free so starting from scratch it’s not that expensive.

Mirrorxx · 09/07/2021 14:37

We bought a house this year that already had one and it was a huge selling point. It’s great as we are both wfh so can have separate offices

SalsaLove · 09/07/2021 14:39

We got one in the summer of 2019 and it’s been a godsend. DH heads out to the bottom of the garden every morning, comes in for lunch. He loves that he has his own space. He’s even been watching the football out there.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 09/07/2021 14:43

We spent £18k 6 years ago on a massive wood cabin/summerhouse. It's fully insulated and plastered inside and has double glazed doors and windows. Split into two areas ( utility and storage room plus large living area with a corner sofa and a small table and chairs. We have to sand it down and re paint it every other year and it is showing some signs of weathering now. I would ,if we were doing it now ,go for composite. It was originally just for entertaining people in the garden and a place for us to relax in.

It is brilliant and we have been so grateful to be able to use it as DH's office over lockdown. It has been worth every penny.

Roselilly36 · 09/07/2021 14:44

We had a bespoke garden room built for an office for DH who WFH, it cost about 15k, money well spent, we ordered ours in feb it was installed in May, the firm we used are booked up now until end jan, so if you have seen one you like get it on order quick.

goldenshoes · 09/07/2021 14:46

Are you me? I've been thinking about posting this exact question!

Following to see what the mums net wisdom is on this

igelkott2021 · 09/07/2021 14:47

I think it's a no-brainer for more space, and much less hassle than having an extension or loft or garage conversion.

We used Booth's garden studios and ours cost £13K (they can come in cheaper than that, but we had extra windows and it was one size up from their smallest). £20K sounds quite a lot - is it a very big one that can also be used eg as a games room?

fruitbrewhaha · 09/07/2021 14:49

It's a lot of money but will add value to your house.

How much are you saving on not commuting to work? If DH was paying £4k on an annual train pass and £1k parking you can justify the expense that way.

Is there a budget at your DH's company to pay him for WFH? How senior is he? If the business can downsize their office space and no longer provide him with a permanent office can they offer him a WFH package?

Terhou · 09/07/2021 15:12

Sounds reasonable assuming you are putting in an electricity supply and possibly an internet connection? Is there also a water supply? You will in any event need reasonable insulation and security.

I must say, I'd love one of these.

LordOfTheOnionRings · 09/07/2021 15:14

I think it's a great use of money! Only if it has electricity, WiFi etc. Presumably it will increase the value of your home, so would be a good investment.

orangejuicer · 09/07/2021 15:16

YADNBU.

whatswithtodaytoday · 09/07/2021 15:17

I would love one. I've been trying to work out whether we can squeeze one in - not a very big garden and would take up a lot of plant space, but technically it would be possible and I think would be a good selling point.

Very good point about the money we're saving on not commuting!

lettie9 · 09/07/2021 15:19

Do it! Can you link to the company that's selling the shed?

Mumdiva99 · 09/07/2021 15:20

Do it. 20k vs moving vs 50k plus to go in the loft. If you can afford it then do it.

krustykittens · 09/07/2021 15:21

I don't think it is unreasonable but I woud shop around. We put in a home office for my husband about four years ago, it cost us about £7000. It's a log cabin and has wooden pine walls inside, so no plastering, but has electricity, WiFi and is doubleg lazed and insulated. It went onto exisiting decking, so no foundations needed. We don't do any maintenance on it so it is still going strong and its pretty big. He fits his desk, a sofa, pool table and arcade machine in there!

gillysSong · 09/07/2021 15:23

If his salary is increasing by 20k, otherwise it's just throwing money away.
You could build a shed for far less.
There again if you have 20k in your back pocket, go for it.
Only you know if it's worth it.
I don't spend unless I see it coming back.

PerveenMistry · 09/07/2021 15:24

No brainer.

KateTheEighth · 09/07/2021 15:26

Go for it absolutely definitely without a doubt!

Caspianberg · 09/07/2021 15:26

I think it’s fine. Like you say it would cost £150k for a larger house with extra bedroom v £20K for garden room.

If it it insulated and has electricity then it’s a great spare room in future for teenage hang outs, or any other option if study not needed later on.

Get water in there if you can. I think some laws say no ‘bathroom’ as it’s an extra dwelling, but a sink is possible. Means whoever using office can fill coffee machine/ kettle/ get drinks/ wash cup whilst down there

notanothertakeaway · 09/07/2021 15:28

I think it would increase the value of time house, unless it dramatically reduces the size of the garden

My friend paid £15K to turn a garage into a home office

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