Outdoor Model Mancave

[AlanG]

Check out a build by colinfurze on YT. He built one just like i want to.....without the tiles on top. He also built an underground bunker too.

[JR]

Ha he lives in Stamford, less than a mile from our house.
Will do Alan

[Nicko]

I built a large workshop at the bottom of my garden about five years ago, mainly for working on my bikes but it's also my airbrushing space now too. It was basically planned on scraps of paper and is an irregular shape because my garden tapers.

I built the frame from 4x2, wrapped it in Tyvec stapled straight to the frame. Nailed 2x1 to each upright and then clad in feather edge boards. Inside is insulated with 50mm Celotex throughout and lined with 9mm osb. Roof timbers were 6x2 with 18mm osb on top and two layers of heavy duty felt insulated and lined as per the walls. I bought a cheap secondhand upvc window locally off ebay which has proved a good move. The doors and some benches I made myself after a bit of googling.

In all its 16ft deep, 16ft wide at the front and 10ft wide at the rear. Once I'd done all the electrics and painting it had cost several thousand and with all the digging out I had to do at the start, it took two years, but all the effort and expense has been well worth it.

I dare say a real builder/joiner/carpenter would have done it in a way that was much more economical materials-wise, but I erred somewhat on the side of caution.

Nick.

[Guest]

Almost identical to the method I'm planning Nick, although it only exists in sketchup for now.

I'm figuring in thicker OSB for the walls and rockwool RWA45 as I want a high level of soundproofing, but following the membrane / battens / cladding method for maximum weather proofing.

[KarlW]

I settled on tin from a factor of cost, 4by3metre set me back £1400, to buy insulated added more than buying insulation sheets. Base is concrete on DPC, with an overlap strip.
Base cost more than anticipated as when levelling the garden I had to raise the front rather than drop the back, this required a retaining wall to be built on a proper footing.
Electrical stuff cost nothing as I jusr robbed it all out of my brother in laws work van.......

[AlanG]

Had a metal shed but Scottish storm winds made light work of that. Need something a lot more heavy duty

[KarlW]

I'm looking at the Mull of Kintyre now, proper box section and lots of proper screws, the first big storm had me awake with worry though, but once that was over I know it's fine.

[stillp]

Shiplap would send the costs rocketing though. I know it would be better but cost is a factor and i cannot get that from the sawmill. Although i suppose i could find out how to router it myself.

I'm surprised your sawmill can't supply shiplap Alan. Is there only one in your area?
Pete

[AlanG]

There are four sawmills in our area. Two from the same company and two others. Two only supply to trade and one to to the public. I'm not sure about the forth. I need to do a little more investigation to confirm.

[dave]

Mine followed similar construction to Nicks, only difference was the roof was corrugated aluminium, as where we lived out in a hamlet, planning insisted it needed to look more like a traditional agricultural building.