FAQ'S about South wick's Garden Offices

Will I be warm and dry? Will my office be sound proof?

Soft furnishings, electronic equipment and paperwork are dry in South wick's Garden offices all year round. Our buildings are vented and well insulated for all year round living and to avoid condensation. Our level of insulation also gives excellent soundproofing.

Is the ceiling high enough to be able to stand up straight everywhere in the building?

Yes, the lowest point in our standard garden buildings is around 2.1m/7ft where the ceiling starts to slope up from the wall. If the sidewalls are too low, you will have restricted storage space, and will bang your head on the ceiling.

What is the quality of the windows and doors?

Our windows and doors are individually made by a bespoke joinery manufacturer. The substantial frames and tight joints won't admit rainwater. They are double-glazed and professionally finished with water-based stain. The windows have trickle vents to allow air to circulate in winter. Doors and long windows in our garden buildings have also a third glazing of unbreakable polycarbonate that is UV protected and fixed with anti tamper screws for added security.

…. And will I be cool enough in summer?

Yes, our high insulation standards and window design ensure that our garden buildings are cool in summer. Too much glass in garden offices gives a greenhouse effect in summer and makes the insulation ineffective in winter.

Will my garden building be secure?

All our windows have lockable stays and the doors have double locking. The walls of our garden buildings are thick and would be very difficult to break through. Also, the building is fitted with unbreakable polycarbonate over the double glazed window and door units and fixed with anti tamper proof screws. There are two alarm systems and CCTV with crime prevention warning stickers.

How long will the roofing last?

We use individually nailed Shingles as our standard roofing material. They have a life span of at least 30 years.

Will I have to treat and maintain the external cladding on the garden building?

There is a specially designed 4-way chamfered notch-joint system ensuring a tight fit to all boards with no room for damp or wind penetration.
We apply Wood preserved Cuprinol - Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear gives deep penetrating protection to outdoor wood. It is specially formulated to protect against rot and decay and also contains water repellents to help resist rain penetration. The unit is then coloured for further protection.

Therefore, the unit would only need a top up coat every few years to maintain that new look.

Will the floor wobble when I walk on it?

In our garden buildings we use floor joists at 600mm centres and 18mm thick boarding [over thick insulation], screwed down, not nailed, so that the floor doesn't creak or flex when you walk on it.

How are the internal walls of the garden buildings finished?

With plasterboard and skim, the most durable finish. It is easy to decorate and maintain and increases soundproofing. A plastered surface is natural, breathable and unlike manmade lining boards, is puncture resistant when knocked. The decoration is then performed by us to fully complete.

What sort of Foundations Do I need and will my garden building blow away?

Buildings have foundations to stop them blowing away and to support their weight. Our garden buildings sit on tannalised bearers, founded on concrete and treated steel foundations that are dug into the ground. We do the entire foundation layout and work for you, so there is nothing for you to worry about.