Before you buy
Is my ground good enough?
A strong foundation is important when sitting a garden building.
Boardman Carver Co would recommend a flat, level base. If you are unsure about building your base, we would recommend that you consult an experienced tradesman. Please note that the base needs to be level with no runoff since the building will provide this.
We provide a range of bases which are suitable for buildings of all sizes.
Leveling Base.
A leveling base is used when you already have a hard base but it maybe slightly unlevel. We can provide timbers to sit on top of that existing base, supported by small legs to level it all up ready for your building to sit upon.
Heavy-Duty Base.
A heavy-duty base is designed when the proposed building is to sit on gravel, grass, or other soft and uneven ground.
A 150mm x 45mm (6"x2") platform base will be supported by either timber or composite posts (100mm x 100mm (4"x4")) and concreted into the ground.
Concrete Bases
When laying a concrete foundation for your garden building we suggest you add 100mm all the way around the sizes given for the building you have purchased. This will help spread the weight of the building and help ensure that if the base is slightly out of square that the building will still fit on the base. For example:
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A 4m x 3m building would need a base of approximately 4.2m x 3.2m
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Any extensions such as Sidestores must be taken into account, so a cabin with a side store measuring a total of 5.5m x 3.0m would need a base of 5.7m x 3.2m
We also offer this service.
Understanding Timber
Wood is a natural product and all trees are different with different properties. These properties can include colour differences, warping, twisting, shakes, splits, knots, knot holes, and varying surface finishes and are part of the natural properties of this type of material. These properties are normal for externally used timber, and cannot be guaranteed against. Sometimes deep and wide shakes and cracks can appear unsightly but we have calculated for these in our designs. Minor adjustments may have to be undertaken on-site due to the nature of timber.
It is most likely that the product you are purchasing from us will be made from timber which is commonly used in temperate and arctic conditions. Timber is a beautiful material to purchase and to build with however, even once it is chopped up into logs and no longer treelike it is still very much living and controlled by the uncontrollable. The uncontrollable being one of the most talked-about topics in the UK – the weather! Come rain or shine, treated or untreated, hot or cold, timber will react in weird and wonderful ways.
Timber will:
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Crack
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Warp
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Twist
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Split
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Shrink and contract
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Swell and expand
We understand how important your purchase will be to you and the excitement of the many wonderful ways you will use and decorate your product however below is some general advice and guidance:
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If your product is untreated, please treat it as soon as reasonably possible to maintain longevity. If your product is treated you can apply a water repellent to reduce the amount of splitting caused by the weather.
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Sap is formed naturally by trees and in some cases, you can see it coming out of the wood. It is a natural product and can be removed using soapy water however your local DIY shop will likely stock specialist products.
Log Cabins
You will likely have to (regardless of what log cabin you purchase):
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Perform maintenance such as repack window and doors, adjusting storm braces, and tapping down logs
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Regularly ventilate log cabins
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We recommend that if you intend to fix items to the walls that they do not attach over several wall logs. This can restrict the natural expansion and contraction of the product and create gaps.
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Regularly clean the roof of any debris to avoid water pooling on the roof
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Some customers like to modify their product by covering the floor however we would recommend that you check with your chosen floor covering supplier that it is suitable to fit over the top of spruce floorboards. This could potentially lead to rotting floorboards.
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A square, level, and plumb base. No runoffs, no unevenness, nice and sturdy, and capable of supporting the weight of the product.
Garden Offices
You will likely have to:
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Adjust the patio door bogey wheel (using a screwdriver)
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Keep it well ventilated to allow any wet works to dry (much like a new house)
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Keep drainage holes clear and free from debris
Planning Permission
Considering a garden building and wondering whether you need planning permission for it?
When thinking about a new garden building it is important to regard Planning Permission and Building Regulations as two separate entities. It is vital to understand the difference as one may apply to your situation whilst the other does not.
What are Building Regulations?
Building Regulations are essentially a set of standards that all buildings must meet. These range from the structure, to fire safety, to conservation of energy and even drainage and waste disposal.
What is Planning Permission?
Planning permission tells you whether or not you are permitted to carry out works based on guidelines passed down from your local authority. This can be based on the appearance of the building or the effect it will have on the local environment.
Garden buildings without planning permission?
Due to the unique design of our products, in the vast majority of cases, our garden buildings can be installed without the need for planning permission. However, there are a few exceptions so we do recommend that you seek advice from your local planning office before making a final purchase.
Where can I find more information on Planning Permission?
Please read on for more information. The information is preliminary advice and is our interpretation of publicly available information. Please see www.planningportal.gov.uk for advice from the UK government or contact your local Planning office.
Building Regulations
First, a definition from the Planning Portal website:
“Building regulations are minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building. The regulations are developed by the UK government and approved by Parliament.”
Building regulations can be complicated but for most purposes that apply to our customers they are defined by: use, size of the building, and location of building; so providing you meet the criteria below which considers how big the building is, what you want to use your garden building for, and where you will site it.
Please be aware that our buildings are not designed to meet building regulations, as the overwhelming majority of our customers do not need to meet them. Nevertheless, your circumstances may be different so if you are buying one of our buildings then you should ensure that in your own circumstances you are also not going to use the building in a way that will require building regulations.
The above information is intended as a guide only and not legal advice, you can make your own checks by reading further at Government Planning Portal
Planning Permission
Ultimately, what you are trying to achieve from this point of view is for the installation of your garden building to be classed as “permitted development.”
The permitted development rules define a set of criteria which, if the development matches, planning permission is not needed. This means there is an easy guide or checklist you can follow and, if your plans for development match, you will not need planning permission.
The Planning Portal Website has a handy mini-guide which explains what would be considered as permitted development.
https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/outbuildings/0
Most of our garden buildings are considered to be 'Permitted Development'
Disclaimer: this is an introductory guide and not a definitive source of legal information.