Garden Buildings Pro

There are many things that you should take into consideration, when thinking about putting up some garden buildings in your garden. There may be unknown requirements and laws surrounding the building of sheds, summer houses or conservatories that you should try and make yourself aware of.

The most obvious requirement that anyone considering garden buildings should be thinking about, is space. If your shed or summer house is too big, then the garden will look dwarfed in comparison with it and there may not be enough room for the foundations. Even small sheds and summer houses need a foundation to make it more sturdy and durable. Make sure that you position garden buildings well; if the shed is large as well, you may need planning application.

There are numerous laws and regulations surrounding the construction of garden buildings. These may vary on your geographical placement and also depending on your local authorities. Your local authorities will be concerned with the construction of any new garden buildings in your garden. They should be consulted before any large garden building construction has commenced. They may veto the garden building, before construction begins, owing to its size, or if it might be used by someone to live in. They are also concerned with the visual aspects of the building and might want to be informed of its intended use and how appropriate it is.

For large garden buildings, a notice of building application is supposed to be displayed prominently, where concerned members of the public can see it and question it, if they feel the need. However for small sheds and summer houses, a planning application is not needed. There is a certain size limit though; if the shed or summer house is larger than a certain size or if the foundations are of a substantial size, a planning application would be most certainly needed.

Another requirement that is often neglected is the electricity supply – that is IF you are planning to have an electric connection. The installation of electric, under-floor heating and garden lighting or power installation has to be undertaken by a certified electrical engineer; this is for safety reasons. Bad wiring or incorrectly wired garden lights can be a serious health hazard.

It is also recommended that you ask the permission of any neighbors that may be affected by the construction of garden buildings. If the building is too imposing then they may be able to block its construction. Due care should always be taken when choosing a locale for garden buildings in order to minimize its affects on your neighbors. They also have to give their permission, if the building needs to undergo a planning application.