Shopping Guides Buyer's Guide To Summerhouses

Date Published:

29/08/2008

Running Electricity To Your Summerhouse

However you plan to use your garden room, electricity is a must. The connecting wiring from the house to the building must be protected by armoured cable. This can be either run above ground and clearly marked or buried in a trench. Ask a qualified electrician to run a separate supply cable from your consumer unit to the building.

Inside, you should have a separate lighting and power socket ring, both protected by RCDs. Have the electrical work carried out by an NICEIC approved contractor who will be able to issue certificates for all work carried out, in accordance with the national standard BS 7671. Ask for the master switches to be put just inside the doorway so that you can flick everything off as you leave the building.

Telephone Connections

BT or you local telecom supplier will be able to install your phone and internet connections. You could save money by fitting an off-the-shelf extension kit yourself. Thread a piece of cork onto a fishing line and use water pressure to push this through a hosepipe. Tie the end of the line to the phone cable and pull it through. The hose will protect the line from your home to the cabin. Lay it along the edge of your garden to the new building.

TV Aerials & Security

For a playroom or den, you can do the same with a TV aerial extension. A garden room is often an easier target to an intruder than your home so fit a PIR light and alarm to sense movement. Buy metal security casings for any PCs and lock these to the walls.

Finishing Details

A plasterboard or plaster skim surface will make the interior just like a room in your home. If you’re prepared to compromise, there are wall boards and cladding options. The type of lighting will depend on how you intend to use the room. Fluorescent tubes give even light over the whole room for a home gym or studio but you should also plan in under-cabinet or spot lighting for more intense light, say for a work area or desk.

Heating & Glazing

An important part of making the room useable all year round is to get the heating right. Small ceramic or electric heaters maybe fine for an occasional use hobbies room, but an office needs more uniform, controlled heat. One or two oil-filled radiators are probably the best solution, fitted with thermostats and timers. Double or triple glazed windows are vital for comfort. For security, a five-lever mortise lock to the door is a must for office use. Finally, it’s essential to inform your insurance company so the new room and its contents are covered.