Functional...
Below are our articles on the subject of Functional. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...
A Home Office in Your Garden
The idea of a home office can be very attractive. Working from home can slash the cost of petrol and transform your arduous commute into a short shuffle down the hall....
A Studio for Your Garden
Putting a studio in a garden is an excellent idea if you have a hobby or even a craft-based business that needs to be in a separate room. For crafts that can be...
Building a Home Annexe
Building a home annexe is one way to create more space within the boundaries of your property. It’s also a great way to maintain a degree of separation or privacy for...
Building a Hot Tub in Your Garden
As more and more people in the United Kingdom warm to the idea of using their garden as an extension of their house, hot tubs and whirlpool baths are getting more...
Building a Log Cabin
The log cabin is a fantastic addition to any garden and home. Log cabins can be converted into a fully functioning and versatile living space to suit you and your...
Building a Wood Store
With the current growth in sales of wood burning stoves and boilers a wood store could be a very handy asset for a garden. The interest comes from two areas, cost...
Building Block and Brick Garden Buildings
If you want to build a garden building that will be warm, dry and stand the test of time, blocks and bricks are your best bet. You may not need...
Choosing and Erecting a Shed
The humble shed is perhaps one of the most versatile of all garden buildings. You’d be hard pushed to find a British garden that isn’t also playing host to a shed....
Choosing and Erecting a Wooden Greenhouse
There's no doubting that a wooden greenhouse looks better and more traditional than an aluminium framed one. It's also intrinsically warmer so...
Choosing Electric Garage Doors
Electric garage doors are getting more popular as they come down in price and more models reach the market. Once the preserve of the rich and famous, they are now...
Choosing Garage Doors
Choosing garage doors used to be simple. It was a case of either traditional wooden double doors that swing open or, more common these days, a one piece up-and-over...
Choosing the Right Greenhouse
There is a huge variety of greenhouses on the market and the right choice depends a great deal on budget and size.
But when it comes to the materials, with...
Choosing Windows for a Garden Building
When you're planning a garden building you're likely to be looking to put windows in it, but what type of windows? Basically your choice is...
Construct a Potting Shed
P>For the gardening aficionado, a potting shed is more of a necessity than a luxury. Potting sheds are used as an additional workspace, their function being more...
Create an Outdoor Sauna Room
The Finnish people definitely got it right when they invented outdoor sauna rooms! A sauna is perfect for cleansing, relaxing and calming both body and mind. And what...
Electrifying Garage Double Doors
Electric door openers are becoming cheaper and more easily available although the up-and-over door is far more popular and easier to convert. This doesn't mean that...
Enclosing a Side Return
The side return is the name for the wide path that runs down the side of the kitchen in many terraced properties built in the first half of the previous century and...
Erect a Garage or Car Port
Your family car will definitely benefit from being parked within a sheltered area, particularly during the harsher winter months. Wind, rain and strong sunshine can...
Erecting a Polytunnel: Practical Information
A polytunnel is, quite simply, a bigger version of a cloche. Whereas a cloche is normally used to protect a small number of plants or an...
Fitting Electric Gate Openers
Electric gates are becoming increasingly popular, mostly for security reasons, but also for convenience. If you already have gates at the end of your drive then you...
Garden Buildings for Small Spaces
Gardens are getting smaller these days and many homes don’t have the space for a large shed, garage or garden studio. Modern houses tend to be built with the premise...
Glass or Plastic Panes for Your Greenhouse?
A greenhouse is a great way to grow flowers and other plants all year round. If you are considering buying a greenhouse, you will probably know...
Having Your Own Poultry House
It's getting more and more popular these days to have chickens in a garden or back yard and you can't really keep them without some sort of poultry house to keep...
Heating, Cooling and Ventilating Your Greenhouse
First time greenhouse owners might be a little confused by the need to heat a greenhouse. After all, isn’t the main point that they make use of...
Installing a Jacuzzi in Your Garden
Installing a Jacuzzi or other whirlpool spa pool in a garden isn't particularly difficult and in many cases the supplier of the pool will install it for you. But...
Is a Lean-to Greenhouse Right for You?
Building a lean-to greenhouse may be an excellent solution if you are trying to fit a greenhouse into an awkwardly shaped garden or back yard....
Kitting Out a Greenhouse
So you've decided whether to have a wood framed or aluminium greenhouse, you've chosen between glass or plastic for the glazing, you've picked the site, laid the...
Lean-to Sheds
Erecting a lean-to shed can be a great use of space, particularly if you have a narrow passageway or side return in your garden. You can either make it from scratch...
Marquees for the Garden
It might be because of the uncertain summer weather in the United Kingdom that we are more likely to try things that will allow us to enjoy the garden, even if the...
Pergolas and Other Landscaping Structures for the Garden
A pergola can be a stunning addition to any garden and it a very versatile one too. This article will cover pergolas and other similar garden...
Pool Houses and Swimming Pool Shelters
It is an unfortunate fact that British weather is just not ideal for year long enjoyment of an outdoor swimming pool. Even if the pool is heated,...
Pre-Fabricated Structures
Have you considered a pre-fabricated structure for your next garden building? There is growing interest in pre-fabricated structures in the UK. Although this...
Selecting and Building an Aluminium-framed Greenhouse
As we pointed out in our article on the selection and erection of wooden greenhouses, many of the issues are the same regardless of the choice of...
Small Glass and Plastic Garden Buildings
If you don't have the room for a full-size wood or aluminium framed greenhouse you can still get the benefits on a smaller scale by putting up...
Solar Powered Electricity in Your Garden Building
Getting mains electricity to any garden building can be a real pain. Using solar power means that you can cut down on all the hassle of running...
Stables and Animal Shelters
Sheds and other garden buildings for storage can be simple structures but if you're going to start keeping animals then you need to build shelters that can keep them...
Steel Framed Structures
Until recently, the use of steel for framing was limited to commercial or industrial construction. However, steel framed buildings are becoming more popular and more...
What Size Greenhouse Should You Choose?
It’s said that size is everything but is that true with a greenhouse? Well, yes it is, although that doesn’t necessarily mean that bigger is...
