Garden rooms are not just for domestic settings; they can also be the perfect way to free up space in a commercial setting. A fine example is this staff room and communal space that has been built in the grounds of a residential home in Cornwall.
A St Austell residential home for adults with learning disabilities was looking to free up space within the main building, and they realised that the space they had outside was the solution. Up until that point, they had been using one of the flats as a staff room and communal space for residents. If they could relocate the staff room and free up the flat, someone else could move in.
Building With Frames was commissioned to design, build and install a new staff room and communal space for residents to socialise. Commissioned on a turnkey basis, they handled the whole project from start to finish. This included the groundworks for the supply of services to the new room and the installation of an engineered concrete raft foundation.
The building itself was built off-site in the Building With Frames workshops. It was constructed in two halves so that it could be transported by lorry, and then craned into position. The building is constructed in such a way, that once the two sections are joined together, the joint is seamless. Building With Frames are specialists in this type of construction. Which allows the building to be fully constructed in factory conditions, avoiding the pitfalls of on-site construction that come into play when our inclement weather is involved!
Installed in hours
The beauty of the off-site construction system that Building With Frames uses is that the building can be installed within hours of arriving on-site. In this case, with the base pre-prepared, once the lorries arrived on site, the sections will have been lifted into position in a couple of hours. Once in place, the electrical and plumbing services within the room were connected to the mains supplies. The addition of a ramp for easy access, and general landscaping and the project was complete within a couple of days. Ensuring minimal disruption for the residents and staff.
Built using highly insulated SIP’s
Building With Frames construct their buildings using structural insulated panels – SIP’s. These highly insulated panels create an envelope of insulation around the building, ensuring it will be a comfortable space to spend time, all year round. These SIP’s are the same as those used in modern housebuilding.
The materials chosen for the exterior of the building are durable and will require minimal annual maintenance. Kiln dried Siberian Larch was chosen for the wall cladding, while an EPDM membrane was chosen for the roof covering.
Building regulation compliant annexe
The new staff room building is built like a self-contained living annexe. It features a kitchen area and a shower room. The building itself, and the electrics and plumbing were specified to meet current building regulations.
To learn more about off-site construction, talk with the Building With Frames team on 01872 273 757 or send them an email. Learn more about their work on their website.
