TLDR- Built Michelle a new office between Jan and March 2025
Why an office
When we moved in we hired an Architect and had plans drawn up to expand the back room, build a kitchen and add on office space. It all came in at about 80k. Took a year for approvals by DLR. Then we sat on another year saving. Bit later we’re finally ready to build and went to hire someone to do the work. Base bids were coming in at about 3400 per Square meter- about two to three times what we had expected in costs. Not going to do that and see a return on investment. Instead of the big things we decided I’d build an office for Michelle this year then we would look in a kitchen next year.
Building
When we first looked at building I got in my head I’d need to build with bricks and stone like most houses here; not something I know how to do. Eventually co-worker told me to just stick build it like I know how to do. Makes sense; no clue why I did not think of that. The space for the office already has a door into the house and a level pad with concrete patio blocks. To make the floors line up the blocks had to go; moved them into the back garden plus about 50 mills of gravel needed moved before laying out the floor in Timber and foam.
One of the best side benefits for me was having a reason to buy new tools – full kit of Dewalt cordless.
Floor and walls went in on a week off work start of the year. Roof was covered by tarp for a month waiting on the rubber EDM roof to arrive and it to be warm enough to glue down, 7c and climbing. After the roof we waited few weeks for a plaster guy to come out and do the plaster board for us – the only thing we hired out on the Olalla house, only thing we hired out here. It’s an art form, and I am not an artist.
Plaster board started on a Wednesday – room was painted with flooring installed and Michelle starting to move Sunday the same week.
Some more pictures of the process
