Shed construction, height & use?

quickppq

Hi Guys,
I've been on the forum a good bit over the past few months lurking. I'd really appreciate if anybody has an insight into these two questions and possibly a link. I've been searching for ages trying to find out the technical anwser.

Height
I'm currently at the damp course level which is two blocks up on the foundation/ground level (in hindsight I should have poured the foundation lower than ground level but it's done and floor is poured, no going back now.).

Is the height of the shed measured from ground level to top of roof or internally? (similar to the 25sqm allowance)

If it's from ground level, is it possible for me to bring the surrounding ground up a few inches to allow me go higher?

Use
Is it ok to use the shed as a home office? or would that be deemed 'commercial' use. (there won't be any extra traffic, nobody calling, no staff - just me myself and a computer...)


Thanks so much!


Other info if needed:
<< Ticking all the other boxes, I am under the 25sq m size, have more than 25sq m garden left over, shed finished same as house, not lived in, will be under 3m for flat roof>>

Gumbo

Height : measured from the ground level adjacent to the shed. It can be measured from any side.

Use : Home office is fine.

Garden area of 25 Sq. M required also.

Calahonda52

The height is an external measurement.
I would rethink flat roof for Home office unless the flat roof is done really well
also 3m to highest point externally may leave it a bit low inside

quickppq

Thanks for the replies guys.

@kceire "Garden area of 25 Sq. M required also."
So do you mean the 25sq m size is measured externally too? or that I need at least 25sq m of garden left over after too(because that's find). Everywhere I read it was an internal measurement. Shouldn't have gone with a 200m cavity if that's the case! That will put me a good bit over in size.

So technically if I bring the ground adjacent to all sides of the shed up 1ft, it allows me to go a foot higher on the roof so?

@Calahonda52 - The floor to ceiling height will give me 8.25ft with exposed internal rafters, this should be a decent height... and then a warm roof on top with 100mm/4" insulation should do the trick do you think?

Gumbo

quickppq wrote: »

Thanks for the replies guys.

@kceire "Garden area of 25 Sq. M required also."
So do you mean the 25sq m size is measured externally too? or that I need at least 25sq m of garden left over after too(because that's find). Everywhere I read it was an internal measurement. Shouldn't have gone with a 200m cavity if that's the case! That will put me a good bit over in size.

So technically if I bring the ground adjacent to all sides of the shed up 1ft, it allows me to go a foot higher on the roof so?

The area of the shed can be 25 SQ. M internally, BUT you also need 25 Sq. M of garden space remaining.

200mm cavity requires Engineering input btw.

Technically, the height is to the original ground level, so you cannot raise the level locally, and then claim the additional height for the shed. (open to correction on this one though).

Metric Tensor

Also - banking soil up against the wall of your shed is a guaranteed way to bring in dampness and moisture!

Unless you plan extensive water-proofing. Not to mention the design of a retaining wall!

quickppq

Thanks a million for the clarification!

@kceire: That's no problem with regards remaining garden.

@Metric Tensor: I was more-so thinking of pouring a concrete walkway/path all around the shed a few inches high. It would also be a few inches below the damp course so shouldn't affect damp.

@Lumen: Cheers for the suggestion but even at 3M it's looking pretty high, I don't want to be annoying neighbours.

Thanks again!

Lumen

quickppq wrote: »

@Lumen: Cheers for the suggestion but even at 3M it's looking pretty high, I don't want to be annoying neighbours.

Ha, I removed my suggestion in case it was taken to be supportive of terroristic serial murder. :pac:

I'm not sure there's a massive difference in visual intrusiveness between flat and pitched.

Here are two 3.6x3m sheds, the pent roofed one is 3m at the ridge and the double pitched one is 3.6m at the ridge.

As a neighbour, would I have a preference between the two? Not sure, maybe the extra height is useful privacy.

quickppq

Cheers Lumen. If I was going the Kaczynski, I shouldn't have put in windows!!

I'm already up 2.8m from ground to top of block so only have .2m to play with for a roof. That's why I was asking about bringing a 1ft path around the outside to give me some room to play with. Otherwise I might have to scrap my original ideas and do all rafters/insulation and everything else internally.

Appreciate the suggestion though!