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A garden office overhaul June/July 2025

The Existing Structure:

The garden office was built several years ago with a custom design. However, the outside was made from regular plywood, which is not suitable for outdoor use. It has badly deteriorated, with much of the structure and window frames rotting, letting water in and damaging the floor and walls inside.

Design Brief:

The owner wanted essential repairs while keeping most of the existing structure and reusing timber to save money. We discussed waterproofing options, and he chose box profile coated aluminium sheets for cladding. He also asked to replace damaged exterior ply with regular ply instead of marine ply to cut costs. The owner planned to repaint the interior after the work was done.

Issues to be resolved:

Bottom section of two sides of the plywood clad building abutted by decking rotten

Right side elevation of the building significantly rotten as it took the brunt of the weather

Five window surrounds each had varying degrees of water damaged

Water damage and rot to the bottom of both external doors and door threshold

Two vents in rear wall of structure had plastic cover glued over

Section of interior floor at entry way dangerously rotten

Other section of floor rotten

Water damage staining on interior walls

Two outside lights don't work because of incorrect wiring. One light above the door would have to stay on all the time for the security light on the side to work. The owner chose to have both lights removed.

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The Existing Decked Area:

The decking was in very bad shape, especially the part where my client had to step down from the patio to reach the decking around his summer house. The boards there were rotting, and the frame beneath was so damaged that part had no support at all. My client, an older man with back problems, stopped using the garden because the only way there was across the unsafe decking. He was afraid of falling through, which was even more dangerous since he lived alone.

Design Brief:

To make the decking safe, create a gap between the decking/frame and the patio wall to reduce water getting into the wood. Cut out and replace any rotten frame and decking boards. Use new timber for frame repairs. Use some old decking boards from the client to lower the cost of buying new ones.

Issues to be resolved:

Rotten decking frame
Rotten decking boards
Change decking design to prevent future problems
Build a safe structure

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My latest kitchen renovation completed in April 2025.

The kitchen was notably small and in a state of disrepair, with the cabinets rendered completely unusable due to their condition. There was a significant presence of black mould lurking behind the cabinets, particularly around the external walls, which had developed as a result of unsealed holes intended for the gas pipe and waste drainage. These openings permitted cold air to freely enter the space, causing it to mix with the warm air generated from the kitchen causing condensation and damp. The gas meter, which unfortunately could not be relocated, was positioned in a corner, necessitating that it remain easily accessible for regular readings and the important task of turning off the gas. Given these challenges, the owners were keen on redesigning the kitchen to create a more practical layout that would make better use of the limited space, while also ensuring easy access to the corner cabinets as they aged, thereby eliminating the need to kneel down on the floor during use.