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The global pandemic has made working from home the new normal for many companies, and it hasn't always been easy for everyone. For those looking to escape noisy housemates, children, or family life, a prefabricated garden office an increasingly attractive way to find peace without leaving the house.

Across the ocean, prefab companies are working hard to meet the increased demand for a compact and stylish prefab garden office that can be quickly prefabricated, shipped, and installed.

But what about companies in the Netherlands that offer prefab garden offices for the backyard?

Prefab garden office: so much Styles and types

Ranging from luxurious, fully furnished units to more affordable DIY options. Various ‘flavours’ are possible when considering purchasing or building a garden office.

Garden offices come in many different styles and sizes. Here are some of the most common ways that property investors are implementing garden office space. The basis is that the design is a desk and much natural light includes.

• Converting a shed or garage: Converting an existing shed or garage into a small office space. This often involves fitting windows, flooring and a small deck or staircase at the front. You can also repurpose a larger detached garage in a similar way, but the conversion costs are often higher as a garage usually has a larger floor area.
• Prefabricated options A simple Google search will yield significant results regarding companies that build prefabricated small garden offices and install them in your garden. This option is typically more expensive, but if you don't have the time to manage the build yourself, a prefabricated garden office is a great option.
• DIY Garden Office This is the most cost-effective way to build a modern garden office, but of all the options, it requires the most work on your part. By building it yourself, you’ll save on labour costs and development costs.
• Hybrid garden office: In this scenario, you buy a brand-new shed or garage from, for example, a DIY store or garden centre. These sheds or garages – particularly in the higher-priced range – can often be customised on request. You can then add any features you wish, such as extra windows or insulation. However, once it’s been installed, you’ll often need to do some extra work yourself to get the space fully ‘office-ready’.
• Converting a shipping container: There are plenty of conversion videos for shipping containers on YouTube. They’re used for everything from garden offices to tiny homes. The advantage of shipping containers is that they’re mobile and the frame is as solid as a rock. Here too, just as with building your own garden office, a lot of work goes into the conversion.

Bonus: Depending on the interior design and finish, a garden office can also serve as a guest house, a relaxation area or even a cinema or games room.

A garden office… what are the costs involved?

When renting out property, there are always operating costs involved. When adding a garden office, the basic costs will remain virtually the same. Of course, maintenance costs must be taken into account, but the other costs are all user costs such as electricity and water.

Since you already own the land, the total construction costs furthermore only encompass materials and labour, which increases the return on investment (ROI).

Here are a few reasons why a garden office is a cost-effective investment.

1. Construction costs: Because a garden office has such a small surface area, they are often very cheap to build.
2. Maintenance costs: You or your tenants are already looking after the garden. You’re now adding something that needs looking after, but part of the garden will disappear, meaning you’ll have less to look after in that area. That largely cancels each other out.
3. Ground Since you already own the land, if you install some garden offices, the costs will be strictly related to labour and materials.
4. Building permits: Whether or not a planning permission is required depends on the size of the garden office, the zoning plan for your property and your local council’s regulations. The design you choose can also make a difference. Will you opt for a ‘mobile’ version or one with a foundation? In any case, it’s certainly true that the planning permission process is simpler than if you were to build an extension to your home. Want more information about planning permission? Then take a look at This page!

The total cost of building a garden office

How much does it cost to build a brand-new garden office? That entirely depends on the number of square metres and the finish. Furthermore, the price is dependent on the approach; will it be a DIY job or are you considering hiring a contractor? Finally, there is the option of purchasing a ready-made garden office from a company that specialises in prefabricated structures. This last option is often the most expensive. However, it is also the option that saves the most time. Moreover, the last option is also the most carefree option, as the entire production takes place in a factory and the final product is delivered to your back garden by transport.

For a ‘standard’ garden office, you're generally looking at €5,000 upwards for building materials. If you hire a contractor to do the work, the costs will at least double.

For example, if you want to build a small wooden garden office, you’ll spend around €6,000 on materials. On top of that, you’ll need to hire a carpenter, a handyman, an electrician and perhaps a plumber if you want a toilet and/or bathroom. The total construction costs can then easily reach €12,000.

When buying a prefabricated office, prices can range from €5,000 to as much as €100,000, depending on the size, finishes and fittings. A standard-sized basic garden office of around 10 square metres costs approximately €8,000.

Pay attention whether the prices include delivery/transport and installation. A prefab garden office often requires some form of foundation. This depends on the weight of the prefab garden office and the type of ground on which it is to be placed. The choice of materials for the prefab garden office also plays a role. Some types of material need to be raised off the ground to prevent rot. All of this entails additional costs.

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Interesting? Read more about Steel framing and prefabricated construction in our other blogs

• Ripstaal Construction Products B.V. inaugurates new roll forming machine
• Upgrading your exterior walls: How to plaster exterior walls
• The Ultimate Guide: Choosing the right stucco profiles
• Smooth Walls Forever: stucco profiles without aftercare costs!
• Installing stucco profiles: The ultimate guide

Can garden offices play a role in investing in rental properties?

As we place greater emphasis on working from home, optimising your property investments in outdoor and office space is becoming crucial. Working from home is ‘here to stay’ and therefore also a enormous opportunity for property investors to get a better return on their investment.

Garden offices are the perfect solution for this need. So how can you calculate the net operating income of your property increase by using garden offices?

• Make sure the garden office is multifunctional
• Only add a garden office if the main house has insufficient space for an internal home office.
• Ensure the right facilities are in place for working from home; high-speed internet connection, sufficient power outlets, and ventilation
• Integrate the garden office with the garden

Prefab garden office solutions

Investing in a garden office and want to apply the most efficient and low-maintenance method? Then go for prefab garden office build. At Ripstaal, we use the technique steel frame construction. This technique is lightweight and can be designed as desired. Furthermore, this technique is free from rot, which is the case with timber frame construction, for example. The frame can be finished with any material and is very well insulated.

Additionally, the garden office is fully manufactured in the factory and is delivered and placed in its correct position on-site as a complete unit.

Curious about our completed projects? Then take a look at our garden offices page for more inspiration on the projects page.