Thoughts on precast concrete garage/workshop

[Robert Weaver]

Hi all. Need thoughts from anyone with experience in precast concrete and if they're worth their cost over getting a brick built building.

I'm in the market for a new workshop and am getting quotes for the groundwork to clear and reshape the existing shed so a new workshop can be built. Options are brick a new one of any size to maximise area, or erect a precast concrete building that's a set size but not quite optimal.

It's been suggested that precast concrete garages are prone to leak, are cold and damp and offer no ability of having wall fixings.

Are these generally true? Any opinions on avoiding a prefab workshop?

 

[brightspark]

all down to cost and planning permission

 

[8ob]

Think insulation and light

Bob

 

[zzr1200]

Hi all. Need thoughts from anyone with experience in precast concrete and if they're worth their cost over getting a brick built building.

It's been suggested that precast concrete garages are prone to leak, are cold and damp and offer no ability of having wall fixings.

Are these generally true? Any opinions on avoiding a prefab workshop?

Many years ago I used to erect precast garages. Personally I wouldn't entertain one as a workshop, they do leak after a while, they are cold and damp usually.

Personally I'd go with brick/block, I would also consider insulated steel panel/sheet and steel frame if you can get a decent price/quote.

Another option would be wooden frame building packed with insulation, which would probably be the warmest in the long run.

 

[mtt.tr]

Have you considered timber frame, quick and cheap to build. Easy to insulate

 

[Robert Weaver]

Have you considered timber frame, quick and cheap to build. Easy to insulate

I have, and haven't ruled timber out. Am still working out functionality. Prefab is quick but anecdotally may not be worth the cost.

 

[LiftedDisco]

We normally do steel-framed sheds but I was asked for a smaller building the other day of 6m x 9m and I couldn’t get the costs to work in steel.

What did work and might be worth considering was SIPS - Structually Insulated Panel System. Very quick to erect and super efficient when in use..

 

[dobbslc]

I had a Compton prefab garage at my old house, I built it new and was definitely dry and didn't leak.
I had it for about 15 years and only in the year before we moved did the corrugated roof start to give up.
Fixing things to the walls is a problem as you can't really drill them. But I managed well enough.
I'm not sure of the cost now but I know they're much more expensive than when I built mine so it's worth working out how much cheaper it will be than a decent brick or wooden structure. If it's not a LOT cheaper then consider something else. If I had a choice it would be a double skin brick build with insulation but that costs!

 

[dobbslc]

Here it is the day we moved!

 

[Bornfree]

I had one it was cold and damp but dry. Basically you need to build another complete woodern frame inside it with insulation in-between.

 

[gaz1]

i have both yet all depends on what you do with them

both need to be insulated and both are ample enough for your needs hanging things inside of them well that depends on your frame work on your insulation otherwise than that can still hang heavy cupboards in them

timber build easy to break into compared to a concrete build brick or block

a hybrid can be built blocks and wood insulation frame makes no difference if it was a prefab build same thing really

 

[8ob]

A guy I know collected Marley panels,posts and roofing sheets for a few years, got most of them for free or paid very little. He built a huge workshop with them, made his own roof trusses to suit, its a cheap modular workshop if you have time on your hands.

Bob

 

[mtt.tr]

timber build easy to break into compared to a concrete build brick or block

Not sure I agree with that, if built like a house shouldn't be easy to break into

 

[mike os]

My sectional garage is fine, no real issues but obviously not insulated.

 

[zzr1200]

What did work and might be worth considering was SIPS - Structually Insulated Panel System. Very quick to erect and super efficient when in use..

They're things, build a frame then screw them on...

Ebay item no.......332813626836

hth.

 

[mtt.tr]

They're things, build a frame then screw them on...

Ebay item no.......332813626836

hth.

On some you have a fillter strip that fits between the panels so they are actually the structure aswell as the insulation

 

[James1979]

Another vote for steel frame and sheet. For the small ones you dont need structural steels, its all done with pressed profiles. In my old house I put up a 6x6m with 2 roller doors and it was all in for under 4 grand I think. It had everything included even the tek screws and bolts. More importantly he supplied the drawings beforehand that I used for planning and they just got rubber stamped. No need to pay someone to draw it up which is another saving / offset cost.

The guy was a bit of a waster to be honest, excuse after excuse, although I got what I bought and the quality was very good. turns out he was a re seller and they were made near Glasgow. Just have a look on eBay as that's where I got mine from.

 

[doubleboost]

I built one for hot work and grinding etc .
It now houses my plasma table .
I got the sections free just had to collect them.
Being a temporary structure means no planning from what i have been told .
The sections often turn up on ebay .
Mine is bone dry inside .

 

[slim_boy_fat]

turns out he was a re seller

His first name didn't begin with M, did it?

 

[James1979]

His first name didn't begin with M, did it?

No it was Willie - just checked my emails