Can You Turn A Wooden Shed Into An Office?
Do you have a wooden shed behind your yard left unused for years? Or do you want to work from home, but your home doesn’t have the capacity to accommodate a full-furnished office?
A wooden shed can be the answer to all your dilemma. You can certainly convert your wooden shed into an office, subject to the current condition of the shed and whether it can serve your purpose right or not.
If the idea is fixated in your mind and can’t find a way to execute it successfully, keep reading this article. I am about to guide you thoroughly to convert your wooden shed.
Can You Turn A Wooden Shed Into An Office?
If the wooden shed is in good condition and eligible for office work, I can’t fathom, why it shouldn’t be a good idea. In fact, 85% of the shed are made of wood, no matter what the purpose is.
A wooden property is very durable and has heavy air resistance. The breathability of wood material ensures that the room is abundant with air and moisture, so you don’t feel suffocated. If you take good care of the shed, it can serve you for 20-25 years.
Of course, a wooden shed, nowadays, is quite outdated. We have seen better models and materials emerging in the shed business. But, if you have a pre-existing wooden shed, you can and should convert and use it as your home office.
How To Convert A Wooden Shed Into An Office?
Yes, you can simply move your furniture inside the shed and start using it as a working office, but I would suggest you rather not. Before you can convert your wooden shed into an office, you must inspect and instigate the property in question first.
How should you do all that? Well, I am here to tell you exactly how.
1. Check The Zoning Law
Every state has its own laws and regulations regarding buildings and architectural forms. You must abide by and follow the latest law before you can start the conversion. In theory, as the shed already pre-existed, it can be presumed that it was built following proper rules and regulations.
However, the law is ever-changing, and it might contradict the predecessor law. It is wise to consult with an expert, preferably with a contractor, regarding the issues with zoning law. After the permit or renewal of the license, you can proceed with the conversion.
2. Diagnose The Wooden Shed
Wood is a great material to build a shed. However, it has some cons too. The most alarming concern is the mold that can grow due to excessive moisture. Also, the base can be in dilapidated conditions, the piles could be shaky and rickety.
A thorough diagnosis will troubleshoot the issues. It will give you a crystal clear idea of what and what should not be changed. It will also give you an idea about the renovation and cost of the overall project.
3. Eliminate Mold And Its Spread
Mold is like a cancer of any wooden structure. If you don’t nip them in the bud and let them grow, they will take over the whole structure slowly and gradually. To prevent such a situation, you have to pinpoint the main source of the mold.
Deep clean with a concoction of bleach and water. Soak them overnight to get the maximum result. Then, with a garden sprayer or usual spray bottle, spread the concoction through the whole structure and scrub off the mold with a sponge. Ensure that the room gets plenty of sunlight and air to prevent mold from spreading.
4. Restore The Dilapidated Foundation
If your shed’s foundation is shaky and unstable, invest in building a good foundation. It will protect you and your shed for years and prevent mold spread. As moisture from the ground is usually the cause behind mold spreading, a good foundation acts like a blockage to prevent the mold to enter the facility.
Not necessarily, a wooden shed requires a wooden foundation. You can build it with a gravel pad, wood deck box, or with concrete pavers. If you are in a hurry and on a tight budget, a prefabricated base kit can be a good material too.
Additionally, a stable foundation will offer additional drainage, preventing flooding in your shed. In the event of a flood, you may have trouble getting all the moisture out and wind up with a longstanding problem.
5. Wood Treatment
Prevention is better than cure. This statement is truer when you are in the process of restoring an old wooden structure. Wood treatment basically means taking preventive measures to protect the wood and avoid any unforeseen issues.
There are lots of methods of wood treatment. Staining is one of the methods, where you paint the wood with stain and the wood will soak the product. It is to embellish and amplify the natural grain quality of the wood. Stain protects the wood from hot and humid weather, especially, the darker tones due to their extra pigmented element.
The wood preservative is another way to protect the wooden shed. A wood preservative will protect the shed from water and excessive moisture. There are water-based and oil-based solutions. Apply them with a brush and let the wood soak in the solution. The wood preservative is a great element to fight back water ingress, rot decay, and insects.
Pressure treatment is another process of wood treatment. Pressure treatment is budget-friendly and the best solution for the long run. But you have to seek professional help to execute this treatment.
6. Coating And Painting
After applying wood treatment, your job is not finished. You have to finish the task by coating. Except for pressure treatment, the coating is a required step for staining and preserving. You can finish coating with good varnish and oil.
The coating will enhance the performance of the stain and preservative, make it more water-resistance, and create more endurance against UV lights. Then, you can paint a fresh coat of paint once the treatment is dried up. You should opt for a neutral or pastel tone for your new office.
7. Doors And Windows
As you wish to use the wooden facility as an office, you can’t overlook the issue of air circulation and ventilation. If the door is crooked and distorted, replace it if necessary. You may also need to sand the edges to prevent decay.
Also, if the shed has a window, check whether it is water-sealed or not. If it can’t resist water infiltration, you need to apply a sealant to properly secure them. If the shed has no window, you must build one, even if it raises the cost.
8. Move The Furniture In
As you are settled for a nice home office in your old wooden shed, you can now move in officially. Remember not to clutter the room with unnecessary items. If you want to use the maximum potency of the shed, use the walls to hang holders to keep files and cords.
4 Factors Must You Not Ignore
A wooden house comes with lots of perks and benefits. It is naturally insulated. That means you don’t need to invest in artificial insulation. It is also sound and noise repellant, which is a huge perk for the home office. However, there are some factors that you should draw your attention to. Let’s see what those are.
1. Pests And Rodents
A wooden house is a hub for unwanted pests, rodents, fungi, and bugs. As wood is a natural substance, it is not weird for natural pests to be attracted to it. But you can and you must repeal them at every cost.
Invest in good pesticides, fungicides, and pest repellants. It may increase your budget by a few bucks but can save your pocket from spending a fortune on pest control. Also, there are many stains in the market that comes with elements to repeal the pests. So, you don’t have to invest separately in pesticides.
2. Protection From Sun Damage
A wooden shed is susceptible to sun damage and UV rays decaying. It is graver when the wood is not furbished and stained properly. If the shed is exposed to Sunlight, it may face issues like decolorization, fading, and bending.
Hence, you should invest in good varnish to protect the shed from sun damage. You can also plant some trees that will provide shade and shadow from the corrosive UV rays. Moreover, a dark-tainted stain can use its extra pigmentation to fight back UV rays.
3. Fireproofing
Wood is prone to fire and can be gulped by it very rapidly. When you are using the shed for office purposes, it is already at risk of fire incidents by short-circuit. Thus, you must take extra precautions to prevent such incidents.
One way to protect your shed from fire is through flame-retardant paints and coatings. They can prevent fire from igniting and spreading. Also, they are a good source to repeal heat. It is safe to invest in flame retardant paint, especially if there is a chance of short-circuit.
However, remember that you must purchase the BS 476 safety standard product from the market. Don’t go for cheap and unqualified products when it comes to fire safety. An appropriate and active paint will swell the foamy layers when the shed gets a high temperature. It can also deter the amount of smoke produced by a fire.
4. Maintenance And Upkeep
A wooden shed doesn’t require that much attendance, but it should be properly cared for and maintained. Especially, after a season change, you must do a thorough check-up whether the base and foundation are affected by the weather change or not.
After a scorching summer and a snowy winter, this upkeep is a must-do. Also, regular dusting and cleaning should not be ignored.
Final Words
Repurposing an old establishment is now in fashion. Instead of wasting money and material on a new item, you can re-flourish and re-apply the old materials. And a wooden shed is the perfect element to be converted into a shed. If you are using the shed as a storage facility, read this article Can You Use A Storage Shed As An Office? To learn more.
