buildmoredog

To meet the required welfare needs for my self-build, I’ve been looking at low-cost cabin options. I’ll also be using one as my office for my day job. I’ve been offered two portakabins: One is 32ft (like the picture attached). The other is about 20ft (roughly just over the width of the jack legs). Both are in decent shape but haven’t had any improvements in years. Transport to site will cost around £1,000 inc. VAT. My plan: Use the 32ft one as my office and for locked storage. Use the 20ft one as a welfare unit (adding a sink, counter, and table). Alternative option: Rent a refurbished 32ft cabin with two rooms separated by a hallway, at £55 + VAT/week for 52 weeks minimum, plus £400 transport = £4,232 total cost. Same cost from all the leading places. Costing it out: With some DIY work, I can bring the gifted cabins up to spec (inc. double glazing) for around £2k. I hope spruced up i might be able to sell them for roughly £3k covering my costs and the transport costs. (the pictured one incidently is on eBay now for a staggering £8.5k!) That would leave my total cost free, plus I’d get more storage and less disruption with the two cabins giving separate welfare and office spaces. My questions: Are these older portakabins generally solid? I see many Britcabs etc. failing after 15 years, but Portakabins seem to last longer with their steel construction and bracing. My concern is the hidden roof/floor sections since they haven’t been moved in 20 years—what if the HIAB driver turns up and refuses to lift them? How easy are they to move once onsite? The 20ft one seems easy enough—farmers/builders/groundworkers can shift them. The 32ft one might need a proper HIAB every time since it’s at the weight limit for most telehandlers. I have room on site so i can just put it out of teh way, but this size might not be attractive to most other builders. I really don’t want to end up stuck with cabins I can’t move or have to give away for free, turning a £1k project into a £3k headache. Has anyone here been through the same decision process? What should I expect?

I have a 288m2 roof on a barn conversion, slightly less but I expect the challenge is less the size as the edges. I am not especially comfortable at heights, but with a low pitch I expect I'll manage given the cost of labour. How long did the installation take? I think I may relent and bring in an expert for the penetrations, there will be up to 12 Velux.