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Hi I've just had permission to build a large garden room 12m x 5m which will form a gym and entertainment room. It needs to be built to building regs due to size. It'll have a small kitchen/bathroom. I've spoken to numerous builders (some I know and some getting quotes) and each seems to suggest the best way to build is either SIPs, Blockwork or a timber frame. I'm not a builder so don't know which to choose. Can anyone advise on the benefits/negatives of each and which might be most cost-effective option please? Other questions: Would you go for an insulated concrete base? and with insulation under the concrete or over it? How do I make sure the floor is strong enough? If it was timber frame or blockwork what insulation would you use - PIR or other? Would you go for a warm roof or cold? Any other major considerations to think of? Thanks Rob

Hi, I'm a first-time self builder and I have a planning permission granted for a project which is about demolishing an existing single storey bungalow and build a new 2-storey house. I'm thinking to hire a main contractor to do the job minimising my involvement. I'm wondering if SIP walling is a good option compared to the more traditional masonry building, especially in terms of the total cost and time of project completion as I have a quite limited budget, especially for this project to be economically viable. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hello, I am new so apologies in advance if I accidentally do not follow protocol... I am looking for some help in "signing off" my plan for the foundations of a detached 6m x 4m SIP garden room workshop. The structure will use SIPs for walls and roof, which will also include some reinforcing steel in order to cater for a green roof using sedum roof tiles (65kg/sqm saturated weight). I wanted to go down the route of concrete raft due to clay soil and wanting to be belt-and-braces in satisfying a classification of being constructed of substantially non combustable materials...due to being sited < 1m from boundary fence. The structure will also be a woodworking shop with machinery installed. I also just like concrete. I should also note that I have already done the majority of sub grade excavations... One of the main questions I have is whether the intention to use a 7N dense concrete block mortared into a rebate in the concrete raft is a sound idea. Although I am using the room as a workshop, I wanted to make sure that future use could be various and as such I am trying to achieve a high grade of airtightness, soundproofing and insulation. For simplicity in the drawing I have left off the vapour barrier and house wrap, as well as internal battens + combo of cement fibreboard/ply and external battens + combo of cement fibre weatherboard + cedar cladding. Any pointers on where I have gone wrong or other suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your interest.

I have done search both here and on a number of sites and can't find anything about making the above. I know a couple of chippies, neither of whom has a clue about SIP panels. The garden office will have external dimensions of 5.4m X 3.3m by 2.5m high. Any advice on SIP panel installation and ground screws would be very welcome? Anything I should read, any youtube videos I should watch, basically anything that will point me in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. If you know a reliable tradesman/woman in East London/West Essex to do the job would also be most useful. I would like it to meet regs if possible.