Garden offices in North Devonbuilt for year-round work,not summer only.
A dedicated workspace a few steps from the back door, made to measure for your garden, priced up front and guaranteed for five years.
16 years
hands-on trade experience
£2M
public liability insurance
5-year
workmanship guarantee
Free visit
then a fixed quote
Overview
Garden Offices with Liveliwood Co
What it is
A garden office is a standalone, purpose-built timber building in your garden, designed as a usable room rather than a shed: insulated, weather-tight, with power, light and proper glazing.
Who it's for
People working from home who have outgrown the kitchen table or spare room, and households that want a studio, gym, hobby room or guest space without the cost and disruption of extending the house.
When you need it
When home working is permanent, when the house has no spare room to give, or when you want work physically separated from family life.
Why experience matters
Most garden buildings that fail do so because of the base, the insulation or water getting in. A properly built office starts with a level, durable base, a well-sealed envelope and joinery made for the space; that is the difference between a room you use in January and one you avoid.
What happens if it's left
The cost of getting it wrong or putting it off.
Too cold, too hot, too damp
Under-insulated buildings are freezing in winter and stifling in summer, and condensation quickly leads to mould and swollen timber.
A weak base fails first
A base that isn't level or drains poorly causes doors and windows to bind and lets moisture into the floor.
Planning surprises
Size, height and position all affect whether planning permission is needed. Getting it wrong can mean altering or removing the building.
Common mistakes we see
- Buying a flat-pack kit sized for a catalogue rather than your garden.
- Skipping insulation or ventilation to save money.
- Placing the building without thinking about sun, privacy, access and drainage.
- Assuming planning permission never applies to garden buildings.
Our process
Five clear steps from first visit to guarantee.
Step 1
Free site visit
Ashley visits, looks at the space and listens to what you want. No charge and no obligation.
Step 2
Fixed quote
You receive a fixed price for the agreed scope, so you know the cost before you commit.
Step 3
Planning & Building Control
Where the project needs it, Liveliwood Co assists with or fully manages planning and Building Control.
Step 4
Contract & build
Larger projects run on a formal contract with a deposit and stage payments at agreed milestones. Ashley is involved throughout.
Step 5
Completion & guarantee
The work is finished, checked with you and backed by a 5-year workmanship guarantee.
What you get
Why homeowners choose Liveliwood Co for garden offices.
A real room, all year
Insulated and weather-tight so the space is comfortable to use through the seasons.
Made for your plot
Size, layout, glazing and position are designed around your garden and how you'll use it.
No house disruption
Built in the garden, so the house keeps running normally while work goes on.
Fixed quote
Everything is priced up front after a free site visit.
Guaranteed workmanship
Five-year workmanship guarantee and £2M public liability insurance.
Joinery-grade finish
Built-in desks, shelving and storage can be made by the same team.
In detail
Garden Offices services, materials and methods.
Bases and foundations
Concrete slab, block, screw-pile or timber-frame bases are chosen to suit the ground, the slope of the garden and the size of the building.
Structure and insulation
A timber frame with insulation in the walls, floor and roof, a breathable membrane, and attention to air-tightness and ventilation to prevent condensation.
Cladding and roofing
Timber cladding such as larch or cedar, or painted boards, with roof coverings chosen for longevity and the look you want.
Glazing and doors
Windows and doors positioned for light and privacy, specified to suit an exposed North Devon garden.
Power and connectivity
Electrics, lighting and heating are installed by qualified specialist subcontractors as part of the project.
Fit-out
Built-in desks, shelving and storage made to measure, so the space works as an office from day one.
Other uses
The same construction suits studios, gyms, therapy rooms and hobby spaces.
Related services
Garden Offices near you
Available as garden offices in North Devon, including Braunton, Croyde, Woolacombe, Barnstaple, or contact Ashley.
Who you'll work with
Ashley Cole and a core team of three.
Liveliwood Co is a North Devon carpentry, joinery and building company run by owner Ashley Cole. Ashley started in the construction trade at a young age and has built up 16 years of hands-on experience across most building and woodworking disciplines. When you book garden offices with Liveliwood Co, that experience comes to your project directly; Ashley is personally involved in every job, from the first site visit to handover.
Ashley works with a core team of three and brings in trusted specialist subcontractors where a job needs them, such as electricians and plumbers. That means you have one point of contact and one company responsible for the result, rather than a list of separate trades to organise and chase.
Because the same business handles both fine joinery and structural building, projects that cross the two (a kitchen inside a new extension, fitted storage in a loft, a garden office with a built-in desk) are planned as one job. The details line up because the people building the structure also make what goes inside it.
What's included as standard
- A free site visit to assess the project and your requirements.
- A fixed quote, so the price is agreed before work starts.
- A formal contract with a deposit and stage payments on larger projects.
- Assistance with, or full management of, planning and Building Control where required.
- £2M public liability insurance on every job.
- A 5-year workmanship guarantee.
- New builds built to industry-standard structural warranties.
- Working hours of Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00.
Before you start
Planning your garden offices project in North Devon.
Start with how you'll use the space day to day. A single-person office needs room for a desk, chair, storage and somewhere to put a coffee down; a studio or gym needs more floor area and different lighting. Thinking about use first leads to the right size and layout, rather than picking a building and fitting your life around it.
Next, look at the garden itself. Where does the sun fall in the morning and afternoon? Where is it private, and where will the view from the window be best? How will power reach the building, and how will rainwater drain away from the base? These questions shape where the office goes and how it's built.
Check whether planning permission applies. Many garden buildings fall under permitted development, but size, height, distance from boundaries and the type of property all matter. This is reviewed at the site visit, and help with an application is available if one is needed.
Think about year-round comfort. Insulation, ventilation and heating determine whether you'll use the office in January and August. Specifying these properly from the start costs far less than trying to retrofit them later.
Finally, plan the fit-out alongside the building. A built-in desk, shelving and storage made to measure turn a garden building into a working office from the first day, and the same team that builds the structure can make and fit the joinery inside it.
FAQs
Garden Offices questions, answered.
Do I need planning permission for a garden office?
It depends on size, height, position and your property. This is assessed at the site visit, and Liveliwood Co can help with or manage an application if one is needed.
Can a garden office be used in winter?
That is what it is designed for; insulation, ventilation and a sealed envelope are part of the build.
Can you build on a sloping garden?
Usually, yes. The base is designed to suit the ground.
How much does garden offices cost in North Devon?
Every project is different, so there are no fixed package prices. You get a free site visit followed by a fixed quote for your job, so you know the exact cost before deciding.
How long will the work take?
Timescales depend on the size of the job. The programme is discussed at the site visit and agreed before work starts, so you can plan around it.
How do payments work?
Larger projects run on a formal contract with an initial deposit followed by stage payments at agreed milestones.
Is the work guaranteed and insured?
Yes. Every job carries a 5-year workmanship guarantee, and Liveliwood Co holds £2M public liability insurance.
Which areas do you cover?
North Devon, including Barnstaple, Braunton, Woolacombe, Bude, Bideford, Ilfracombe, Croyde and Saunton.
Can you come out urgently?
Call 07450 059875 during working hours (Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 17:00) to explain the situation and discuss how soon Ashley can visit.
Free site visit
Get a fixed price for your garden offices project.
Tell us about the job and Ashley will arrange a free visit. You'll get a fixed quote, no obligation.
- 5-year workmanship guarantee
- £2M public liability insurance
- 16 years' hands-on experience
Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 17:00
Contact Ashley directly, or allow the enquiry form to send your project details.