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- What are the advantages of having a workshop in your own garden? A big plus point is that dirt stays outside the house and the background noise for residents and neighbors is significantly lower. In a separate workshop, a lot of tools can be safely stored and unpleasant smells in the house can be avoided.
- Which connections are necessary for the workshop? In order to have an optimally equipped workshop, you need a power connection and, if necessary, a water connection. For your own safety, the power connection in particular should be carried out by a specialist.
- What should be taken into account when lighting? Good lighting is essential for safe work. Therefore, the basic lighting in the workshop should be set to a light color similar to daylight and, if necessary, additional lamps should be installed for the work surface.
Our own small workshop provides space for hobbyists and hobby craftsmen all year round.
If you are thinking about setting up a workshop in the garden, there are a few aspects you should consider. On the one hand, there is the question of the space, and on the other hand, the equipment of the garden workshop. The issue of noise development also plays a role with regard to the neighborhood.
1. No space in the apartment? The garden is the solution
If there is no space in the apartment and no cellar, a garden offers space for your own workshop. Here, DIY enthusiasts can work on their projects as they please. The practical thing about a garden workshop is that The dirt literally stays outside the door and does not get into the house. If you already have a garden shed or shed, you can convert it into a workshop. A clean and durable alternative to this is available new or used container like those offered by conro container. For example, workshop containers or material and storage containers with and without roller doors come into question.
The big advantage of containers is that they are absolutely robust and with appropriate insulation can remain usable even in winter. When the door is closed, the noise nuisance for sensitive neighbors is limited. The smell of chemicals, paints and varnishes cannot escape unhindered. In addition, tools and work equipment can be stored safely and locked all year round.
2. Leave the power connection to a specialist
The most important thing first: electricity belongs in the hands of a specialist. If something goes wrong, the consequences can be costly. No insurance will cover damage caused by improper electrical installation. From an insurance perspective, anything that was not carried out by a certified electrical contractor is not professional. It is therefore strongly recommended that you hire professionals for electrical work.
Danger: Improper installation of the power connection or defective power cables poses a high risk of electric shock or cable fire. Therefore, have the connection carried out by an expert, check your power cables regularly and have them replaced if necessary. Electrical accidents can quickly become life-threatening.
2.1. Special requirements for power lines
Basically, it is important to note that the garden is classified as a wet room as part of the electrical installation. This means that all cables and sockets are protected against moisture and splash water Protection class IP44 must have. Special extension cables for wet rooms can be laid from the house to the garden workshop; this is a cheap solution, especially if the area is used infrequently. However, such a cable poses a risk of falling.
Anyone who wants to work in their garden workshop all year round can do so an underground cable lay deep in the ground. It is best to use an empty pipe here. This simplifies any repair and retrofitting work later. Last but not least, the garden workshop’s electrical circuit should be protected with its own fuse.
2.2. Plan power lines and cable ducts with experts
If you call a professional to install and lay the power lines, consult with him and clarify where sockets and lamp connections should be available. A power strip on the workbench proves to be particularly practical and reduces the risk of cables becoming a tripping hazard. Additional lighting options above the work surface are also useful to enable safe and precise work.
Keeping things tidy is particularly important in small spaces.
3. Water connection: luxury or basic equipment?
Whether water is necessary in the workshop depends entirely on the projects that are to take shape here. In many cases it makes sense to have a water tap nearby. In any case, it is essential for cleaning surfaces and hands. Water is also necessary to operate special tools such as wet grinding machines. If there are no devices that must be operated with water, a direct connection in the workshop is not absolutely necessary. It is often enough to provide a watering can or bucket with water and use it when needed.
Tip: Warm water is usually not necessary for work in the workshop. Therefore, a cold water connection is usually completely sufficient.
4. Consider health and environmental concerns
Who in the garden sets up the workshop, must take environmental concerns into account. Therefore, precautions should be taken to dispose of paints and other environmentally harmful liquids properly. The cabinets in the garden workshop must be robust and offer space for all work equipment and tools. Adequate ventilation is also advisable for your own health.
5. For year-round use: Insulate the garden workshop
In order to be able to work in the workshop all year round, it should be well insulated. This extends the period of use when unheated by many weeks. The workshop can also be heated well at very low temperatures.
To insulate the garden workshop, there are basically two options to consider: there is external insulation and internal insulation. In the garden house, internal insulation can be done relatively easily using insulation panels that are cut to size and then glued together. To put it simply, PU foam could be applied to the outside of a shipping container and a façade could be built in front of it for cladding. Alternatively, internal insulation can also be considered. Mineral wool, which is covered with plasterboard or wooden panels, is ideal for this. The advantages and disadvantages of internal insulation compared to external insulation can be seen below:
- Construction is possible all year round
- cheaper than external insulation
- Interior heats up faster
Disadvantages
- Interior space is somewhat limited
- relatively planning intensive
- Shifting the dew point increases the risk of mold formation
The garden workshop can accommodate all kinds of utensils for crafts and DIY.
6. Light in the garden workshop
LED lights for the workshop
LED lights are a good choice for workshop lighting because they have a long service life and are also available with protective devices. LED lighting is energy and cost saving. The glare effect is low, so that the nuances of colors and varnishes are reproduced authentically. You will find LED lights in all common light colors from daylight white to warm white, whereby the color levels are specified in the unit Kelvin (K) and a color temperature of approx. 5,300 K and more is recommended for work in the workshop.
Light in the workshop is absolutely necessary to ensure safe work. Using equipment and tools in dim lighting conditions can be life-threatening. The cold white light color (4000 K) has proven successful for workshop lighting. If the garden workshop has no windows and therefore no natural light, daylight quality lights (6500 K) are recommended.
6.1. Illuminance for the garden workshop
The garden workshop requires sufficient basic lighting with high luminous intensity. This is particularly true when there is little daylight. The right brightness ensures good visual performance in which tradesmen can work without additional strain on the eyes. The illuminance should be at least 500 lux, This is also what the European standard DIN EN 12464-1 stipulates.
6.2. Basic lighting plus selective lighting
The basic lighting consists of a bright ceiling light. In addition, it is advisable to illuminate the work surface accentuated and use a higher number of lumens. In this way, even fine craftsmanship work that requires a high degree of precision can be carried out. LED spotlights that illuminate at specific points are ideal for this. So that they don’t take up space on the workbench, Ceiling spotlights or track spotlights for the wall are recommended. Floor lamps or clip-on lamps are also suitable for bringing light to the right place in the workshop. Clamp lights can be used as required, e.g. B. on the shelf, on mobile Workshop trolley or attach to the table top.
Tip: If there are wall cupboards, LED under-cabinet lights are very helpful. This illuminates the area underneath brightly. Indirect lighting of deep shelves with LED strips is recommended. It is easy to attach and the strips can be shortened to any length and glued on. Last but not least, a flashlight should be available to provide the necessary light in the right place when repairing heavy equipment that cannot easily be turned back and forth.
Image credits: pixabay.com /jostei, pixabay.com /Free-Photos, stock.adobe.com/Maksim (sorted chronologically or according to the order of the images used in the buying guide)
