Can Garden Offices be Moved?

The time has come to move house – you’ve found the perfect new property but there’s just one thing missing – a garden office. But wait, your current house has a garden office that you cherish and use daily.

That gets you thinking, can garden offices be moved? You ponder this and have no idea – it would be amazing if you could just simply transport your garden office to your new house! But is this possible? Surely it must be expensive or just flat-out impossible?

So many questions with no answers! I am here to give you the facts and explain the reality of relocating a garden office below.

Factors Affecting a Garden Room’s Portability

So, can garden offices be moved? Yes. But there are factors that affect the viability of a relocation project – namely the construction, size, weight, and foundation.

Construction and Design

When answering the question, can garden offices be moved, the first consideration is the construction of the building. It is much easier to relocate a simple garden office that has no insulation or internal frame. This is because there is less material, less to rebuild, and less weight.

In contrast, premium garden offices with an internal frame and insulation can be more complex to relocate and typically need crane-lifting and transporting whole as opposed to disassembly.

Size and Weight

When relocating a garden office, the larger and heavier it is, the more difficult it is to move. Hiab cranes have to lift limits but also, if a larger garden office is lifted, it can put too much strain on the structure and potentially cause damage.

With larger garden offices, it may only be viable to have it disassembled and reassembled whereas smaller structures can easily be lifted by crane and transported on a lorry.

Foundation and Base

You also have to consider the foundation for relocating a garden office. A concrete foundation cannot be moved and this means that you would need a new foundation in place at your new property.

A concrete plinth could potentially be moved by crane, but the weight and large block size make this increasingly unlikely.

In contrast, a timber frame is much easier to move as it is lighter and can be disassembled or even lifted at the same time as the garden office.

Relocation Options

We have established that insulated garden offices can be moved in certain circumstances, but now we have to look at the options. Essentially, there are two choices – you disassemble and reassemble the garden office yourself, or use professional relocation services.

Disassembling and Reassembling

The first option and probably the cheaper choice is to disassemble and reassemble the garden office yourself. This can be a painstaking process but it can save a heap of money as you don’t need any professional assistance. All you need is the time and effort, and a means of transporting the parts to your new property.

The advantage of this method is the cost-saving – it’s undoubtedly cheaper to do it yourself than pay for a relocation service. You also don’t have to worry about things like crane hire, movement permits, and availability of relocation dates where you have to be present at your new property.

However, the disadvantage is the potential complexity of the process. It can be painstaking to take the pieces apart and then try to figure out how they go back together. For a simple garden office with no insulation, this is much easier. But for a garden office with insulation, it is incredibly difficult. What guarantee do you have that you can rebuild it at your new property to the same standard and configuration that it was originally built?

Professional Relocation Services

The second option is to pay for a relocation service and many garden office suppliers will offer this service as part of an aftercare package (for an additional cost obviously).

Typically, a crane is used to lift the entire structure from its foundation onto a lorry using a Hiab. Roadside access is a must here, or the ability for the Hiab to reach safely onto your garden with enough clearance.

The benefit of this is that all you have to do is book the service. The company then takes care of everything while you sit back and relax. The downside is that there is an additional cost at a time when you are already probably spending money on removals and items for your new house.

Garden Offices Can be Moved in the Right Circumstances

I hope you have gained some valuable insight and have an answer to the question, can garden offices be moved? Should you ever need your garden office relocated – such as to a new property, it is possible in the right circumstance. I recommend professional assistance though as a relocation company will have the necessary tools, permits, and know-how to move your garden office safely, cost-effectively, and without causing any lasting structural damage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can Garden Offices be Moved?