The hidden costs of working in your garden

A huge 71% of UK homeowners have made significant improvements to their outdoor spaces since the Covid-19 pandemic – including garden offices and outbuildings to support their ability to work from home, as a significant number of professionals search for a better work-life balance.

Outdoor space is much loved in the UK and appreciated now more than ever – with many homeowners designing their gardens as an extension to their indoor living space. The garden leisure market has grown 15% in recent years – and topped £1 billion in 2020. Some UK retailers reported a 60% increase in sales. But even a fairly modest garden building can be a significant investment, costing anywhere between £10,000 – £15,000.

So, with such a big investment, it’s important to know how to take care of exterior timber – not only for your pocket in these hard times, but for the planet as well. The better we look after wood, the longer it lasts, and therefore less trees are cut down. A relatively low cost spruce up can add years to the life of timber, whilst keeping it looking great.

Ryan spoke to Steve Bailey from Barrettine.