How to build a concrete block workshop, shed.

It took me roughly 6 weeks, doing it after work and some weekends on my own, it measures 5 meters by 2.9 meters, built out of 4" hollow and solid blocks.

[@JasonDouglasMedia]

i see free blocks posted all the time, think im going to collect them an go this route when building my studio shop. thanks for sharing.

[@affordabledesertliving3487]

Just a lovely building. Thanks for sharing your work with us!

[@Martyn0001]

Thanks for taking the trouble to upload such an instructional video. Going through this myself at the moment! Cheers.

[@frank1847]

Great video , exactly the right background music . I'm moving house soon this what I need to do in my new garden . Thanks for posting the video you did a great job .

[@MrMagsimus]

Nice job mate well done and thanks for posting the great video 👍👌

[@jonatan01i]

Very nice work!

[@catherinelarkin247]

Awesome! What a great project!

[@ivandrago8299]

Nice one mate, good job. Respect, from Northern Ireland.

[@niallkennedy23]

You should be proud of your achievement. Thanks for making the video 10/10

[@Hightower4069]

Thanks, and good luck with your build and kettle.

[@Leightontipping]

Very nice indeed. Well done.

[@blowmeupmusic]

brilliant. inspired me. thanks.

[@jpegg1208]

Hey man just wanted to tell you how Bad Ass that came out. Good shit brother.

[@christhompson1708]

Very tidy job nice one bud

[@tailswales]

awesome mate, learnt a few things as well cheers.

[@Hightower4069]

Glad it was of use to you. Cheers.

[@andrewjames5021]

Brilliant 👏 👏 👏

[@Bevoin1970]

Brilliant! and just what I need in my garden too, you made a nice job of that, you can build me one any day.. :-)

[@corpo33]

thanks your video has given me more inspiration ''

[@GambleMilo]

top job im looking at building my own soon

[@Hightower4069]

Go for it, you ll enjoy it when you ve finished.

[@carter2671]

This is very helpful

[@MostlyCreativeVideos]

Great job. Extremely insightful - Many thanks for sharing. Would you mind sharing the rough cost for putting something like this together?

[@willford8475]

Helluva job for one person to undertake, great result. Well done. Perfect music too!

[@Hightower4069]

Hi, if you build lower than the outside ground level you will have problems with flooding and also the damp course will below ground so it will not work. You could try a flat roof, you might gain a few inches there. Hope this helps.

[@garrycartlidge7775]

That looks brilliant, I've got an old concrete section garage which I'd love to convert into a man cave but seeing this I wonder if it's best just to rip it down and build new? Especially as I'd have to brick the old pull open garage door anyway and put in a door frame.

[@Hightower4069]

Thanks very much.

[@cheryl7634]

I like your style! Thank you for your video - one person job?! *Wanna do! Wanna do!* Thanks again!

[@bradlewis344]

fantastic job and your video has given me inspiration to have a go and build one myself, where did you get your 4" hollow blocks from? the merchants near me dont supply them

[@richsmif]

id like to build something simular. how much did all this cost you as i have no idea on budget

[@andrewcdavies]

Nice job. I wish I could lay blocks. I'd build my own workshop if I could.

[@Hightower4069]

Go to college/night school if you are able, it ll be a good trade to be in again one day. Thanks for your comment.

[@Hightower4069]

I used ready mix concrete, but if you want to mix your own use 5x25kg gravel (20mm) 4x25kg concrete/sharp/washed sand and 1x25kg bag of cement, you ll need a big mixer if using. The quantity all depends on the size of the footing/trench.

[@Hightower4069]

Cheers, i used 3/4" plywood sheets then put on 1 layer of underlay felt and 1 layer of mineral felt.

[@grahammacdonald2772]

good job you should do a walk through of it, i have just started building my block shed what the best mix for mortar.

[@corpo33]

great video I'm starting my shed next weekend ' what material did u use for the roof covering ''

[@boneyblade]

Hi. Nice work it seems. So you put the concrete in foundation 10" deep? Also can you tell me please what concrete mix/ratio did you use? Thanks!

[@vladstad8102]

that looks really good man. how much did cost to make?

[@P374Wilma]

Great job mate. Im looking to build a guitar studio/gym in the garden and am toying between block or timber stud work. Any idea of the final cost for yours?

[@thequietone2998]

Wow 😊

[@bpilgrim1000]

Use 8inch block,rebar in corners,bond beam on top with truss anchors

[@losegio]

Hi did you lay the row of solid blocks directly onto the foundation concrete ?

[@Hightower4069]

I did do a walk through once but took the video off for some reason, i may do it again one day. The mix you need is 4 parts sand and 1 part cement, also add some morticiser/feb mix.

[@fperezjr]

Hi, Can I get some information? I am going to put up an outbuilding and it will reatly help me getting an idea from someone who already done it. Can you tell me the ratio of cement mix did you use? People tell me to use 1:4 (cement: ballast) Also how many bag of cement did you use for you trench fill? Thanks.

[@Hightower4069]

I think i used about 270 blocks, give or take a few, with 1 ton of building sand and about 7 or 8 bags of cement.

[@TuneintoLearning]

how much did this cost to build, from the materials and any extra costs?

[@SirVegan]

nice build. If I was to do the same I would make it a little bigger and I would run all the electric, water etc. underground

[@Hightower4069]

If I had plenty of garden I would ve also built it bigger, the only service I have in there is electric so was nt really worth digging a channel across my garden for that.

[@Hightower4069]

No problem.

[@ernestusilgrande]

bravo un bel lavoro come fanno gli italiani

[@FINPJENN]

How many cubic metres of concrete did you use?

[@bitcoin1385]

How long did it take for you to do that

[@stevebeard9656]

HI, How many blocks did you use in total. I am looking at building a 18 x 12 ft workshop in my garden

[@djnk3894]

Spot on mate and great vid. I'll be starting a similar project at the end of Feb, when the coldness lets up a bit. Plus we've been getting ridiculous quotes from builders... Couple of questions if that's ok? I plan on making my building an L-shaped build. Well, im in planning stages, i want it to be 5.5 one side length x 4.5 L-Sided length x 3m wide all round, my question is about the roof with this style build? I don't suppose you could give me some advice as to how it would be put together and how I would turn the roof into the l-shaped build? What size beams I'd need, and strut support advice. Much appreciated. Any advice will do. Thanks Darius

[@phil2003ashleigh]

What prices where you quoted Darius ?

[@richardbourne9999]

hello. loved your video, made me giggle. Nice work. Im thinking of building double garage/ work shop. what shall i do for insulation? I noticed you didn't use insulation. Many thanks

[@Hightower4069]

+Richard Bourne Hi, I didn't use insulation cos its just a workshop, I have a heater to hand if I need heat. If you want to use insulation you will either have to build cavity walls and use rock wool/cavity bats (cheapest option) or build a single skin like I did and use foam backed plasterboard. Hope this helps.

[@Hightower4069]

Every builders merchants either stock or order in any materials required, if not you could just use 4" solid blocks. Cheers for the comment.

[@timothywills7808]

I currently have a brick shed that was built 40+ years ago but fancy extending it and creating an office. Currently it's a decent length (20ft) but really narrow (

[@Hightower4069]

Hi, the brick size I used was 63mm thick (metric size) if your existing building is 40+ years old, your brick size may be 73mm thick (imperial size). The paint is magnolia, masonry paint, if you do the same you ll have to seal the outside walls with a PVA mix, after painting, otherwise the rain will seep through eventually..

[@BIGBASSSAMA_4]

Can you get away with making it taller up to 13 feet if u attach a tarp from your fence to your roof to hide it?

[@George.Coleman]

Was it difficult to render the exterior?

[@MrVM41]

Why did you use hollow blocks? Thanks

[@Hightower4069]

I can t really say, i had some materials already lying around, if i was to hazzard a guess i d say 2300 quid, but i used a composite door, you could always use a wooden door to cut the price, Also i had ready mix concrete, you could mix your own.

[@markparry1803]

Just curious did you have to pump the concrete in or did you wheelbarrow it .... As i dont fancy carting tons of materials up the back and then up some steps... pumping seems like a good idea but a few friends said its an expensive option ......Looks a great build this though congrats...

[@Hightower4069]

I used a barrow mix company who barrowed it round for me, a pump will cost a fortune, sounds like you`ll have to get your back into it, if you are able.

[@lengthmuldoon]

Well in mate I'm an amateur and did something smaller a few years ago (double skinned) and I'm thinking of copying this single skin block and pier construction probably 3m x 6m. About the piers, I was thinking of not putting them on the corners my idea being the corner joint gives strength in itself?? Interested in what you think. Instead I was thinking windows and doors placed equally around the walls with piers either side might be enough. Great job though mate.

[@Hightower4069]

The pillars on each corner are purely for added strength, I built this to last and not worry about it collapsing after years of doors opening/closing etc. I ve built them smaller than this for other people with 4" blocks with no pillars at all, there's not a great deal of strength this way, I prefer my way. 6" blocks is another option.

[@lengthmuldoon]

Cheers for the reply mate.

[@JDRD93]

how much did this cost all together?

[@Hightower4069]

Thanks for your comment. Go for it, I will always advise.

[@Hightower4069]

Hi, I used hollow blocks mainly because of the weight, and partly the price. Cheers.

[@thesmithing]

How much did it cost to build?

[@heisenberg300373]

Looks bob on that chief, doing the same myself but going to clad it for the log cabin effect. Did you bother with steel rods in your concrete footings?

[@Hightower4069]

+heisenberg300373 Hi, I did nt use any reinforcement in the footing, the ground was like iron and did nt need it. Cheers.

[@grahammacdonald2772]

how many blocks did u use

[@billwhiz1]

Can you insulate single wall construction to keep dry inside as i find all metal tools kept in single wall garage go rusty in winter

[@jonathanmcrae3728]

Mike N late reply. Try stud and track. If your not sure what that is look it up. But its basically used to hold drywall plasterboard up. Divides the exterior wall. And you can put any kind of insulation in then. Its like stud wall but much faster and thinner. Cheers

[@BigDangerousDan]

3 mtr high for a flat roof and 4.5 for a pitched, eves no higher than 2.4. Yours only looks like its 2100 to the start of your roof. Up to 30sq meter floor area is what you can build in England with out planning.

[@carbiify]

Great job. BTW Have you had any problems with damp coming through the concrete block walls after 4 years? If not, then how did you prevent it.

[@Hightower4069]

carbiify Hi, I have nt had any damp problems. To prevent it I put a membrane on top of the hardcore then the concrete on top (as per video) then I put a d.p.c on top of the first course of blocks. Originally I was going to render the blockwork when finished, but instead, I just painted it, but to stop any water penetration you must coat the outside walls with a p,v,a, mix. Hope this helps.

[@carbiify]

Hightower4069 Thanks for that info, Hightower. You've just made up my mind to go ahead using concrete block. Once again, great job.

[@Hightower4069]

carbiify Glad to help, thanks for your comments.

[@gmpepin]

How did you add the roof boards to the concrete blocks? What steps did I miss there? Thank you.

[@Hightower4069]

You have to put a wall plate on top of the blocks/bricks, then the rafters. Secure the whole lot with nails/screws and wall straps fastened to the wall and rafters. I'm sure there will be a more detailed video on KZbin. Hope this helps. Cheers.

[@leighhendey270]

Hello! Looks great! i'm a fellow englishmen myself and am looking to do the same thing as you in kent. Could you tell me who much it cost you all in all for materials? Cheers

[@Hightower4069]

Leigh Hendey I can t remember exactly, but I think I may have answered this question in an earlier post. I had some materials lying around my yard which I used, you ll probably not get much change out of 2500, but I used a composite door, you could use a wooden one. Hope this helps.

[@kalam518]

Do u need to get planning permission to do this?

[@Hightower4069]

@Bevoin1970 Cheers, twas hard work. I ll gladly give advice from the comfort of my armchair. LOL.

[@thomasjones7082]

Hi total cost? Without labour thanks

[@samlf8096]

how much bras was it all lark

[@losegio]

At what level did you put in dpc? And did you run dpc in the pillars?

[@christhompson1708]

If you look at the doorway you can see the DPC sticking out of the blocks and wouldn't need it in the pillars as they are built on the slab therefore protected by the DPM ;-)

[@666Baraka]

Silly question perhaps, I am wanting to build the exact same thing but I need more height, my council specify the height too, so my question is, could I dig down a few feet lower than ground level, than start my surface build, so I am stepping down into my shed. Therefore plenty of head height

[@figrollin]

did you ever do this? curious how you got on

[@ruralrob228]

great video! could you give us a rough idea of cost please?

[@Hightower4069]

+robert smith Hi, it was a few years ago when I built this and I had a few building materials lying around. So I ll guess you d need about 2500/3000 pound to use the same materials (upvc windows, composite door) but would be cheaper if using a wooden door. Cheers.

[@ruralrob228]

+Hightower4069 ok thanks for that. ....definitely may be a project next summer !

[@Hightower4069]

@ernestusilgrande Grazie sa'lute. io studio italiano, lenta'mente.

[@FatesRhysHoward]

Brick laying seems easy, door and window installation seems fairly easy i think? Roof is where i've got no fucking clue how to build it, haha.

[@johnlintorn6768]

Is it rude to ask how much this cost in total?

[@Hightower4069]

Hi, roughly £1900, that was 6 yrs ago.

[@1spiders1]

Must be full of damp

[@LastUnicorn52]

10" slab ? why so thick ? 4" would be ok I think, Here in upper Ilocos Norte we don't get many earthquakes

[@Hightower4069]

Who said anything about a 10" slab?? The concrete for the footings is 10", the slab is 4". Take another look.

[@petercurry8924]

I am gonna use this as a guide to build a gym/workshop (8m x 4m) in my garden. What were the blocks you used for the foundation course? 4" dense blocks or proper foundation blocks? Great job and video by the way. And being a Geordie I love the music too ha ha

[@Hightower4069]

Peter Curry A bit late in replying,,,,, i used 4" solid blocks on the first course then hollows for the rest. All the best.

[@Hightower4069]

I did nt need planning consent because i built it within the limits (height mainly and distance from houses) You won t need permission for a timber building, cos its not classed as a permanent structure. Check with your local authority as they may be different to mine.

[@bigmik3566]

Hi what blocks did you use

[@Hightower4069]

Hi, 4" solid concrete blocks on the 1st course then 4" hollow to the top.

[@Hightower4069]

I should ve said plasticiser

[@Hightower4069]

I don t quite understand what you are trying to say.

[@Gollammeister]

Great build well done enjoyed the music classic cant think who made it did you plumb in electrics or have you gone solar/wind ? All in a nice proffessional build im thinking of building a wooden workshop myself.

[@Hightower4069]

Hi, i used Electric, wind/solar are not really a reliable source, that's just my opinion. Thanks.

[@ambersilverstar]

The finished product looked nice but this isn't a "how to" video. You should rename it.

[@Hightower4069]

I ll do that right away.

[@G1ennbeckismyher0]

mute button, we meet again.

[@52felix87]

Not informal 🤦‍♂️