About Outbuilding Planner
A DIY-first approach to planning garden buildings properly.
Introduction
I'm the person behind Outbuilding Planner, and I genuinely love DIY. It started simply—building a play kitchen for my daughter—and grew into fixing and improving our home piece by piece. Over time that led to building chicken runs, tackling a new utility room, fitting a kitchen, and taking on projects where accuracy and preparation really matter. I enjoy working with timber, measuring twice (or three times), and turning a pile of materials into something solid and useful.
I'm not a professional builder, and I don't pretend to be. I'm a hands-on DIYer who takes pride in doing things properly, understanding how things go together, and respecting the craft behind good construction.
Why I built this
One thing I've always enjoyed as much as building is the planning that comes before it. I spend a lot of time sketching layouts, drawing diagrams, working through material lists, costing everything up, then tweaking and refining the plan until it feels right. That planning stage is where projects succeed or fail.
When I started looking for tools to help with this, I found most online calculators were either too basic or focused purely on cutting costs. They didn't reflect how competent DIYers actually work. We want to plan properly, understand what we're building, and avoid mistakes before we pick up a saw.
Outbuilding Planner grew out of that mindset. It's a way of turning careful planning into something practical and reusable, so other people can benefit from the same structured approach before they start their own build.
What this is not
This site is not a step-by-step building guide. There are excellent resources, YouTube videos, and detailed tutorials available online that show you how to build garden rooms, workshops, and sheds from start to finish. Outbuilding Planner focuses specifically on the planning stage—helping you calculate accurate material quantities, understand structural requirements, and prepare a complete shopping list before you begin. Once you're ready to build, you'll find plenty of quality instruction elsewhere.
My philosophy
DIY should be satisfying, not reckless. I firmly believe in knowing where DIY ends and professional work begins. Structural considerations matter. Electrical work matters. I enjoy building, measuring, fixing, and assembling—but electrics are left to Part P qualified electricians, and anything that needs professional sign-off gets it.
Outbuilding Planner reflects that philosophy. It's not about doing everything yourself at all costs. It's about planning well, using the right materials, understanding the build, and working safely alongside professionals when needed.
Core principles
- Plan properly before buying materials – Measure twice, order once, and understand exactly what you need.
- Use standard UK sizes and good assumptions – Follow common construction methods with 47mm CLS timber and appropriate spacing.
- Build safe, and use professionals where needed – Know when to call qualified electricians, structural engineers, or other specialists.
- Reduce waste and mistakes – Proper planning minimises overordering and avoids costly on-site corrections.
- Make outputs clear and buildable – Material lists should be practical, shopping-ready, and easy to understand.
Build smart. Build safe. And enjoy the process—including the planning.
Ready to plan your build?
Get accurate material estimates and wall-by-wall guides for your garden room project.