Hello everyone,
Some time ago, I already posted here asking for advice on where to place our carport on the property. Now, due to various reasons, a new idea has come up and I would like to get your opinion on it.
This concerns building "A," which you can see in the picture.
The garage "B" will definitely be demolished. The house entrance is marked in red. A new terrace will be built in front of the entrance.
Building "A" is an old shed that my grandfather built about 60 years ago.
This shed includes a ground floor with a party room (~22 sqm (237 sq ft)), an anteroom (~3 sqm (32 sq ft)), a small bathroom (~5 sqm (54 sq ft)), a room with a table and fridge (~7 sqm (75 sq ft)), and a separate storage room (tool shed) for garden tools (~10 sqm (108 sq ft)). There is also an attic accessible by a pull-down ladder through the tool shed, where old garden tools, buckets, pots, and such are stored.
At one point, I considered demolishing this shed. But once it’s gone, it’s gone.
We were told in a meeting at the municipal office that we would not be allowed to build a new one because we live outside the village’s built-up area.
I’m a bit conflicted about this.
We don’t depend on this shed. Of course, the more storage space you have, the more stuff tends to accumulate.
As a party room, we have used it only about 15 to 20 times over the last ~15 to 20 years—so, not very often.
It is convenient when we grill outside to have a toilet and a fridge there. So, it’s a “nice to have,” but not essential.
Unfortunately, one of the toilet’s pipes is broken, which means we would have to open the walls and renew everything.
I’m wondering if all this effort is worthwhile. Here are my thoughts summarized as briefly as possible:
PROS OF KEEPING THE SHED:
- Additional storage space
- Usable as a party room
- Toilet / sink / fridge outdoors
- Wind protection from the north
- It already exists
CONS OF KEEPING THE SHED:
- Blocks the view to the north
- Investment needed for maintenance (more details below)
Also, I am a bit unsettled by the property valuation report we had done in connection with the house transfer.
Here is an excerpt:
Regarding maintenance:
- Removing lightweight partition walls (in rooms measuring 5 & 7 sqm (54 & 75 sq ft) and the small anteroom (3 sqm (32 sq ft)))
- Installing a new floor, new plumbing, new wallpaper
- The stove currently used for heating is permitted until 2022, after which it must be replaced
- New entrance door, two new interior doors, and a new tool shed door
- The entire west wall is covered in ivy up to the roof, which must be removed
- New paint (possibly also new render?) on the building
(Ivy on the west side)
So, I’m asking myself if all this effort is justified. Of course, demolishing the shed is not without its challenges either...
Could you please share your thoughts? What would you do?
Leave it as it is without investing, just using it for storage?
Keep it and invest in renovations?
Or demolish it and enjoy the open view into the garden?
If anything is unclear, feel free to ask. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read and respond.
Best regards,
Merymery
Some time ago, I already posted here asking for advice on where to place our carport on the property. Now, due to various reasons, a new idea has come up and I would like to get your opinion on it.
This concerns building "A," which you can see in the picture.
The garage "B" will definitely be demolished. The house entrance is marked in red. A new terrace will be built in front of the entrance.
Building "A" is an old shed that my grandfather built about 60 years ago.
This shed includes a ground floor with a party room (~22 sqm (237 sq ft)), an anteroom (~3 sqm (32 sq ft)), a small bathroom (~5 sqm (54 sq ft)), a room with a table and fridge (~7 sqm (75 sq ft)), and a separate storage room (tool shed) for garden tools (~10 sqm (108 sq ft)). There is also an attic accessible by a pull-down ladder through the tool shed, where old garden tools, buckets, pots, and such are stored.
At one point, I considered demolishing this shed. But once it’s gone, it’s gone.
We were told in a meeting at the municipal office that we would not be allowed to build a new one because we live outside the village’s built-up area.
I’m a bit conflicted about this.
We don’t depend on this shed. Of course, the more storage space you have, the more stuff tends to accumulate.
As a party room, we have used it only about 15 to 20 times over the last ~15 to 20 years—so, not very often.
It is convenient when we grill outside to have a toilet and a fridge there. So, it’s a “nice to have,” but not essential.
Unfortunately, one of the toilet’s pipes is broken, which means we would have to open the walls and renew everything.
I’m wondering if all this effort is worthwhile. Here are my thoughts summarized as briefly as possible:
PROS OF KEEPING THE SHED:
- Additional storage space
- Usable as a party room
- Toilet / sink / fridge outdoors
- Wind protection from the north
- It already exists
CONS OF KEEPING THE SHED:
- Blocks the view to the north
- Investment needed for maintenance (more details below)
Also, I am a bit unsettled by the property valuation report we had done in connection with the house transfer.
Here is an excerpt:
Regarding maintenance:
- Removing lightweight partition walls (in rooms measuring 5 & 7 sqm (54 & 75 sq ft) and the small anteroom (3 sqm (32 sq ft)))
- Installing a new floor, new plumbing, new wallpaper
- The stove currently used for heating is permitted until 2022, after which it must be replaced
- New entrance door, two new interior doors, and a new tool shed door
- The entire west wall is covered in ivy up to the roof, which must be removed
- New paint (possibly also new render?) on the building
(Ivy on the west side)
So, I’m asking myself if all this effort is justified. Of course, demolishing the shed is not without its challenges either...
Could you please share your thoughts? What would you do?
Leave it as it is without investing, just using it for storage?
Keep it and invest in renovations?
Or demolish it and enjoy the open view into the garden?
If anything is unclear, feel free to ask. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read and respond.
Best regards,
Merymery
hanse987 schrieb:
I would leave the building as it is and maintain it cheaply. I’m just a fan of having space rather than needing space.Thank you for your opinion. Generally, we won’t be short of space.
We still have other sheds. The carport we plan to build will have a small shed attached, as we need a shelter for our riding lawn mower (which is currently stored in the garage). So, there will be some additional space there as well.
The aerial photo looks somewhat like an outdoor area (?), so I would generally avoid demolishing a storage room there if it could be preserved with a reasonable amount of effort.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
The aerial photo looks like it might be an open or undeveloped area (?), so generally, I wouldn’t demolish a storage room there if it could be preserved with reasonable effort. Thanks also for your opinion.
Yes, exactly. It is an open area. So, if necessary, then it’s gone. We understand that.
That’s what makes the decision even harder...
Hmm...
Leave it as is!
So what?
As long as no one is at risk from falling parts, no investment is necessary. If in 20 years your mother or daughter is looking for an apartment, changing the use of the exterior area is easier to approve than a new build.
Merymery schrieb:
- blocks the view (to the north)
So what?
Merymery schrieb:
- investment for maintenance
As long as no one is at risk from falling parts, no investment is necessary. If in 20 years your mother or daughter is looking for an apartment, changing the use of the exterior area is easier to approve than a new build.
Similar topics