ᐅ Conversion of storage room into workshop

Hello construction specialists,

I am looking for a lot of information.
Here is the situation: I would like to incorporate my company into my grandmother’s old farmhouse. Specifically, I want to design the office and workshop area in the barn. However, I have no experience with this kind of project.

A brief overview: The room is about 45sqm (484 sq ft), and the ceiling is plastered, but only covered with wooden boards and insulation between the rafters. The entire space is on the ground floor of the barn, with a height of about 7m (23 ft). For now, only this room should be renovated; depending on how the company develops, I might expand further.

My question is: What is the best approach for this conversion? The room definitely needs to be well insulated because there is no heating system, and only an electric heater is planned for now. Alternatively, I could go to the effort of running a line from the main house to the oil heating system.

My idea was to attach 40x80mm (1.6 x 3.1 inches) wooden battens to the foundation walls and fill the spaces between them with 40mm (1.6 inches) insulation material. Then I would install a vapor barrier and finish with drywall panels. This would be done on the walls, and on the ceiling, instead of 40mm, I would use 180mm (7 inches) insulation between the existing rafters.

Is this approach okay? Or would the professionals advise against it?

I have read a lot about interior finishing and internal insulation, but I haven’t been able to make much sense of it.

I hope to get useful tips and information from you, and I am open to better suggestions.

Thanks and best regards,
Stefan8485

Hello Stefan8485,
before you start detailed planning, you should first verify whether your project is permitted.
I assume that your grandmother’s farmhouse is located in a so-called outer development area, as is the case with most farms. In this case, you need to check with the building authority of the local municipality whether this project requires the approval of the community.
Best regards from the Osnabrück region
Thomas Brandenburg

Hello

What is meant by "outdoor area"?
Are you referring to an exterior courtyard located on the edge of the town or city?

If so, then no, it is currently situated directly within the town on the main street. So it used to be outside, but over the years a lot of building has taken place :-)

Thanks for the information

Regards, Stefan8485

Hello Stefan,

Outdoor areas are parts of a municipality located outside the defined built-up area. There are no zoning plans for these areas, as further development is generally not planned.

If the plot is within the built-up area, it still needs to be clarified whether a different commercial use is permitted. This depends, among other things, on what type of use is allowed according to the zoning plan. If there is no zoning plan, the existing neighboring developments must be taken into account.

Additionally, an application for a change of use will have to be submitted, as the property was previously used for agricultural purposes. This also has implications for insurance matters.

Best regards from the Osnabrück region
Thomas Brandenburg