block 'shed' (which may end up better insulated than my house)

Started a consolidated CP thread for bikes and this, then as I started writing this post in that thread I realised how annoying it would be to go back through later, so new thread here.

Short version - I'm building a workshop, it's probably overkill but I've committed now. So far all I've got to show a lot of work is some walls and a big pile of mud. Never done anything like this before so learning as I go.

First I had to clear out the top of the garden, move the old shed down, dig out foundations (by hand, like a maniac - deepest part was over a metre deep!) had ready mix pumped in and now built most of the walls for the base (Due to slope of garden I'm basically terracing as well as I go).

Holy shit, you dug out all those foundations by hand. How long did that take you? Did you have some help?

Looks like a great project! Massive respect for digging that by hand!

I did indeed. Hard to say time-wise, I lost conviction halfway through and had like a 2month break when it was nice weather. Got motivated again just in time for the cold weather lol.. I'd guess in the region 40-50hrs? No help, just one crazy man, a pick axe and spade. Here's a pic from when I was digging the front wall which was the deepest

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Thanks yeah, I think I'm just weirdly lazy as in would rather start digging a big hole than to hire and then figure out how to get a digger all the way to back/top of garden haha (or just a cheapskate). Nowhere near as spacious as yours but should be sweet once done, will definitely be needing some tidy organiser stuff like you have made to make the most of it!

Following this. Very impressed by all the digging.

hats off to your digging, what are you going to do with all the earth you dug ou t?

Sick dirt halfpipe?

The second tier of the garden is slightly sloped so I'm planning level it out by raising it up (more digging and more/walls), hoping that I will be able to get rid of a lot of earth this way. Also some will go back inside the base walls under concrete and insulation . But that's probably very unrealistic so likely will end up as skip(s)/collection..

Dirt half pipe is a big shout tbh.

Been a while. Very bad at updates. Here's some photos though from the last year though. (not great at remembering to take progress photos either)

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Current state. Need a door (have bodged one together for time being from old fence panel) . And electric, but that won't be for while. Didn't include windows as originally planned to have skylights and maximise hanging space on walls. But due to cost of wood going up ended up using insulated metal panels for roof instead so couldn't do skylights. Planning to get glass door to let as much light in as possible though

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Wow. How many tonnes of materials have you got through so far? Do you have side/rear access to the garden? Props for the crazy labour involved in this

Blimey! You have another house at the end of the garden, did you need some sort of planning permission?

A lot. Stopped keeping track a long time ago. I would estimate I've moved close to 20t of earth (Including digging for the boundary and retaining walls in the rest of the garden). Definitely had 8t of hardcore delivered for the bit in front of shed which will be patio. Concrete/mortar wise.. Pass, I really can't remember. I reckon we had close to 1000 blocks delivered thinking about it. (those numbers sound crazy to me as well, but I think it's right). Yeah have side access. Many trips up and down with wheel barrow. Tbh if I knew what I was starting for myself not sure I would have done this. But it got to a point where only thing I could do was keep going as I'd completely fucked the garden. Hopefully will all be worth it

Yeah it's pretty big. No, it falls under permitted development. Same concept as building a garage