With the shed-at-the-end-of-the-garden, a lot will depend upon whether you are building it, or paying someone to do it for you. Also, will it come within the ambit of Planning Permission and Building Regulations? The first thing to check is the thickness of the existing concrete. Probably easiest way to check is dig down just outside it to see how thick it is. If possible, i.e., the concrete thick enough, or you can dig a foundation outside of the existing concrete, then a lightweight block construction will be strongest and have the best insulation value. 5" blocks being much better in this respect than 4". There is a new type of block construction where there is only a thin gap,and the blocks glued together instead of mortar. Quick and simple to apply and it is supposed to be better at heat retention too. Inside the blockwork, I would go for the plasterboard that is lined with polystyrene. That will add to the U value. On the outside, you could have anything from paint, to render, to, whatever. As for the roof, timber frame with sheet board (usually flake board) covered with felt is probably easiest. They also do a fibreglass alternative to roofing felt. More expensive but it has a 25 year guarantee. Inside the roof, I would add sheet polystyrene to assist heat retention. As for rooms in roof spaces, there is a heap of regulations that affect this and it is probably best to get professional advice. alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.alanstepney.info Model Engineering, Steam Engine, and Railway technical pages. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Rickard" <the_viffer@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 10:49 AM Subject: [modeleng] Workshops We are considering some building works at Rickard Heights. MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.