Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions

FAQs

Here you will find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions we receive.

If you don’t find what you are looking for, please don’t hesitate to call, email us or pop into the shop and pick our brains. We are sure that we can help.

General FAQs

What is the maximum size shed I can build without planning permission?

An outbuilding such as a shed must not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the house.
All existing sheds and other buildings must be included when calculating the 50% limit.
Building regulations will not apply if the building that you are considering is under 15m² in floor area.
If the floor area is between 15m² and 30m² internally you will not normally require building regulation approval, providing that the building doesn’t contain any sleeping accommodation and is at least 1 metre from the boundary or if it is constructed substantially with non-combustible materials.
Our R.PAGE CONCRETE BUILDINGS, sheds, garages, garden offices and other outbuildings are constructed with pre-cast concrete panels and therefore fall into this category so they can be erected closer to your boundary.
An example of one of our building sizes that is under 30m² internally is 17’9″×17’9″(5.41m×5.41m), which as you can agree is a very substantially sized building!
We have many other large size buildings we can offer you that come under the criteria.

If you require further information contact us or you can find more details on the planning portal website.

Do I need planning permission for an outbuilding?

No, outbuildings are deemed to be permitted development, subject to the following criteria:
– no outbuilding is allowed on land which is forward of a wall forming the principal elevation of a property.
– outbuildings such as sheds and garages are to be a single storey, with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and an overall maximum height of 4 metres for an apex roof and 3 metres for all other rooves.
– maximum overall height of 2.5 metres when a building is within 2 metres of the boundary or cartilage (our R.PAGE CONCRETE BUILDINGS are no more than 2.5 metres high unless otherwise specified by the client).
– There are to be no balconies, verandas or raised platforms (raised platforms are any platform that is over 0.3metres in height.
– the building must take up no more than half the area of land around the “original house”
– in national parks, the Broads, areas of outstanding beauty and world heritage sites, the maximum area that can be covered by buildings that are more than 20metres from the house are limited to a maximum of 10m².
– on designated land buildings at the side of the property will require planning permission.

If you require further information contact us or you can find more details on the planning portal website.

What is a brick slip?

Brick slips are often referred to as brick tiles or veneers. They are thin cuts of real brick, or purpose-made brick tiles. They are used to replicate the appearance of a conventional brick wall.

What is eaves height?

We class the eaves height as the panel height.

What is the best concrete mix for laying a concrete base?

The ultimate concrete ratio for laying a concrete base would be 4 parts Ballast (Sand and Coarse Aggregate combined) to 1 part of cement.

What is the minimum thickness for a concrete base?

The minimum thickness that we would recommend for a concrete base would be 100mm (4”) thick. In some cases, you may need to also reinforce your concrete base.

Do you need a solid base for a concrete outbuilding?

Yes, we always advise that you will require a solid concrete base, as paving slabs, tarmac, block paving and other surfaces will move, which will affect your new building.

How long is the process of erecting one of your buildings?

A basic building will normally take around 4 to 5 hours to erect.

How long does it take to lay a concrete base for an average size building?

The timescale would depend on what preparation work would be required and how good the accessibility is, but if the ground was reasonably flat and level a 16′ x 9′ base would take approximately 4 hours to lay.

How do I get a quotation for an outbuilding?

If you would like a quote for a building, you can first, take a look at our brochure and price list to get an idea of what size, style and design you would be looking for to give you a rough idea of price, then you can either call our office to discuss your requirements and book an appointment or message us on our contact at page.

What range of products can you offer?

We have a very large range of different products to offer to suit almost every eventuality, due to us being a small family company dealing directly with you we can virtually tailor-make your building to suit every requirement. Even if you don’t see it we can probably do it so feel free to contact us with your requirements, and we would be only too happy to accommodate you.

What are the quality of your products?

The quality of our product speaks for itself, with us being a family company in operation now for over 60 years and over 90% of our work coming from recommendations, do we need to say more?

Do you also fit fencing?

Yes, we can carry out a full supply and erect service, we only install fencing locally to our base in Chadwell Heath, however, if you require a building and a fence we would be prepared to travel further afield.

Do you lay your own concrete bases?

Yes, we do not use sub-contracted labour when carrying out any work for our clients, this ensures a smooth transition when we are carrying out work, giving you the perfect outbuilding at the end of the process.

Is a sectional garage the same as a prefab garage?

Yes, it is exactly the same product, the word prefab is an abbreviation of prefabricated. They are also known as concrete garages.

Are all concrete garages constructed the same way?

No, Different concrete garages have been designed over the years, some are constructed with upright panels, whilst others are built with a panel and post method. Our buildings are constructed with upright panels, which have a tongue and groove that interlocks.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept Credit cards/Debit cards, Bank transfers, and cash, we even accept cheques if you prefer.

How long does it take from order to get my new outbuilding?

There is normally an average lead time from order of about 3-4 weeks, however, this can vary during busy periods where the lead time may be extended.

What is the process for ordering an outbuilding?

This process is quite simple, when placing an order we require a 10% initial deposit, where we will then arrange your dates for any work you need us to carry out and at the end of each process we will require payment for that part of the work that has been carried out. i.e. when we have completed the base for your building we will require payment for the base, with final payment on completion of the building.

Can your product be customised?

Yes, there is no problem with customising your building, we will work with you to ensure that your building is tailor made to suit you, that is the beauty of being a small family run company, we deal with our customers on a one to one basis.

How long does a concrete outbuilding last?

The concrete panels will last for over 40 years! With no exposed timber other than where requested, these buildings will outlive other structures.

Durability and Maintenance

How long do concrete garages/ sheds last?

The main structure, which comprises of our upright concrete panels will last for decades, with a life expectancy of concrete lasting for 50 years. Other components in the building provided they are maintained will last for a considerable length of time.

Are sectional concrete buildings any good?

Yes, sectional concrete buildings are durable and robust and will last for many years, they also work out a lot cheaper than a brick building, they are erected a lot quicker. Concrete is also fire retardent, unlike timber buildings.

Do you need a solid base for a garage?

Yes, we will always advise you to have a solid concrete base. A base is not considered as paving slabs, tarmac or block paving. The base should also be a minimum of 100mm thick and laid above the ground level to approximately the size of the building.

What is the minimum thickness for a concrete base?

We would advise a minimum depth of base to be at least 100mm thick, depending on the sub-base you may also require reinforcing in the concrete base to support itself.

Finishes

What is Hardieplank Cladding?

Hardieplank composite cladding is a cement fibre based cladding, which is manufactured by James Hardie. The boards are low maintenance and durable. They come in various different colours, the boards that we use have a timber effect look, giving them a very attractive appearance when installed on our R. PAGE CONCRETE BUILDING, creating a log cabin effect without the maintenace that is required for treating actual timber boards.

How long does Hardieplank last?

50 years.

Does Hardieplank come in different colours?

Yes, the boards have a large variety of colours to suit most people’s preferences, from darker colours to light. Including: Soft Green, Mountain Sage, Chestnut Brown, Woodland Cream, Arctic White, Boothbay Blue, Anthracite Grey, Grey Slate, Iron Grey.

What is a brick slip?

Brick slips are also known as Slip Bricks, Brick Tiles or Veneers. They are either, thin cuts of real bricks, or purpose made concrete brick tiles. We use brick slips on our buildings to replicate the appearance of a real brick building.

What is the cheapest finish you provide?

Our cheapest finish for our concrete buildings, is a pebbledash finish, which we provide as standard, unless otherwise specified when you order your new R. PAGE CONCRETE BUILDING.

What finishes can you provide on your buildings?

We have a vast range of finishes on our buildings, we have several different pebble dash finishes along with various Hardieplank claddings or even brick effect, brick slip finishes.

Delivery Manufacture and Installation

What is the ordering process?

Upon placing an order with us, we will require a small deposit, in order for us to start manufacturing your building. If we are carrying out the work for the concrete base, then we will require the payment for the base work upon completion of that stage, then once we have completed the installation of building we will require the final payment on the day of completion.

How long does it take to install a garage?

Our professional installation team will take approximately 4-5 hours to install a basic single garage. The timescale will vary depending on what other claddings and optional extras that you may require for your perfect R.PAGE CONCRETE BUILDING.

Can our building be customised?

Yes, as we are a small, family business, we are very versatile and can customise your building to suit your exact requirements. We can make the building to pretty much any size, and have a number of options available to you to create your perfect R.PAGE CONCRETE BUILDING.

How long is the delivery time for a building?

From order we can normally have a building installed for you in about 4-6 weeks. As we are a small company, this may vary, depending on the time of year and how busy we are.

Do you install your own buildings?

Yes, all our buildings are erected by our own professional staff at R. PAGE CONCRETE BUILDINGS. We also carry out our own base work, so that we ensure that you get a professional job from start to finish. We do not use sub-contract labour with any of the work that we carry out.

Do you manufacture your own buildings?

Yes, all of our buildings are manufactured in Chadwell Heath, and have been since 1959, with our own trained, highly experienced team.

Planning and Building Regulations

Do you need building regulations for a garage?

If your building is under 30m² internally, you wouldn’t normally need building regulations approval, however, it is advisable to check with your local authority to make sure.

Do you need planning permission for a sectional building?

Sectional buildings are mostly classed as temporary or non-permanent structures, and do not normally require planning permission. However, there can be some exceptions to this rule. The general rule with regards to planning is that the overall height of the building (height to the ridge) must not exceed 2.5m high, anything over this would require planning permission. The overall size and location can also cause for the need of planning permission in certain settings, so we would always recommend that you seek advice from your local planning authority.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Brochure Request

Request a Free Brochure

If you would like a physical copy of our free brochure, simply fill in the form below and we will send you a copy of our current brochure. It showcases all of our buildings, finishes and options. If you would like to view our current brochure online simply click here to view our brochure page.