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Topic: Static in my back garden? HELP!

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retrocircles

12/1/2015 at 10:51pm
Location: Birmingham
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I really want to site a static caravan in my back garden as temporary living accommodation for me, or my sister & her boyfriend. We are currently living together & we really need our own space for our sanity.

Planning aside, with a large garden with room for a static caravan which wouldn't be an eyesore due to the shape of the garden, how would it connect to utilities? Not having been in a static since my youth (I'm a camper), I can't remember the details of how they are connected. My garden has electricity on it's own breaker box which is separate to the main house, so that wouldn't be a problem. My thoughts are about water and sewage.

I've been looking at prices for 2nd hand/older vans & they seem really reasonable. Can anyone make any recommendations on firms to use etc.

The other BIG issue is access. Could I hire a crane to lift the static over my house & place in my garden? While my garden is about 100ft the access at the side is only about 8ft.

I've read around that they are often colder in winter, so insulation and cladding is recommended - which I can do in the summer.

Any other help, advice etc really welcomed. Thank you! :)

jennygirlx

13/1/2015 at 9:57am
Location: Dumfries
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I'd check planning laws to begin with!

Utilities would be electricity, waste water, clean water etc.

Hire of the crane would be expensive...why not get a large tourer? would have the same facilities wouldn't need planning and you could sight it yourself as would be under 8ft...

retrocircles

14/1/2015 at 12:15am
Location: Birmingham
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Quote: Originally posted by jennygirlx on 13/1/2015
I'd check planning laws to begin with!

Utilities would be electricity, waste water, clean water etc.

Hire of the crane would be expensive...why not get a large tourer? would have the same facilities wouldn't need planning and you could sight it yourself as would be under 8ft...

I did say planning aside... As I have that in progress.

I know what utilities are, however my question is about how they work in regards to standard service! I did say electricity is sorted. However water, how is it connected?! On a site, does each plot have its own water supply?

I don't mind the expense of a crane. I think 8ft would be too small... Unless it was really long. Tourer bathrooms are absolutely tiny from what I've seen. I know statics aren't huge but at least they have a relatively normal shower.

BRYANMITCH

14/1/2015 at 2:33am
Location: GATESHEAD
Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection

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I would check out the crane lift before you go any further.You would need to hire quite a large crane to lift your van over a house!It would probably require some sort of cradle to hold the van during lifting as the van itself would collapse under its own weight.Normal practice would be to get somebody from the crane company to do a survey/plan.The cheapest lift I have been involved in cost £1000 and that was just over a garden wall.Crane hire normally costs from the time it leaves the depot until it returns--VERY expensive.
Regarding the utilities...an armoured cable from your garage to the van would probably suffice. The water supply could be taken from a junction at your household supply via the hard blue plastic water pipe up to a stop-cock at your van.It would need to be well lagged to prevent freezing.The waste/toilet pipes are standard size and available from any plumbing outlet and-- as long as they have a downward slope--could connect to your household drainage system.
Statics sizes start at approx 10 foot wide so access would be a problem...have you looked at the Bailey Retreat caravans? Might just fit with some skillful driving

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GCMS2012

14/1/2015 at 7:08pm
Location: Northumberland
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The crane company will probably REFUSE to lift over a 'dwelling' building (the house) - insurance issues usually.

The water pipe will have to be the blue MDPE kind and buried from where you'll tee off from until the van to a depth of 750mm minimum. I'd advise this due to building regs I think and if Mr water board comes and does a 'water' inspection, (we've just had one done in August '14 at work).

Electricity, again, you may need to use armoured from where ever (buried or not, I'm not sure), up to the van with a breaker /consumer box there. Just like a normal campsite??

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romany girl

14/1/2015 at 8:42pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: ElddisAvante462 Honda CRV SE2.2 i-Dtec

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I would say that you would still be better setting up a large tourer, probably a twin axel 22ft+bodylength, and if you shop around you may be pleasently suprised by the size and quality of some modern caravan bathrooms. Even my 2berth Elddis has a bathroom with a separate shower cubicle, wc and washbasin that would rival some domestic ensuites for size. Your electrical supply would be limited to 16amps if run from a domestic house supply, just the same as a EHU bolard would be. This can be a problem if you plan on using electricity to heat your static caravan in any way, including domestic type immersion heaters for hot water, electric cookers, tumble dryers, washing machines,power showers ect.
Its also worth checking the fire regulations/house insurance regs for living in a caravan with a live bottled gas supply, which is situated very close to a domestic household.

Julia

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navver

14/1/2015 at 9:16pm
Location: West country
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Other option is a portacabin or Elliot temporary building.

For a static you would need to use bottle gas for cooking and heating etc or you will overload your house electric supply. They are only 15kW max.

Has anyone mentioned drainage? You will certainly need foul and possibly surface water.

retrocircles

14/1/2015 at 10:32pm
Location: Birmingham
Outfit: Quechua 3s pop-up & Vango Icarus 500

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Quote: Originally posted by GCMS2012 on 14/1/2015

The crane company will probably REFUSE to lift over a 'dwelling' building (the house) - insurance issues usually.

Ive had 4 different companies state they are willing to do it fully insured. Transport and crane over the house.

retrocircles

14/1/2015 at 10:34pm
Location: Birmingham
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Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 14/1/2015
Its also worth checking the fire regulations/house insurance regs for living in a caravan with a live bottled gas supply, which is situated very close to a domestic household.

Julia

It wouldn't be situated close to the house. Probably about 50ft away.

retrocircles

14/1/2015 at 10:37pm
Location: Birmingham
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Quote: Originally posted by navver on 14/1/2015Other option is a portacabin or Elliot temporary building.

For a static you would need to use bottle gas for cooking and heating etc or you will overload your house electric supply. They are only 15kW max.

Has anyone mentioned drainage? You will certainly need foul and possibly surface water.

The issue with a portacabin is the cost and also it wouldn't have any amenities in there. Elliot also looks expensive.

I have a separate breaker box in my back garden with full electrics. It is for an old workshop that had lots of machinery in there. I'm talking big voltage, 8 double plugs. I blanked half of them because it was ridiculous in there. It's not used for that purpose any longer.

There is a waste sewer not far from where the location would be. Less than 20ft & on my property. Think I'd need to pay for a connection but I think otherwise it would be ok.

jdlovescamping

15/1/2015 at 9:46am
Location: flintshire
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Couldn't you go with a log cabin instead. Very warm and cozy and as would be delivered in pieces the access wouldn't be a problem.

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navver

15/1/2015 at 12:05pm
Location: West country
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You'd be amazed what portacabin and Elliot can include. They can be fitted out to exactly what you want. new ones have to comply with building regulations so are fully insulated and have heat pump heating systems.

We use them for temporary classrooms. Following a fire in a school we have 15 portacabin specialist classrooms on 2 floors. Had a lift, showers, cookery classes with cookers etc. The teachers preferred them to the classrooms in the rest of the school.

Each one is fitted out to your requirements.

With the electrics, you need to check the loading on the supply to the house if that feeds the supply to the workshop. Is it a standard single phase 80Amp or 100Amp supply? That is the limitation and no matter how many sockets you have you cannot exceed the rating of that supply at any one time. There is diversity between items being used. An electric shower is huge, possibly 11kW or 45 Amps.

retrocircles

15/1/2015 at 7:23pm
Location: Birmingham
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Quote: Originally posted by jdlovescamping on 15/1/2015
Couldn't you go with a log cabin instead. Very warm and cozy and as would be delivered in pieces the access wouldn't be a problem.

I would love a log cabin! However I fear the cost would be too. Ideally I'd like to achieve everything for under £3000.

Having looked at statics for £1000, transport and siting, then hooking everything up I imagined £2000-£2500 & that seems about right for what I'm getting in returned quotes. Less if the caravan dealer offers free transport, which I'm hoping to do. So just craning & connection.

But if you know of a cheap log cabin source with a toilet/shower inside that's a decent size, let me know! :)

retrocircles

15/1/2015 at 7:24pm
Location: Birmingham
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Quote: Originally posted by navver on 15/1/2015
You'd be amazed what portacabin and Elliot can include. They can be fitted out to exactly what you want. new ones have to comply with building regulations so are fully insulated and have heat pump heating systems.

But how much would that cost? :(

millermicm

15/1/2015 at 7:51pm
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nicholls caravans

You could try these people. They operate nation/Europe wide selling used statics which they take off sites in preparation to moving new units in.

They sell, transport & site. No doubt they could advise you on all of your issues.

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Steve

GCMS2012

16/1/2015 at 9:01pm
Location: Northumberland
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I'd have a log cabin too if I could find some land and the money...

But I think log cabins may come under build regs and planning permission due to their height.

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Damned if I do...

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