A Timber Garage For A Classic Car And A Workshop

Alex and his family live in Hampshire, a county renowned for its rolling chalk hills, farmland, and scenic coastline along the Solent. Their Edwardian home is on the outskirts of a town, in a semi-rural area.

The property had an existing brick garage. But it looked out of place; it wasn’t “in-keeping with the house.” It was also too small for Alex’s needs - he enjoys working on his classic car inside the garage in his spare time. So, he decided to demolish the brick structure and build a wooden garage.

While no planning regulations apply to Alex’s property, he chose to build in timber because he wanted a traditional-looking garage that would match his older home. The timeless building would also suit his classic car.

The Process

Alex started researching wooden garage manufacturers in the spring of 2024. He reached out to 4 timber building manufacturers online. Olson Timber Buildings impressed him because they quickly got back to him and answered all his questions. “They came across really well on the phone,” he says.

Alex was ready to place an order in December 2024, so he contacted Olson and booked the installation. The main road outside his house has no pavement, so he was concerned we might struggle to park. Our team visited his property in advance to make sure our lorry could reach it.

Alex didn’t need to apply for planning permission - erecting an outbuilding under 30 square metres near his home fell under permitted development. So, after the site visit, he could simply demolish the brick garage and lay the foundations for the new one. He hired a local builder to do this.

Olson’s team erected the garage at the property in January 2025. They travelled to the property with a lorry and a 3.5-ton flatbed van in case the first couldn’t reach the house. Alex found this very thoughtful.

It took our team two days to complete the build. “They would have probably done it in a day - says Alex - had the weather been kinder. On the first day, they worked in the pouring rain with thunder, lightning, and hail. Around 3pm, they had to stop working [due to the conditions]. They came back the following morning at first light and finished by 11am.”

Alex enjoyed having the team around. “They’re good guys,” he comments. “They left [the driveway and garden] nice and tidy when they left.”

The Timber Garage

The wooden garage is in the driveway, next to the garden. It’s 5.4 by 5.4 metres and can fit two vehicles.

Alex divided the interior into two areas: one for a car and storage and the other for a workshop. He will add a workstation to this area to keep his tools organised and allow him to work on DIY projects comfortably. Finally, he will connect the building to the grid so he can add lighting and use power tools.

The garage has a personal door, so he can pop in and out to work on the car when he’s at home. He doesn’t take the classic car out often, so this feature is convenient - he can leave the garage doors closed and park his other vehicle in front of them.

Alex chose to fit the exterior with weatherboarding to protect the structure from the elements. He likes “the look of it,” too. Finally, he picked brown Onduvilla tiles; these match the house’s old red clay tiles, which have turned dark brown.

The Customer’s Feedback

Alex thought the process was “very good.” “I’m so glad I went with Olson because they made the whole process so easy,” he says. He was also satisfied with the customer service. “If I emailed, I received a response almost immediately,” he recounts.

Alex loves his new timber garage. “I’m over the moon with it,” he says. He couldn’t visit our showroom in Kent because he lives far away. So, he was even more impressed with the structure when he first saw it. “The whole building feels so well put together and is a lot stronger than I expected - he explains - It’s very sturdy and heavy, which is what I wanted. I didn’t want a flimsy thing that resembled a shed.”

Alex can now work on his classic car in a spacious and characterful wooden garage.