Home Office space refinement (Temporary Wall?)

[mikester]

So I am a mobile worker - my office is at home and most of the time I am working either there or at customer sites. I do go into the office maybe once a week but it isn't convenient to work from there so I don't generally do it.

Working from home with young kids and a stay at home mom is kind of a challenge. My office is also the spare bedroom and when we have a guest I work from home less. Our kid's room is a little small for all their stuff and we're considering rearranging the house to better serve our needs. That would mean giving each kid their own room and putting their toys in those rooms. Right now we have a 10x10 space that acts as the play area in a common room between the master bedroom and the rest of the house. This room is 'L' shaped and the 10x10 part would be the horizontal part of the 'L'. I'm considering walling the space off - putting a door on that wall and putting my office in there. That would allow me to create a little nicer office space that was dedicated to me and I could also build some sound proofing into it. I would probably use some french doors so that if I wanted things open it could be open. The downside is the space is right at our backyard door so it is a pretty common walk way but to be honest when I'm working I don't think it would be a huge issue. I could put the office space elsewhere in this area but I would have to move my master bedroom door to do that and it might makes the rest of the space a little awkward.

My question is, as I'm considering this what types of things should I be worried about when it comes creating a new walled space in the house? Code issues, etc - I know nothing.

Thanks!

[ckelly78z]

You may want to consider insulating every wall around it to cut down on ambient (playing children) noise. Make sure you have ample electrical outlets and not just power strips, and also perhaps a dedicated circuit in the fusebox.

I feel for you and your situation, I was working 3rd shift factory work while my wife was home schooling our kids and trying to run an advertising business in the room under where I was trying to sleep....slamming doors all day long from young kids.

[mikester]

It's not that bad the way it is actually but some days are not good. The toy mess is the worst part to be honest...they clean it up at the end of the day but getting there it is impossible to walk between the rest of the house and our bedroom. It's kind of irritating. So put them in their own room - give them their space and maybe if we're lucky (unlikely) they will keep most of it in their rooms. If they want me to come in there and read them bed time stories they can make sure I have a safe place to walk.

Nothing hurts worse than stepping on a lego.

[red-beard]

Get the company to cough up $300-350 per month for a Regus office.

[Jferr006]

Code compliant electrical receptacles must be every so-many feet, if you add a wall you may need to add receptacles. There are probably already air diffusers in that space. You can sketch it up yourself or have someone else do it an submit it to the jurisdiction because you will probably want to reflect the no. of rooms change on your co. Documents. I can't think of anything else but it's early.

[jyl]

Work at Starbucks . . .

Do you have a yard? How about making a little "garden shed" which is what we'll call it if a nosy neighbor asks. There are kits and plans and even pre-fab. Some are like little houses with windows and French doors. Run power out there with buried conduit to a weatherproof receptacle. "Its for charging the cordless garden tools.". Then power strip for a little heater, lamp, laptop.

[mikester]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Get the company to cough up $300-350 per month for a Regus office.

The office in LA is close enough to negate that as a possibility. Plus I think they would actually laugh at me for suggesting it. Do you think it would really be that inexpensive with excellent Internet access?

Originally Posted by Jferr006

Code compliant electrical receptacles must be every so-many feet, if you add a wall you may need to add receptacles. There are probably already air diffusers in that space. You can sketch it up yourself or have someone else do it an submit it to the jurisdiction because you will probably want to reflect the no. of rooms change on your co. Documents. I can't think of anything else but it's early.

Totally okay with the electrical code compliance If they want me to add another air vent into the space outside what I want to close off. The area I'd be closing off has a vent into it. The area outside of that also does but if they want me to add another one in that area it would be very difficult. Actually, I think it could be done but then the system would have to be totally rebalanced again.

[mikester]

Originally Posted by jyl

Work at Starbucks . . .

Do you have a yard? How about making a little "garden shed" which is what we'll call it if a nosy neighbor asks. There are kits and plans and even pre-fab. Some are like little houses with windows and French doors. Run power out there with buried conduit to a weatherproof receptacle. "Its for charging the cordless garden tools.". Then power strip for a little heater, lamp, laptop.

Yard's not big enough really for this and Starbucks isn't good for conference calls and video conferencing. I have considered moving down into the garage though and that is still on the table as far as creating a nice work space.

[jyl]

Okay then. Shipping container, parked on your front lawn. Go all freaky on the neighbors.

[ckelly78z]

My garage was really deep at 28'x18' so we decided to make a 10'x18' office at the front of the garage and still have room to park two smaller cars inside (Porsche 944, and wife's VW Cabrio).
We insulated the entire room except the concrete floor and mounted overhead kitchen style florescent lights in the ceiling along with many outlets and a dedicated fuse box. It only takes a small oil filled radiator up on "medium" heat setting to keep that room 70F in NW Ohio in 15-20F.