Garden rooms recommendations
Discussion
In the new year we’re going to look at getting a garden room, will be used for a mixture of my office and my wife starting a small business doing massage and consultations, plus open in the summer.
How have people done it? Have you got a joiner to build something or bought something “off the shelf” with someone to fit it?
How much do they cost? I’m guessing you won’t get any change from 10k these days?
How have people done it? Have you got a joiner to build something or bought something “off the shelf” with someone to fit it?
How much do they cost? I’m guessing you won’t get any change from 10k these days?
It all depends on size and quality. For £10k it won’t be very big and it won’t be particularly great. The typical off the shelf garden room supplier will start at double that for a smallish room and four times that for something that is as big as you can go without getting involved with Building Control regulations (30m2 internal floor space).
You also need to understand what you are buying in terms of correctness of construction for longevity - you can get “insulated sheds” for £10k but they don’t control water vapour correctly. This goes for custom builds as well as off the shelf products.
Finally, you will need Planning Permission if intending to use the building to run a business.
I went for a “self build” option. It wasn’t any cheaper than an off the shelf product but it was way, way higher quality. It’s possible to buy kits for the shell and effectively self build but it’s a not insignificant amount of effort.
For a typical garden room turnkey supplier (pay them money and get a finished product) just search for “garden room” - there are hundreds.
For a kit supplier look at SimplySips but you need to be aware of all the extras you’ll need to add to get a finished room.
For a joiner or self build option, be prepared for lots of research…
You also need to understand what you are buying in terms of correctness of construction for longevity - you can get “insulated sheds” for £10k but they don’t control water vapour correctly. This goes for custom builds as well as off the shelf products.
Finally, you will need Planning Permission if intending to use the building to run a business.
I went for a “self build” option. It wasn’t any cheaper than an off the shelf product but it was way, way higher quality. It’s possible to buy kits for the shell and effectively self build but it’s a not insignificant amount of effort.
For a typical garden room turnkey supplier (pay them money and get a finished product) just search for “garden room” - there are hundreds.
For a kit supplier look at SimplySips but you need to be aware of all the extras you’ll need to add to get a finished room.
For a joiner or self build option, be prepared for lots of research…
Edited by PhilboSE on Monday 23 October 04:09
I had one built by a nearby shed specialist. At the time they weren’t any more expensive than the kits and I got a bespoke design. If you have one local I’d definitely speak to them first.
I also diyed the interior fit out which saved loads.
I think you’d be going very well to have something built to a visiting client spec for anywhere near £10k all in.
For some perspective my building was £3.5k but with the base, electric and interior fit out it was £7k - this was six years ago in the south east.
I also diyed the interior fit out which saved loads.
I think you’d be going very well to have something built to a visiting client spec for anywhere near £10k all in.
For some perspective my building was £3.5k but with the base, electric and interior fit out it was £7k - this was six years ago in the south east.
We had one built by Warwick Buildings in 2020 - one of their curved roof ones as we didn’t want the typical square box.
https://warwickbuildings.co.uk/garden-rooms/curved...
They do the whole job excluding the base, but their installation team do these themselves as a separate business.
Electrics are all installed so just needed a connection running, along with Ethernet and satellite cable. I did the decorating.
Perfect space for summer drinks and watching the F1. We put in an electric heater so good all year round.
Base was £1600, building just under £12k, suspect they’ve gone up a fair bit since then though…
https://warwickbuildings.co.uk/garden-rooms/curved...
They do the whole job excluding the base, but their installation team do these themselves as a separate business.
Electrics are all installed so just needed a connection running, along with Ethernet and satellite cable. I did the decorating.
Perfect space for summer drinks and watching the F1. We put in an electric heater so good all year round.
Base was £1600, building just under £12k, suspect they’ve gone up a fair bit since then though…
Edited by 595Heaven on Monday 23 October 09:43
£10k won't get you very far for a built one. I self-built a 3.6 x 2.4m from Www.simplysips.co.uk for about £7k. I would imagine you would want bigger for a shared space.
Edited by Rob. on Monday 23 October 10:24
trickywoo said:
595Heaven said:
Base was £1600, building just under £12k, suspect they’ve gone up a fair bit since then though…
Website says starting from £16,250 now.It’s a lovely design though and we’ve used it a lot.
This is already going very PH Director like.
I have a two room workshop at the bottom of my garden. 7.5 x 3.5 and that was about £9k including electrics, base and construction. This was in 2018. Should have gone with a better company as the doors and windows are pretty poor. Me and my dad wired this and its not far off the standards of small flat in terms of number of sockets/lights.
My workshop was at the cheaper end of the spectrum (£5k delivered and it was a custom design), but I use it every day for at least an hour and its standing up pretty well, but I will need UPVC doors and windows eventually.
Have a look at Dunster House for the cheaper end of the spectrum. These are just interlocking logs and they have loads of sizes. They will do fairly quick delivery, but then you have to find a carpenter do build it along with the frame and then an electrician to wire it. Easier typed than put into practice as getting trades in can and is hard work.
There are loads of companies who will will do custom frames and panel buildings, but I spent ages getting quotes for those and for a 4 x 2.5 fully insulated with electrics was about £20k all in. Many will want to come to the house as well, so that is even more faff.
What ever you do, go for as much insulation as you can and get UPVC doors too and don't underestimate how cold/hot it will get. £2k buys you a proper built in AC unit.
We eventually went with a garage conversion and I'm pleased I did as our garden is on a slope and going up and down the stairs all the time was going to be a PITA. Really quite like my office now. Just ordered some new art for it as well.
I have a two room workshop at the bottom of my garden. 7.5 x 3.5 and that was about £9k including electrics, base and construction. This was in 2018. Should have gone with a better company as the doors and windows are pretty poor. Me and my dad wired this and its not far off the standards of small flat in terms of number of sockets/lights.
My workshop was at the cheaper end of the spectrum (£5k delivered and it was a custom design), but I use it every day for at least an hour and its standing up pretty well, but I will need UPVC doors and windows eventually.
Have a look at Dunster House for the cheaper end of the spectrum. These are just interlocking logs and they have loads of sizes. They will do fairly quick delivery, but then you have to find a carpenter do build it along with the frame and then an electrician to wire it. Easier typed than put into practice as getting trades in can and is hard work.
There are loads of companies who will will do custom frames and panel buildings, but I spent ages getting quotes for those and for a 4 x 2.5 fully insulated with electrics was about £20k all in. Many will want to come to the house as well, so that is even more faff.
What ever you do, go for as much insulation as you can and get UPVC doors too and don't underestimate how cold/hot it will get. £2k buys you a proper built in AC unit.
We eventually went with a garage conversion and I'm pleased I did as our garden is on a slope and going up and down the stairs all the time was going to be a PITA. Really quite like my office now. Just ordered some new art for it as well.
I had a Lugarde log cabin style construction - its all solid beams slotted together rather than 4 sides nailed together. Was "substantially" cheaper than the equivalent size from Warwick buildings.
https://www.lugarde.com/log-cabins/
Mine was constructed by the local reseller and then I had my electrician come in and do the other bits after the building 'settled'
https://www.lugarde.com/log-cabins/
Mine was constructed by the local reseller and then I had my electrician come in and do the other bits after the building 'settled'
bakerstreet said:
This is already going very PH Director like.
I have a two room workshop at the bottom of my garden. 7.5 x 3.5 and that was about £9k including electrics, base and construction. This was in 2018. Should have gone with a better company as the doors and windows are pretty poor. Me and my dad wired this and its not far off the standards of small flat in terms of number of sockets/lights.
My workshop was at the cheaper end of the spectrum (£5k delivered and it was a custom design), but I use it every day for at least an hour and its standing up pretty well, but I will need UPVC doors and windows eventually.
Have a look at Dunster House for the cheaper end of the spectrum. These are just interlocking logs and they have loads of sizes. They will do fairly quick delivery, but then you have to find a carpenter do build it along with the frame and then an electrician to wire it. Easier typed than put into practice as getting trades in can and is hard work.
There are loads of companies who will will do custom frames and panel buildings, but I spent ages getting quotes for those and for a 4 x 2.5 fully insulated with electrics was about £20k all in. Many will want to come to the house as well, so that is even more faff.
What ever you do, go for as much insulation as you can and get UPVC doors too and don't underestimate how cold/hot it will get. £2k buys you a proper built in AC unit.
We eventually went with a garage conversion and I'm pleased I did as our garden is on a slope and going up and down the stairs all the time was going to be a PITA. Really quite like my office now. Just ordered some new art for it as well.
This a Dunster we erected for a client a few years ago. I have a two room workshop at the bottom of my garden. 7.5 x 3.5 and that was about £9k including electrics, base and construction. This was in 2018. Should have gone with a better company as the doors and windows are pretty poor. Me and my dad wired this and its not far off the standards of small flat in terms of number of sockets/lights.
My workshop was at the cheaper end of the spectrum (£5k delivered and it was a custom design), but I use it every day for at least an hour and its standing up pretty well, but I will need UPVC doors and windows eventually.
Have a look at Dunster House for the cheaper end of the spectrum. These are just interlocking logs and they have loads of sizes. They will do fairly quick delivery, but then you have to find a carpenter do build it along with the frame and then an electrician to wire it. Easier typed than put into practice as getting trades in can and is hard work.
There are loads of companies who will will do custom frames and panel buildings, but I spent ages getting quotes for those and for a 4 x 2.5 fully insulated with electrics was about £20k all in. Many will want to come to the house as well, so that is even more faff.
What ever you do, go for as much insulation as you can and get UPVC doors too and don't underestimate how cold/hot it will get. £2k buys you a proper built in AC unit.
We eventually went with a garage conversion and I'm pleased I did as our garden is on a slope and going up and down the stairs all the time was going to be a PITA. Really quite like my office now. Just ordered some new art for it as well.
Not sure where you are in the country but friend of mine owns www.southwestgardenrooms.co.uk ,though I think he is willing to travel a bit.
His rooms are all custom designed and built using a metal frame and well insulated. Not sure on his prices as each build is different, certainly not at the cheaper end of the market but they are very good quality and finished to a very good standard.
His rooms are all custom designed and built using a metal frame and well insulated. Not sure on his prices as each build is different, certainly not at the cheaper end of the market but they are very good quality and finished to a very good standard.
595Heaven said:
trickywoo said:
595Heaven said:
Base was £1600, building just under £12k, suspect they’ve gone up a fair bit since then though…
Website says starting from £16,250 now.It’s a lovely design though and we’ve used it a lot.
bakerstreet said:
Have a look at Dunster House for the cheaper end of the spectrum. These are just interlocking logs and they have loads of sizes. They will do fairly quick delivery, but then you have to find a carpenter do build it along with the frame and then an electrician to wire it. Easier typed than put into practice as getting trades in can and is hard work.
Dunster House stuff is fairly straightforward to assemble, I wouldn't claim to be even a capable DIYer, but I built one of their summer houses earlier this year and it's still standing. Only tricky bit was the roof, which I got help with from a tall friend !It depends on the finish you want. You need a base of some sort - that costs. Then the frame, the insulation all round, the membranes, the outer cladding, the doors and glazing and the roof. Then the internal finish: wall linings, flooring. Then the electrics, fittings and the feed from the house. It all adds up and for a room to be used professionally the finish should be decent.
It can be done cheaply but the shortcuts tend to be visible and the structure potentially compromised.
It can be done cheaply but the shortcuts tend to be visible and the structure potentially compromised.
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