Garden rooms and garden offices
A garden room is a properly insulated building you can use all year: a home office, gym, studio or snug. We'll put you in touch with builders who design and install them in your area.
What separates a garden room from a shed
Insulation in the floor, walls and roof, double glazing, a warm EPDM or rubber roof, plasterboard or clad interior, and a proper electrical supply run from the house by a qualified electrician. That is what makes it comfortable in January and cool in July.
Popular uses
- Home office with data cabling or a mesh Wi-Fi point
- Home gym with reinforced floor
- Art, music or hobby studio
- Garden bar or summer room with bi-fold doors
What affects the price
Size, glazing (bi-folds and floor-to-ceiling glass add cost), cladding (cedar, composite or Siberian larch), foundations (ground screws are quick and avoid concrete), and the length of the cable run from your consumer unit. Ask each builder whether electrics and groundworks are included in the quote.
Sleeping in it? Once a garden room is used as a bedroom it needs building regulations approval, and usually planning permission. Tell the builder at the start.
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Do garden rooms need building regulations?
In England and Wales, a detached building under 15 m² of floor area with no sleeping accommodation is usually exempt. Between 15 and 30 m² it is usually exempt if it is at least 1 m from the boundary or built mainly of non-combustible materials. The electrical work still has to meet Part P. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
How long does a garden room take to build?
Typically one to three weeks on site after a lead time of a few weeks, depending on size and finish.
Will it add value to my house?
A well-built, insulated garden room with power is a selling point, especially for buyers who work from home. A cheap, damp one is not.