Things You Should Know Before Building a Garden Room

A garden room can be the most incredible investment for your home. They not only add attractive and functional space, but they can increase the value of your property. Giving long-term benefit, as well immediate. But not all garden rooms are the same. And they aren’t right for everyone. So, there are a few important things to know before you invest in building a garden room.

8 Things You Need to Know Before Building a Garden Room

There are lots of different types of garden rooms

If you type ‘garden room’ into a search engine, you’ll be presented with a range of structures and prices. From a £1,600 ‘log cabin’ to a £50,000 ‘granny annex’. The quality, size, and function will all vary. And it’s really important to differentiate between the different offerings. In reality, if you’re looking for a robust, fully functioning garden room that you can use year-round, you’re unlikely to pay less than £13,000. And the price will increase with the size of the structure. So, think about what you want from your garden room, and budget accordingly.

You may need planning permission

Planning permission can be one of the biggest headaches when you are considering changing or adding to your home. But like conservatories, in most cases, garden rooms can be erected without a planning permit. They are relatively low buildings. Single storey, they fit well within the permitted 2.5 metre maximum height limit allowed without seeking planning permission. However, it is always best to check because there are always exceptions to the rules. And the location, size, and type of your garden room can all impact planning needs.

Not all garden rooms are insulated

At Garden Room Sanctuary, we insulate all of our garden rooms as standard. Our logic is that if you can only comfortably use the space for half the year because it’s too cold or stifling outside of those times, it’s not really worth having. But not all providers share the same reasoning.

A power source is a must

The whole idea of having a garden room is to gain an additional functional space. Power is pretty much integral these days. So, whether you’re planning to use the space as an office, a studio, or a garden chill out zone, choosing a model with pre-wired sockets and lights is essential.

You may want plumbing

Plumbing doesn’t come as standard in garden rooms. So, although it may be possible to hire a contractor to add plumbing later, if you think you’re going to need a sink, toilet, or shower (particularly useful if you’re using the space as a guest room or a gym), it’s usually cheaper, easier, and a lot more elegant to select a pre-plumbed design.

Consider a customised design

Garden rooms are available ‘off the shelf’. But the problem with that, is that you can end up with poor functionality. Or compromised privacy. If the windows and doors are in the wrong places, your neighbours may be able to see right in. Or you may find that you have too much or too little light in the wrong places. Selecting a customisable garden room means that you never have to compromise or find work arounds.

Sustainability

We all have to think about sustainability these days. But not all garden rooms are sustainable. At Garden Room Sanctuary, we try our best to be as environmentally friendly as possible.  We use sustainably sourced materials, take steps to avoid waste, and try to limit our fuel consumption. So, sustainability is built into our garden rooms. We also insulate our structures, so that you don’t have to use as much energy when enjoying them.

How long do you want your garden room to last?

A garden room can be a long-term investment. But the value it brings and the time that it lasts depends on your design choices. A well-made garden room built on sound engineering principles out of good quality materials, will always be more expensive. But it was also always last longer. Just don’t forget, because they are adaptable, you can always turn the garden room you bought as an office into a studio – or even a holiday let! – when you retire, of it is made well.

Garden rooms are versatile, attractive, and useful spaces. But you will only get out of them what you put in. So, take time to do your research. Work out exactly what you want from it. And make your decision wisely.

View Garden Room Sanctuary’s 3D digital planner, or get in touch for more help and information.