Some commonly asked questions
Your first step to having a new garden room is to contact us via our Contact page or call for an initial chat or to arrange a free site survey.
We try to restrict travel time and distance to one hour and fifty miles, respectively. Garden rooms further afield may be subject to a surcharge.
To attach a garden room to a dwelling would be considered an extension to your home, subsequently requiring building regulations approval. Though still possible with our bespoke design service, it is not an approach we recommend on account of the additional costs involved.
Most of our garden rooms are designed with a flat roof that will not exceed 2.5m in height, and as such generally fall within permitted development rights. There are exceptions to this rule, and it would be prudent to check with your local authority before proceeding with any development works. Further information can be found at https://www.planningportal.co.uk
Yes, within the curtilage of listed building, planning permission will be required. If your garden room requires planning permission, we can prepare all documentation and manage the application on your behalf. This service is charged pro rata – usually £600-£800+vat
There are tighter restrictions when living on designated land. If the proposed location of your garden room is forward of the rear elevation or more than 20m from the rear elevation with the building covering more than 10m² then permission will be required. Further information can be found at https://www.planningportal.co.uk
Yes. If your garden room requires planning permission, we can prepare all documentation and manage the application on your behalf. This service is charged pro rata – usually £600-£800+vat
Building regulations will not normally apply if the floor area of the building is less than 15 square metres and contains no sleeping accommodation. If the floor area of the building is between 15 square metres and 30 square metres, you will not normally be required to apply for building regulations approval providing that the building contains no sleeping accommodation and is either at least one metre from any boundary or it is constructed substantially of non-combustible materials.
We recommend a minimum gap of 400mm from any building or boundary for maintenance and access. It’s worth noting that you will require building control approval If the internal floor area of your garden room is greater than 15m² and less than 1m from your boundary.
Yes, you can live in a garden room but you will need planning permission and building regulations approval to do so.
All our garden rooms and garden offices are insulated to a level that will ensure year-round comfort with options to further enhance levels of acoustic and thermal insulation as required.
Double glazed UPVC door and window units come as standard with options to upgrade to triple glazed units if required.
All our buildings are designed to fall within permitted development rights, with a total height of 2.5m from the original lay of the land.
Not all ground conditions are the same so we will specify a suitable foundation system based on the site and ground conditions. Concrete friction piles are our preferred system, they use a relatively small amount of concreting material, are quick to install and maintain constant air flow beneath the building.
Using our bespoke design and build service, you can create separate rooms with a partitioning stud wall with either an internal or external entry door.
hermowood comes as the standard cladding option for our Garden Office Range with options to spec up to Larch, red cedar, and a selection of composite materials – further information can be found here.
Yes – every garden space is different, as are individual requirements and tastes which is why we offer a Bespoke Garden Room service. Following a site survey where we will establish your unique set of requirements, we will design a bespoke garden room that meets all your needs and perfectly fits the space.
This is not something we would undertake ourselves, but it is possible with the correct roof design. To be effective, the panels need to be mounted on a south facing roof with a minimum pitch of 30°.
Other than ensuring no leaf litter accumulates around the base, our garden room are designed to be maintenance free. To prolong life expectancy of any natural cladding materials, you can treat them periodically with a suitable oil or stain preservative.
All our garden rooms come with guarantees in excess of ten years – depending on the building’s specification.
Yes, we can install a bath/shower, sink and toilet in your garden room. Prices on application and very much dependant on length of run of underground pipe to nearest drain and your choice in fixtures and fittings.
Given the high levels of insulation, heating is not included within the standard specification. We can provide additional power points for portable heaters or include a heating system of your choice within the specification if required. Please ask for options and costs.
Access to site is not normally of any concern but always considered at the site survey.
Attention to detail, quality and value of product are especially important to us. Unlike many national companies, Inside Out Garden Rooms have a dedicated team of craftsman that undertake every stage of the construction process from foundation to decoration ensuring quality and finish on every building.
All our garden rooms are fitted with doors and windows that have multiple point locking mechanisms that are recognised by the insurance industry.
In most situations, so long as the existing concrete base is sound and level with a minimum depth of 100mm it would be adequate.
Prior to construction of your garden room, you will be required to clear any vegetation and level the site. You can elect to undertake these works yourself or alternatively we can provide estimated cost for the works.
Yes, you can. Although this is not something we would undertake or necessarily recommend. Our garden rooms are super insulated and even a small stove will make your room extremely warm on even the coldest of days.
Using our bespoke design and build service we can design a building of any shape or size to meet your needs. It is worth noting that if your garden room is less that 1m from the boundary, with an internal floor area greater that 15m² your building will require building regulations approval. Similarly, if your garden room is less than 2m from the boundary with an internal floor area greater than 30m² you will also require building control approval.
Yes. Including a venting skylight is a great way to allow more natural light into a building whilst also providing great additional ventilation.
It is possible to achieve good levels of sound reduction with smart design. Limiting glazing on elevations, increasing levels of acoustic insulation, and mounting acoustic plasterboard on sound bars rather than directly to stud work all help. We can discuss your requirements at a survey and design your garden room to perform as required.
Inside Out Garden Rooms take every measure possible to ensure longevity, with a life expectancy of more than fifty years.
With our Bespoke Garden Rooms, we will fit whatever flooring you specify. Our Garden Office Range has an Oak effect high-density fibreboard flooring as standard with an option to upgrade to an Oak effect luxury vinyl click flooring system.
Yes, our site surveys are free of charge and commitment.
Installation costs including foundations are included in the price. A level area will need to be prepared in advance, clear of any planting. We can provide a separate price for these works if required.
Typically, we have four staged payments as set out below:
We do not offer finance options but do have very reasonable payment terms with a small holding deposit followed by staged payments throughout the build process.
We do our best to fit surveys in at your convenience within two weeks of your request.
Our lead times are normally around ten weeks, but this is dependent on time of year, size, and location of your garden room.
Typically, it takes two to three weeks to complete a build from foundation to decoration depending on size, specification, and weather conditions!