Garden Room FAQs | Planning Permission, Installation & Lead Times

Do I Require Planning Permission?

In the majority of cases, homeowners are permitted to have a garden room constructed within their property’s outdoor space without the need to apply for planning permission. This is because garden rooms fall under permitted development rights, allowing them to be installed with minimal administrative requirements.
However, there are a small number of exceptions where planning permission may still be required, depending on factors such as location, size, height, or intended use. For full guidance and to ensure your project complies with current rules, please refer to our planning regulations section.

How Close Can It Be To My Boundary?

To comply with permitted development rules, we construct each garden room on site in line with the required boundary clearance guidelines. These distances help ensure the building remains within the regulations, while also supporting privacy, safety, and a smooth installation.
Garden rooms with an internal floor area of up to 15m2 must be positioned a minimum of 0.5m from any boundary.
Garden rooms with an internal floor area over 15m2 and up to 30m2 must be positioned a minimum of 1.0m from any boundary.

How Should I Prepare My Site Area?

All we ask is that the intended site area is clear of any obstacles such as rocks, trees, shrubs, sheds, or other structures that could interfere with the installation process. Ideally, the area should consist of level soil or grass, as this provides the best base for installing our foundation system.

Our garden rooms can be installed on both flat and gently sloping site areas without issue. However, if the site slopes significantly, some ground preparation or levelling work may be required in advance to create a suitable and stable surface.

What Parking And Access Do You Require?

Ideally, we require parking for at least one large van, as our installation teams need to transport materials and equipment. In addition to parking, we also need clear, unobstructed access to the site area so components can be moved safely and efficiently.

Access can be provided via a side access, gate, garage, or in some cases through the house, provided there are no sharp 90 degree turns along the route. Many building components are long and rigid, which means they cannot be bent or manoeuvred around tight corners.

What Space Do You Require Around The Garden Room?

Our garden rooms are constructed on site and we require a minimum clearance of 0.5m from any obstacle around the entire perimeter of the garden room. This working space is essential to ensure correct assembly and a high-quality finish throughout the build process.

This requirement includes positioning the garden room at least 0.5m away from any surrounding structures or obstructions, such as fences, garages, walls and trees. This clear space helps avoid installation issues and ensures the garden room is built to the correct specifications.

What Foundations Do You Use?

We use a foundation system that combines concrete and steel piles to provide a strong and stable base. The steel piles are fully adjustable, allowing the system to accommodate both flat and gently sloping site areas. Tthe garden room is raised above ground level, creating a ventilated space beneath the structure that protects it from moisture and prevents rising damp. The garden room can be installed onto an existing concrete or patio base, provided it is structurally sound, free from cracks, and constructed to a suitable standard. The base must be a minimum of 4 inches (100mm) thick to ensure adequate strength and long-term stability.

Will Weeds Grow Under The Garden Room?

Although the garden room is raised above ground level and includes a vented space beneath to prevent rising damp, weeds will not grow directly underneath the structure because there is no access to natural daylight.

If the garden room is installed on a lawn or soil area, it is recommended to dig a shallow channel around the external perimeter and fill it with gravel or mulch. This simple measure helps prevent weeds from growing up around the outer edges of the garden room walls, keeping the area neat and low maintenance.

What About The Electricity Supply?

Each garden room price includes a comprehensive electrics package, covering a consumer unit, electrical sockets, internal lighting, and light switches as standard. Once the build is complete, a qualified electrician will attend the site to fully test the internal electrics and issue an electrical certificate, ensuring everything is safe and ready for connection to the mains supply.
To connect mains electricity from your house to the garden room, you may choose to use your own electrician, or alternatively, we can provide a separate quotation to carry out the electrical connection works on your behalf.

What Are Your Lead Times?

Our typical lead time from order date to the start of installation is between 4 and 6 weeks, allowing sufficient time for scheduling, preparation, and materials to be organised. Please note that lead times can vary depending on seasonal demand and overall workload at the time of ordering.
Generally, lead times are shorter during the winter months when demand is slightly lower, while spring, summer, and autumn tend to be busier periods, which can result in slightly longer waiting times. We always aim to provide clear guidance on expected timescales at the point of order.

Does the External Cladding Need Treatment?

Our garden rooms are externally finished with either composite or timber cladding. The composite cladding option requires no specific treatments or ongoing maintenance. Thermowood and Western Red Cedar cladding are either heat treated or naturally contain built-in preservatives, making them highly resistant to decay and requiring no additional treatment. Over time, both Thermowood and Western Red Cedar will weather to a natural grey tone similar to outdoor teak furniture. Cedar can be treated with oil to maintain its original colour, while Thermowood can be painted or stained if preferred.

Are The Doors And Windows Secure?

All doors and windows are supplied with secure operating mechanisms to allow smooth opening and reliable locking. Each door section is fitted with a high-security galvanised steel reinforced locking system on both the master and slave doors, incorporating hook locks, shoot bolts, and deadlocks.

Every door includes a high-security multi-point locking system to ensure maximum protection, while all opening windows are fitted with lockable handles. All doors and windows are equipped with insurance-approved locking systems.

Can I Have Different Doors And Windows?

As standard we supply dark grey (anthracite) profiles on all patio doors, sliding doors. fixed glass window panels and opening windows.

Most customers seem to prefer the dark grey profile colour as it blend perfectly with the natural tones of either the composite or timber external cladding.

However if required we can supply different colour profiles. In addition we can supply bespoke size doors and windows in either PVC-U or Aluminium profiles.

Can I Have An Internal Walls Inside?

Yes, we regularly construct internal partition walls within our garden rooms to help divide the internal space into separate, functional areas. The exact position of the internal wall can be discussed and agreed with the customer while the installation team is on site, allowing flexibility to suit your intended use.

In addition, we can supply either an internal door or an external door to provide access to the newly separated area, depending on how you plan to use the space and the level of privacy or accessibility required.

What Heating Options Do You Recommend?

Our garden rooms are designed to be highly thermally efficient, featuring fully insulated floors, walls, and roofs throughout. Each garden room is also supplied with high-quality double-glazed doors and windows, helping to retain heat and maintain a comfortable internal temperature. Thanks to these insulation and heat-retention properties, additional heating is typically not required for most of the year.
As an optional extra, we can supply a 1.5kW wall-mounted glass panel heater to provide additional warmth when needed.

Can I Have A Bespoke Garden Room?

Yes, absolutely. We have many years of experience designing and constructing bespoke timber-framed garden rooms, tailored to meet a wide range of individual requirements and design preferences.

We can build a garden room to virtually any size, provided the layout is square, rectangular, or L-shaped, and we are happy to incorporate your specific design ideas. This allows us to create a fully customised space that suits your personal style, intended use, and practical needs.

What Guarantee Do You Provide?

Garden Rooms Direct are a long-established and reputable company, known for standing firmly behind the quality and craftsmanship of our garden rooms. As part of our commitment to long-term reliability, we provide a comprehensive 10-year guarantee covering any structural defects.

This 10-year structural guarantee is offered to all customers as a standard policy, giving added peace of mind and confidence in your investment, and is provided in accordance with our full terms and conditions.

What Are The Payment Terms?

To place an order, we require a 50% deposit of the total order value. Once the deposit has been received, we will issue a receipt, provide full order confirmation, and confirm your installation start date.

The remaining 50% balance will become payable upon completion of the garden room.

We accept payment by bank transfer, as well as most major debit and credit cards, for your convenience.

How Long Does It Take?

The majority of our garden rooms are fully constructed on site within approximately five working days, from the start of installation through to completion. Larger or more complex garden room designs may require a few additional days to complete, depending on size, layout, and chosen options.

Our experienced installation teams work Monday to Friday and will remain in local accommodation throughout the build process. This ensures continuity, efficiency, and a smooth construction schedule until your garden room is fully completed.

How Do I Place An Order?

To order one of our garden buildings, please contact us and a member of our team will be able to talk you through the ordering process and offer helpful advice. The order process is very straightforward and you will have the opportunity to ask any specific question or queries.

Alternatively why not come and see us. We have two showrooms in North Yorkshire where you can see some great examples, get a feel for the different designs, models, sizes and meet us face to face to discuss your requirements.