2024 Guide to DIY Garden Room Kits
Published: 22 March 2024
Reading Time: 4 minutes 41 seconds
Garden rooms have become a favoured way to extend our homes, offering a quicker alternative to traditional house extensions. Positioned away from the main house, they create a secluded retreat and can serve numerous purposes. While most garden rooms are installed by professionals, building your own offers several benefits, notably significant cost savings.
When self-building a garden room there are two routes you could take: designing and sourcing materials yourself, which demands considerable time and may involve trial and error, or opting for a garden room kit. A kit provides a proven building system with all components delivered simultaneously, accompanied by a detailed assembly manual. This approach allows you to enjoy the construction process while ensuring a timely finish so you can quickly begin enjoying your new space.
This guide will showcase various garden room kit options. Some kits come complete with everything needed for construction, while others provide the insulated core structure and exterior finishes for quick weatherproofing, leaving you to source your choice of interior finishes. There are also kits that offer just the insulated core structure, offering you the flexibility to select your own exterior and interior finishes for a custom look.
Benefits of Buying a DIY Garden Room Kit
Choosing a DIY garden room kit over a professional full-service installation or a from-scratch design offers several advantages:
- Cost savings compared to full-service installations.
- Shorter lead times than full installations.
- Confidence in a proven building system, avoiding the uncertainties of a self-designed project.
- A one-time delivery of all materials, eliminating the need to source individually.
- Faster construction compared to building from scratch.
- Comprehensive assembly instructions and video guides.
How Much Could You Save by Self-Building a Garden Room?
Purchasing a garden room kit results in savings of 20% to 35% compared to a fully installed garden room, mainly by eliminating the cost of on-site labour, one of the project's most significant expenses.
What is included in a garden room kit varies
It's important to note what each garden room kit includes when comparing your options. Most kits do not come with the foundation system, requiring additional budgeting for this component. While some companies offer foundation kits as an add-on, others leave the foundation choice, like a concrete slab or a plinth foundation system, up to you.
What is included in the kits varies between companies, with some including the insulated core structure, exterior cladding, doors, windows, and roofing system for a weatherproof shell, leaving the interior finishes and electrical system arrangements to you. Other companies allow you to configure your kit with everything you need for the project. For those seeking more control over finishes, SIPs kits might be an attractive option, offering the core structure with the option to separately source exterior and interior materials for greater customisation.
Remember to budget for the final electrical connection between the garden room and the house, which must be completed by a qualified electrician in compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations.
How long does a garden room kit take to build?
Garden room kits are designed for ease of assembly, with pre-cut, numbered panels that fit together easily. Typically, two individuals can make a garden room weatherproof within two to three days, depending on the building's size, ensuring a swift transition from the construction phase to using the space.
Where to buy a self-built garden room kit
Many garden room companies offer kits alongside their full installation ranges. Additionally, some SIPs manufacturers provide kits that can serve as the foundation for a multi-layer build-up. With each of these options, you engage directly with the company, placing your order, and they then deliver your kit. Use the links below to further explore your kit options:
Pent Haus
Pent Haus offers complete garden room kits, including options for the foundation, electrical pack, and internal finishes. We have recently delved into their options in detail, which you may find informative. The Pent Haus website features an easy-to-use configurator, allowing you to design your ideal kit. Their buildings are designed such that two people can complete them in three days.
PodKit
PodKit garden rooms come as a complete kit designed for quick installation. Their system uses insulated panels that quickly slot together. You can choose the exterior cladding colour, and there are various flooring options available. The PodKit range is available in three popular sizes. We have written about their kits in greater detail here.
Warwick Buildings
Warwick Buildings, a long-established industry name, offers several garden room designs. Using their design configurator, you will find that many ranges offer a DIY option, removing the cost of their team installing the building for you. Working through their configurator allows you a significant amount of input into the layout and finishes of your building.
Garden2Office
Garden2Office offers a range of contemporary Swedish garden room designs. Alongside their full installation service, they can supply their buildings as kits. They will collaborate with you to design the layout and features that meet your needs.
Quick Garden
Quick Garden presents one of the largest ranges of garden room designs. Although they offer an installation service, you can opt for their buildings as a self-build option. Choosing one of their ranges allows you to personalise your kit with various options, such as adding a foundation system, additional insulation, and internal linings. Their buildings are available in a wide array of sizes and price points.
SIPS KITS UK
SIPS KITS UK offers several styles of garden rooms available in kit form. True to their name, they utilise Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) as the core structure of their buildings. Their kits include doors, windows, exterior cladding, roof covering, and the necessary fixings. SIPS KITS UK also provides a wide range of sizes and offers a bespoke design service.
If you are looking for just the core structure of the building, allowing you to make your mark on the interior and exterior finishes, many companies that specialize in Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) offer garden room kits.
SuperSIPS
SuperSIPS offers popular sizes and styles of garden rooms in kit form, which can form the core structure for your personalised combination of finishes.
If you're seeking an alternative to timber, consider a steel frame system. Light gauge steel frames assemble quickly and are straightforward to insulate.
PermaRoof
PermaRoof offers steel frame garden room kits that serve as the foundation for your insulated multi-layer build-up. They provide a range of popular sizes and layout options on their website and also offer bespoke designs.
