Buying a Garden Room
Updated: 1 December 2025
Purchasing a garden room is a significant investment, and unlike many other large purchases, the process is more personalised and hands-on, as you often work directly with the manufacturer. While it’s possible to buy garden rooms online, these off-the-shelf options typically offer limited customisation and miss out on the tailored experience that working with a specialised company provides.
When it comes to buying a garden room, there are three main routes:
- Pre-designed garden rooms, which offer quicker lead times but limited personalisation
- Modular garden rooms, which allow for more flexibility in layout and features
- Bespoke designs, where everything can be customised to suit your specific needs and space.
Several steps take place between the initial idea of buying a garden room and its installation in your garden. However, completing these steps doesn’t have to take long. Depending on the time of year, if you opt for a pre-designed garden room, you could be using it within 6–8 weeks of ordering. Modular designs may take 8–12 weeks, while bespoke projects typically take 12 weeks or more.
Let’s explore the steps between your initial idea and moving into your completed garden room:
1. Research Your Options
The first, and perhaps most important, step in the garden room buying process is to research your options. A garden room is a significant purchase, so it’s crucial to make informed decisions to get the best value and outcome.
With the number of garden room manufacturers having grown significantly in recent years, you’ll have a wide range of companies to choose from. Some are more experienced than others, so it’s essential to take your time to ensure your chosen company can deliver on their promises.
Since 2009, The Garden Room Guide has helped buyers in this research phase, sharing over 20 years of inside knowledge from the industry.
2. Explore Websites, Brochures & Show Sites
Every garden room project featured on this site includes links to the company that built it, allowing you to gather more information about their buildings and services.
Many garden room manufacturers rely on their websites to showcase their work, while some also offer digital or physical brochures for more in-depth information. We’ve curated a page with direct links to various companies' brochure sign-up pages.
It’s also a good idea to see examples of a manufacturer’s work before making a purchase. Some companies have show buildings at their workshops, where you can assess the craftsmanship. We’ve compiled a list of garden room show sites to assist you.
Instead of maintaining expensive showrooms, many companies arrange visits to past customers’ garden rooms. Your chosen supplier should be happy to arrange a local viewing.
3. Understand Planning Permission
In many cases, a garden room can be built without needing planning permission, provided you adhere to the Permitted Development rules. However, these rules don’t apply everywhere, so it’s important to understand your unique situation early in the process.
Your garden room designer should be able to advise you on planning rules, but the responsibility ultimately lies with you as the homeowner. If planning permission is required, this can typically take around eight weeks to process through your Local Authority.
If full planning approval is necessary, companies will usually ask for a deposit to secure your slot in their order book. If the planning application is unsuccessful, this deposit is normally refundable—but always check before making the payment.
Many companies will assist with the planning application as part of their service, or you can work with planning consultants who specialise in garden room applications.
4. Reach Out for Initial Enquiries & Ballpark Quotes
Once you’ve explored your options, it’s time to contact companies for initial discussions to see if they’re a good fit for your project. These enquiries often start over email or telephone, with many companies now offering live chat for quick questions.
It’s essential to ask if a company operates in your area early on, as not all cover the entire UK.
You’ll also want to get an idea of pricing early in the process. It’s perfectly fine to ask for a ballpark quote. When doing so, provide the size of the building you’re considering and any key features you want to include.
Many modular garden room designers offer online design tools that allow you to customise the size, layout, and features of your room, updating the price in real-time. If you’re happy with the design, you can submit it and move on to the next stage.
5. Book a Design Consultation & Site Survey
This is where the excitement really begins! Buying a garden room allows you to have direct input into the style, layout, finishes, and features, ensuring the final result is tailored to your needs and tastes.
After receiving initial quotes, the next step is to engage in formal design consultations and site surveys. Most people work with three or four companies at this stage to compare options. Any more, and you risk complicating the process and spending too much time.
During the design consultation, the designer will show you all your available options, but you can also come prepared with a wishlist of ideas. Many designers are happy to incorporate unique client requests, so don't hesitate to ask if your vision can be brought to life.
Design consultations and site surveys vary by company. Some offer video consultations, while others prefer in-person site visits.
An in-person site survey is crucial to measure the space, assess ground conditions, and evaluate access for the installation team. Some companies may conduct this virtually, asking you to provide measurements and video footage, but if something isn’t as expected on installation day, the responsibility falls on you.
6. Choose Your Manufacturer
After the design consultation, you’ll receive a detailed quote for your project. This will include images of your proposed garden room, floor plans showing the placement of doors and windows, and a detailed specification of materials and finishes.
Once you’ve gathered quotes, take the time to compare the options each company offers. Beyond design and price, consider the level of customer support and responsiveness. Your experience of working with them so far—how quickly they responded to your enquiries and the quality of their communication—can give you valuable insight into what it will be like to work with them throughout the project.
It’s also crucial to consider the warranty offered by the company. Reputable companies provide warranties on their work, but the coverage varies between manufacturers. Some companies pass on the manufacturer’s warranty for materials, while others include installation defects, like fixing cracks in plastered walls.
For added protection, some companies offer insurance-backed warranties. This ensures that, even if the company ceases trading, another company can step in to rectify any issues. Be sure to understand the terms of the warranty before making your final decision.
7. Place Your Order
Once you’ve selected the company to work with, you’ll formally place your order.
At this stage, it’s important to ensure the design, specifications, and quote reflect all your requirements, as making changes later can be difficult and costly.
You’ll also be asked to pay a deposit, which can be up to 50% of the total price. Some companies offer deposit insurance schemes for added security. Others choose to pay by credit card for extra protection.
You’ll be given a payment schedule for the remaining balances and an estimated installation date.
8. Off-site Production & On-site Installation
Your garden room will now enter production. Depending on the company, the modules may be manufactured in their workshop and delivered in sections for assembly on-site. Alternatively, some companies build the garden room from scratch on-site, which is ideal for more bespoke or complex projects.
Installation times vary based on the complexity of the design. Smaller garden rooms can be installed in a day, while larger, more complex designs can take 2–4 weeks. A few companies deliver pre-built garden rooms, craning them into place, allowing for same-day installation.
Just before the on-site installation begins, you’ll typically be asked for another stage payment, leaving a small balance to be paid upon completion.
9. Snagging & Sign Off
As your garden room nears completion, you’ll want to inspect both the interior and exterior to ensure everything meets your expectations. Be sure to check key details like the smooth operation of windows and doors.
If there are any issues, it’s a good idea to discuss them with the installation team before they leave the site. Creating a snag list and taking photos can help if there are multiple items to address.
Once the installation is complete, you’ll likely be asked to sign off on the project, confirming that the work has been completed to your satisfaction.
10. Electrical Hook-up
If your garden room purchase includes a turnkey service, the final electrical connection will be handled by the company’s electrician. However, many garden room companies do not include this in the quoted price and ask you to arrange for a local electrician to complete the connection after installation.
Be sure to budget for this additional cost, as the final hook-up can be a significant expense.
Step Eleven – Final Payments
Once you’re satisfied with your new garden room, the final payment will be due. This is usually the smallest payment of the project and is made as the installation team leaves the site.
Step Twelve – Move in and Enjoy!
Once your garden room is complete, it’s time to move in and make it your own. If you’ve chosen a finished garden room, you can start enjoying it straight away. For unfinished interiors, you’ll have the opportunity to decorate and furnish it to your taste.