A Look at Garden Annexes’ On-Site Build Phase
Published: 6 February 2026
Reading Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Garden Annexes recently shared a progress photo from one of their installations, showing the end of day one on site — and the transformation is striking. In just a few hours, the full structural timber frame of an Annexxa 745 annexe was standing in the garden, clearly defining the footprint and scale of the new home.
For the homeowners, that first day is often the moment when the project suddenly feels real. Instead of lines on a drawing, they can walk around the structure, understand how it sits within the garden, and get an immediate sense of the overall scale. Openings for doors and windows are visible, roof height becomes easier to judge, and the relationship between the annexe and the main house starts to fall into place.
The Annexxa 745 sits on an external footprint of 8.2m x 5.5m — around 45 square metres — creating the basis for a comfortable, self-contained home. The Annexxa range is available in 24 different sizes and has contemporary styling, with plenty of scope to configure the layout, and position doors and windows to suit both the garden and the intended use.
Prepared Before the Team Arrives
That speed on site is only possible because so much work has already happened behind the scenes. Garden Annexes manufacture their buildings at their Suffolk workshops, where structural components are prepared using a blend of modern precision machinery and traditional carpentry techniques. Each element is pre-cut and checked before leaving the factory, ready to be assembled in a carefully planned sequence on site.
On the project featured in their post, the team collected the pre-prepared components from the factory early in the morning, delivered them to site shortly afterwards, and began assembling the core structure straight away. By the end of the day, the annexe frame was complete — a pace that would be difficult to achieve with a build relying solely on site-based construction.
Groundworks Set the Stage
Before the framing team arrives, the groundwork phase has already taken place. Garden Annexes’ in-house groundworks team prepares the foundations and installs the service routes that will later connect the annexe to the main house for power, water and drainage. Having this stage completed in advance allows the installation team to focus entirely on erecting the building, without delays or clashes between trades.
This joined-up approach — where groundworks, manufacture and installation are all handled by the same company — is a key part of how Garden Annexes manage to keep their on-site phases relatively short and well organised.
A Well-Coordinated, In-House Operation
In their social post, Garden Annexes describe themselves as a “well-oiled machine”, and their nationwide activity at any one time shows how their in-house structure supports that claim. While one team is assembling a frame on site, others may be surveying future projects, preparing new bases, or completing the internal finishing stages of annexes elsewhere in the country.
Because these teams are all part of the same organisation, the handovers between stages are planned and coordinated. The installation crew knows the base has been set out to the correct tolerances. The finishing team follows on from a structure that has been assembled exactly as intended. This continuity helps maintain both build quality and programme.
A Tidy Site at the End of the Day
Even with such rapid progress, attention is paid to how the garden is left each evening. Materials are stacked neatly, offcuts are collected, and tools are organised, so the site feels controlled rather than chaotic. For homeowners living alongside the build, this consideration can make the process feel far less intrusive.
By combining factory precision, experienced in-house teams and clear project management, Garden Annexes are able to achieve in a single day what might take considerably longer on a traditional site-built project. The result is an installation phase where progress is visible early on — and where clients can quickly start to picture life in their new garden living annexe.
Learn More
Garden Annexes specialise exclusively in self-contained garden living annexes and offer four ranges — Annexxa, XB, St George and Ivyo — each available in 24 sizes. Their buildings are manufactured in Suffolk and installed by their own in-house teams, with a full turn-key service that includes design, groundworks, installation and final commissioning. They install projects across mainland UK.
To speak with the team, call 01284 636 424 or 0800 368 9781, or email hello@gardenannexes.com.
Appointments can also be arranged to view their show annexes at their Suffolk headquarters near Bury St Edmunds.
