British Cedar-Clad Garden Room with Storage
First Published: 27 October 2021
Refreshed: 18 November 2024
Reading Time: 2 minutes
This 5.5m x 3m garden room, featuring a secret storeroom, is a bespoke design by Hargreaves Garden Spaces. Setting it apart from many other designs, the building is clad externally in British Cedar rather than the more commonly used Canadian Western Red Cedar.
Why Choose British Cedar?
Canadian Western Red Cedar is often favoured for its rich colour and durability, but it is a premium option that can significantly impact the cost of a garden room. Hargreaves Garden Spaces, however, provides a variety of cladding options to suit different aesthetics and budgets.
For this project, the team sourced British Cedar, showcasing the versatility and character of this homegrown material.
A Distinctive Appearance
While both British and Canadian Cedar come from the same tree species, their appearances vary:
British Cedar has a lighter, honey-toned finish, offering a more consistent colour.
Canadian Cedar, by contrast, is known for its reddish-brown hues but can have varied tones across a wall.
British Cedar features prominent knots and a textured grain, which adds natural character.
Durability and Eco-Friendliness
- Lifespan: British Cedar is a durable choice, with an expected lifespan of 10–15 years when left untreated. Over time, it weathers beautifully to a silver-grey tone.
- Cost-Effective: It is generally more affordable than Canadian Cedar, with price estimates suggesting it can be up to 50% cheaper. This makes it an excellent option for homeowners wanting to allocate their budget to other design features.
- Eco-Friendly: As a locally grown material, British Cedar has a smaller carbon footprint than imported alternatives, thanks to reduced transportation needs.
A Dual-Purpose Design
This 5.5m x 3m building is split into two distinct spaces, balancing aesthetics with practicality:
- Main Room: The main living space features a high-spec finish, with plastered and decorated walls complemented by durable laminate flooring, giving it the polished feel of a modern new-build interior.
- Storage Room: The secondary room is lined with OSB (Oriented Strand Board) panels. This finish is both durable and functional, perfect for fitting hooks and shelves to maximise storage space.
Hidden Access
Anthracite Grey uPVC French doors provide stylish access to the main room. However, the storage room entrance is cleverly concealed. Using a ‘secret door’ design, the storage room door is clad seamlessly with the surrounding cedar boards, making it virtually invisible. The precise alignment of the boards creates a seamless and unobtrusive finish.
Learn More
To learn more about this project and the various exterior cladding options available, contact the Hargreaves Garden Spaces team on 07584 626 911 or email them at info@hgspaces.co.uk. Visit the Hargreaves Garden Spaces website for more inspiration.
