Are Garden Rooms Worth It? Answering the Most Common Doubts

Published: 1 December 2025

Having built our first garden room 27 years ago — yes, that does age me — and writing The Garden Room & Annexe Guide since 2009, we’ve had touch points with thousands of people exploring the idea of adding a garden room. Along the way, we’ve heard every question, hesitation, and raised eyebrow.

From concerns about cost to confusion over planning rules, there are some doubts that come up time and again, including:

Click any of the questions above to jump to the answer, or read on as we explore them one by one.

“They’re just posh summerhouses”

We hear this one a lot, but the reality is very different. Summerhouses are usually single-skin buildings with thin walls and basic, often single-glazed, timber doors and windows — fine for fair weather, but not built for year-round use.

A modern garden room, on the other hand, is more like a small timber-framed house. It’s a fully insulated, multi-layered building using specialist membranes, breathable construction methods, and house-quality double-glazed doors and windows. These buildings are designed for everyday use, in every season.

“Aren’t they just overpriced sheds?”

This comparison falls apart once you look at what goes into a well-specified garden room. Sheds are typically made from thin, single-skin panels with no insulation, and are intended for storage.

Garden rooms use layered construction that includes a structural core — usually a timber frame, steel frame, or SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels). Breathable membranes, insulation, air gaps, internal finishes, and opening windows. These materials — many of them the same used in timber-framed houses — are chosen for durability and performance. They cost more than basic shed materials because they last decades longer and together offer a much higher standard of comfort and usability.

“Won’t it be too cold in winter or too hot in summer?”

Properly insulated garden rooms are designed for year-round use. High-spec insulation in the floor, walls, and roof helps regulate temperature, and heating options — such as electric panel heaters or underfloor heating — are usually included as standard.

For warmer months, opening windows are key. While fixed full-height glazing looks fantastic, it's important to include at least one opening window for airflow. Combined with trickle vents, this helps maintain a healthy and comfortable internal environment all year round.

“Why are they so expensive compared to a log cabin?”

You're not just paying for a box in the garden — you're investing in a well-constructed room using materials designed to last. The cost includes:

  • Foundations suited to your ground conditions
  • Multi-layer wall, roof, and floor systems
  • High-performance glazing and doors
  • Internal plastering, electrics, and flooring
  • Skilled installation teams

What you’re also paying for is convenience — especially with project-managed builds, which place minimal demands on your time, offer quick installation, and limit disruption to your garden. While cheaper cladding or finishes are available, they usually require more maintenance and have a shorter lifespan. Investing more upfront means less hassle and better durability in the long run.

“I don’t want the hassle of planning permission.”

Many garden rooms fall within Permitted Development rules — particularly those under 2.5m high, and therefore, don’t require planning permission in most parts of the UK.

If planning is needed (due to size, location, or use), experienced companies often manage the whole process for you, or work closely with planning specialists. The key is choosing a firm that understands the rules and can guide you through them, rather than leaving you to figure it out.

“I’m not sure it’ll add any value to my home.”

While exact figures vary, most estate agents agree that quality garden rooms can boost appeal and value of a house — particularly when they create clearly usable space. Whether used as a home office, gym, hobby room or entertainment space, a well-designed building adds versatility and taps into the lifestyle benefits many buyers are looking for.

The visual quality of the building, the durability of the materials, and how well it integrates into the garden all influence perceived value.

“I’m worried about damp or mould.”

This is a common concern — and a valid one if you’re considering a poorly specified or very low-cost building. A well-built garden room, however, includes breathable membranes, insulation, and air gaps, combined with ventilation measures that help prevent condensation and moisture build-up.

One simple but vital detail is making sure the design includes at least one opening window. Fixed panes may look sleek, but an opening window plays a key role in maintaining airflow — especially in smaller rooms.

“It sounds like a lot of hassle to project manage.”

With most established garden room companies, it’s really not. Many offer a turnkey service — handling everything from groundworks to final fix electrics. In other cases, the only job left to the homeowner is arranging the final electrical connection between the garden room and the main house, which a qualified local electrician can handle.

With lower-cost ranges, you may need to take on more of the finishing work yourself — such as protecting the exterior cladding, painting the interior, or laying the final flooring — so it’s worth checking what’s included up front.

“It’ll take ages to install.”

Garden rooms are quicker to install than you might think. Because many elements are prefabricated off-site, on-site build time is usually minimal — anything from a single day for a small pod to two or three weeks for a larger, more complex design.

Compared to a traditional house extension, the process is much faster and less disruptive to your daily life.

“You can only have them installed in the summer.”

Not true at all. Garden rooms can be installed in any season. Experienced installation teams work year-round and take steps to protect both the building and your garden during wet or cold weather.

In fact, buying in autumn or winter can work in your favour — demand tends to be lower, which often means quicker installation slots and more competitive pricing.

“They must need a lot of maintenance.”

Internally, a garden room is much like a room in your house — plastered walls, proper flooring, and finished electrics. Externally, maintenance needs vary depending on your choice of materials.

Durable options like Western Red Cedar, modern composite claddings, uPVC orpowder-coated aluminium windows, and EPDM one-piece roof systems can offer decades of low-maintenance performance. If you want a building that looks sharp for years with minimal upkeep, invest in quality exterior materials from the start.

It’s natural to have questions and concerns

It’s natural to have questions and concerns — and we hope this article has helped address some of the most common ones. Having watched the garden room industry grow and evolve over the past 15+ years, we can confidently say that today’s buildings are a world away from the old image of a shed at the end of the garden.

A well-built garden room is a long-term investment that adds flexible, usable space to your home, extends your lifestyle into the garden, and can be enjoyed in every season.

Explore Your Options

If you’re starting to think seriously about adding a garden room, our Garden Room & Annexe Directory is a great place to begin.

You can search by location, building type, or feature to find experienced companies who work in your area and see examples of their past projects.

Whether you're after a small office pod or a larger, multifunctional room, the right company is out there — and our directory makes it easier to find them.

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