Create your perfect space
Introduction
Garden rooms are a great way to create more space in your home and make better use of your garden. You won’t believe the uses they can be put to; from spas and games rooms to workshops and offices. At a mere fraction of the cost of an extension or conservatory, you could get yourself a stylish, modern and completely personalised wooden garden room, that will add thousands to the value of your property and be the pride of your home for years.
Interested? Read on to find out more about the wonderful world of garden rooms: what they are, what they cost and how you can use them.
|
Modern bespoke garden rooms by Cabin Master are... »Beautiful |
 |
From our factory near Nottingham we build a fantastic range of garden rooms to suit all tastes and budgets. We’ve worked with customers all over the country and focus on providing a comprehensive service, with good old-fashioned craftsmanship and personalised design.
So if you are in the market for a new garden room or are just looking for a way to make more space in your home then please read on. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch, and we will be delighted to have a chat.
 |
Who Might Need A Garden Room?
You’re a young, professional couple, thirty something and loving life. You both work from home quite regularly and have a couple of kids. Maybe you’ve got another one on the way. Your house is feeling a little bit crowded and you could do with some more space. Maybe a playroom, a separate office away from the kids, or just a place to go and chill away from the mess when your friends come over? You’re reluctant to move though, because your kids are at a good school and you’ve got friends in the area. What do you do? You’re a sprightly couple in your 50s with older teenage or adult kids. They’re always hanging around the living room trying to monopolise the TV, and their boyfriends/girlfriends are around your house more often than they’re not. Too many adults in too little a house. It would be nice to have some more space, but do you really want to be taking on additional mortgage commitments when you’re thinking of cutting back on your working hours? |
You’re an older couple. After having worked hard for decades you’re approaching retirement and the kids have left home (finally!). Time to splash out on some of the things you’ve always wanted but haven’t been able to afford – perhaps a man cave, a jacuzzi room or a dedicated BBQ room? Why not? After all, you’ve earned it. But what’s the most of cost-effective way of getting more space?
The Space Gaining Solution
If you need a little extra space in your life for whatever reason, then this e-book is for you. There are dozens of circumstances in which you might need to expand your living area, and in many cases a garden room is the perfect solution.
We’ll begin by explaining the alternatives to garden rooms, with the pros and cons of each. We’ll then dive in to the types of garden room available, the benefits they offer you, how to avoid common mistakes, and finally, why you should buy one from us!
What To Do When You Need More Space?
If you have reached a stage where you simply need more space and have to make a change, there are several options available. Each of them has an associated cost and come with benefits and a few disadvantages. For each of the options below we have explained the main pros and cons and given an approximate price guide to help you plan your budget.
Conservatory
Conservatories are called ‘sunrooms’ for a very good reason: surrounded by glass on three or four sides, conservatories are designed to trap as much sunlight and warmth in the room as possible. There is nothing more pleasant than a conservatory on a mild spring or summer day, to sit back and relax with a book and cup of tea. If your conservatory is insulated it can also be used throughout the winter. Whether or not a conservatory suits you depends on what you need the extra space for. If it is an extra dining room or general living space then this could work. We have seen some great conservatories being used as games rooms or music rooms for instance.
However, there are some drawbacks with conservatories that mean it might not be the best option for your family. First and foremost, a conservatory depends on the sunniest part of your garden being close to your house. If it isn’t, then you can rule this option out. A shady conservatory isn’t much fun.
You will also be limited to what you can use a conservatory for by the amount of light they absorb. They are impractical as offices because the light makes it difficult to see a screen. They are not frequently used as bedrooms because of their location in the downstairs of the house. Excess light also has a damaging effect on furniture, bleaching colour from sofas, cushions and photos. Finally, unless you have good insulation your conservatory will be un-usable for most of the winter, and on warm summer days it may be too hot for comfort.
Approximate cost: £11,000 - £14,500
Extension
If you need multiple additional rooms but don’t want to move house, then an extension is a popular option. It has the advantage of not having to uproot children from their current school or change your commute to work. A good extension can also add a lot of value to your property. Extensions are sometimes the best option if you need long-term space, such as extra bedrooms for a new child, plus a Home Office, plus a larger kitchen etc.
However, extensions are usually grand projects; and so require a lot of planning, a large budget and lots of patience. Getting planning permission is frequently a long and drawn out process – and then the build itself will present problems. It is common for an extension to take 3 to 12 months to complete. During this time your house will be a building site for some or all of the time. How will this impact your work and your personal life?
Finding reliable, high-quality building contractors is also a challenge. Some homeowners relish the experience of building an extension, but others will swear they would never do it again!
Think about the space you need, the work involved with an extension and if there are more cost-effective ways to achieve your goals.
Approximate cost: This completely depends on the size of your extension and how long it takes. Prices range widely from £18,000-£50,000 or more.
Loft Conversion
If you need a new bedroom, a loft conversion may be a possibility. Many homeowners successfully convert lofts into bedrooms, extra bathrooms and additional storage space. This might be cost-effective for you if you own a bungalow or house with a large, unused loft area. On the downside, the funny angles of loft conversions limit their practicality if you need anything other than a bedroom. They can also make your house less heat efficient and more susceptible to damp.
Approximate cost: A standard loft conversion will cost around £20,000, but if you want multiple bedrooms and/or en-suite bathrooms this could cost £30,000 to £45,000.
Cellar Conversion
Not many new homes have cellars these days, but if you are lucky enough to have one, it can sometimes be converted into an additional room. Households with teenage or adult children may be tempted to convert their cellar as a hideaway and to free up room in the main house. Most converted sellers become games rooms or utility rooms. They don’t make pleasant living rooms, dining rooms, offices or bedrooms because of the lack of natural light.
Approximate cost: converting an existing cellar will cost approximately £750-£1,400 per square metre, so it depends on the space you have available. Expect to pay £15-£30,000.
New Home
The ultimate, and – on the face of it – simplest solution when you need more space is simply to move house. There is something liberating about starting from scratch, choosing a new home to suit your needs and shaping it in your image. If you want a change of scenery and haven’t moved for a while then go for it! However, moving house isn’t always the best option. It is a big disruption for everyone in the household, and finding the right place can take a long time. You might have to search hard to find a suitable home within your budget in your desired area. Bear in mind also that house prices are rising all the time. It is growing more difficult to get all the house space you need without mortgaging yourself to the hilt. For older couples this may not be an option. It is also the costliest of the options we have looked at. If you want to move house for a number of reasons, then give it some consideration, but if you simply need space, we recommend you explore other options first.
Approximate cost: This varies widely from area to area, but national average house prices now start at around £190,000, plus fees. You will then need to factor in moving costs, decorating, maintenance etc.
Garden Room
We may be biased, but for households that need a modest amount of additional space, a garden room comes close to being the perfect choice. Garden rooms can be used as man caves, offices, art rooms, summerhouses, gyms, TV rooms and even guest bedrooms. Most of them don’t need planning permission, they are comparatively inexpensive and look fantastic. In the following sections we will look at the different types of garden room you can buy, how you can use them, and why our design and build service is pretty special.
Types Of Garden Room
What comes to mind when you think of a garden room? For many people, the phrase still conjures up images of a shed or workshop; home to a small radio, dusty workbench and stored garden furniture. Or you might think of a thin-walled wooden cabin, unheated and the abode of spiders and woodlice.
We are glad to say that nothing could be further from the truth.
Modern garden rooms, such as the ones we create at Cabin Master, are beautiful, warm, homely and practical. Take all the best features of a traditional Scandinavian log cabin, add the advantages of a summerhouse, a conservatory and a small extension. Then present it in an attractive, custom-designed frame with a low carbon footprint at an affordable price, and you get a Cabin Master garden room.
Garden rooms can be used for a whole range of uses. They are popular as garden offices, where they offer a working space separate from the home. They can be used as playrooms, yoga rooms, entertainment spaces and summer dining rooms. The only limit is your own imagination.
Garden rooms have grown in popularity over the last few years, and for good reason. There are now different types of garden rooms available, each customisable to your own specifications.
Multi-Purpose Rooms
A multi-purpose garden room offers all the advantages of a small extension, with none of the planning requirements, disruption or expense. A high quality garden room is insulated so you can use it all year round, and you can adapt it for any purpose you want. If you want a second living room then we can build garden rooms that are as cosy as any room in your home. If you want somewhere for your teenage son to learn to play the drums ‘in peace’, or somewhere to put your X-Box and 90” plasma screen, then this is possible too.
Garden Offices
|
For people who work at home, drawing a distinction between office time and personal time can be a challenge. Unless you are lucky enough to have the free space in your home, it is likely that your Home Office will also double as a (spare) bedroom, dining room or even a cupboard under the stairs. It is difficult to work undisturbed without interruptions from children, pets and family members. It can also be difficult to switch off from work and live in the same space.
A garden office solves all of these problems. Your working space is sufficiently removed from the home so that you can do your job undisturbed, and then relax when you shut down your computer and commute across your garden back to the house. Modern garden offices have all of the conveniences of a Home Office, including central heating, Wi-Fi and plenty of natural light.
We can create bespoke designs to fit your working requirements and the layout of your garden. |
 |
Summerhouses
Summerhouses are an old-fashioned luxury that, thanks to affordable designs and cost-effective materials, are now available to anyone with a reasonably sized garden. Whether you want a small retreat to enjoy the cool of the summer morning, or a self-contained entertainment room, a summerhouse augments any garden and adds value to a property. We love summerhouses and have designed both traditional and contemporary styles for clients across the country.
BBQ Cabins
In the UK we are a nation of barbecue lovers but, let’s face it, the weather does not always smile upon us. Some of us choose to brave the elements and barbecue outside come what may. Others choose to build a stylish wooden barbecue cabin! Treat yourself!
Bespoke Style For Unique Homes
The exciting thing about garden rooms is that they can be adapted to suit any type of property, any size of garden and any purpose. You can make them as unique as you are through a huge range of different style options. You can choose between contemporary Western Cedar or traditional Redwood timber and a variety of flooring options. You can also choose your own style of windows, doors and roofing.
You can draw design inspiration from traditional English summerhouses, oriental pagodas or Norwegian stave churches. The choices really are endless – and with a typical garden room starting at only £10,000 or so, they are very affordable too.
The Benefits Of Garden Rooms
Garden rooms are quirky, unique and extremely cost-effective spaces, costing a fraction of the expense of a conservatory or house extension. Here are some of the benefits that our customers have found by choosing a garden room from Cabin Master.
No Planning Permission Needed
Most garden rooms do not require planning permission, so long as they are single-storey and do not take up more than one half of the total space of your garden. There are some exceptions to this, which we will describe in the next section, but for most buyers, the stress of securing planning permission is simply not a factor. This is a significant advantage over a house extension, because the planning process can be a frustrating headache. In our opinion, it is best to avoid it altogether – by opting for a versatile, personalised garden room.
Space Away From The Main House
As we discussed in our introduction, as households expand or grow older, their needs change. If there are several adults in a household, such as parents with grown up children, or elderly parents living with them, then space is a necessity to avoid getting under each other’s feet. A garden room provides that space at a crucial distance from the main house, so that members of the household can enjoy privacy and independence while remaining in the same home.
Multiple Uses
As we have seen, a garden room can be used for a huge variety of purposes. As a flexible space this can change over time. Your garden room may start off as a games room and then become an office. Once your garden room is installed it is a permanent part of your property, so it can change and grow as your needs mature.
Enjoy Your Garden More
Many people use their garden room simply to enjoy time in their gardens. As our rooms are warm and well insulated, you can use a garden room to shelter from the wind in the chill of the evening, to watch the sun go down, or relax outside away from the glare of a hot day.
An Affordable Option
Garden rooms really do offer so much more value for money than house extensions or conservatories. There are none of the structural problems and issues with foundations that plague conservatories. There are none of the endless expenses and hindrances of dealing with building contractors that are part and parcel of extending your house. A high quality garden room will cost you a bit less than a conservatory, but will be far more usable, warmer and adaptable.
Common Issues With Garden Rooms
Garden rooms are our absolute passion, so you’ll forgive us for having painted a utopian picture of owning a garden room in the previous sections. They really are all this and more, and we would love to show you how your own garden room can transform your home.
However, some people do run into issues with garden rooms and there are some common concerns that sometimes prevent people making an investment. In this section we will address some of these concerns, based on our experience building and installing hundreds of different garden rooms over the years.
Not Enough Room In The Garden
Garden rooms range from dinky little summerhouses to fairly large structures. We have built some big garden buildings, such as our play spaces and classrooms for schools, so there is no upper size limit. However, you do need to have enough space in your garden for what you have in mind. If your design takes up more than half of your garden space in terms of square metres, then you will probably need planning permission.
This poses a quandary for people with small gardens, but it is not insurmountable. When you chat with us, let us know how much space you have in your garden and what your plans are. Our goal is to design you a garden room that ticks all your boxes while making the best use of the space you have. You may be surprised about what you can do with even a small garden room. Many of the most stylish structures we have built have been very compact, but still provide a lot of internal space.
Too Expensive
Some people worry that a high quality garden room will be too expensive. It is fair to say that a garden room will cost more than a shed, a greenhouse or a small conservatory. However, quality is worth paying for. By opting for a cheap garden room you may limit its usability, it will not have the same life expectancy as a higher quality model, which should last decades. It isn’t possible to purchase a good garden room on a shoestring. But when compared with the costs associated with a house extension, loft conversion or large conservatory, then garden rooms are extremely cost-effective. As a rough guide, you shouldn’t expect to spend any more on a garden room than you would on a caravan or new car.
Worried About Disruption & Delays
People who have gone through building work or who know people that have, often express anxiety about the potential disruption involved with building a garden room. Fortunately, the two experiences can’t even be compared! Even large garden rooms can normally be erected within two or three working days. Laying the base and foundations is the most important part and is what takes the most time. After this, the structure itself, made from prefabricated parts, can be erected quickly. Putting up a garden room is comparatively quiet, less disruptive and a lot quicker than building a conservatory or extension. Furthermore, as there are fewer elements involved with building a garden room, there are less opportunities for delays caused by deliveries and labour issues.
Planning Restrictions
There are some circumstances in which you may need planning permission for your garden room. We have already mentioned size restrictions. There are also some restrictions on garden structures if you live in any of the following:
»A Grade One or Grade Two listed property
»A local conservation area
»An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
»A National Park
The rules for what you can and can’t do are different in each of these cases, and some properties fall under more than one category e.g. if you live in a listed building in an AONB. If you are keen on having a garden room, do not be dissuaded. The requirements are normally less stringent than they would be if you are building an extension, and we can always design a fantastic garden room that is both compliant and meets your requirements.
We have covered each of these areas in greater detail in our blog, so please take a look for further information. We are very happy to talk you through the planning process and answer any questions you may have about your location. Simply give us a call on 0115 932 8888.
What To Do If You Need Planning Permission
If you do find you need planning permission, don’t panic! We are not aware of many occasions where planning has been refused for a garden room, so as long as the application is clear and concise you should not have any problems. If in doubt, it is best to check with your local planning authority before you make plans to purchase a garden room.
Retrospective Planning
Retrospective planning permission is occasionally needed for homeowners who have built a garden room and then found afterwards that they needed planning permission. Again, there is a process to follow with a very high chance of a successful outcome, so please don’t worry. The council is highly unlikely to demand that the structure be removed, unless there has been a flagrant breach of planning rules. We can’t think of a single case where this has happened. Your retrospective planning application will need to be placed with your local planning authority.The vast majority of our Customers find the whole process quick, easy and inexpensive, especially if they have had prior experience with house extensions! At Cabin Master, we are here to offer our expertise and guidance throughout the whole process. If you have any questions please let us know. We’ll be happy to talk through any concerns you may have.
‘Off The Shelf’ Or Bespoke Garden Room?
If you have got this far you may have already started shopping around for a garden room. A brief search on Google will bring up dozens of different structures within a broad price range. We have discussed the different types of garden room that some customers go for, but the big choice is whether to opt for an off-the-shelf room, or a bespoke solution.
For people on a shoestring budget, buying a pre-packaged, off-the-shelf garden room is a strong temptation. It is possible to buy a garden room in sections and have it delivered to your home for as little as a few hundred pounds. However, this is the easy part. What happens after the courier has dropped off the package?
In this section we will look at why, despite the surface appeal of pre-packaged rooms, it is usually cheaper in the long run to go with a bespoke garden room.
All About That Base
The most important part of a garden room is the base. Your base is fundamental to the integrity of the building, so it is essential it is done professionally. Cheap off-the-shelf garden rooms never include the base, leaving you with a significant hidden cost.If the base is not included you can either attempt to do it yourself, or get a building firm to do it. This is a recipe for a whole range of problems.
If a base is not completely level it can create all sorts of issues with your garden room. You may not be able to fit windows or close your doors, or you may not be able to fit your roof. If you are in the unfortunate position of having paid a building contractor to create an unsatisfactory base, the question now arises as to whose responsibility it is to fix the blunder.
Most builders will argue that the fault lies with the garden room and that you should bring it up with the company. The garden room company will deny responsibility and blame the builders. It is your word against theirs and can easily end up in court. This can cause delays, headaches and further expenses not budgeted for – something you want to avoid at all costs.This is one of the main advantages of going for a bespoke, all-inclusive service such as ours. We include the base and all other fittings as part of the same quote, with no hidden extras. So you have peace of mind that your garden room is built properly and safely, first time.
Hidden Costs
Beyond the base, opting for a cheap, out-of-the-box garden room frequently comes with other hidden costs.
Before you purchase, you should always check to see if delivery and installation is included. If your room does not include installation, then you will need to make plans to do this independently. We don’t recommend you attempt this unless you have building experience. Even the keenest DIY enthusiast can easily come a cropper when erecting a large garden room.
Additionally, most garden room companies do not provide any of the following:
»Plumbing
»Heating
»Electrics
»Floor coverings
»Doors
»Windows
»Wi-Fi
»Roof covering
As you can see, what started off as the bargain of the century can quickly escalate in cost as you are forced to seek out multiple contractors and spend money on extras that you hadn’t planned for.
The Bespoke Option
What is the alternative? You can save yourself stress, time and money over the long term by opting for a personalised, bespoke garden room design service such as the one we offer at Cabin Master. You may pay a little bit more upfront, but we include everything with no hidden costs. Your quote will include design, assembly, delivery, full installation and after sales service.
You get the garden room you want, in a style you love, with peace of mind that every detail is taken care of.
In the final section of this guide we will chat a little bit more about our business, what we offer our customers and what we think makes us stand out from our competitors.
Why Choose Cabin Master
It’s simple really. At Cabin Master our business boils down to providing a great quality service in all we do. Beautiful, great quality buildings, professional installations, and first-class customer service. We don’t cut corners. With us you get the complete service with everything included, from initial consultation, through to design, production, delivery and installation. We also take care of plumbing, electrics, wiring – you name it; whatever you need to make your garden room as comfy and functional as possible.
We are a team of experienced craftsmen, joiners and carpenters, with decades of combined experience in the industry. What brings us together is a love of garden rooms, a flair for woodwork and a commitment to world-class service. We knew there must be an alternative to overpriced conservatories and wanted to help revolutionise the way people viewed and used garden rooms. That was years ago and we have worked with some fantastic customers since.
We are now one of the largest manufacturer of timber buildings in the UK, with a factory based here in Derbyshire. You can find out more about our team by visiting our website www.cabinmaster.co.uk/about-us
We do everything in-house. When you order a garden room with us, these are the guys who will be working on your building.
What Is Included
You get the full package with every garden room. This means a fully bespoke service to suit your requirements. Our service starts with a site visit so we can create a building that fits in nicely with the space you have available. This is why we don’t have any set designs or standard sizes. Everything is bespoke and made from scratch. The price includes the full building, including coverings, boarding, windows, doors, electrics etc. Nothing is left to chance and everything is talked about at an early stage before we issue a quote, so there are no nasty surprises.
Price Guide
Our garden rooms start from only £10,000, which is a bargain in terms of value and when compared with the cost of an extension. Depending on the sort of building you want it may cost more, but we guarantee complete transparency from day one about what things are likely to cost.
Installation
Your garden room will only take a matter of days to install, which includes putting down the base, so there will be no unnecessary disruption or delays.
Peace Of Mind
Rather than dealing with half a dozen contractors to set up your building, with us you deal with one company for all of your services. You will have a personal point of contact who will be directly involved with your project, so you can call us at any time and we will solve any problems that might arise.
Most builds will not require planning permission, but we like to make sure that every eventuality is covered. Therefore, all our buildings are designed with planning permission in mind, so that if you do need it, it won’t cause you any delays.
It is rare that people have any issues with their finished buildings, but we want you to have peace of mind. Each building comes with a 10 year manufacturer’s guarantee.
Get A Quote
If we have managed to convey even a little bit of our passion for garden buildings in this e-book then we’ll consider it a job well done! So if you need more space for your household, what are you waiting for?
Get in touch and let us design you a garden room that will get your neighbours talking and serve you well for many years.
Want to speak to one of our team?
Please call us on: 0115 932 8888.
Alternatively you can send us a message and one of us will get back to you ASAP: www.cabinmaster.co.uk/contact-us
If you want to take a look at our buildings in person, why not pay us a visit at our show site? We have a huge range of garden rooms on display, showcasing all of the most popular types of building.
We are open weekdays and weekends between 10 AM and 4 PM. No need to make an appointment. Just drop by – the kettle is always on.
We have a huge range of building at our new Show Site including Offices, Gyms and Cabins. Visit us and we can help with designs, pricing and more.
