How Long Does It Take to Build a Garden Room?

The building part is quicker than most people expect: our average build time is approximately 10 working days, depending on any additional services you choose. But the build is only one step, so here’s the whole journey from first chat to finished room, and what can make it quicker or slower.

Step 1: Talk to us

It starts with a conversation. Tell us what you’d like the space for, whether that’s a garden office, a gym, a studio or a multi-room annexe, and we’ll help you choose the right solution. Call or WhatsApp us on 07949 515394, or send us your details.

Step 2: Free design consultation and site survey

Next, we visit your home. It’s free and there’s no obligation. We look at your garden, check the ground and the access, and give you expert advice on sizes, design options, add-ons and pricing, tailored to you and your budget.

Step 3: Your quote

After the site survey you’ll receive a detailed, fully itemised quote with no hidden costs. Our published prices already include VAT, foundations and electrics, and you can see them all in our garden room price guide.

Step 4: Planning, if you need it

Most of our garden rooms come under permitted development, so there’s no planning application to wait for.

Some garden rooms do need planning permission: for example because of their height or position, because your home is listed, or because it’s an annexe that someone will live in. In conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes (such as the South Downs National Park and the High Weald), the rules are also tighter, so a room at the side of the house needs permission. If yours does, our in-house planning consultant prepares and submits the application for you and keeps you updated on its progress. Councils usually aim to decide straightforward applications within about eight weeks. An annexe with a bedroom also needs building regulations approval, whatever its size, so allow time for that too.

Even when you don’t need permission, we recommend applying for a Lawful Development Certificate, which confirms your garden room is lawful. The application can be done online, and the council should give its decision within 8 weeks of receiving a complete application with the fee paid. It can take longer if they need more information, so it’s worth allowing for in your plans.

Step 5: The build

Once everything is agreed, we book in your build. Lead times vary with the season, as well as the size and design of your garden room, so it’s worth getting in touch early if you’d like your room ready by a particular date.

On site, a typical garden room takes about two working weeks. Larger projects such as annexes take longer: one Eastbourne family wrote in their Google review that their annexe took three weeks from start to finish.

Before we arrive, we just ask you to clear the area where your garden room will go.

What can affect the timeline

• Your ground. Slopes or overgrown areas need levelling first. We offer a levelling service, which we’ll discuss at your site survey.
• Foundations. Our ground screw foundations are installed in a single visit, with no digging or wet concrete, so there’s no waiting for concrete to set.
• Access. Our 2.4m long x 1.2m wide panels, and all the doors and windows, need to fit through or down the side of the house to reach your garden.
• Size and extras. Bigger rooms, annexes with kitchens and shower rooms, and extras such as decking or landscaping all add time.
• Planning. If your room needs planning permission, or you’d like a Lawful Development Certificate first, allow time for the council’s decision.

Step 6: Handover and after-care

When we hand over, your garden room is fully insulated, finished inside and out and ready to use. Every build comes with our 10 year guarantee, and six months later our team comes back for an after-care visit, to make sure your garden room is still as perfect as the day we handed over the keys.

Thinking of a garden room for spring?

If you’d like to be using your new garden room by spring or summer, now is a good time to start. A winter site survey leaves plenty of time for the design, any planning and booking in your build.

Book your free site survey, or call or WhatsApp us on 07949 515394.