- Professional Quality: Specialist companies bring expertise and experience to the table, ensuring a high-quality build that meets regulations and standards.
- Options and choice: Working with professionals allows for personalised designs tailored to your specific needs and preferences.
- Convenience: From design to construction, everything is managed by the company, offering convenience, peace of mind and above all saving you time
- Guarantee: garden room companies will give you a guarantee, so in the unlikely event of something going wrong, they will come out and fix it
- Higher Cost: The expertise and convenience come at a price, often making this the most expensive option.
- Limited DIY Involvement: If you enjoy hands-on projects or want to be heavily involved, this option may not satisfy your DIY itch.
What’s the cheapest option?
Building a garden room yourself is the cheapest option, however, there are pros and cons…
Building A Garden Room
Pros:
- Cost Savings: DIY projects often result in significant cost savings, as you're not paying for labour and you are buying the materials at a cost price
- Sense of Achievement: Building something with your own hands can be incredibly rewarding and satisfying.
- Flexibility: You have complete control over the design and materials used, allowing for customisation on a budget.
- Skill Requirements: Building a garden room from scratch requires a certain level of DIY proficiency and knowledge of construction techniques.
- Time-Consuming: DIY projects can take considerably longer to complete, especially if you're learning as you go.
- Risk of Errors: Without professional guidance, there's a higher risk of mistakes that could compromise the integrity or aesthetics of the structure.
- Quality of finish: Unless you are a skilled tradesperson with all the tools, it’s unlikely you’ll get as good a finish as a professional who builds garden rooms day in, and day out.
- Hidden Costs: If it is your first time building a garden room and even if it is not, there can always be hidden costs. A professional garden room company will have costed a project many times before and know what to look out for on a site survey to mitigate any unexpected costs.
Buying a Kit and Constructing It Yourself
Pros:
- Affordability: Kits offer a middle ground between hiring a specialist company and building from scratch, providing cost savings without sacrificing quality.
- Ease of Assembly: Kits typically come with detailed instructions and pre-cut materials, making assembly more manageable for DIY enthusiasts.
- Options Available: There's a wide range of kit options available, from basic structures to more elaborate designs, providing flexibility to suit different needs and budgets.
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- Limited Customisation: While kits offer some degree of customisation, they may not fulfil all your design preferences or requirements.
- Quality Concerns: The quality of materials in kits can vary, so it's essential to research and choose a reputable supplier to ensure durability and longevity.
- Assembly Challenges: Despite detailed instructions, assembling a kit still requires time, effort, and some level of skill, particularly if unforeseen challenges arise.
- Additional Cost: you will be responsible for installing the foundations and engaging a qualified electrician to do the electrical work.
In conclusion, the decision of whether to build or buy a garden room ultimately depends on your budget, skill level, and time. Specialist companies offer convenience, professional quality and a long guarantee but it comes at a higher cost. DIY projects provide cost savings and a sense of achievement but require time, skill, and effort. Kits offer a balance between affordability and convenience, with varying levels of customisation and assembly complexity. By weighing the pros and cons of each option, you can make an informed decision that best suits your needs and budget.
For complete transparency, it’s important to let you know that My Retreat Garden Rooms make and install garden rooms using professional installers. We also sell garden rooms in kit format. However, we do not sell garden room plans for self-build.
FAQs & Helpful Pages
- How much does a garden room cost?
- What is the best base for a garden room?
- Do garden rooms need planning permission?
- Design a 3D garden room for free and get an instant price
- The pros and cons of adding a sedum roof
- Is it cheaper to buy or build a garden room?
- Can you sleep in a garden room?
- Go to the Planning Portal to read more on Building Regulations
- Go to the Planning Portal to find out more about Planning Permission and find your Local Authority