Garden Rooms

One way to add value to your home is by installing a garden room. There are numerous options available to you when it comes to garden rooms, so read on to find out all you need to know.

What is a garden room?

A garden room is a building situated within the front or back garden. It differs from an extension in that it is not connected to the main building. Typical garden rooms like our Haydock, Goodwood T12 and Nesse Plus models are insulated to keep noise in and the elements out.

Some common reasons why people have garden rooms in the UK include: remote working, games rooms and home gymnasiums. These are often cabin-style rooms made out of wooden logs or panels, like the Corner Log Cabin and the Cumbrae House Log Cabin.

How to build a garden room

You can buy a garden room and have it installed, or you can even build it yourself. That might sound difficult, but most people who build a wood garden cabin room do so from a pre-prepared kit, where all the pieces have been provided and are shaped to fit. All you have to do is piece them together, and you will be supplied with instructions.

One choice that you will need to make is whether you want an off-the-shelf kit in a set size, or a made-to-measure one. This will depend on the size and shape of your garden and what you plan to use the room for.

How to insulate a garden room

Garden rooms in the UK must be insulated to retain heat during the winter and keep it out in summer. One common form of insulation is polyurethane, which has an aluminium foil core and PIR foam boards. You just cut the boards to fit into the necessary areas of the garden room frame, and it provides thermal insulation without excessive thickness.

A second choice is to use soft rock wool insulation. A downside is that its thermal capacity is lower, so greater thickness is needed to achieve the same level of insulation. This wool can be fitted easily into gaps in the frame, so actual installation is simpler. It works well for muffling noise from within the garden rooms.

To fit insulation, use either 50mm polyurethane boards or 100mm rock wool. Install them between the frame joists, with expanding foam to seal gaps. You can fix them into place with 2x1 timber pieces if necessary.

Do you need planning permission for a garden room?

The majority of garden rooms in the UK come under the heading of outbuildings. That means no planning permission is needed. An exception is if you live in maisonettes, tenements or flats, because these do not have permitted development rights.

There may also be an issue depending on the size of the planned building. If you own your own home, consider whether your planned garden room would affect others. If you are unsure, contact the local council before construction or installation.

At Logspan, we stock wood cabin garden rooms in a range of different styles. Call us today and place your order.