This might seem like a daft question. We’ve even got an article on here that answers the opposite question: why is Gillies & Mackay so expensive? So how can we be cheap and expensive at the same time?

Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for, and what you’re comparing us to. It’s the same reason we get people walking round the Show Area saying “Very nice, but they’re a bit expensive,” while someone else looking at the same building says “Wow, it’s much cheaper than I expected!” 

How do Gillies & Mackay’s prices compare to other garden building companies?

Comparison is a vital part of shopping, whatever you’re buying. And when you compare Gillies & Mackay to other offerings on the market, we’re often the most expensive option. But we didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to start fleecing our customers. Our prices reflect the quality of our materials, the standard of our craftsmanship and the longevity of our buildings. In fact, if you’re after a top-quality garden room, you may well assume that the more you pay for it, the better it will be.

But our Radiata Garden Rooms directly challenge that assumption. You can actually pay more for a similarly sized building elsewhere. “More expensive than Gillies & Mackay? You must be joking?” But it’s true. And it’s not because we’ve compromised on quality. Come on! That’s not how we do things here. It’s because our Radiatas were designed to do a very specific job, and priced accordingly. 

Then there’s the flip side. The garden rooms that are noticeably cheaper than us. And if you’ve looked at some of these, you might think we’re charging a crazy price. This is an objection we’ve heard many times before. And it is true that we’re much more expensive than some options out there. But it’s not because we’re all making the same thing, and we’re just ludicrously overcharging for it. We’re building to a completely different standard. And that will be worth it for some people, and not for others.

Let’s get into it.

So to clear up any confusion, it’s a question I thought I’d tackle head on. Before we get started though, I just want to say that I don’t think our garden rooms are cheap. Prices start at £11,949. That’s a serious amount of money to spend, especially these days (cost of living crisis, 50p for a Freddo, and all that). But to some people that price represents tremendous value, and to others, it doesn’t. So let’s get into why.

How does a Radiata Garden Room compare to a Building Control-compliant garden room?

A Building Control-compliant garden room has a specification that meets Building Control regulations. A garden room needs to be built this way if it’s large (over 12m²) or if it’s going to be lived in. Larger garden rooms need more structural support because of the increased load on their walls. And to live in a garden room it needs to meet strict requirements for things like insulation and moisture management. So, this specification is complex to suit the size and intended purpose of the garden room. A BC-compliant garden room is essentially built to the same requirements as a new build house. As you can imagine, garden rooms with a BC-compliant spec are expensive. 

For example, our own Blackstone Garden Rooms are BC-compliant, prices start at £20,000 and they’re highly custom builds. 

If you compare the price of one of our Radiata Garden Rooms to a BC-compliant garden room, a Radiata will seem much cheaper. That’s not because we’ve compromised on quality. It’s because we use a specification that’s designed to suit the footprint of the room (under 12m²) and the intended purpose. Our Radiatas aren’t intended to be permanently lived in. They don’t need a BC-compliant construction, as it’s completely overkill for this size of building. They feature a 4-layer wall which keeps them well-insulated and completely watertight. This means you can reliably use the garden room year-round. The price difference is a result of a different way of building, rather than a gap in quality. 

Further Reading: What’s the best specification for a small garden room? 

What are you paying for with a Building Control-compliant garden room?

With a BC-compliant garden room you’re getting a construction that’s designed to live in, and support larger structures. If you want a garden room larger than 12m², then a BC-compliant spec is worth considering. Or, if you want to live in your garden room and do things like add a shower and a sink with mains drainage, then a BC-compliant spec is exactly what you need. 

It’s less about being cheap or expensive and more about what type of garden room offers you the best value. For anyone who needs a garden room that’s large in size, or intended for residential use, a BC-compliant spec will be well worth the investment. But if you don’t need this level of engineering then a BC-compliant room is probably too expensive, and not worth it for what you need. 

How does a Radiata Garden Room compare to a supplier-bought garden room?

Supplier-bought garden rooms are usually mass-produced and sold by large timber building companies. The suppliers don’t make the garden rooms they simply sell them on. That’s why they tend to have a huge catalogue of different buildings. A supplier-bought garden room usually has a more simple specification — typically made with whitewood timber, a felt roof, timber window frames and sometimes even a single-skinned construction. This type of construction is designed to meet a price point rather than for performance or longevity.

Supplier-bought garden rooms are often DIY timber kits, you either assemble the building yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Be aware that “DIY-friendly” is often an overstatement, especially given the complexity of an insulated building like a garden room. Having read a lot of reviews of these kits, I’d say they’re not beginner-friendly. Even people experienced in trades often find the instructions hard to follow, and the sheer number of parts makes assembly time-consuming. 

Another thing to point out with supplier-bought garden rooms is that they rarely come with any meaningful guarantee. Often the framing or bearers of the building are guaranteed for 5 or 10 years but this is the guarantee of the pressure-treatment process rather than the building itself. 

Between the simple specification, DIY assembly and lack of guarantee this is where the difference in price comes from between a supplier-bought garden room and a Radiata Garden Room. 

What are you paying for with a supplier-bought garden room?

You’re paying for a budget-friendly option. A supplier-bought garden room is ideal for anyone who is looking for a more temporary structure and doesn’t mind the challenge of putting it up themselves. With a supplier-bought garden room you’re paying for the building itself, without the added extras of service. You compromise on the service to secure the lower price point. Meaning you don’t get much aftercare advice or guarantee, and you have to assemble the building yourself. But if you’re happy with that trade off then a supplier-bought garden room will be good value for you. 

If you do plan to use your garden room year-round make sure you buy a properly insulated garden room. A lot of supplier-bought garden rooms are actually single-skinned buildings (like log cabins) that aren’t really fit for year round use. A single-skinned garden room only has one layer of timber making up the walls which means in winter you’ll be absolutely freezing, and struggle to heat the place. This is something to look out for when buying a garden room from a supplier. Because if a building doesn’t meet your expectations the purchase won’t be great value, no matter how cheap it was. 

If performance, longevity and convenience are main priorities for you, then a supplier-bought garden room probably won’t offer much value for money for you. And your money would be better spent on a higher-spec garden room like a Radiata, or BC-compliant room depending on your needs and plans. 

Access our Radiata Garden Room Buyer's Guide

Everything you need to know about Radiata Garden Rooms in one easy-to-digest guide!

Enter your email address below to access your copy.

First Name (required)

Last Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Marketing Consent: (required)

I confirm that I give consent to Gillies & Mackay to contact me by email for marketing purposes. We promise to never sell or share your information with outside parties, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.

I confirm

What are you paying for with a Radiata Garden Room?

With a Radiata Garden Room you’re paying for exactly what you need if you’re looking for a small garden room (under 12m²). You’re getting a dedicated specification that’s been designed specifically for this size and purpose. The purpose being a space you can comfortably use everyday, year-round, for whatever you need it for. This specification prioritises premium materials like our Radiata Pine ThermoWood cladding and aluminium double-glazed windows and doors, without a wall construction that’s overkill for the size and use. So you get a high-quality space that’s built to last, without paying for something you don’t need. A Radiata Garden Room offers great value if you need a small garden room that will snugly fit into your garden, but is still built to a high-standard and designed to perform in the Scottish climate.

Are you paying for service?

With a Radiata Garden Room you’re also paying for a well-rounded service. We project manage each garden room build, meaning we organise your base, electrics and planning permission if needed. A Radiata Garden Room is cut, built and finished at our workshop here in Errol, by our skilled joiners, then it’s delivered and assembled by our own delivery team. This gives us a lot more control over quality, because it’s our processes and team handling your garden room at each stage.

This service doesn’t just apply to the build, each garden room is guaranteed for 30 years. This means we tell you exactly how to look after it to get the most from your investment, and if anything goes wrong, we’ll always be here to rectify it. If service, convenience and peace of mind are a top priority for you, a Radiata Garden Room will offer you plenty of value for money. 

If you do need something bigger than 12m², or you’re planning to live in it, a BC-compliant garden room is what you need, and that’s where your money is best spent. 

How does each garden room compare on price?

So we’ve already established where each type of garden room sits on the price scale, but what does this look like in real numbers? This table compares the price of two Building-Control complaint garden rooms, two supplier-bought garden rooms and our own Radiata Garden Rooms to give you an idea of how the price differs across the three groups. 

Are Gillies & Mackay’s Garden Rooms too cheap?

No, of course a Radiata Garden Room isn’t too cheap. A Radiata Garden Room is fairly priced to match its size, performance and lifespan. And if you’re looking for a wee cosy space that you can use year-round, and is built to a premium standard then a Radiata will offer you excellent value for money. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more temporary solution and don’t need all the bells and whistles when it comes to service, then a supplier-bought garden room (as long as it’s properly insulated) will be money well spent. 

Or, if you want a garden room spec that rivals a new-build house and can support a large sized room then a Building Control-compliant garden room is going to be the best investment. 

Every garden and every budget is different. If you want to see what a Radiata would cost for your own space, give our Price Estimator a shot. Simply, follow the link, answer a few questions about your priorities and plans, pop in your email, and instantly get your estimate.