I know that as the year comes to an end, it may feel overwhelming to take on a Garden Room project. You’re probably thinking, “The last thing on my mind is my garden!” I understand where you’re coming from. Buying a Garden Room may seem like a daunting process filled with unknowns. Or, maybe you’ve faced nothing but problems when buying a garden room in the past? At G&M, we’re here to guide you the whole way!
In this blog, I’ll discuss the top three concerns customers have when considering buying one of our Radiata Garden Rooms: planning permission, groundworks and unknown costs, time and effort.
Let’s look at these issues and see how each can be resolved:
Do I need Planning Permission?
We know that the need for planning permission often discourages people from buying a Garden Room. However, it is a common misconception that planning permission is a complicated and expensive process. The reality is that most gardens won’t need planning permission to add a Radiata Garden Room to the space. If you’re unsure whether you will need planning permission, our team will help you determine this as part of our sales process.
Our Radiata Garden Rooms very often fall within Permitted Development rules. Therefore, the main reasons for needing planning permission are if you live in a conservation area or if you want to place your Radiata Garden Room near the boundary of your property.
Don’t fret! Even if you do need Planning Permission, this process is much simpler than it seems. Applying to your local council costs around £300.00, and you can easily do it yourself if you’re handy with a scale rule or software that can draw it for you.
Alternatively, most reputable Garden Room manufacturers will offer to take care of it for you as part of their service. This is what we do at G&M. For £696, we’ll handle the whole process for you. This includes the council’s charge and covers all the behind-the-scenes admin that we take care of for you.
What groundwork do I need?
Customers often worry about groundwork and are unsure of what type of base a Radiata Garden Room needs. This is a valid concern. It’s crucial to get the base of your building right to ensure the durability and longevity of your Radiata Garden Room. There’s no point in having a lovely timber building on an unstable base.
At G&M, we can cover this process for you! We work with our accredited trades from across Scotland to ensure your base is built to our standards. We’ll introduce you to one of our groundworks teams, and they’ll conduct a site visit to give you a quote for your baseworks.
What type of base do I need?
A Radiata Garden room requires either a Level Slabbed Base or Ground Screws, depending on your site. With G&M, you can trust that we will build your base to support the load of your Radiata Garden Room for its entire lifetime.
How much do Garden Rooms cost?
We know that unknown costs are one of the biggest worries customers have when it comes to their Radiata Garden Room projects. That’s why, at G&M, we offer clear and upfront pricing for each aspect of your project: groundworks, electrics, and the full build. All of our prices include VAT, delivery and assembly, so there are no hidden costs.
How much will my Radiata Garden Room cost?
The price of our Radiata Garden Rooms ranges from £11,949 to £16,947 depending on size and design.
How much will groundworks cost?
You’ll get a custom quote for your groundworks after receiving a site visit. Groundworks costs vary considerably, depending on your site access and the existing level of your garden, which is why a site visit is necessary. A good ballpark cost, though, is between £2,200 and £4,500.
How much will electrics cost?
Jamie and Lee, our accredited electricians from RC Electrical, carry out the majority of our electrical work. If you want to have electricity hooked up to your Radiata Garden Room, you will receive a custom quote for this work. As a guide, electrical installation will cost around £500 – £1,500.
How much will laminate flooring cost?
Our Radiata Garden Rooms come with a 19mm tongue and groove subfloor. While this provides a solid foundation, we recommend adding finished flooring such as laminate, on top.
We offer laminate flooring as an optional extra, and our finishing team will install it for you. However, you are welcome to choose and install your own flooring option to suit your desired look.
Laminate Flooring: £750– £1,220 (depending on size and model).
This post is part of our Radiata Garden Room Buyer's Guide
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How much time will the project take?
We understand your time is precious, and you want to avoid a garden project that drags on for longer than anticipated. That’s why the turnaround from receiving your Garden Room quote to the scheduling of your delivery date can be as quick or as slow as you prefer. If you’re keen to get things moving, we can complete this process in under a week! Let’s take a look at a typical timeline:
The G&M Process
Initial Consultation: Your journey begins with a chat with our team to discuss your project needs. We’ll then determine what work needs to be quoted for (such as groundwork or electrics) and arrange any necessary site visits.
Receive Your Quote: Following your consultation, we’ll provide you with a quote for your Radiata Garden Room.
Introduction to Accredited Trades: We’ll then introduce you to and liaise with the accredited trades that will carry out your groundworks and/or electrics.
Site Visit: Groundwork and electrical teams will visit your site (usually on the same day).
Full Cost of Works: You’ll receive a full quote for your project, which includes the cost of the Radiata Garden Room, groundworks and electrics.
Delivery Date: Once you’ve accepted the final quote, we’ll arrange your official delivery date.
Delivery Timeline
Here’s what you can expect during the week of your Radiata Garden Room’s delivery:
1 or 2 Weeks Before:
Groundwork commences: The groundworks team will construct your base to our specifications, ready for your new Radiata Garden Room.
Week of Delivery:
- Day 1: Our delivery team assembles the body of your Radiata Garden Room on top of the pre-prepared base.
- Day 2: The electrician carries out the first fit of the electrics.
- Day 3 & 4: Our finishing team lines, insulates and finishes the interior.
- Day 5: The electrician returns for the final fit of the electrics.
- Day 6: Your Radiata Garden Room is complete and all yours to enjoy!
How much effort is needed from me?
At G&M, we will fully project-manage your Radiata Garden Room project, ensuring the process runs smoothly from start to finish. So, you can sit back, relax and get on with your day-to-day life. We’ll introduce you to and liaise with our accredited trades to arrange any site visits and work required for your project. Our team also takes care of delivery and assembly, so no DIY is necessary. If you require Planning Permission, we can even take care of the application process for you.
Our delivery and assembly process, including electrics and lining and insulating your Garden Room, can all be completed in under a week. This means there is minimal disruption to your home. The only brief interruption is when your Radiata Garden Room is connected to the mains electricity. Apart from that, our team is happy to work away quietly, taking care of every detail!
What are the top three problems when buying a Garden Room?
Now you know that starting a Radiata Garden Room project isn’t so scary after all. All these challenges concerning buying a Garden Room can be easily managed with the right guidance and support of your garden room company. At G&M, we’re committed to making your Radiata Garden Room journey simple and enjoyable! Our team can’t wait to hear about your project. Book a no-obligation Consultation to get started.
