Garden office builders near me

More and more of us are working from home – so, it makes sense that more and more of us are investing in the perfect home office. A garden office is a spot where you can focus, hide yourself away from distractions and close the door on work at the end of the day.

Garden office builders are pros at making your garden office ideas into a reality. Here, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about hiring garden office builders near you – from where to find one, to how much a garden office typically costs.

Want to get started on finding garden office builders near you?

There are two quick and easy ways to find trusted garden office builders near you with Checkatrade:

• Request a quote. Just tell us about your garden office needs and we’ll reach out to experts who are recommended by your neighbours. Our members will contact you directly

• Search your postcode. You can type your postcode into our search feature to browse a list of top Checkatrade professionals offering garden rooms in your area

Your questions answered about garden offices near you

What are garden rooms?

Garden rooms are standalone structures built in your garden. They can be used for many different things – from art studios to music rooms, home gyms to kids’ playrooms – and, of course, home offices!

Usually, garden rooms are constructed from wood. However, you can also find garden rooms constructed from brick and other materials.

They differ from sheds and other garden buildings in that they’re usually insulated and fitted with electrics. This allows them to be used as a true extension of your living space, albeit one that’s separate from your house.

Why build an office in the garden?

Investing in a garden office – rather than building a home office in an existing room of your house – has many benefits. These include:

• Separation between work and personal life

• Gain extra space you don’t have in the home

• Enjoy garden views

• Add value to your home

• Increase productivity with no distractions

What is a flat pack summer house?

A flat pack summer house or garden office is a garden room that arrives in flat pack form. They’re designed for self-assembly, hence why they’re often marketed as DIY kits.

Flat pack garden rooms are supposed to be relatively easy to assemble, even with limited DIY experience. However, every kit and supplier is different – so, it’s important to check the tools, level of experience and amount of time required before investing in one of these.

Where to find a garden office for sale?

You can buy a flat pack garden office from a number of companies online – these tend to be cost-effective, but you will need to invest significant time and energy into ensuring that you set the space up to a high standard.

Alternatively, you can simply find a garden office builder near you. They’ll usually take the time to understand your requirements before recommending a garden office that’s suited to you and your needs. Depending on the garden office builder, they might build a garden office for you from scratch. Or, they might have pre-fabricated structures that they’ll be able to erect in your garden.

Some garden office builders will even be happy to convert an existing shed or garden building into a garden office for you.

Do you need planning permission for a garden office?

One of the great things about garden offices is that they don’t usually require planning permission. This is because they tend to fall under your permitted development rights.

That said, you’ll need to keep your garden room under a specific size and height in order for this to be the case. You’ll also need to obtain planning permission if your home is a listed building or you want to build your garden office at the front of your property.

Your garden office builder will be able to help you understand whether your plans fall under permitted development. However, if you’re unsure, you can check with your local authority planning department.

Can a garden office builder put in an electricity connection?

Of course, your garden office will need electricity. Some garden office builders will be able to connect your garden office to your home’s mains supply for you, especially if they’re part of a large company.

However, many garden office builders won’t. That’s because domestic electrical work legally has to be carried out by an electrician – and many garden office builders won’t bring an electrician to site with them. In this case, you’ll need to find a good local electrician yourself and arrange for them to connect your garden office to the mains.

Always make sure to check what’s included in the scope of the job when you’re getting quotes from garden office builders. That way, you can make sure you understand what the price covers, and avoid any unexpected surprises.

Why hire a professional rather than buying a flat pack garden room?

If you’re a keen DIY-er and you’re looking to save money, you might be tempted to get a flat pack garden room kit, which you can assemble yourself.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that there’s a big variation in terms of how easy these kits are to assemble – as well as the kinds of tools you need and how much manpower is required. Here are a few reasons to contract a professional garden office builder near you instead:

• Save time. Building your own garden office will be extremely time-consuming. A garden office builder will be able to complete the work for you without you having to lift a finger

• Save energy. Garden offices aren’t always the smallest of structures and you’re likely to need a decent amount of strength in order to manoeuvre the individual pieces. A garden office builder will have it covered

• Gain expertise. Some flat pack garden rooms can be relatively complicated to build, especially if you don’t have that much DIY experience. A garden office builder near you will know exactly what they’re doing and they’ll also have the right tools to complete the job

• High standard. Even if you assemble it perfectly, a flat pack garden room is unlikely to be as high spec as some of the more complex garden pods and offices on the market, which would need to be assembled by a professional

• Bespoke. Depending on the kind of garden office you go for and your budget, a garden office builder will be able to tailor it to your needs in a way you’d struggle to do with an off-the-shelf, flat pack garden room

How much do garden houses in the UK cost?

Garden offices in the UK vary hugely in terms of cost. The price you end up paying will depend on a number of factors, such as:

• The size of your garden office

• Whether you choose a modular or bespoke design

• Features such as doors and windows

• The materials you choose

• Internal spec (eg. plastering, cladding, electrics and plumbing)

• External landscaping (eg. do you want a path from your home to your garden office?)

• Your location

That said, you’re looking at somewhere between £3,200 - £7,800 for a basic, small insulated garden office. Alternatively, you can expect to pay between £3,500 - £20,000 for a home office pod. Our garden room cost guide goes into more detail.

How do I find a reputable garden office builder near me?

Want to make sure you’re contracting a reputable garden office builder near you? Here are a few simple things you can do:

• Read reviews. Check for reviews of their work online and see if you can find pictures of similar garden offices they’ve completed

• Get multiple quotes. Try to get three quotes from different companies so you can see which company is best for you

• Use Checkatrade! All our members face up to 12 checks before becoming a member and must adhere to the Checkatrade standard