Garden room guides
Plain answers to the questions we get asked most, written for hillside gardens and Pennine weather.
What does a garden cinema room need?
A garden cinema room needs enough depth for the screen size, real blackout, sound insulation so the neighbours don't hear the film, a heavier electrical supply and a wired internet connection. A 4 × 3 m room suits a 65 to 85 inch screen and typically costs £18,000 to £25,000 built, before the screen and sound system.
Should you self-build a garden room?
You can, and a capable DIYer can save roughly a third of the cost of a fitted room. The saving is mostly labour, so it costs you weeks of evenings and weekends. The base and the roof need care, and the electrical connection must be done or certified by a registered electrician whatever you build yourself.
How do you get electricity to a garden room?
An armoured cable runs from the house consumer unit, usually buried 450 to 600 mm deep, to a small consumer unit in the garden room. The work is notifiable under Part P of the building regulations, so it must be done or certified by a registered electrician. For a typical room it costs about £1,200 to £2,500, more for long runs or a hot tub.
Can you put a garden room on a sloping garden?
Yes. A gentle slope is usually handled with ground screws or a raised timber frame for little extra cost. A steep or terraced garden may need a cut-in slab or a retaining wall, which typically adds £1,500 to £5,000. On a slope, watch the 2.5 metre height limit near boundaries, because height is measured from the highest ground next to the room.
How long does a garden room last?
A well-built, insulated timber garden room on a good base should last 25 years or more, and many will last far longer with care. The parts wear at different rates: an EPDM rubber roof lasts 20 to 30 years, treated timber cladding 15 to 30 depending on the species and finish, and double glazing 20 years or so. Damp is what shortens a garden room's life most.
Ask for a price
Three short parts. Tell us where, what and when, and a Huddersfield-area garden room joiner can come and measure up.
This is a free introduction service: we find a local garden room joiner, tell you who they are, and pass your details on only if you agree. How that works.
Thanks, that's come through.
- We'll look for a garden room joiner who covers your postcode and tell you who they are, usually within one working day.
- Your details go to them only once you say yes.
- They'll arrange to measure up and then give you a written price. No marketing from us.