Frequently Asked Questions

Find out more about what others have asked us.

Where are SmartSpaces Garden Rooms made?

The garden room is built in the UK. The timber structure is fabricated in our workshop in Yorkshire and then shipped to the client’s site where the install team takes over. The only items we import are our sustainably-sourced Western Red Cedar and Thermowood cladding.

Do I need planning permission for my new garden room?

Planning & building regulations are a bit of a grey area so you’re always best to check, but here are some basics to know:

All of our Garden Rooms apart from our Pitched are 2.5m in height. Pitched is 4m in height.
Under 15m², your Garden Room can be built to the boundary
Over 15m² you ideally need to be 1m away from a boundary
Over 30m² (internally) you may need Building Regulations
Planning may be needed if you live in a Listed Building or curtilage of one, AONB, conservation, National Park or adjacent to any of these
In 98% of cases planning permission is not required however if you are unsure a quick phone call to your local authority is all it takes to be certain.

Can you adjust the size and layout of your garden room?

Absolutely! We work closely with our clients and take pride in being flexible. We build to any size and layout, offering various options and a bespoke service to ensure that your garden room perfectly suits your needs.

Can I have a log burner installed?

Yes you can. We are happy to arrange for a HEATAS registered engineer to come and fit one for you. We have a number of examples of log burners installs in our gallery section.

How secure are the windows and doors?

All our windows and doors are UK manufactured and are double glazed to BS7412 specification and feature toughened glazing which is both thermally efficient and safe. All our windows and doors are fitted with high security (insurance grade) multi point locking system.

Can I use it as an accommodation unit?

Yes, but this would require planning permission approval and built to meet building control regulations. The site manager can project manage the full build for you.

Do you install in my area?

Yes! Absolutely! Our team of professional fitters install garden rooms across the length and breadth of mainland UK and have shipped completed garden rooms as far as Jersey. Delivery is free within 100 miles of our workshop in York.

What guarantees are offered with SmartSpaces garden rooms?

All SmartSpaces garden rooms come with a 10 year structural warranty.

Where can I site my garden room?

Pretty much anywhere! In your garden, to the side or rear of your main residence, in other words: anywhere behind the building line (an imaginary line that was drawn across the front elevation of your home when it was constructed).

A garden space is intended to be a separate stand-alone building, it cannot be attached to the main building and cannot be an extension of the existing dwelling. It can be placed up to 0.5m from your boundary.

Can I have any size / height?

To be a permitted development your building needs to:

have less than 30m² of internal floor area
have a height limitation of 2.5m for a flat roof and 4m for a pitched roof, if your building is situated within 2m of any boundary (we can increase the height of your building to 3m if more than 2m inside the boundary)
take up no more than 50% of the garden (we have to take into account other garden structures, sheds, pool rooms, etc. to ensure compliance)
Yes, at SmartSpaces we build to any size and can increase height if 2m away from boundary or have planning permission for extra height

How long does a garden room take to build?

Depending on size, this can be between 5 days to 10 days onsite. For the more larger bespoke builds the team can be onsite for up to 4 weeks. Before a build, we would advise how long we would expect the team to be onsite with you.

What foundations will you use for my garden room?

EasyPads are a recognised and proven foundation solution for Garden Buildings used by many of UK’s leading Garden Studio Companies
EasyPads elevate the timbers off the ground allowing your timbers to remain dry and well ventilated
EasyPads are lightweight and easy to transport to any site with poor access
EasyPads offer up to 150mm of adjustment to allow for millimetre perfect levelling on site
EasyPads offer an Eco friendly solution reducing the amount of concrete by 98% compared to traditional slabs
EasyPads are user friendly and require no specialist skills or equipment to install

What maintenance will my garden space need?

All of the materials have been selected to offer the best lifespan and to be virtually maintenance-free. Our timbers have not only been selected for their appealing appearance but also for their decay-resistant properties, and as such should have an expected 30+ year lifespan, 50 years for Western Red Cedar.

All wood will naturally fade to a grey, silver/grey over time. However, if you apply UV oil every 12 month the colour will not fade.

The gutters will need to be kept clear, as with any building. We would recommend twice a year. The vegetation around the building should be kept under control, as it is important to maintain an airflow around and under the building so that any moisture can evaporate.

With a normal cleaning regime, your garden living space should be as good as new for many years to come.

Do I have to prepare the base?

Ideally, the intended location of the garden room should be clear of vegetation and reasonably level. If there are any major pre-installation works required this would be agreed upon and confirmed with you during a site visit.

How do I connect my garden room to mains electricity?

Your garden room will have its own consumer unit and is wired in compliance with Part “P” electrical installation regulations. However, you will need to provide a suitable connection to your main consumer unit (fuse board). The mains supply from your house will need to be carried out by a local electrician, in compliance with current regulations, before installation of the building. SmartSpaces can quote for this work, but it may be more economical for you to source this locally.

Can I customise my building to my exact specification?

Yes, SmartSpaces provide a design service which ensures your exact specification is met. We can create CAD designs and work with you to create the perfect garden room.