If you are seeking additional space for your home – or you’re thinking of selling your property and want to maximise your sale price, it could be worth considering a garden room. A high-quality garden room can boost the value of your home by 5% to 15%.
A garden room is a great alternative to large-scale extensions – they are affordable, easy to construct and don’t impact on your day-to-day living within the home whilst the work is being carried out. What’s more, they have been an exceptionally popular feature when selling a home as many people look for additional space to work from home.
Before you start – think carefully about how, when and why you would use it. This will affect the size and design that you choose as well as the features you will want to include.
Generally, a garden room will be a freestanding glazed extension with a tiled roof to ensure its suitable whatever the weather. The simplest design will be akin to a large shed and supplied in pre-fabricated panels that you could either construct yourself or with a tradesperson. More advanced designs will have sliding doors, a deck, insulation, and will need to be constructed by a specialist.
To make it simple and inexpensive, choose a design that doesn’t require concrete foundations – and instead are fitted using ground screws which makes it easy to instal and gives you the option of taking it with you if you were to move. Choose a company that offers a warranty period for peace of mind that it will stand the test of time.
Avoid putting your garden room close to growing trees and ensure you can access all sides of the structure for any ongoing maintenance.
If you are using the room as an office or studio and will have valuable computer or music equipment, make sure the structure is secure and complies with your home insurance requirements – install external lights, blinds and an alarm for added security. To maximise the use, make sure it has electricity and heating.
Make sure the building takes up less than 50% of your garden space and check whether you need building regulations approval – if you intend to use it as a spare bedroom, this may be required. If you lie within a conservation area or have a listed building you may need to get planning permission so choose a company that will do this for you.
If you are considering using the garden room as a gym or games room, you may need to consider reinforced flooring as well as the head height. If it’s being used as a music studio you will need adequate sound proofing.
Clyde Property is a leading independent, multiple award-winning estate and letting agent with more than 30 years’ experience in selling and letting property in Scotland. Just call your local Clyde Property branch today for friendly, impartial advice on finding your next dream home.
