What to look for before choosing a garden room company

Buying a garden room is a significant investment, and with so many companies, specifications and prices to choose from, knowing what you are actually getting for your money isn't always straightforward.

Two garden rooms can look almost identical online but be very different when it comes to construction, insulation, foundations, materials, internal finish and long-term durability.

The cheapest quotation can also quickly become more expensive once foundations, installation, delivery, electrics and other essentials are added.

Oeco Garden Rooms has been designing and building garden rooms throughout the UK since 2006. Over that time, we have seen the industry change considerably.

So, before choosing your garden room, here are 10 common mistakes we believe every buyer should avoid.

Mistake 1: Choosing a Garden Room on Price Alone

Everyone has a budget, but comparing garden rooms purely on their advertised price can be misleading.

A lower initial price doesn't necessarily mean better value.

Before comparing quotations, look carefully at exactly what is included.

Are foundations included? What type of insulation is used? Is delivery included? What about installation, electrics, heating, internal finishes and decking?

Some companies advertise an attractive starting price and then charge separately for many of the things you would naturally expect to be included.

Look at the complete price – not just the headline price.

At Oeco, we provide a fixed, all-inclusive price for your garden room and its installation, with no additional charge for delivery or installation throughout mainland UK.

We also include a range of features and upgrades as standard or free of charge that other companies may offer as optional extras.

The result is a much clearer understanding of what your finished garden room will actually cost.

Mistake 2: Buying a Garden Room You've Never Seen

Photographs can make almost any garden room look impressive.

But photographs don't allow you to inspect the workmanship, open the doors and windows, examine the internal finish or experience what the building actually feels like.

Before spending thousands of pounds, we recommend seeing the product for yourself wherever possible.

Ask whether the company has a physical showroom.

A showroom gives you the opportunity to inspect the construction quality and compare different sizes, layouts, claddings and finishes before making a decision.

Oeco has two dedicated showrooms displaying 12 fully furnished garden rooms, allowing you to see and experience the quality of our buildings before you buy.

There are no pushy salespeople. You can simply look around, compare the options and speak to knowledgeable members of our team.

You should also check independent customer reviews rather than relying solely on testimonials displayed on a company's own website.

Look at platforms such as Google and other independent review services and read a selection of recent customer experiences.

Mistake 3: Assuming All Garden Rooms Are Built the Same

From the outside, many garden rooms look remarkably similar.

What you can't see in a photograph is often far more important.

The thickness of the timber framework, insulation, membranes, ventilation, foundations and overall construction method can make an enormous difference to the performance and lifespan of the building.

Some inexpensive garden rooms are essentially upgraded garden sheds.

A high-quality garden room should be constructed much more like a small timber-framed building or modern home.

Always compare the construction specification.

At Oeco, every garden room is hand-built on site by skilled joiners and tradespeople using traditional timber-frame construction.

We use heavy structural timbers, high-performance insulation, breathable membranes and carefully selected materials to create a substantial building designed for comfortable year-round use.

Inside, professionally plastered walls and ceilings and painted timber skirting boards give the room the appearance and feel of a genuine extension of your home.

Mistake 4: Not Checking the Foundations

A garden room is only as good as the foundations supporting it.

Yet foundations are one of the easiest areas to overlook when comparing companies.

Some systems use blocks, surface-mounted pads, timber bases or adjustable ground supports. Depending on the site and system used, ground movement over time can potentially affect the building.

You should also establish whether foundations are actually included in the quotation.

Ask exactly how your garden room will be supported.

Oeco garden rooms include our concrete and galvanised steel pile foundation system as standard.

Concrete footings are excavated into the ground and reinforced using galvanised steel supports and base plates. These are positioned at calculated intervals before being securely connected to the timber floor structure.

This creates a strong and stable foundation designed to support your garden room for many years to come.

And importantly, the foundations are included within our price.

Mistake 5: Not Checking the Insulation Specification

One of the biggest differences between garden rooms is something you can't see once the building is finished – the insulation.

A poorly insulated garden room might be pleasant during spring and summer but expensive and uncomfortable to use during colder months.

Don't simply accept the words "fully insulated".

Ask what insulation is actually being used, how thick it is and whether the walls, floor and roof are all insulated.

A genuine garden room should be designed for all-year-round use.

Oeco garden rooms incorporate high-performance insulation throughout the walls, floor and roof.

We use insulation products from established manufacturers including Kingspan and Knauf, with our thermal specification designed around the insulation standards associated with UK Building Regulations Part L.

Combined with our timber-frame construction and ventilated wall system, this helps reduce heat loss and creates a comfortable, energy-efficient room that can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Mistake 6: Ignoring Ventilation and Moisture Control

Insulation alone isn't enough.

A well-designed timber building also needs to manage moisture and allow the structure to breathe.

Without adequate ventilation and correctly installed membranes, moisture can become trapped within the structure, potentially contributing to condensation, damp and deterioration over time.

This is an area rarely mentioned in garden room advertising – but it is an important part of good timber-frame construction.

Ask how the walls are ventilated and protected from moisture.

Oeco garden rooms incorporate a breathable membrane, vapour control and double air-vented wall construction.

Air is able to circulate behind the external cladding while a second ventilation zone helps manage moisture around the insulated wall structure.

The breathable membrane allows moisture within the construction to escape while helping prevent external moisture from entering.

It is an important detail you may never see – but one that can make a considerable difference to the long-term performance of your garden room.

Mistake 7: Overlooking the Internal Finish

It's easy to be attracted by impressive photographs of a garden room's exterior.

But remember – you'll spend your time inside it.

Look carefully at photographs of the interior and ask what materials are used to finish the walls and ceilings.

Some garden rooms use internal panels manufactured from materials such as vinyl, melamine, plastic or other sheet products because they are quick and inexpensive to install.

They may be perfectly adequate for some applications, but they don't necessarily provide the appearance and feel people expect from a premium garden room.

Your garden room should feel like a room – not a shed.

Every Oeco garden room is internally finished using plasterboard with professionally skimmed walls and ceilings.

We also install painted timber skirting boards to create the familiar appearance of a professionally finished room within your home.

Electrical cables are concealed within the walls rather than being run around the finished room in surface-mounted plastic conduit.

The result is a clean, contemporary interior ready to furnish and enjoy.

Mistake 8: Choosing a Building That Can't Be Adapted to You

Many garden rooms are manufactured using modular panels produced in a factory.

This can provide quick installation, but modular construction can also restrict the sizes, layouts and configurations available.

Before buying, consider how you actually intend to use the room.

Where would you ideally position the doors? Where should the windows go? Where will your desk, television, gym equipment or furniture sit? Where will you need electrical sockets?

Your garden room should be designed around you.

Oeco uses traditional on-site timber-frame construction, giving us considerably more flexibility over the finished design.

Garden rooms can be produced in bespoke widths, depths and layouts, subject to planning and permitted development requirements.

Doors and windows can be positioned to suit your garden and intended use.

And because the building is constructed on site, you can even make certain decisions during construction, including the positioning of electrical sockets, switches, lighting and other features.

The result is a garden room designed around how you intend to use it.

Mistake 9: Forgetting About Doors, Windows, Electrics and the Details

The smaller details can make a surprisingly big difference to how enjoyable your garden room is to use. Doors and windows need to operate smoothly, provide good thermal performance and offer suitable security.

Likewise, consider the electrical specification: How many sockets are included? Where can they be positioned? Is lighting included? Is there a consumer unit? Is the wiring concealed?

These are all things worth establishing before placing an order.

Check what comes as standard.

Oeco garden rooms include high-quality PVC-u doors and windows, with double glazing and insurance-approved multipoint locking systems.

Our standard electrical package includes:

4 x 13A double electrical sockets
Internal LED lighting and light switch
Internal consumer unit
Concealed electrical wiring

Sockets and switches can be positioned to suit your intended room layout, and the electrical installation is tested by a qualified electrician ready for connection to your mains supply.

We also offer a wide selection of external claddings, including Smoothgrain composite and ProClad Woodgrain composite, Thermowood and Western Red Cedar, allowing you to create a garden room that complements both your home and garden.

Mistake 10: Not Checking Who Is Actually Standing Behind the Guarantee

A 10-year guarantee sounds reassuring. But the guarantee is only as reassuring as the company providing it.

Before buying, look at how long the company has been trading, read independent customer reviews and check exactly what its guarantee covers.

Garden room companies come and go, so an established trading history can provide additional reassurance when making a substantial investment.

Look beyond the length of the guarantee.

Oeco Garden Rooms has been designing and constructing garden rooms since 2006, with thousands of buildings installed throughout the UK.

Every Oeco garden room comes with our 10-year structural guarantee, covering:

Design and manufacturing faults
Material failure
Corrosion
Rot

Our reputation has been built over many years, with a significant proportion of our business coming from recommendations and referrals from previous customers.

One Final Mistake: Not Checking the Planning Rules

Although most garden rooms can be constructed under Permitted Development, this doesn't mean you can simply build anything, anywhere.

Restrictions can apply to height, position, proximity to boundaries and how the building will be used.

Certain properties and locations can also be subject to additional restrictions.

Ultimately, it is the homeowner's responsibility to ensure the building complies with the relevant planning requirements.

Be particularly cautious if a supplier tells you that planning restrictions simply don't matter.

At Oeco, we will always advise customers where we believe a proposed building or location could fall outside permitted development requirements.

If necessary, we would rather decline a project than construct a garden room in a location we believe could create problems later.

Not All Garden Rooms Are Built the Same

When you're comparing garden rooms, don't just compare photographs and prices.

Compare the complete specification

Look at the foundations. Look at the insulation. Ask about ventilation. Check the internal finish. Compare the doors and windows. Find out what's included in the electrical package. Check the guarantee. Read independent reviews.

And whenever possible, go and see the garden room for yourself.

Since 2006, Oeco has continually developed and refined the way we design and construct our garden rooms.

We actively encourage customers to compare our specification, construction, materials, guarantees and pricing with other garden room companies.

We believe the more you compare, the easier it becomes to understand the differences.

Thinking About Buying a Garden Room?

Before making your decision, come and see exactly what you're buying.

Visit one of our showrooms and explore our fully furnished garden rooms, examine the materials and finishes and speak to our team about your ideas.

Alternatively, request a brochure, arrange a free site survey or contact us for advice about your project.

Take your time. Compare the details. And choose a garden room that's designed to be enjoyed for many years to come.

Buying a Garden Room? 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid