A typical garden room is a matter of weeks on site, not months. The build itself
is the predictable part. What moves the date is everything that happens before anyone turns up:
design, any planning question, and lead times on doors and windows.
The stages
1. Site visit and estimate
We come to your garden, look at access, ground conditions, boundaries and trees, talk through
how you want to use the space, and give you a written estimate.
2. Design
We draw the building around your garden, your budget and any planning constraints. If the
building needs to sit within 2.5 metres because of a boundary, that gets designed in now rather
than discovered later.
3. Groundwork and base
Excavation and the base, whether that is a slab, screws or pads. In a terraced garden with no
side access, spoil removal is often the slowest part of the whole job.
4. Structure and cladding
Frame, insulation, roofing, then windows and doors. This is the stage where the building
suddenly looks like a building.
5. First and second fix
Electrics, lighting, internal finishes and decoration.
6. Snagging and handover
We walk the finished build with you and put right anything that is not right.
What actually causes delays
- Glazing lead times. Bespoke doors and windows are made to order. This is
usually the longest single lead time on the job, and it is worth deciding early. - Access. If every barrow of spoil and every sheet of ply goes through the house
or down a narrow side return, the programme stretches. It is the first thing we assess. - Weather. Groundwork in a wet spell on London clay is slower and messier.
- Planning. If an application is genuinely needed, that is a determination period
before anything starts. Most builds avoid it. See garden room planning permission in Southwark for when it applies. - Changes mid-build. Moving a door after the frame is up costs time.
How to make it go faster
Decide the glazing early, be clear about how you will use the space before design starts, and
get the planning question answered at the site visit rather than assuming. Those three things
account for most of the difference between a smooth build and a slow one.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a garden office take to build?
A matter of weeks on site for a typical build. The bigger variable is the lead time on doors and windows, which are made to order.
What is the longest part of building a garden room?
Usually the glazing lead time before the build, and spoil removal during it if access to the garden is restricted.
Do I need to be at home during the build?
Not for most of it, though access arrangements need agreeing up front, particularly if the only route to the garden is through the house.
Can a garden room be built in winter?
Yes. Groundwork is slower in prolonged wet weather, but the structure itself goes up year round.
Thinking about a garden building?
We design and build bespoke garden rooms and studios, purpose built garden offices, garden art and music studios, garden yoga and exercise studios and bespoke garden sheds and storage across East Dulwich, Dulwich, Peckham and the surrounding South London areas. See our garden building project gallery or the project map of every build, then book a free site visit and we will give you an honest estimate with no obligation.