On average, it costs £8,885 to move house in the UK; this includes all factors, such as stamp duty, removal vans, cleaning, agency fees – the lot. For this reason, many homeowners are now choosing to extend their home rather than move house altogether. Some of the most common ways to extend your home include building a conservatory, a loft conversion, an extension or garden room. Here we’ll weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of building a garden room vs a home extension to help you make the right decision and enjoy a little extra space without the stress and hassle of moving.
We will cover the following topics:
- What will you use it for?
- Planning Permission
- Utilities & Heating
- Adding Value to you home
- Building Timescales
- Additional benefits
What will you use it for?
How you choose to use the extra space will determine the best choice of extension for you. If you are looking for a quiet, secluded area, away from the distractions of home life, a garden room could be the perfect solution, for a home office or yoga studio, for example. Alternatively, if you want to use your new space to make some noise, blaring music in your home gym or music studio, again, a garden room is best since it is built separate from your house. At Crown Pavilions, we also offer additional soundproofing options for added privacy and to prevent any disruption to your neighbours! If you’re looking to add more entertaining space or additional bedrooms to your home, a traditional home extension may provide a better option. For example, extensions built on the rear of your property make the ideal spacious dining areas or cosy living space, and are also great for expanding your kitchen.
Planning Permission
While for home extensions you need to apply for planning permission, this is not the case when building a garden room so long as you build within permitted development guidelines. This is an added benefit since planning applications can be a lengthy process and permission may not always be granted.
At Crown Pavilions, all our standard garden room models do not usually require planning permission. Save yourself the time and trouble, and browse our beautiful luxury garden room collection to find out which models you can build within permitted planning regulations.
Utilities & Heating
An extension is part of your home and, as such, will require quality insulation in order to maintain a good indoor temperature and stay energy efficient. Since an extension has an exposed wall, it is recommended that you use either plastic foam board, glass fibre or thermal lining boards. The materials and labour for installing insulation can be costly but will save you money in the long-run.
Just like a home extension, a Crown Pavilions luxury extension garden room is built using high-quality residential-grade materials and is designed by our TRADA (Timber Research And Development Association)-certified team. Our garden buildings use industry leading 100mm premium grade rockwool slabs and 90mm high-density foil backed insulation, as well as double-glazed and argon gas filled windows and doors to ensure that your room is well-insulated and can be used all year round. Even if you do choose to upgrade your space and install additional heating features for added comfort, the built-in insulation will help to keep your bills low.
Adding Value to your Home
A home extension essentially adds an extra room to your property which can increase its sale value significantly, especially if you build a two-story extension that encompasses an extra bedroom and reception room. Did you know that a garden room can add value to your home, too? It’s estimated that the additional price per square metre from adding a garden room ranges from £1,456 to £5,106 in the UK. A garden room is also often a sought-after feature for homebuyers who are looking for a dedicated office space or games room. However, the value a garden room provides is more than just monetary. It provides a comfortable space to pursue your hobbies, spend quality family time, host friends and neighbours, and make unforgettable memories together – you can’t put a price tag on that!
Building Timescales
When starting an extension project, you need to be realistic about timescales and understand that, in most cases, the build will take longer than expected and exceed budgets, too. On average, a single-story extension takes around 3-4 months to complete but this can vary depending on the size of your build and does not include the time it takes to get planning approval. Whereas, a Crown Pavilions luxury garden room takes approximately 2-3 weeks to install*, meaning your new space will be ready to use in almost no time at all.
There are so many other factors to consider, such as flooring, walls, lighting, electricity and plumbing, which can all add to the project timeframe. At Crown Pavilions, we provide pre-wired switches, sockets and lighting dimmers as standard, and offer optional upgrades for heating and cooling solutions, TV points, kitchenettes, bathrooms and more.
*Please note that the given time frame for garden room installation is appropriate for our medium-sized standard garden room (5mx3.5m) and may be subject to change for larger or bespoke models.
Mess and Disruption
When deciding between a garden room and extension, it’s also worth considering the mess and disruption to life at home. A home extension requires demolishing existing walls and plenty of brickwork which results in lots of dust and noise. In some instances, your family may need to find temporary accommodation while your extension is being built, especially if you have young children or if you work from home. This will add to the cost of your project, not to mention the inconvenience. On the other hand, a garden room only takes a few weeks to build and is separate from your main building, which means minimal noise and mess.
So, garden room or extension? The right solution will depend on various factors and will be different for each homeowner. For more information, check out our stunning garden room collection or to book a site visit, please contact our team.
