How to choose the best garden room

Outdoor rooms have become increasingly popular in the UK, offering versatile garden spaces that serve a wide range of purposes.

Garden rooms come in various styles, qualities, and price ranges, which can make choosing the right one overwhelming.

To ensure you make an informed decision, it is essential to research these differences thoroughly. This will help you avoid potential disappointments once your garden room is installed in your chosen location.

Investing in a garden room is a significant decision, and selecting the right supplier from the start is crucial to achieving the perfect final product.

While price comparisons are common, it is important to look beyond cost and carefully assess specifications, materials, and craftsmanship.

With over 19 years of experience as one of the UK's earliest garden room manufacturers, Oeco understands the challenges buyers face.

We can provide expert advice and insights to help you navigate potential pitfalls and make the best choice for your needs.

Does the company have a showroom?

A physical showroom is one of the best ways for a company to showcase the quality and craftsmanship of its products.

Surprisingly, many garden room companies operate solely online, relying on websites rather than offering customers the chance to see their products in person.

However, without seeing a finished garden room firsthand, you could risk disappointment.

We believe that having a dedicated showroom not only reassures customers that they are dealing with a reputable company but also provides an opportunity to meet the team behind the products.

Visiting our showrooms is the best way to experience the exceptional quality of our garden rooms, explore different designs, sizes, and features, and make an informed choice.

Our two industry-leading showrooms feature 12 fully furnished garden rooms, giving you a true sense of the craftsmanship and options available.

Come visit us—no pushy salespeople, just friendly, knowledgeable experts ready to answer your questions and provide valuable advice to help you find the perfect garden room for your needs.

Customer reviews and feedback

Customer reviews play a crucial role in establishing a company's reputation and credibility.

They provide valuable insights into real customer experiences, helping potential buyers gauge the quality of both the service and the final product.

A garden room company with positive customer reviews is more likely to earn trust, as prospective buyers can see firsthand what previous customers have said about their experience.

While many businesses showcase reviews on their own websites, these are often curated to present the company in the best light. For a more balanced perspective, it is always a good idea to check independent review platforms.

At Oeco Garden Rooms, we use Google reviews and TrustStar reviews, an independent online review platform, where potential customers can read genuine, unfiltered feedback. These reviews are also linked to our website for easy access.

To get a well-rounded view of any company, it iss recommended to read at least five or six customer reviews. This will give you a clearer understanding of the overall customer experience and help you make an informed decision.

Transparent fixed cost pricing

No one likes hidden costs!

We understand that most people prefer to know the exact price upfront before making a purchase decision.

When comparing garden room companies, it is essential to look beyond the base price and consider what is actually included.

Key factors such as materials, optional features, build quality, foundations, delivery, and on-site installation can all impact the final cost.

Many companies advertise a lower price but later add extra charges for essentials like foundations and delivery—costs that should be included from the start.

At Oeco, we believe in complete price transparency. We provide a fixed, all-inclusive cost for the purchase and installation of your garden room, so there are no surprises down the line.

We never charge extra for delivery or on-site installation across mainland UK.

Thanks to our central location, we can efficiently reach most areas within just a few hours, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.

We even give a number of extras free of charge!

At Oeco Garden Rooms, we pride ourselves on offering a complete garden room package that includes everything you need for your new outdoor space—without hidden costs or surprises.

But we do not stop there. To set ourselves apart from the competition, we go above and beyond by including a range of free optional extras and upgrades to enhance your experience and add even more value to your purchase.

A significant portion of our sales come from referrals by satisfied customers. We believe that the more we offer, the more our customers share their experience with family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours—helping us grow through genuine recommendations.

Throughout the year, we provide a selection of complimentary upgrades and extras, which may include:

FREE Antracite (dark grey) composite decking to the entire front of the building
FREE Upgrade to Knauf acoustic slab insulation in all walls and floor
FREE 1.5Kw White slimline panel heater c\w thermostat
FREE External waterproof IP66 RCD double electrical socket
FREE Brushed aluminium external up/down LED lights (x2)
FREE Upgrade to 4 x aluminium double electrical sockets & 1 x light switch
FREE 100 litre water butt complete with water filter, tap, lid & stand
FREE - LED downlights (canopy and concave designs only)

With Oeco, you are not just getting a garden room—you are getting a premium experience with thoughtful extras at no additional cost.

Construction within permitted development rules

In most cases, garden rooms fall under permitted development rules and do not require planning permission.

However, they are still subject to specific limits and conditions, which must be strictly followed.

Permitted development rules primarily relate to building height and distance from boundaries.

Be cautious of companies that claim they can build your garden room right on the boundary line, attach it to your property, or place it in your front garden—often just to secure a sale.

Ultimately, it is the homeowner's responsibility to ensure compliance with planning regulations.

Failure to do so can lead to disputes with the supplier, neighbours, and local planning authorities. In the worst-case scenario, you may be required to remove the structure at your own expense.

At Oeco, we are committed to ethical and compliant building practices.

If a requested location does not meet permitted development guidelines, we will always politely decline—ensuring that your investment is both legal and hassle-free.

Bespoke buildings as standard

At Oeco, we have found that many of our customers love adding their own unique touches to create a truly bespoke garden room.

As long as the structure is square, rectangular, L-shaped, or a combination of these, we can easily accommodate your vision. We also offer complete flexibility in size—height, width, and depth—within either permitted development limits or where planning permission has been obtained.

Each Oeco garden room is hand-built on-site by skilled joiners and tradesmen using traditional timber frame construction. This approach gives you total control over the design and final look of your space.

We understand that pre-determining the exact layout before installation can be stressful, and expectations do not always align with reality. That's why our standard bespoke service allows you to make key design decisions during construction.

With this service, you can personally choose the placement of:

Doors and windows for optimal light and functionality
Lighting and light switches to suit your layout
Electrical sockets, switches, lighting and heating for convenience
Any optional extras you have selected

This flexible approach ensures your garden room turns out exactly as you imagined—without the stress or second-guessing.

Build quality

When choosing a supplier for your new garden room, one of the most crucial factors to consider is the build quality.

It is essential to carefully assess the craftsmanship and materials used by various UK suppliers.

Many companies market their products as "garden rooms" when, in reality, they are little more than glorified garden sheds. The biggest difference in garden room pricing often comes down to the quality of the materials and construction.

At Oeco, we design our buildings to be more like miniature houses. Constructed to the same high standards as a modern home, we use only the finest materials to ensure exceptional quality.

Each of our garden rooms offers superior insulation, making them comfortable and functional all year round.

Our insulation not only meets but exceeds building regulations. Inside, youwill find professionally plastered walls and ceilings, along with pre-painted timber skirting boards—just like in a traditional home.

We understand that product quality is key to customer satisfaction. Over the years, our commitment to excellence has helped us build a strong reputation in the garden room industry.

A choice of external claddings

The external cladding of a garden room is a key factor to consider, as it plays a crucial role in both aesthetics and functionality.

Some of the main benefits of high-quality cladding include enhanced visual appeal, low maintenance, structural protection, additional insulation, and increased property value.

As customer preferences continue to evolve, we at Oeco have expanded our range of external cladding options to suit various styles and designs.

In addition to traditional timber choices like Western Red Cedar and Thermowood, we also offer modern alternatives such as fibre cement, smooth, woodgrain, slatted composite and stone-clad exteriors—all available in a wide selection of colours.

Many of our customers opt to mix and match different cladding materials to create a truly unique and striking appearance.

For instance, the image above showcases a stunning combination of black smooth composite with Western Red Cedar, demonstrating how contrasting materials can add depth and character to a garden room.

Luxury professionally plastered interior

Look beyond the glossy external shots and examine the internal pictures carefully.

It is easy to overlook that many companies use a variety of lower-quality internal finishes for walls and ceilings, including metal, vinyl, melamine, chipboard, and plastic boards.

The primary reason for this? To cut down on costs and reduce installation time—not to enhance quality.

At Oeco, we consider these materials sub-standard, falling far short of the quality of traditional plasterboard and professionally skimmed walls and ceilings, which come as standard in every Oeco garden room.

Our skilled installation teams take the necessary time and effort to ensure a premium internal finish, delivering a space that not only looks and feels exceptional but also provides enhanced insulation and energy efficiency.

This ensures your garden room meets the same high-quality standards as a modern UK home, offering long-term comfort and durability.

Insulated to building regulations

Imagine investing in a brand-new garden room, only to realize it is only comfortable for half the year.

Since garden rooms under 30m2 internal floor area are not subject to building regulations, many companies cut corners on insulation, meaning their structures fail to offer the warmth and energy efficiency you would expect in a new home.

At Oeco, we go beyond industry norms by including high-performance insulation as standard in all our garden rooms.

We ensure that the roof, walls, and floor meet the insulation requirements of UK Building Regulations Part L, providing a space that remains comfortable year-round.

We achieve this by using a combination of Kingspan and Knauf insulation products—market leaders in thermal efficiency—along with air-vented walls to create a well-insulated, energy-efficient environment.

This smart design significantly reduces heat loss, minimizing the need for excessive heating in winter and lowering energy costs.

The result? A garden room with a low U-value, meaning superior heat retention, energy efficiency and year-round usability—just like a high-quality home.

Concrete and steel pile foundations

A building is only as strong as its foundation, and garden rooms are no exception.

When selecting a garden room supplier, it is essential to confirm whether foundations are included in the price—many companies do not, potentially adding thousands to your final cost.

Equally important is the type of foundation provided. Some suppliers use breeze blocks, pads, timber frames, or ground jacks that merely sit on the surface. While these may seem sufficient initially, they are prone to shifting over time due to weather conditions and ground movement, which can cause structural instability in your garden room.

At Oeco, we take no shortcuts. We include concrete and steel pile foundations as standard to ensure long-term stability. Our advanced foundation system consists of concrete footings reinforced with galvanized steel bars and base plates.

The process involves excavating deep into the ground, inserting a steel bar with a base plate, and securing it with poured concrete. These concrete pads and steel piles are placed at precise intervals and securely bolted to the timber floor framework, fully supporting the garden room from the ground up.

This structural approach is widely preferred by county councils, especially for garden rooms positioned near trees or large shrubs, where root movement can impact stability. By investing in a superior foundation system, we guarantee your garden room remains secure, level, and built to last.

Traditional timber frame construction

There are two primary construction methods used for building garden rooms.

The first is the modular panel system, where pre-manufactured components are built in a factory and then bolted together on-site. While this method offers lower manufacturing costs and faster installation, it comes with significant limitations.

Modular systems lack design flexibility, restricting customers to standard sizes and configurations.

Additionally, these prefabricated panels often include only 25mm of insulation, which falls short of providing year-round comfort.

The second method, which Oeco proudly uses, is traditional timber frame construction—built on-site by skilled joiners.

This approach allows for total design flexibility, ensuring that each garden room is tailored to the customer's needs. It also enables us to install 100mm of insulation, meeting UK Building Regulations for improved energy efficiency and comfort.

While on-site construction takes longer, it allows for bespoke sizes and custom designs, giving customers the freedom to make design alterations during the build—a level of service that most modular-based companies simply cannot offer.

Room to breathe

One often-overlooked aspect of a high-quality garden room is proper ventilation.

While insulation is essential for maintaining a comfortable temperature, adequate airflow is just as important to prevent moisture buildup and allow the structure to breathe. Without proper ventilation, issues such as cold spots, condensation, dampness, high U-values, and even potential health risks can arise.

At Oeco, we address this by incorporating double air-vented walls and a moisture vapour barrier into every garden room. Our advanced breathing membrane acts as a one-way valve, allowing natural moisture to escape while preventing external moisture from entering—ensuring a dry, well-regulated interior.

Additionally, all our traditional timber-framed garden rooms feature a double air vent system for superior airflow:

The first vent allows air to circulate between the outer timber cladding and the breathing membrane, preventing trapped moisture.

The second vent enables airflow between the breathing membrane and the internal thermal insulation panels, further enhancing insulation efficiency.

This meticulous ventilation system helps maintain a healthy, energy-efficient, and long-lasting garden room—ensuring comfort and durability in all seasons.

Premium doors and windows

The doors and windows are the only moving parts of a garden room, making their quality and reliability essential. High-performance doors and windows ensure smooth operation, secure locking mechanisms, and long-term durability.

Each door and window must also provide excellent thermal insulation to minimize heat loss in winter and reduce heat gain in summer, creating a comfortable and energy-efficient space all year round.

Glazing plays a crucial role in thermal efficiency, helping to enhance insulation and lower energy costs.

At Oeco, we supply every garden room with high-quality PVC-u doors and windows, sourced from one of the UK's leading manufacturers.

Key Features of Oeco's Doors & Windows:

Sleek, modern design - Anthracite (dark grey) exterior with a crisp white interior as standard.
Smooth-operating patio and sliding door systems for effortless opening and closing.
High-security, insurance-approved multipoint locking systems to maximize protection and peace of mind.

By incorporating premium materials and advanced locking technology, we ensure that your garden room is not only stylish and functional but also secure, insulated, and built to last.

Comprehensive electrics package

Power, lighting, and heating are essential for making your garden room a practical and comfortable space.

When choosing a garden room supplier, it is important to check what electrical components are included as standard to avoid unexpected costs later.

At Oeco, we include the following as standard:

4 x 13A double electrical sockets, positioned in locations of your choice—typically one in each corner for convenient access.
An internal LED light panel with a light switch, providing bright, energy-efficient lighting that typically consumes only 40 watts.
An internal consumer unit.

Beyond the number of outlets and lights, you should also consider how the electrical wiring is installed. Some companies use exposed plastic conduit, which can look untidy and disrupt the clean interior finish.

At Oeco, all electrical wiring is neatly concealed within the timber walls, maintaining a sleek, professional finish.

The wiring runs back to the internal consumer unit, which is electrically tested to Part P standards by a qualified electrician—ready for a safe and seamless connection to your mains supply.

10 year structural guarantee as standard

For most people, purchasing a garden room is a significant investment, so it is natural to seek a reliable guarantee for peace of mind.

While many garden room companies offer some form of guarantee, it is always worth checking, as not all guarantees are comprehensive or long-term.

When choosing a supplier, look for a long-term guarantee from a well-established company with a proven track record. Oeco has been in business since 2006, constructing thousands of garden rooms nationwide—a testament to our expertise and reliability.

To ensure complete confidence in your purchase, all our garden rooms come with a 10-year structural guarantee. This covers:

Design and manufacturing faults
Material failure
Corrosion and rot

Built by skilled craftsmen using premium materials, our garden rooms are designed to stand the test of time. However, in the unlikely event of an issue, you can rest assured that we will resolve it promptly and to your complete satisfaction.

Not all Garden Rooms are built the same!

Since 2006, we have been continuously designing, refining, and perfecting our garden rooms to ensure they are among the best on the market.

Built from high-quality materials, fully insulated, and finished to the highest standards, our garden rooms offer exceptional craftsmanship at competitive prices.

We are the only garden room company that actively encourages potential customers to compare our specifications, offers, and pricing with other suppliers.

Why do we do this?

Because we closely monitor the industry and conduct detailed competitor research, giving us complete confidence in our business model. We know our garden rooms stand out in terms of quality, value, and design.

Do not just take our word for it—our customer testimonials speak for themselves. Many clients express how glad they are to have chosen Oeco Garden Rooms, appreciating the durability, design, and service we provide.

Regardless of which company you ultimately choose for your new garden room, we hope this information has been helpful in your decision-making process!

What to Look for When Buying a Garden Room