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Modern timber garden building with landscaped surroundings

How APN Garden Rooms Works

Choose the Design. Control the Build. Keep More of the Budget.

APN Garden Rooms has been created for homeowners who want a professionally designed garden room without automatically paying the premium that can come with buying a complete ready made or turnkey package.

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Instead of purchasing one finished garden room from one supplier at one bundled price, we help you break the project down into its main parts.

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You choose the design.

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You decide whether it needs adapting.

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You obtain the technical information you need.

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You source the products.

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You obtain build quotations.

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And you stay in control of the overall cost.

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Depending on the design, location, specification and how the project is managed, this approach could potentially save around 40 to 50% compared with some equivalent turnkey garden room packages.

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The aim is not to build a cheaper room.

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It is to help you spend more of your budget on the room itself and less on the layers surrounding it.

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Step 1: Choose Your Garden Room Design

 

Start by browsing the APN Garden Rooms collection.

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We are developing a wide range of garden room designs for different uses, sizes and styles.

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You might be looking for a:

  • garden office

  • garden gym

  • garden studio

  • garden bar

  • music room

  • guest room

  • summerhouse

  • garden room with storage

  • garden room with a WC or shower

  • spa or hot tub room

  • outdoor kitchen garden room

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Once you find a design you like, you can purchase the corresponding Design & Technical Plan Pack.

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This gives you a professional starting point for the project rather than trying to explain your ideas to builders from photographs or sketches.

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Step 2: Use the Design as Shown or Adapt It

 

You may find a design that works perfectly as it is.

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If so, you can simply use the plan pack as the basis for your project.

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If you want to change it, our Adapt Your Design service costs £395 + VAT.

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You can ask us to alter things such as:

  • width

  • depth

  • internal layout

  • doors

  • windows

  • storage

  • shed space

  • WC

  • shower

  • kitchenette

  • outdoor kitchen

  • roof arrangement

  • cladding

  • entrance position

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This means you do not necessarily need to pay for a completely bespoke design from scratch.

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Choose something close to what you want and then make it work for your garden.

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Step 3: Check Planning

 

Many garden rooms can potentially be built under Permitted Development, but this depends on the property, the size of the building, its position and how it will be used.

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If you are unsure, APN Garden Rooms can help with planning advice.

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Where a planning application is required, we can also provide the drawings and submission service.

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This is particularly important where the proposal involves:

  • greater height

  • sensitive boundaries

  • listed buildings

  • conservation areas

  • Article 4 restrictions

  • sleeping accommodation

  • unusual residential use

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Planning should be considered before significant money is committed to construction.

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Step 4: Add Building Regulations Information Where Needed

 

Not every garden room requires Building Regulations approval, but some do.

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The position can depend on:

  • floor area

  • proximity to boundaries

  • construction

  • sleeping accommodation

  • electrical work

  • drainage

  • sanitary facilities

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Where additional technical information is required, APN Garden Rooms can provide a Building Regulations package.

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This can include information relating to:

  • foundations

  • floor construction

  • walls

  • insulation

  • roof construction

  • ventilation

  • drainage

  • fire safety

  • technical detailing

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The aim is to give builders clear information before work starts.

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Step 5: Decide How You Want to Build It

 

This is where the APN approach can make a significant difference to cost.

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You are not tied to one national garden room company.

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You can choose the route that suits you.

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That might be:

  • self build

  • managed DIY

  • local builder

  • individual trades

  • a combination of all of these

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Some homeowners may want to manage the whole project themselves.

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Others may simply use the plans to obtain competitive quotations from local builders.

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There is no single way to do it.

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09: The Willow
Essential Collection £495 + VAT

A charming timber garden studio designed for smaller gardens and flexible everyday use.

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View  →

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16: The Lodge
Essential Collection £495 + VAT

A traditional timber garden building with plenty of glazing and a warm natural character.

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View  →

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19: The Rowan
Essential Collection £495 + VAT

A practical modern garden room with warm timber cladding and a simple clean form.

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View  →

Step 6: Get Local Build Quotes


Once your design is ready, APN Garden Rooms can help you obtain quotations through the Architectural Partner Network, APN.
 

Your project can be introduced to suitable local APN Verified Partners who may be able to provide a quotation for the build.
 

Because they are pricing from a defined design, it gives everyone a clearer basis for understanding what is included.
 

That can make quotations easier to compare.

 

Step 7: Source the Main Products


A substantial part of any garden room cost is the products and materials used to build it.
 

The APN Garden Rooms Shop is being developed to help homeowners source key items at competitive prices.
 

The shop will include products such as:

  • doors and windows

  • cladding

  • rooflights

  • roof lanterns

  • roofing products

  • insulation

  • flooring

  • heating

  • electrical products

  • garden room accessories

  • outdoor furniture
     

The intention is to use supplier relationships and trade based pricing wherever possible to help reduce the overall project cost.

 

Step 8: Spend the Money Where It Matters


This is the key idea behind APN Garden Rooms.
 

If you can reduce the amount of money spent on layers of sales, marketing, overhead and bundled contractor margin, you may be able to spend more on the actual garden room.
 

That could mean:

  • better glazing

  • better insulation

  • better cladding

  • better flooring

  • better heating

  • larger doors

  • a better roof

  • a bigger room

  • improved landscaping
     

Or you may simply decide to keep the saving.

 

Why Can This Cost Less Than a Ready Made Garden Room?


A turnkey garden room company may provide a very convenient service.
 

They often handle:

  • sales

  • design

  • manufacturing

  • delivery

  • installation

  • project management

  • aftercare
     

But all of those services have to be paid for.
 

There may also be:

  • sales commissions

  • marketing costs

  • showroom costs

  • national overheads

  • subcontractor margins

  • project management margins

  • product markups
     

Those costs ultimately form part of the price paid by the homeowner.
 

APN Garden Rooms takes a different approach.
 

We give you the professional design and technical information, then help you organise the other parts of the project more directly.

 

Potential Savings of 40 to 50%


Depending on the design, location, specification and how the project is managed, it may be possible to reduce the overall cost by around 40 to 50% compared with some equivalent turnkey garden room packages.
 

That will not apply to every project.
 

But there can be substantial savings when homeowners:

  • manage the project themselves

  • use competitive local builders

  • obtain several quotations

  • purchase products directly

  • undertake some work themselves

  • avoid unnecessary bundled margins
     

The more control you take over the process, the greater the opportunity to control the final cost.

 

You Do Not Have to Do Everything Yourself


Saving money does not mean physically building the garden room yourself.
 

You can still use professional trades for:

  • foundations

  • carpentry

  • roofing

  • glazing

  • electrics

  • plumbing

  • plastering

  • decorating
     

The difference is that you can choose who does each part and what you are prepared to manage yourself.
 

For many homeowners, this sits somewhere between a full DIY build and buying a complete turnkey room.

 

One Design, Lots of Flexibility


The APN system allows you to decide how much support you need.
 

You can start with just the plan pack.
 

Then, if required, add:

  • design adaptation

  • planning advice

  • planning application

  • Building Regulations package

  • structural advice

  • build quotations

  • products and materials
     

You only add the services you actually need.

 

A Clearer Way to Build a Garden Room


The process is designed to be straightforward:
 

Choose a design → Adapt it if required → Check planning → Add technical information → Get build quotes → Source products → Build your garden room
 

You remain in control throughout.

 

Start With the Design


Everything begins with choosing the right garden room.
 

Browse the APN Garden Rooms collection, find a design that suits your space and then decide how much of the project you want to manage yourself.
 

Choose the design. Control the build. Keep more of the budget.
 

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