How long does a garden room actually take to build?
From first call to handing over the keys — six clear stages on a 6–8 week lead time.
The most common question we get on a first call. The honest answer is 6–8 weeks from signed agreement to handover — but the distribution of that time isn't what most clients expect.
The six stages — with realistic windows
- — 01Design consultation · 1 week. Brief refinement, site visit (if needed), 3D configurator, final specification.
- — 02Fixed quotation · 3–5 working days. Fully itemised, fixed-price quote including delivery and install.
- — 03Ground screw installation · 1 day. Foundations installed on site — no concrete, minimal disruption.
- — 04Off-site manufacture · 4–6 weeks. SIP panels, doors, windows and joinery built at our UK workshop.
- — 05Building installation · 5–10 working days. Base assembly, EPDM roof, cladding, glazing, electrics, interior finishes.
- — 06Handover · 1 day. Walkthrough, controls, warranty pack and the keys. 10-year structural cover starts here.
What can stretch the timeline
Three things account for almost every project that runs over our quoted window:
- — 01Site access. If the build can't reach the garden via a 0.9 m side gate, materials get craned in — and that adds a day plus crane costs.
- — 02Drainage / soakaway changes. If we discover sub-surface issues during base prep, we may need a soakaway redesign.
- — 03Late client changes. Switching cladding or glazing after week 3 is the single biggest source of delay. The configurator exists in part to lock these decisions early.
Why we don't quote three-week miracle builds
You'll see ads from larger national operators quoting "installed in a week." They're not lying — they really do install a pre-fabricated shell in a week. What they're not quoting is the 8–10 weeks of factory build before, or the limitations of building in big pre-assembled sections (size constraints, transportation limits, less site-tailored finishes).
Our model is bespoke on-site assembly. It takes a little longer at the site stage, but the building is built FOR the site — handed plumb to your specific patio levels, ground conditions, and garden geometry. It also means we can adjust on the fly if your garden surprises us, which gardens regularly do.
“We'd rather under-promise on weeks 1–3 and hand over a week early than tell you eight and finish in twelve.”— Arden & Oak — studio policy
