Turnkey Garden Room Projects

You will see the term 'turnkey project' listed on many garden room suppliers' websites, but what does this mean?

Some garden room companies will quote you for the building and its installation. Nowadays, that price often includes the foundation, but only sometimes. Companies will either quote you separately for it, or ask you to arrange it with another company.

Commonly, these packages also don't include the connection of the garden room's electrics to the mains supply in your house. So, you also have to organise that with another company.

On the other hand, companies that state they offer a turnkey service handle all those aspects, and more, in the quote they give you. So, you just work with one team throughout your project.

The aim is you hand over responsibility for all aspects of the garden room build, and they leave you with a building that you can just turn the key and move into.

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Turnkey might, at first glance, seem more expensive

If you compare quotes from companies that offer a turnkey service with those that just provide installation of the building, at first glance, the turnkey option will seem much more expensive.

When we put together our garden room price guide, in the budgeting section, we found that those companies who just offer the building and its installation then quote between £1,400 and £2,500 for the final electrical connection. This price example is for distances up to 25m from the garden room to the house.

Companies that don't include the foundation in the building cost either quote for it separately or ask you to organise it with another company. The research we did for our price guide found that the price depended on the foundation system specified. Using a 2.5m x 2.5m garden room as an example, when groundscrews were the suggested foundation, we were quoted around £800, while when a concrete base was specified, the quotes were between £1,500 and £2,000.

As you can see, these bolt-on prices are significant and can soon increase the overall cost of a garden room project.

Keep this in mind when you are comparing your options. If one quote seems significantly lower than another, it may be that one of the quotes might have these add-on elements while the other has them fully accounted for.

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What is typically included in a turnkey garden room project

Let's look at the elements that are typically covered when buying a garden room on a turnkey basis:

Handling of any Planning Permission application

If your project is going to require a planning application to proceed, a turnkey quote will often include assisting you with the application process. However, you may still be charged for the Local Authority's fees separately.

If you are able to build under the Permitted Development rules, your supplier may suggest a Lawful Development Certificate, which they will usually organise for you.

If your garden room requires Building Regulation sign-off, the supplier would normally handle this process when working on a turnkey basis.

Site clearance and preparation

This element varies from company to company, but often when working on a turnkey basis, the project can include any site clearance before the build starts.

Over the years, we have known companies clear vegetation from the area or dismantle an existing shed to make way for the new room.

We have also known companies to excavate and level the ground, building retaining walls when required.

Installation of foundation system

Turnkey garden room projects almost always include installing the foundation for the garden room.

Installation of the garden room

With a turnkey project, the company project manages the whole installation, including the final decorative finishes. If your project features a shower room or kitchenette, the company would fit those elements right down to the finishing details, like the tiling.

Some of the companies we have featured will also take the time to install shelving or hang a TV on the wall as part of their turnkey service.

Connection of the electrics to the mains supply

With a turnkey project, the company will send their electrician to the site to undertake the final electrical hook-up. The team will undertake the necessary groundwork for the cabling.