Frequently Asked Questions about our garden buildings

All our softwood buildings must be pre-treated against fungal decay and insect attack. The price for this is given on each building page and is available on all installed buildings.

We highly recommend this option on installed buildings. Our installers take great care to ensure that each end grain of timber is thoroughly treated as well as all other surfaces of the timber during installation.

If you prefer to do it yourself; when you order, we will provide you with a comprehensive care and information guide detailing all the best treatments to use to protect and maintain your garden building for years to come.

Mrs S, from Warwickshire: "Thanks for the advice about which paints to use and the tip about the brushes - I really like them"

 

Delivery is made direct from the factory to your home and is included in the price. Delivery is normally 4-6 weeks from order.

The buildings are supplied flat packed, on pallets, protected by plastic packaging. Delivery is via articulated lorry - (see picture below) with a forklift facility.

You will need to ensure that there is sufficient access and space for the lorry to deliver your building to roadside. The lorry has it's own forklift facility should you need the pallet moving onto your property. If you live in a narrow road, you have weight restrictions for a 40 ton vehicle, or there are any other reasons why delivery may be difficult, please let us know at time of order.

If there are any access or delivery problems we will arrange a local delivery by a smaller vehicle. There will be an additional charge of between £100 and £250 depending on the size of the building and your location

** (Please note that forward delivery by a smaller vehicle is only available for buildings installed by Garden Affairs and NOT on self-assembly buildings).

Delivery Lorry

Forklift Facility

 

Yes. It is essential that all buildings are sited on a flat level base, constructed from decking, paving or concrete. Ground plans are available for all our buildings. Please note that if a base is found to be more than 20mm out of level, our installers may be unable to install your building.

Garden Affairs Deck Base


At Garden Affairs, we have taken away the hassle of finding trades people to install your garden building base.
Our cleverly designed Deck Base system, available on installed buildings, is a quick, simple and environmentally friendly foundation solution for your garden building. CLICK HERE for further information and pricing.

 

Yes. At Garden Affairs we offer a professional, high quality, fixed price, installation service.

Unlike most companies, we do not use sub-contractors. Why? Pure and simple, quality control.

Our installers are experienced and trained in every aspect of garden building manufacture, design and installation. So you can relax in the knowledge that your new garden building will be installed both correctly and safely.

From the beginning of your installation until sign off, our polite team will carry out their work with the least amount of disruption to you and your garden. Please take a look at our testimonial page with comments received from our customers who have been totally delighted with our team.

Once the building is installed, if there are any teething problems, we will come straight back to sort this out at a time to suit you. (Unlike many subcontractors!)

We are also able to offer a wide variety of add-on installation services such as fitting velux windows, green (sedum), slate and cedar shingle roof options and we also offer a base installation service.

At Garden Affairs we endeavour to provide you with the highest possible service, support and advice available. 

Just call us on 01225 774566 for further information. Installation prices for each building are shown on our website.

Garden Affairs Installation

 

Depending on the size, most of our garden buildings can be installed in 1-2 days. Larger or custom-designed buildings usually take no more than 3-4 days. Dependant of course on the Great British Weather.

 

Many kinds of buildings and structures can be built in your garden or on the land around your house without the need to apply for planning permission. These can include sheds, garages, greenhouses, summerhouses, etc.

CLICK HERE - FOR THE LATEST MINI-GUIDE TO PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT (ENGLAND) - OUTBUILDINGS. ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNING PORTAL WEBSITE

We recommend you apply for planning permission if any of the following cases apply:

• You want to put up a building or structure, which would be nearer to any highway than the nearest part of the "original house" unless there would be at least 20 metres between the new building and any highway. The term "highway" includes public roads, footpaths, bridleways and byways.
• More than half the area of land around the "original house" would be covered by the addition of buildings.
• The building or structure is not to be used for domestic purposes and is to be used instead for running a business or storing commercial goods.
• You want to put up a building or structure which is more than 3 metres high, or more than 4 metres high if it has a ridged roof. ( Most of our buildings are under 4 metres in height).
• If your house is a listed building or you live within a conservation area or an area of outstanding natural beauty (A.O.B.).
• If your building is over 30sq m internally you will need building regulation approval. Please call us for further information. We are able to design and build buildings to meet building regulation standards.

The above information is supplied as a guide only, if you are in any doubt, we recommend you contact your local planning office or visit www.planningportal.gov.uk where you can apply for planning permission on-line.

 

Many of our buildings can be self-assembled by a competent DIY enthusiast and a couple of helpers. A smaller building can be assembled as a weekend project making a perfect opportunity to call in favours from both friends and family!

While we cannot determine if the "DIY" approach is right for you, we can tell you that Garden Affairs customers of all skill levels and ages have had great fun with the assembly of our buildings and are often so proud of their handy work that they can't wait to send a photo for our customer garden buildings gallery !

And .... don't forget, because we have our own team of fully trained installers who install hundreds of Garden Affairs buildings every year, you can just call us if at any time you are stuck and we will talk you through any difficulties.

 

Each building is supplied direct from the factory on between 1-3 sealed pallets, complete with all the necessary fixings and fastenings. The buildings come with a complete list of all components and step-by-step, assembly instructions, which you will find attached to the outside of your package. All timber is pre-cut for ease of installation allowing you to construct your building with the minimum of tools. Windows and doors are pre-hung in their frames enabling you to simply slot them into place.

Mr P Wood, from Devon: "Our 4.5m x 5.5 m garage went together as smoothly as an Airfix kit !"

Mr D Street, from Redditch: "Congratulations for a splendid product with instructions that work".

 

At Garden Affairs, we take the environment seriously. We are constantly reviewing our working practices and looking for new ways to develop efficient waste management and recycling procedures. It is unlikely that anyone in the future will want to take down a Garden Affairs building, but, if they do, around 95% of the environmentally friendly materials used are recyclable.

Timber

All our softwood buildings are manufactured from first class Northern European pine. In these countries, governmental authorities exercise stringent supervision to ensure that more trees are planted than are cut down, so that the ecological balance is maintained.

All timber for our range of hardwood buildings, sourced from a variety of countries, is FSC approved.

Garden Affairs pass on surplus timber to local schools and colleges for use in education.

Treatments and Paints

Micro-porus based preservative treatments and paints are used to reduce volatile organic compound emissions which are associated with traditional solvent borne coatings. These treatments are more durable, more environmentally friendly and last longer between re-paints.

Green Roof System

The Garden Affairs green roof system, available on our range of log cabins, offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional roofing materials. With all year round plant interest, a green roof is also designed to outlast traditional roofing materials. A green roof will offer excellent insulation reducing the power used by heating and air-conditioning. Further benefits of this system include:

• Helps to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere
• A haven for wildlife
• Suitable for sun or shade
• Ideal for windy or exposed areas where other roof coverings can be damaged
• Frost hardy and drought resistant

 

Yes. We are not an "Internet company". We exist in the real world ! Our display centre and offices are located at Trowbridge Garden Centre, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 0DT.

We are open Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm.
At weekends we are open by prior arrangement only, please call us for an appointment to view.

For directions please click here.

 

Most buildings are delivered within 4-6 weeks of order. The week prior to delivery, our factory will call to give you an exact date and an "am or pm" delivery time.

Buildings from our Classic Collection have an 6-8 week delivery lead time. This can be extended during the busy summer months.

 

Standard delivery is included in the price of the building (all prices are shown on our web site). We deliver throughout England, but are unable to deliver direct to Scotland or Ireland. We can however, deliver to the borders, or a Port for your collection.

For delivery to North of Leeds, Cornwall and Wales, please add £200.

If you are unable to receive delivery direct to your property, for access reasons, we can have your building delivered to our site. Then deliver direct for you (available for installations only). There is an additional cost for this, please call us for a quote.

 

Yes. All manufacturers of our buildings offer a 5 year guarantee against manufacturing or construction defects. The guarantee only applies to buildings that have been installed and treated according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Please note that wood is a unique, natural product and the finish on timbers will vary. Variation will be seen as coarse or fine grains and shades of colour. Such properties are normal in wood and cannot be considered as a defect, they have to be accepted as an unavoidable property of the product. Timber will shrink or swell according to weather conditions and along with warping are natural properties of wood.

In the event of a complaint, if the cause of the problem should prove to be unreasonable, extreme or severe circumstances or in the case that the building has been installed in rough/wet surroundings, or on unsuitable foundations, or when buildings have not been treated (painted/protected) properly, the guarantee shall no longer apply. In such cases we shall be forced to charge you for call out costs, any labour costs and/or replacement of components.

Complaints for damage, visual defects or missing parts should be reported within 7 days from delivery or before assembling and treatment of the garden room.

If, in the event of a complaint, the cause should prove to be poor foundations or assembling errors, the guarantee shall not apply.

Any missing or damaged parts will always be delivered or replaced as soon as possible.

Please call us to place your order. You can pay by credit or debit card, cheque or bank transfer. A 25% deposit is required with all orders. The final balance is payable on completion when installed by Garden Affairs, or 7 days prior to delivery for self assembly customers.

 

Insulation ensures the building is warm in winter and cool in summer - offering the perfect environment for all year round use, say as an office or studio. Garden Affairs use a high specification insulation similar to that used in modern loft conversions offering the maximum insulation property without affecting the interior appearance of your building.

Here at Garden Affairs, we practice what we preach. Our team work full time from one of our own buildings, a Daisy Log Cabin that has been insulated in the roof and floor. At time of writing it is a cold October morning and a poll in the office all agrees that we are "warm and snug thank you". You are welcome to visit our office to see for yourself!

Floor Insulation

 

All our buildings can be modified to suit your needs. On standard buildings, you can choose from a wide variety of door and window options and create your own size and layout.
Alternatively, you can start from scratch with a made to measure design. Please note that there is no charge for a special design.

We advise you make an appointment to visit us to see the quality of our buildings, and to chat to our friendly designers who will help design an option to suit you and your garden. If we know you are coming, we will put the kettle on and buy some really nice biscuits.....

 

We are often asked if a site visit is required. In most cases, we find that this is not necessary. Our designers are experienced in all aspects of timber garden room design and build and are able to prepare plans to your specification without the need to visit your garden "in situ".