Garden Rooms vs Extensions: Which is Best for Your Home in Birmingham or the West Midlands?
If you’re looking to expand your living space, whether with a brand-new gym room, granny annexe, office, guest bedroom, playroom, workshop, kitchen, utility room, hobby room, or any other space (the list goes on!), you’ll need make an all-important decision: Garden Rooms vs Extensions – which option is right for your home in Birmingham or the West Midlands?
No matter which one you choose, both of these offer numerous benefits for extending your living space in your home. First things first, let’s start with the basics:
What Are Garden Rooms?
If you look at it literally, Garden Rooms are separate, stand-alone buildings that reside in your garden, creating a visually pleasing yet functional room without being attached to your home. You can either purchase a standard building online or hire a local builder to install one for you.
Maximising your use of outdoor space, Garden Rooms are highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of uses, such as a home office, gym, entertainment room, guest bedroom or accommodation, children’s playroom, hobby room, workshop space, or even a spa & wellness room.
What Are House Extensions?
Extensions, like Garden Rooms, will help expand the living space within your home; however, they are attached to your house, as a core part of the building instead of being separate. Types of House Extensions include Single Storey Extensions, such as Side Return Extensions, Wrap-Around Extensions, Over-Structure Extensions, Side Extensions, and Rear Extensions, as well as Double-Storey Extensions.
Again, these could be suitable for a wide range of uses, such as an office, guest room, hobby area, conservatory, orangery, utility room, kitchen, spare bedroom, bathroom… the choice is entirely yours to make!
Benefits of Garden Rooms for Your Home in Birmingham
Ideal for houses with unused garden corners or large gardens, or smaller properties in need of extra space, Garden Rooms would make an excellent addition to your home in Birmingham or the West Midlands. Here are just a few of their benefits:
Quicker Installation
In comparison to Extensions, which could take anywhere between two to six months to build (maybe even longer!), Garden Rooms are quicker to install, often taking up to a few days or weeks. This means minimal disruption to your day-to-day life. Plus, the installation takes place outside in your garden, so your home can remain undisturbed by building works.
Cost-Effective Solution
Unlike brick-built Extensions, which often involve structural changes to your house, Garden Rooms can be built from the ground up with cheaper yet still high-quality materials and modern methods. Featuring lighting, electrical fittings, and robust flooring, they can also be fully insulated with heating and ventilation, along with double-glazed Windows and Bifold Doors to create a comfortable yet functional space you can use all year round.
No Planning Permission
The great thing about Garden Rooms is that they are often permitted under “permitted development”, if they are under 2.5 to 4 metres in height.* This means that you don’t need to worry about planning permission, saving you time, hassle, and the costs of annoying paperwork.
(*Depending on your garden size or location, such as conservation areas in Bournville, Edgbaston, or Moseley, or listed buildings – it’s always safer to check, just in case.)
Benefits of House Extensions for Your Home in Birmingham
Suitable for almost all types of houses, including terraced, semi-detached, detached, and new-build homes, Extensions are a fantastic option for creating an open-plan living space or separate areas that are integrated into your home. Just some of their benefits include:
Increased Property Value
Whilst Garden Rooms can add value to your home, Extensions boost the value of your property even more so, making them an investment that really is worth it for the long-term, especially if you plan on selling your house in the future. Whilst the initial costs are higher, an Extension is designed to last the test of time, as a permanent addition to your home.
Integrated With Your Home
As an integrated part of your house, Extensions can be as extensive as you need them to be, creating large and functional areas that help you make the most of your space. Without the need to leave the comfort of your home, you could enjoy the convenience of a utility room or an extra bathroom with plumbing and heating, expand your kitchen to give you more room, or create a larger dining or living room where you can entertain friends or family.
Improved Living
Whilst Garden Rooms allow you to escape from the hustle and bustle of your home and find a quiet space to focus, Extensions can significantly improve your day-to-day living with more space, especially for young families whose children are growing. You might even have considered moving to a larger house – Extensions remove the hassle, stress, and costs of having to find a new home and move! Say goodbye to small, cramped spaces and hello to open plan or extended living with roof windows or skylights that feel like a breath of fresh air.
Looking for Professional Builders to Install Your Garden Room or Single Storey Extension in Birmingham?
So there you have it – Garden Rooms vs Extensions – we hope we have enlightened you and helped you decide which option best suits your needs for your home in Birmingham or the West Midlands. Both options transform how you live, but which is right for your home? You should consider your budget, timelines, and long-term goals.
If you’re looking for professional, local builders to install your Garden Room or Single Storey Extension, search no further than Birmingham Home Improvements! Please feel free to contact us for a consultation and a free quote.
You can reach us by phone on 07928 653625 or through our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you expand your living space!