Frequently asked questions

Not normally needed — the base design handles nearly any garden regardless of slope or surface, accommodating up to 1 metre of slope without expensive excavation and with no concrete base. Visits are conducted occasionally depending on the situation.

Pay a £100 refundable deposit for studios, or £1,000 non-refundable for annexes, to reserve your installation date. You receive a floor plan and costings by email and finalise the design with one of our advisors. The design must be confirmed 15 working days before installation or the date shifts. Payment begins when the groundworks team arrives. For annexes, an advisor visits to assess groundworks and utilities. Factory visits are available in Corby, NN18 8AN.

Subscribe to the free newsletter for regular updates. Member status gives a £250 discount plus free England delivery, and you hear about design improvements first.

No.

No paper brochures (they date quickly and we keep prices competitive); an annexe brochure is available on request. Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest information plus a £250 discount and free England delivery.

A site survey is required if a bathroom, kitchen, sink or annexe is being installed, as we then quote groundworks. Most customers want a one-stop shop. Studios are viewable at the Corby factory (NN18 8AN) by appointment.

A studio is installed in a day; an equivalent brick building takes roughly a month once you allow for groundworks, foundations, the concrete floor and brickwork. Labour is around 20% of a studio's cost versus about 60% of a brick build, so a studio works out far cheaper. It also needs no foundations, can be extended or moved, and retains its value as a movable asset — where a brick building is fixed, hard to extend and can become obsolete if your needs change.

No — take time choosing the size. The only size feedback we get is "wish we'd gone bigger", so buy the biggest you can accommodate.

Consider larger than you first expect — the most common feedback is "wish we'd gone bigger", and larger studios usually offer better value per square foot. Draw the floor plan to scale with cut-out furniture to test layouts.

2,080mm (6'10"). An extended 7'10" option is available (popular with dance teachers, yoga instructors and home gyms with tall machines).

Yes. The QCB5 and QC8 are available in 300mm (1ft) increments — see the price/size page. We quote internal (usable) sizes; external adds ~250mm per dimension for the QCB5 or ~550mm for the QC8.

Two offices plus the Annexe: the QCB5 (from 6'x6' up to 28' wide, 2.5m height for permitted development, portable, roughly £9,425–£35,000); the QC8 (the enhanced specification with a 60mm roof overhang and integrated downlights, up to 33' wide); and the Annexe (straight or L-shape with kitchen and bathroom, installable under the Caravan Act with no planning permission).

The QC8 has a different roof with a 60mm overhang around the perimeter for a more traditional appearance, and integrated ceiling downlighting as an alternative to track lights. Exterior downlights are available for the overhang, creating a striking evening effect.

Yes. We make our own decking in standard front depths, but for more elaborate work — multiple levels, steps, or decking wrapping right around the studio — we can put you in touch with a specialist decking installer who handles the bespoke design and materials.

Yes — half windows, high "fan light" windows, decoupled treadmill flooring, external downlights, internal partitions/sliding doors, extra decking, colour options, light oak walls, French doors, flyover roofs, floor and outside sockets, internal storage or toilet cubicles. Contact us for option pricing.

No. Bi-fold doors have fine tolerances; very hot weather expands them, making closing or locking difficult or impossible.

Recessed blinds are included as standard in QCB5 and QC8 layouts.

The outside never needs painting or staining — a low-carbon, eco-friendly design. Inside, you can paint over the factory white base coat in any colour.

Windows: light oak or anthracite grey. Walls, corner pillars, fascias and soffits: Merlin grey (light), anthracite grey (dark), juniper green, black (fades faster), or oak (expensive, 5-year guarantee). Standard: anthracite windows with Merlin grey walls.

Yes — long-lasting, less-slippy decking (30-year manufacturer lifespan), safer than timber. Standard front depths 910mm (3ft), 1220mm (4ft) or 1820mm (6ft), in brown or grey.

The door width when opened is 760mm; the door frame is 910mm wide.

Commercial-grade waterproof vinyl. Office chairs with castors eventually abrade almost any flooring, so a protective mat is recommended.

A flyover roof is a canopy that extends out beyond the studio — typically from 900mm up to 2400mm — on a support post, giving shade and shelter (handy for getting the key in the door out of the rain). It can go on any side, looks smart paired with decking, and has its own guttering with the downpipe hidden through the support post.

Yes. French doors are 6ft (1829mm) wide and use a "floating transom", so there's no central post in the way when both doors are open. They are multi-point locking and secure; in normal use one door stays bolted top and bottom while the other is the working door. An adjustable restrictor holds the doors steady against wind and can be released — with a hook — to swing them fully back.

Grey vinyl flooring (oak vinyl available), white MDF walls and ceiling, four double sockets at 450mm height. QC8: LED downlights. QCB5: adjustable GU10 LED strip above the windows and door.

Possible but space-hungry — running log burners get very hot and need significant clearance from furniture and cupboards (fire risk).

Yes — you can have windows on up to three sides to bring the garden in and maximise light. We'd keep at least one wall solid, though, so there's somewhere to fit the electrics, air-conditioning and any heaters. Windows can be fixed or tilting, and the fixed panes also help stop the structure racking.

Yes. The QCB5 offers a bathroom with shower, sink, toilet and heater, or a toilet-with-sink. All such options are designed to remain portable and are fully guaranteed by Booths; third-party installations reduce the guarantee to one year and prevent the studio being transported.

Three styles, which can be mixed along a wall: a full-length window (the standard), a half-height window (about 910 × 500mm — useful in a row above a desk), and a small inset window set into a panel, ideal for a bathroom where obscured glass is available. A top-tilting fanlight window can be added for ventilation, and windows can have integral recessed blinds.

Flexible. QC8 standard: a central entrance door with full-length windows either side; windows and doors are 3ft (910mm) wide. The QCB5 has full-length windows with a single repositionable door across the frontage; extra windows/doors can be added to the sides.

Yes — the long windows tilt inward from the top. Studios typically have at least two tilt windows for fresh air.

Yes — a decoupled floor accommodates movement (helpful for treadmills/ cross-trainers). Non-moving heavy items (bookshelves, pool tables, printing machinery) are easily handled; discuss heavy moving gym equipment with us.

Very close — we can build to within about an inch of a fence on either side. The wall panels are fixed from inside, so we don't need working space around the outside, which means you can use almost the full width of a narrow garden. Because the building is maintenance-free, there's no need for external access afterwards either. (See also the fire-safety note on boundaries.)

Yes — low-energy A-grade sealed units, thermally equivalent to triple glazing, with enhanced sound insulation.

The walls are 75mm-thick galvanised steel-clad panels (Corus/Tata steel) finished in a tough leather-effect plastic coating that won't fade or rot. Maintenance is essentially nil — an occasional wipe-down is all that's needed, and the colour looks the same after eleven years as on day one. The cladding is secret-fixed, so there are no visible or removable fixings from the outside.

Yes — thick CLS studding at the wall joints secures heavy items (TVs, speakers); lighter items can go anywhere on the MDF walls.

Yes — toughened and compliant with British standards.

Truly zero maintenance, never requiring painting or staining, with an expected lifespan well over 25 years. A QC2 bought in 2009 still looks installation-new. Booths stopped supplying timber in 2012.

Yes — 90mm Ecotherm flooring and 90mm Actis insulation in walls and ceiling. Garden rooms face weather on six sides versus one or two for house rooms, so excellent insulation is essential for comfort.

Yes. Toughened glass to standard, doors and windows fitted with insurance-rated locks. Doors typically open inward to hide hinges; outward-opening French doors are available.

Downpipes are hidden in the corner posts — a sleeker look that also protects pipes and seals from UV and wind, extending their lifespan.

Yes — the roof is very strong and can hold several people if required. Observe ladder safety.

The roof is corrugated bitumen. Sedum is not recommended — it becomes extremely heavy when wet and needs maintenance twice yearly.

Yes — portability was a core design criterion, including units with showers, toilets and kitchens. Booths-installed bathrooms/kitchens keep it portable with full guarantee; self-installed ones prevent moving it. Moving starts at a minimum of £2,400+VAT for a small studio near the workshop.

No — the downpipes are hidden in the corners, which also protects them from weathering so seals last far longer.

Quarter century — the materials have a minimum 25-year lifespan against British weather. We use steel, UPVC and glass with no external timber, so QC studios don't deteriorate like timber buildings and eliminate 25 years of painting and staining. Coastal properties (within 2km) may need repainting after about 15 years due to salt-air corrosion.

The longest in the UK: a unique 25-year exterior structure guarantee (5 years for oak steel). It is non-transferable. Payment begins only when installation arrives, so a small refundable deposit secures your date with peace of mind.

Booths stopped supplying timber in 2012 because the steel buildings are simply better. Timber windows move, draught and need regular repainting, whereas the engineered steel is draught-proof, needs no maintenance and holds its colour for years. Steel also blends into a garden better and keeps its appearance, where timber fades and weathers. Standardising on the better product was the right decision even though timber remained popular.

Yes — the A-rated windows are excellent in this regard; double-glazed but thermally equivalent to triple glazing.

The outdoor unit sits on the ground on slabs rather than on the studio wall, so its vibration is never felt inside. It needs roughly one metre of clearance in front to work. As it isn't the prettiest box, it's usually placed on the least visible side, and the pipework can be extended to run it further from the building and out of sight.

Yes — a single air-conditioning unit does four jobs: heats in winter, cools in summer, dehumidifies, and filters the air. It's a heat-exchange unit, so it's roughly four times more efficient than a standard electric heater (you put in around 1–1.5kW and get 5–6kW of heat out), which makes it cheap to run. We recommend it over underfloor heating, which can't cool in summer and limits where partition walls or a toilet can later be added.

It depends which way your windows face. North-facing windows get little direct sun, so air conditioning is a nice-to-have rather than a necessity. South-facing windows — or windows on several sides — take sun for most of the day and can get very hot, so we'd recommend it. Checking your studio's likely orientation on Google Earth is a quick guide.

A fused spur is a neater, safer alternative to a socket, with the cable run hidden behind the wall — used for fixed appliances such as an air-conditioning unit or a heater. In wet areas like a bathroom a standard socket isn't permitted, so a fused spur is used instead.

We recommend air conditioning via Booth's Electrical Services — heats in winter, cools in summer, low running cost, 5-year guarantee (service every 2 years, ~£200+VAT). Installation is around £1,700. Alternatively, two cheaper electric heaters.

Four double sockets at ~450mm from the floor are included; extras £30 each. High sockets (~1150mm), cooker sockets and floor sockets are available. The consumer unit includes a double socket.

Yes. QC8: modern LED downlights (40,000-hour life). QCB5: adjustable GU10 LED bulbs on a strip above the windows and door — bright and economical.

Booth's Electrical Services can install these. Phone and TV lines are best installed by your normal provider (BT, Sky, Virgin, etc.).

Yes — many customers use the studios for art and comment on the light, airy feel. Windows on two sides are common; a three-side window option is available.

Yes — it is insulated and ideal for most home music use; many customers run home recording setups in their garden studios.

Concentration-demanding work reaches a high focus level quickly. Ambient household noise is eliminated, enabling better, more enjoyable results.

Yes, via Pegasus Finance. Booths is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 760651) as an Introducer Appointed Representative; Pegasus is a credit broker, not a lender. Rates start at 5.9% APR with terms of 42–120 months. Representative example: £10,000 over 60 months at 16.8% representative APR (7.9% annual rate), £0 deposit = £241.22/month, £14,273.21 total payable.

Not for studios; yes for annexes. We recommend our in-house electrician (Booth's Electrical Services) for an armoured mains connection up to 40m including Part P certification — £960 up to 40m, £1,200 over 40m, with no hidden costs. Connection occurs within one week of installation. Third-party electrical work voids the electrical guarantee.

Yes, the outside lights are included in the price.

No — payment is by bank transfer or cheque. Accepting cards would add 3% to every studio's cost.

Yes, VAT is always included for maximum pricing transparency.

Discuss your situation with your personal financial advisor — we do not provide tax advice.

Everything needed for a working, ready-to-use studio: all walls, windows, floor coverings, skirting and trims, internal lighting, the electrics and consumer unit, plus delivery and installation — no hidden costs. The one thing the price excludes is bringing the mains supply from your house to the studio, because that cost depends on the distance (see the mains connection question). Optional "additions" such as a roof light, air-conditioning, a heater or a sunken floor for a treadmill are quoted separately on request.

Contact your council and emphasise the low carbon output — some planners have approved installations. Material samples are available on request.

Annexes for a family member comply with the Caravan Act and qualify as permitted development, avoiding planning permission. See the Planning Permission page for the full conditions.

No — studios, offices and annexes cannot be attached to existing properties, though they can be positioned within about 2 inches of one.

No. Studios sit on an adjustable chassis on concrete feet resting on soil, grass or gravel — significant cost savings, installable on sloped ground, and a lower-carbon alternative to a concrete base.

Yes if the decking is 300mm or more above ground; no if below 300mm.

Yes. Because the building is clad in non-combustible galvanised steel rather than timber, it doesn't carry the fire-spread risk of a timber building — the cladding cannot catch fire. That can matter under building regulations near a boundary, where a timber building may be considered too close to a neighbouring structure. Always confirm the specifics with your local building control.

It can be a sticking point, but customers emphasising the low carbon output have gained approval. Contact your council first; describe the three materials (A-grade UPVC windows, plasti-coated galvanised steel walls, corrugated bitumen roof). We provide samples and elevation drawings to help.

Probably not — the 2.5m height qualifies as permitted development. If you handle planning yourself we supply drawings free of charge, and a planning consultant is available. Caravan-Act annexes need no planning permission.

Yes. Installation is possible on a severe slope without a concrete base; a studio skirt is available if desired, or you can plant beneath. Foxes living underneath is extremely rare — zero instances in company history.

All studios are 2,500mm high, which typically requires no planning permission as it falls within permitted development, even with a flyover roof. An extended-height option adds roughly 300mm of interior height.

Yes. Delivery and installation are free throughout England. To Scotland it's a flat £899 within 100 miles of Edinburgh or Glasgow — this applies to purchases only, as we don't offer rentals in Scotland. Beyond that radius — the Highlands, the islands or anywhere needing a ferry — call John Doolan, our Edinburgh-based installer, on 07752 489111 for a quote.

Yes (a small charge applies). Designed for difficult/London access — normal door-size access is required. Fitters have never failed an install due to access; very long flyover-roof components may be an exception.

Small studios: one day. Larger: 2–3 days. Very large: 5–6 days. Winter days are shorter and weather can extend timeframes.

Clear the site of trees/bushes and send a site photo via our questionnaire. The fitting team needs power for tools. After the head fitter is shown the exact location, leave the team to work.

A small deposit secures your date; allow a minimum of about 8 weeks. The design must be confirmed via floor plan at least 15 working days before installation. Quality is never compromised by rushing; bad weather may shift dates.

No — annexes cannot attach to existing properties, but can be positioned within about 2 inches of the home or garage.

A £1,000 deposit reserves your installation date; you pay nothing more until the groundworks team arrives. Designers email floor plans and conduct a site visit to finalise the design, which must be confirmed 15 working days before installation.

All annexes are 2,500mm tall, which falls within permitted development for garden structures.

Groundworks (up to 20m), electrical connections, air-conditioning heating/ cooling, flooring, blinds and exterior lights — plus the 25-year guarantee.

Yes — 90mm Ecotherm flooring and 90mm Actis wall/ceiling insulation. As an annexe faces weather on six sides, robust insulation is essential.

The kitchen is built around standard (IKEA-compatible) unit sizes with white gloss units and a grey worktop, and comes complete with sockets, an extractor fan and under-unit lighting. It's designed around 600mm appliance spaces, so you can fit an oven, a built-in fridge-freezer, a dishwasher or a washing machine. The whole kitchen arrives pre-built on a pallet and can be fitted — or removed and re-sited — in a couple of hours.

The Squire (16'x17'), Rockingham (20'x17') and Lincoln L-shape (24'x8' / 12'x8'). For smaller gardens, 20'x8' or 24'x8' with kitchen and bathroom are favoured.

Yes — portability is a core design principle. Even large annexes with kitchens and bathrooms remain portable, provided Booths installed those fixtures.

Yes. The standard shower has a curved door, but for wheelchair access — or where someone needs help showering — it can be left open instead, giving more room to get in and assist. The whole floor is waterproof.

A granny pod is a self-contained, single-storey home built in the garden so an elderly relative can live nearby but independently — with its own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living space. It's the same building the UK more often calls a granny annexe or granny flat; "granny pod" is a newer term, borrowed from the US, that's now widely searched in the UK too. At Booths we build granny pods as fully-insulated, zero-maintenance garden annexes that qualify for the reduced 5% VAT rate, available to buy or rent. You can see sizes, layouts and prices on our garden annexes page.