As a homeowner, you’re probably always looking for new ways to improve and expand the amount of usable space on your property. If you’ve been working from home and are sick of sitting at the kitchen table all day or have been homeschooling and think your children would benefit from a study space that’s separate to the main house, then a bespoke garden room could be just the solution you’re looking for.
When looking for the best luxury garden room for you and your family, you should look into different manufacturers to see how their manufacturing processes and key design features compare. In this article, we’ll compare the similarities and differences between garden rooms from Garden Retreats and Green Retreats to help you find the right structure for you.
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Garden Retreats and Green Retreats: Summary
| Garden Retreats | Green Retreats | |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Glass fibre and carbon fibre frames, with EPS insulation wrapped in a composite cladding. | Concrete foundation, sub-flooring with polyurethane insulation, Rockwool insulation wall insulation with 15mm Melamine and a layer of PhotonWrap, redwood cladding. |
| Sizes | Three pod sizes to install individually or combined for a bigger structure:
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GR Range: From 2 x 2 metres to 3 x 10 metres.
TG Range: From 2.5 metres to 3 x 10 metres. GS Range: From 2 x 2 metres to 4.5 x 6 metres. Annex Range: From 3 x 5 metres to 3.5 x 14 metres. |
| Optional enhancements |
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Option to add more of the following at an extra cost:
Upgrade at extra cost to include:
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| Fixtures and fittings included as standard |
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| Warranties |
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| Maintenance | Designed for zero internal and external maintenance. | Designed for zero external maintenance. |
| Prices | From £10,000 for the smallest pod with no extras. | From £15,333 for the smallest Garden Workshop with no extras. |
The main differences between Garden Retreats and Green Retreats
Ranges
Green Retreats offer a selection of garden building ranges: GR, TGO, GS and Annex. The GR Range consists of four garden buildings in a traditional, Scandinavian design using natural materials. The TGO Range is more contemporary and features black or graphite accents, while the GS Range of workspaces consists of a Garden Workshop and a Garden Studio. The Annex Range, on the other hand, is split into two designs intended for permanent living spaces and come with kitchens and bathrooms.
At Garden Retreats we don’t have ranges, but rather three individually-priced modular pod sizes that you can install individually or combine to make a larger structure. Because of this modular design, you can take your Garden Retreat with you if you relocate. This means that you can design your garden room according to your current needs, but also add more pods if you require extra space in the future.
Cladding materials
Garden Retreats are clad in composite material which meets the most stringent fire regulations. It is also reduces external noise levels. This provides durability, robustness and stylish modern aesthetics, and the material is also low maintenance and resistant to pest problems. The colour will never fade unlike cedar and wooden cladding.
Green Retreats garden buildings are clad in Scandinavian redwood as standard but can be upgraded to honey redwood, cedar or black composite cladding. These will weather and change colour over time and will need maintenance.
Configuration
Although both companies use virtual design software as part of the configuration process, this is carried out in different ways. At Garden Retreats, we allow you to use our online tools in your own time, letting you get a feel of the design you want without a team member. We also offer a free site survey. With Green Retreats, on the other hand, a member of their team is involved at each point of the configuration process, whether online or in-person.
Installation
The installation times of each garden pod also differ. Because of the innovative materials we use, the on-site installation of your Garden Retreat is swift and simple and your pod will be ready to go in just a few days. A Green Retreat will take around three to five days to install depending on the weather. The internal options then take longer – eg if you choose plaster that takes at least 1 week to dry before painting can be done.
Internal walls
Garden Retreats pods come in your choice of fire-proof, scratch-proof, long-lasting wall panels in six colour options. These panels can be arranged horizontally or vertically depending on your preference. You could even upgrade to bespoke panels and provide your own hi-res images or logos for a unique feature wall.
Green Retreats garden buildings are fitted with a melamine interior, which has a sheen surface and is UV-stable so won’t fade from direct sunlight.
Benefits of the Garden Retreats pod
As mentioned earlier, our pods are made from glass fibre and carbon fibre, which won’t expand or deteriorate over time like alternative materials might. The materials used to construct your Garden Retreat require 75% less energy to produce and transport than steel. We also use an industry-leading British warm roof system that has a U-value of just 0.18 so your pod won’t lose any heat.
All electrics—plug sockets with USB ports, internal and external spotlights, smartphone-controlled heating and a hook-up point for the mains—are included. This means that your garden office, home gym, cinema room or whatever you have planned for your room is ready to go straight away.
Our pods are extremely customisable. As well as your choice of wall panels and Italian luxury vinyl floor tiling in a variety of colours, you can also choose between a bifold and patio door system in black or grey, and three cladding colours so the exterior of your pod can match your design interests just as much as the interior. You can also add a roof terrace with a spiral staircase and composite decking as optional extras, either at the time of initial installation or at a later date. This extends the functionality of the space and provides the perfect spot for open-air painting, entertaining guests or just relaxing with the family on a weekend.
To find out more about our luxury Garden Retreats or to book a free site survey, get in touch with a member of our team today.