Garden Room FAQ — questions, answered.

A Garden Room is a modern, detached backyard space designed for homeowners who need extra room without building a full home addition. It can be used as a home office, studio, gym, lounge, hobby room, or private retreat.

The Garden Room Series is available in two sizes: the 118 sq.ft compact model for tighter backyards and focused use cases, and the 158 sq.ft model for homeowners who need a bit more space. Both are built on the same Boxway Aluminum SIP system with the same modern design language.

The most popular uses are home office, backyard gym, creative studio, and lounge. The flexible open layout also works as a yoga or meditation room, art or music studio, kids’ playroom, entertainment space, guest sitting area, hobby workshop, or small-business workspace.

Use as a permanent sleeping unit, rental unit, full dwelling, or structure with plumbing may require additional approvals depending on local regulations.

Yes — as a comfortable space for guests to sit, work, relax, or stay during the day. Using it as a permanent sleeping unit, rental unit, or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is different and typically requires permits, zoning approval, fire safety review, and other local requirements.

The standard Garden Room is designed as a simple backyard room without plumbing. Adding a bathroom, kitchen, or plumbing connection may require permits, utility work, inspections, and local approvals.

Yes — electrical options are available with most installations. Pre-wiring for lighting, outlets, and HVAC can be included in your build. Final connection to your home’s electrical panel must comply with local electrical codes and is typically completed by a licensed electrician with permit and inspection.

Yes. Our models are available with different exterior colour options, allowing you to choose a look that best matches your backyard and home style. Popular choices include charcoal gray, warm white, wood-look panels, and modern neutral tones.

Yes, in most cases. The Garden Room sits on pier-block or pad foundations rather than a permanent slab, so it can be disassembled and relocated. Moving requires professional handling, and may affect warranty terms, utility connections, and site preparation at the new location.

In many cases, no permit is required for the Garden Room 118. Many North American jurisdictions exempt detached accessory structures under 120 sq ft (or 10 sq metres) from building permits. The Garden Room 158 is more likely to require a permit because it exceeds that common threshold.

Permit rules still vary by city, county, province, state, zoning district, setback, height, and intended use. See our full permit guide for the U.S. and Canada for jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction guidance, or confirm with your local building department. Our team also reviews permit considerations during the free site review included with your reservation.

The standard Garden Room is not automatically considered an ADU. An ADU usually includes residential living features and may require zoning approval, building permits, plumbing, fire safety, and occupancy compliance.

If you want to use the structure as an ADU, guest suite, rental unit, or sleeping unit, please confirm local requirements before ordering.

Yes, in many HOA communities — but you’ll need to clear it through your HOA first. Most HOAs require approval for detached structures, exterior colors, height, and placement. Submit your installation plan to the architectural review committee before reserving. The Garden Room’s modern design and finish options tend to align well with HOA design guidelines.

Yes, it may be used as a private workspace, studio, consultation room, or home-based business space where permitted. Local zoning, business licensing, signage, parking, and customer-visit rules may apply.

Yes, the Garden Room is designed to provide a comfortable indoor space. Heating, cooling, insulation level, and climate performance may vary depending on the selected model, location, and upgrade options.

Yes. Our Garden Room can be used in many cold-climate regions across Canada and the northern United States. For colder areas, we may recommend suitable insulation, heating, door/window specifications, and foundation options.

Yes. For warmer areas, we may recommend proper ventilation, cooling options, shading, and energy-efficient glass to improve comfort.

Most Garden Rooms are assembled by a small team in about 3 days, once the concrete footings are prepared and cured. That’s significantly faster than a traditional home addition, which typically takes 3–12 months. Actual timing depends on site conditions, helper count, weather, and selected options.

Concrete pier blocks are the standard foundation for most Garden Room installations. Other approved options include concrete pads, deck platforms, and helical piles — the best choice depends on your soil, climate, frost depth, slope, and local code. We confirm the recommended foundation during the site review included with your reservation.

Yes. The site should be level, accessible, and ready for placement or installation. During the site review, we will discuss backyard access, ground conditions, foundation, clearance, and delivery requirements.

The Garden Room is shipped as a flat-pack kit on a standard freight delivery to your prepared site. Each kit includes step-by-step assembly instructions and all the panels, fasteners, and hardware needed to build the structure on your footings. Other delivery configurations may be available in certain regions.

Yes, depending on access, site conditions, foundation requirements, and local regulations. Rural and cottage properties may require additional review for delivery access, utilities, snow load, wind exposure, and ground conditions.

The Garden Room 158 starts at $19,990 USD. Final pricing depends on options, location, delivery distance, installation requirements, foundation, electrical work, and local site conditions. Customers can reserve online first, and our team will follow up with detailed pricing.

No — the starting price covers the Garden Room kit itself. Delivery, installation, foundation, electrical hookup, taxes, permits, and site preparation are quoted separately because they vary by location and site conditions. Your final total is confirmed during the site review included with your reservation, before you commit to the order.

Yes. You can reserve your Garden Room online through roomingarden.com by paying a $100 reservation deposit. After your reservation is received, our team will contact you to confirm your location, site condition, delivery access, and next steps.

Yes — the $100 reservation deposit is fully refundable before you confirm your final order. Nothing moves forward until you’ve approved pricing, delivery date, and the installation plan. Once production, custom order, or delivery arrangements begin, refund conditions are governed by the reservation terms.

After your deposit is received, our team will contact you to confirm your contact information, review your property location, check delivery and backyard access, discuss your intended use, review local permit considerations, confirm available options and estimated cost, and plan the next steps for order and installation.

Not directly through us at this time. We’re currently evaluating financing partners and expect to launch options in 2026. In the meantime, many customers use a home equity line of credit (HELOC), a personal renovation loan, or their existing credit to finance the build. Contact us to discuss current payment options.

Yes. Garden Room is designed to serve customers across the United States and Canada. Availability, delivery cost, installation options, and local requirements may vary by location.

Yes — we work with vetted local installation partners across the United States and Canada to handle assembly, foundation work, and electrical connection. Coverage continues to expand. If your area isn’t yet covered by a direct partner, we’ll provide assembly drawings and contractor specs so a local builder can complete the install.

The easiest way to get started is to reserve online at roomingarden.com. After your reservation is submitted, our team will contact you to review your project and guide you through the next steps.