Prefab vs Bespoke Garden Rooms - what’s the difference?

A prefab (or pre-designed) garden room is a pre-manufactured structure that is delivered and assembled on-site, offering a cost-effective and quick installation solution. In contrast, a bespoke garden room (such as the garden rooms by Bespoke Builds) is custom-designed and built to your exact specifications and desires, allowing for unique designs, premium materials, and a high degree of personalisation.  What are the main differences between prefab and bespoke garden rooms and which should you choose?

What are the main differences between a prefab and a bespoke garden room?

1. Customisation Options

Pre-fab garden rooms are usually designed from a pre-designed and manufactured structure which are fairly standard based on what’s already popular.  This usually means standard size options and standard add-ons such as heating, insulation, layout and extra windows etc. 

Alternatively, bespoke Garden rooms are designed according to a customers exact specification, to fit a specific space and purpose.  This means customisation options are not limited by anything, so customers can choose anything from internal layouts, hot tub areas, pergolas/roof overhangs, bar areas, Saunas, unique decking areas, music systems, sound-proofing and whatever else you need. 

2. Quality of Materials

Pre-fabricated means pre-manufactured and then assembled on-site.  To make this cost-effective and quick to install, cheaper and more lightweight materials are often used.

Bespoke Garden rooms offer greater flexibility, allowing for the use of higher quality materials such as sustainable or exotic timbers, high-performance insulation, sound-proofing and more.  Bespoke Builds Garden rooms are hand-built and so whilst the initial outlay for these materials may be a little more, it is an investment which will last a lifetime.  

3. Installation Time

Prefab garden rooms are manufactured off-site so the actual installation time on-site can sometimes be just around a week.  

Bespoke Garden rooms require more time and workmanship and depending on the size or complexity of the garden room, can take a month or longer.  The reward for this is the extra craftsmanship and quality of install in a bespoke garden room, being truly incorporated into your space from the very first nail to the very last coat of paint.  

4. Cost

Prefab garden rooms are typically cheaper than bespoke garden rooms thanks to the lower quality materials, simple customisations and faster on-site installation.  

Whilst bespoke garden rooms and annexes can cost more than at the outset, they really are an investment that will have a long lifespan and be truly fit for purpose.  Bespoke garden rooms can be likened more to a home extension in terms of quality, customisation and longevity, but without the need for planning permission, architects or such a large investment in most cases.  

5. Level of Service

Pre-fabricated garden rooms can be produced on-mass and assembled quickly on-site by a team with very little engagement.  

With a bespoke garden room, you have your hand held by professionals from day 1 all the way through to the day you receive those keys.  You take the driving seat to design your custom garden room and then you have a dedicated professional (such as Nick at Bespoke Builds Ltd) working on-site each day to deliver your final product.  Customisations can get tweaked and changed as conversations unfold and you will develop a trusted relationship with a professional who takes real pride in your project. 

What to choose:  prefab garden room or bespoke garden room?

The decision to go prefab or bespoke when it comes to building your garden room or annexe can be tricky.  If budgets are small and you need a garden room quickly then prefab may be the better route.  

But if there is some wiggle on budget and you’ve got the time to do things properly then a bespoke garden room offers a much higher quality build, similar to that of a house extension.  Even for simple garden room studios, the option of unlimited customisation options means you can build something truly fit-for-purpose - why spend all that money and then skimp on the features that make it really special?  

Ready to begin building your custom garden room?  Get in touch for a free quote and a no-obligation chat with Nick at Bespoke Builds.