Aspen Lodges Ltd specialise in building premium quality garden rooms and garden offices in the South Yorkshire area. As garden room experts we understand the importance of creating garden rooms that can be utilised throughout the year. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key differences between a fully insulated garden room with ventilated cladding, and an uninsulated summerhouse. 1. Year-Round Comfort: One of the major advantages of a fully insulated garden room is its ability to provide year-round comfort. Unlike uninsulated summerhouses that tend to be too hot in summer and too cold in winter, a fully insulated garden room ensures a more consistent temperature throughout the year. This creates an inviting space that can be enjoyed regardless of the season, whether it's for work, leisure, or relaxation. The clue is in the name 'summerhouse'. Summerhouses are designed to be used throughout the summer only, when no heating is required. There'll be problems if a summerhouse is used in the winter when heating is required. i.e. When it's cold outside, the warm heated interior air will form a dew point on the thin uninsulated summerhouse walls which will eventually cause the timbers to rot. Aspen Lodges have replaced several summerhouses for this very reason. Unfortunately, you can't simply add insulation to a summerhouse to solve the problem, and in some cases it can make the problem worse. i.e. if the warm interior are gets trapped behind the insulation and causes a dew point, the problem could be masked and allowed to fester until extensive structural damage is caused to the timber frame. Each layer of materials in a properly constructed garden room compliment each other. For example, if a timber frame building is insulated, then there also needs to be an internal vapour barrier to stop the warm heated interior air from getting through the walls and meeting the cold exterior air, and forming a dew point. An Aspen Lodges garden room wall also includes a breathable waterproof membrane. It's important that it's breathable so that any small amounts of internal vapour can gently disperse into the exterior ventilation layer. If the waterproof membrane wasn't breathable, then it's possible for dampness to become trapped within the walls. The ventilation layer that circulates the building behind the cladding is also critical in the prevention of dampness and allows air to circulate around the building and disperse any dampness that finds itself behind the cladding. If a summerhouse has insulation retrospectively fitted, there'll be no ventilation behind the cladding and it's a recipe for dampness and rot which is obviously not ideal if you're using the building as an office with computers and electrical equipment. 2. Energy Efficiency: Insulated Aspen Lodges garden rooms are designed to be energy-efficient, which is not the case for summerhouses. For example an Aspen Lodges Garden Room’s wall comprise of 12 individual layers of materials, whereas a typical summerhouse is simply constructed with a single layer of timber cladding. The insulation in a Garden Room helps to retain heat during colder months and keeps the space cool during warmer periods. By reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling, you'll not only save on energy costs but also contribute to a greener environment. 3. Noise Reduction: A fully insulated garden room with ventilated cladding build by Aspen Lodges offers superior noise reduction compared to an uninsulated summerhouse. The insulation materials effectively absorb and dampen external noises, creating a peaceful and quiet environment within the garden room. Whether you're using the space as a garden office, gym, or hobby room, the reduced noise levels will enhance your overall experience. 4. Versatility and Functionality: Thanks to the insulation, an Aspen Lodges garden room offers greater versatility and functionality compared to an uninsulated summerhouse. The controlled climate ensures that you can use the space for a wide range of activities, such as a home gym, art studio, or even a guest room. The possibilities are endless, and you can customise the interior to meet your specific needs and preferences. 5. Durability and Longevity: Investing in a fully insulated Aspen Lodges garden room with ventilated cladding ensures its durability and longevity. The insulation not only protects the structure from extreme temperature fluctuations but also acts as a barrier against moisture, and the cladding ventilation helps prevent issues such as dampness and rot. With proper maintenance, your garden room will stand the test of time, providing you with many decades of enjoyment. Conclusion: When it comes to choosing between a fully insulated Aspen Lodges garden room with ventilated cladding and an uninsulated summerhouse, the benefits of the former are abundantly clear. From year-round comfort and energy efficiency to improved noise reduction and versatility, an insulated Aspen Lodges garden room offers an unparalleled experience. At Aspen Lodges Ltd, we take pride in constructing garden rooms that exceed expectations, ensuring our customers have a space they can enjoy throughout the year. Contact us today to discuss your garden room dreams and let us transform your outdoor space into something truly remarkable.

Yes. An Aspen Lodges Garden Room can add value to a property. Garden Rooms are versatile spaces that can be used for various purposes, such as a home office, gym, or entertainment area. They provide additional living space without the need for a costly extension or renovation. This functionality can make a property more attractive to potential buyers and therefore increase value. However, the actual value added will depend on various factors, including the quality of the Garden Room. Aspen Lodges only build Premium Quality Garden Rooms and Garden Buildings.

Generally, the Permitted Development section of the Planning rules allow Garden Buildings to be 2.5m tall without requiring Planning Permission. (assuming that the land isn't listed or in a Conservation Area). There's much more detail to the Permitted Development requirements, but the 2.5m height restriction is often the main consideration. Aspen Lodges have perfected the design of their Garden Rooms so that they generally don't require Planning Permission. Each section of the building has been carefully designed to ensure that it's structurally robust, and that there's maximum internal head height. However, if you do require Planning Permission, it's not a problem. Aspen Lodges have experience of managing the Planning Application process and designing Garden Buildings to achieve permission where required.

An Aspen Lodges Garden Room that has been built with an understanding and knowledge of building science will last for many, many decades. Dampness, condensation and rot can be a major problem for a poorly designed Garden Room. An Aspen Lodges Garden Room is designed similarly to a Scandinavian timber framed house and is fully internally vapour wrapped with the floor, walls and ceiling being fully insulated, and also ventilated to ensure good airflow which is essential for a timber framed building.

Yes. Aspen Lodges can attach a garden room to your house. It's often possible to do this under your Permitted Development rights, so Planning Permission may not be required. Each case is different, but as long as there is an external door leading from your house into the Garden Room, and the size falls within the guidelines, then Planning Permission is unlikely to be required.

Yes. It's easy to install a small bathroom or toilet within a Garden Room. The only potential complex part is connecting the waste pipe into the sewerage system. Each site is different and requires assessing for suitability.

Garden Rooms are typically built upon a full concrete slab, ground screws, or mini concrete pads which support a timber base. Aspen Lodges use all three systems, but tend to use concrete mini-pads as they offer the most versatility.

Yes. An Aspen Lodges Garden Room is fully insulated with 75mm of premium quality foil faced solid foam PIR insulation on the floor, and 90mm of Actis-Hybris foil faced multi-foil insulation in the walls and ceiling. An Aspen Lodges Garden Room is snug and cosy throughout the winter and can be comfortably used as an office of leisure room.

At Aspen Lodges Ltd, we understand that choosing the best Garden Office for your needs can be a difficult decision. We can help you determine which option is best for you based on the size and layout of your outdoor space, as well as your budget and lifestyle. We can build a bespoke Garden Offices to suit any need, and we would be happy to guide you through the design process. Contact us today to learn more about our Garden Offices and get started on creating your perfect outdoor workspace.

Yes! Aspen Lodges Ltd can install an armoured Cat6 data cable which runs from your home router directly to your Garden Office. We then install a Wifi Access Point (AP) which transmits a secure and reliable Wifi signal within your Garden Office. Please contact us for more information.

Yes! We offer air conditioning as an optional upgrade to our Garden Rooms and Garden Offices. Our air conditioning systems are designed to be energy efficient and effective, providing you with a comfortable atmosphere all year round. We can even enable your air conditioning system to be remotely controlled via a Wifi connection.

Yes! All Aspen Lodges' Garden Rooms and Garden Offices can be 'Smart' enabled and can be connected to your home's Wi-Fi network. We can install Smart heating, lighting and security features.

At Aspen Lodges Ltd, we offer a variety of Garden Office sizes to suit your needs. Our most popular size is 5m x 3m, but we specialise in building bespoke sizes to suit our customer's requirements. If you're unsure which size would be best for you, we're happy to offer advice, or come and visit you to help you make the right choice.

Yes! It's easy to upgrade to aluminium bi-folding doors if required. Simply tell us what colour you'd like, and whether you'd like clip-on blinds or integral blinds, or no blinds. Bi-folding doors are are perfect for creating the 'outside in' feeling, and blending your Garden Room with your garden. Please contact us for more information and to discuss your requirements.

Aspen Lodges Ltd serve our Customers in Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Wath, Retford, Wakefield, and Chesterfield. We generally cover any area that's approximately 1 hour's drive from our base in Rotherham. Throughout South Yorkshire and the surrounding areas.