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.

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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.

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 100mm 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 100mm 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 — 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 composite 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.

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. 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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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 (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 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.