Cambridge Garden Studios Frequently Asked Questions

Our studios are insulated using PIR insulation, which is used in extensions, new builds and loft conversions. On our studios under 15sqm, we used 75mm in the walls, roof and floor. In our studios over 15sqm we use 90mm in the floor and walls, with 120mm in the roof. Our studios required to be approved through regulations, the insulation has to be a required depth to receive the regulations certificate. This is usually 140mm in the floor, 100mm in the walls with 40mm overboard layer and 150mm in the ceiling with 40mm overboard layer. All three specifications equate to a studio that is suitable for all year-round use, with energy efficiency surpassing many houses!

The majority of the time, planning permission is not needed for a studio and once you’ve had your site visit by us, we will confirm this. Anything used for full accommodation or business use will need planning permission and we can deal with the whole application process for you. For more information about planning requirements, it’s always best to speak directly to our expert team.

Building regulations will be needed if the studio:

Is more than 15sqm in floor area and is less than 1m away from the boundary of the garden

Is anything over 30sqm in floor area

Is used for accommodation or business use.

If building regulations specification is required, we look after all this for you. For more information about building regulations, it’s always best to speak directly to our expert team.

We construct everything directly on site from scratch, using traditional timber-framing methods.

As of August 2024, our brand new renovated show room in Scotsdales, Great Shelford will be open for general walk ins. Due to the vast majority of what we build being bespoke to the client, we recommend our clients view a completed studio at a previous client’s house once they have received the quotation and drawings from ourselves, which we can arrange.

A bathroom in your studio can open up many possibilities in terms of usage, and is something that is very popular with our clients. We will carry out every aspect of the installation, and the vast majority of the time, a bathroom alone can be installed without planning permission or building regulations.

We build our studios directly on site, which gives our clients the opportunity to save money and potentially carry out some of the work on their project themselves. This maybe just the decoration, or we have in the past carried out part builds, and our client will carry on the project once the main structure is up!

With the careful guidance and advice from our sales team, you can design and specify the studio to exactly what’s required!

All of the preparation work for your quotation and drawings, as well as meetings and consultations are free of charge. Once you are happy to proceed, we will then issue your deposit.

There are various methods of heating to suit budgets, all of which we will discuss in the initial meeting. These mainly consist of electric radiators, air conditioning or underfloor heating

All the internal electrics will be specified in the initial meeting and included in the quotation. We will also quote for the supply from the house if needed along with a data cable.

The most popular cladding option our clients specify is HardiePlank cladding, which is non- maintenance and available in a variety of different colours. With this specified, your whole studio becomes non-maintenance. We now also have a series of premium non maintenance cladding options such as millboard or ecoscape composite battens.

We cover all of East Anglia, coming down to North London and across to Milton Keynes and as North as Grantham. Outside this area? Please don’t hesitate in letting us know, as it’s possible we can still offer you our service.

Although we generally design and build, we can build from supplied drawings or images.

Our Studios come complete with either concrete piles or steel screws (of which will be discussed in the initial meeting). Although it’s possible to build off existing concrete slabs, it’s not recommended