FAQ: Common Garden Office Questions and Answers
I've compared your Garden Office prices to your competitors and you are much better value for a similar or lesser specification, why? We manufacture our studio's ourselves so there are no middlemen to take their cut. We also reguarly price check to ensure we give you the best value - but not at the expense of quality.
How long until delivery? We generally quote four to six weeks, but can often supply sooner than this and have been known to deliver in a couple.
Can your Garden Offices be used all year round? Yes, our buildings are completely insulated and have excellent U-value properties. We also supply our buildings with underfloor heating as an optional extra to provide an extra cosy environment in winter.
Why do you offer timber or uPVC doors? We love wood so we use quality timber doors and windows as standard however we understand some people prefer uPVC so we offer this as well in a choice of colours (White, Oak, Mahogany or Rosewood) and we can provide sliding doors as part of our uPVC option. There is a price premium on the uPVC option.
What is the quality of the timber windows and doors? Our opening windows and doors are individually made by a market leading manufacturer. They are professionally finished with an exterior based quality Sadolin or Ronseal 5 year wood stain. The windows are double glazed and have trickle vents to aid air circulation. The doors are also double glazed. Doors frames are hardwood for extra durability.
Will my garden studio be secure? Yes just like your house the windows and doors are lockable and we include a 5-lever lock with two keys as standard for our timber doors and 5-point deadbolt locks for the uPVC. Opening windows incorporate a window lock and key.
Will I have to treat and maintain the external cladding? Not normally. Our external cladding is pre-treated for added durability and can be left in its natural state whih requires no maintenance or can be painted or stained to your preferred colour choice. We generally use paints or stains that last 5 years so maintenance is mimimal. As part of our after sales service we offer an ongoing maintenance package should you wish for ongoing maintenance.
.
How long will the roofing last? For the Traditional design we use high quality Finnish made Katepal asphalt shingles as standard which are very durable and should last over 20 years. We can also provide Cedar shingles which generally have a life span of at least 20 years. For the Avant Garde / Contemporary designs we generally use single sheet (seamless) EDPM membrane which has a lifespan of 40-50 years.
.
Will the floor wobble when I walk on it? No. Our garden studios are built on a sturdy frame which is glued and screwed rather than using nails and we use floor joists at 50-60cm centres and thick 18mm boarding, all ensuring the floor doesn’t creak or flex when walked on and strong enough for gym equipment.
.
How are the internal walls finished? We don't believe plasterboard is the right material to use for timber framed garden buildings due to potential cracking issues so we clad the interior walls and roof space of our garden studios with MDF sheeting, white in colour for a clean, bright finish. We can also supply pine cladding which can be left in its natural state or painted or stained.
.
I have limited access to my garden, is this a problem? Not usually. Our studio's are built in sections and erected on site so as long as there is a path at the side of the house and no tight turns there shouldn't be a problem. We can come and check beforehand if you wish.
Terms and Conditions of sale
These terms and conditions govern all contracts entered into by the company for the supply of sale of goods or services. Any order given to the company shall be deemed to constitute an Agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions. No variations of these terms and conditions shall be of any effect unless agreed by the company in writing.
Description of goods The company brochure, website and any elevated drawings serve as a guide only and do not form part of any contract. The company reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice. Some timber sizes are nominal and subject to normal variations.
Prices Once your deposit is received the price will stay fixed.
Payments A 30% holding deposit is required upon placing the order, 60% of the balance of the price is due on day of installation of the building to be paid by CHAPs or cash. The final 10% is to be paid on day of completion. All goods remain the property of the company until paid for in full, the finished building should be inspected and signed off prior to payment. Outstanding balances may be paid by bank transfer (copy of transaction required) or if paying final 10% by cheque it must be handed to the install team on day of completion. The company reserves the right to dismantle and remove any buildings not paid for in full. The customer must allow full access to the site for this purpose and will be notified in writing of this intent.
Delivery The company will always try to honour the agreed delivery / installation date, so far 100% of our buildings are delivered and installed on time. However we cannot guarantee the installation date and cannot be held responsible for postponement or delay outside of our control (for example extreme weather conditions) and cannot be liable for compensation. Access to electricity is required on site. The company will not deliver buildings or machinery through domestic buildings or over fences without prior consultation (and only if agreed during site survey).
Base & Installation All sites/bases must be level with correct drainage in place. An area of no less than 300mm is required (unless agreed by prior arrangement) in addition to the external dimensions of the building to allow construction. Access to electricity is required on site.
Guarantee Cotsmill Garden Offices are covered by a comprehensive guarantee against design and manufacturing faults for a period of five years from the date of installation provided that the company installed the building. Doors and windows, floor coverings, electrical installations, electric appliances, heaters, and accessories are covered by a one year guarantee.
Remedial Work If remedial work is required, contact should be made through the main office, full details of any issues should be given. If required arrangements will be made for a maintenance team to rectify any issues free of any charge.
Law Governing This Contract The contract shall in all respects be construed and operated as an English contract governed by English Law and any dispute arising out of, or in connection herewith, shall be referred to the English courts.
