A short, honest snapshot of what I'm actually seeing on SIP garden room projects - pricing, demand and how people
are really using their spaces.
From the perspective of one small builder on the tools - not a big marketing department.
This report is deliberately small and focused. It isn't trying to cover every possible angle - just the parts that
genuinely affect how much you'll spend, what you'll get and how happy you'll be with it in three winters' time.
As I move through the year, I'll update this page with what I'm seeing on real projects - how material costs are
behaving, what most clients are asking for and where I think the best value sits.
1. Price reality check for 2025
For most of the SIP garden rooms I build, the realistic all-in range is still usually somewhere between a
decent car and a small extension. The biggest mistake I see is people trying to get "extension comfort" at
cabin prices.
You pay more up front for a proper SIP structure, but you get a room that feels right all year.
There's still a lot of noise online with "from x" prices that don't tell the whole story.
My Cost Engine gives a much more honest starting point.
2. What people are actually building
Offices and multi-use family spaces are still the core. I'm seeing more people ask for:
Rooms that can flip between office, guest space and chill-out area.
Better acoustics for calls, music or content creation.
Simple, robust finishes - less "showroom gloss", more "this will still look good in 10 years".
3. Comfort over square metres
The projects that age best are rarely the absolute biggest you can squeeze in. They're the ones where the
structure, glazing and heating are all working together sensibly for how the room will actually be used.
My bias is always towards a slightly smaller, better-built room over a large box that needs fighting with.
