Timber Frame Buildings
Not every project needs oak. For garden offices, annexes, art studios, gym buildings, garden cabins, the right material is usually engineered timber frame, clad in larch or cedar, roofed in slate or membrane. Smaller scale, faster build, lower cost than oak.
We build timber frame buildings either as standalone garden structures or as residential annexes (subject to planning). The construction is well-insulated, suitable for year-round use, and properly serviced, power, water, drainage where needed.
Homeowners adding a garden office, annexe, studio, or cabin, wanting a properly built, insulated, serviced timber frame structure rather than an oversized shed.
Configurations and options
Garden Office
Properly insulated, properly serviced, properly built. The home-working space that justifies the commute to the end of the garden.
- Single armoured electrical supply
- Fast broadband cable run from the house
- Typically 12-20m2
Annexe (subject to planning)
Independent living accommodation for a family member or a long-stay guest. Always needs planning consent.
- Kitchen, bathroom, sleeping space
- Full water and drainage connection
- Building Regs compliant throughout
Art Studio / Workshop
North-light glazing, robust internal finishes, three-phase power where the equipment needs it.
- Roof lights tuned for north light
- Ply or hard-finish internal walls
- Sink and worktop where useful
Gym or Home Cinema Building
Sound-isolated structure, robust rubber-mat-ready slab, ventilation tuned for the use.
- Acoustic insulation in walls and ceiling
- Heavy-duty floor build-up
- Ducted MVHR ventilation
Insulated Garden Cabin
A simpler structure for guests, hobby use, or seasonal living. Year-round usable, not a summer-only shed.
- Full wall and roof insulation
- Double-glazed windows and door
- Electrics and lighting as standard
What we use
Engineered Timber Frame
Pre-cut and panelised in the workshop, erected on site in days. Predictable, accurate, and well understood by Building Control.
Larch Cladding
Most common cladding choice, silvers gracefully over 2-3 years, no maintenance required for the life of the building.
Cedar Cladding
Warmer initial colour, lighter than larch, also low-maintenance. Slightly higher cost.
Slate or Membrane Roof
Natural slate on pitched roofs, EPDM single-ply membrane on flat roofs. Both designed for 40+ year service life.
Insulation
PIR or wood-fibre between studs, continuous internal layer to eliminate cold bridging.
Typical pricing
From £35,000
Subject to specification and site conditions.
Currently quoting
Spring 2027
Lead times updated quarterly.
Examples of our timber frame buildings
Genuine examples, all our own work.
What we don’t do
We do not build sheds. The line between a garden office and a glorified shed is properly insulated walls, properly serviced electrics, properly thought-out windows, and a roof that won't leak in ten years. We build the former.
Things people ask us
Do I need planning permission for a garden office or studio?
Most garden buildings under 30m2 and below 2.5m at the eaves fall within Permitted Development on a typical residential plot. Larger buildings, anything with sleeping accommodation, or sites in AONB / Conservation Areas need full planning. We advise on which side of the line your build sits before quoting.
What insulation specification do you build to?
Walls 140mm PIR or wood-fibre insulation between studs plus 25mm internal continuous layer; roof 200mm; floor 150mm. U-values comfortably better than current Building Regs for habitable rooms, year-round comfortable without heavy heating.
What about electrics, water and drainage?
Standard for offices and studios: a dedicated armoured cable from the consumer unit, fused at the house, terminating in its own small consumer unit in the cabin. Water and drainage we run where the building includes a kitchenette or WC, annexes always have full services.
What foundations do these buildings need?
Most sites take ground-screw foundations, which are quick, low-impact, and avoid concrete. On soft ground or sloping plots we use mini-piles or a traditional strip / raft foundation. Soil assessment is part of the early survey.
How long does a timber frame building take to build?
Allow 6-10 weeks on site for a garden office, 10-14 weeks for a residential annexe. Frame manufacture happens off-site in parallel with foundation works, so the visible on-site disruption is shorter than a masonry equivalent.
What internal finishes are available?
Plastered and painted walls are standard, with skirting and architraves to match the host house. Engineered oak or birch ply panelled walls are popular alternatives for studios. Floors are usually engineered oak or polished concrete on the slab.
What cladding choices are available?
Larch (Siberian or British), western red cedar, Accoya, charred timber (shou sugi ban), or fibre-cement weatherboard. Each has a different lifespan, weathering pattern, and price point, we walk you through which suits the building.
What is the lead time from sign-off to start?
Currently 8-16 weeks depending on the season and frame manufacture slot. The figure in the panel above is updated as our diary moves.
Thinking about a project?
Tell us what you have in mind. We aim to respond within one working day.