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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do you offer a service in my area?
    • Yes! We work across the UK and Internationally.

      Westbury Supply and Install Service (Supply and Fit): Our Supply and Install Service includes design, planning permission, structural calculations, supplying and installing the superstructure, all joinery, doors and windows, the lantern roof (if required for your project) and ensuring that the completed building is 100% watertight.

      Your own builder will be responsible for the foundations, brickwork, plastering and floor screeding.

      Our factory and main showroom is based in Essex. We invite you, by appointment to visit us and see the quality of out products and craftsmanship firsthand.

  • Do you work outside of the UK?
    • Yes. We welcome enquires from outside of the UK and are proud to have completed projects all over the world. Our garden rooms, orangeries and pool houses have been successfully installed on residential and commercial properties located throughout Europe, Asia and the USA.

      We have worked very hard to improve and refine our Garden Rooms over the last 32 years, and now have a product that we’re happy to send across the world safe in the knowledge that it will perform as well in foreign climates as it does on our own soil. Our product is robust and can withstand any climate. Find out more.

  • Why do you choose timber for your garden rooms rather than aluminium or uPVC?
    • Durability, stability and sustainability are central to our design philosophy. Our products are high quality, low maintenance and eco-friendly. Timber is the perfect material to achieve this.

      Our garden rooms are built primarily from Accoya®, a revolutionary wood created from only fast-growing and copiously available FSC® or PEFC™ certified tree species such as Radiata pine. Though we do incorporate some hardwood and aluminium into our designs, we only use these materials where they are truly necessary. Hardwood for example, remains the most appropriate material for a door threshold where it is likely to see heavy footfall.

      To ensure low maintenance, aluminium roof cappings are used to cover the exterior of our roof lanterns.

      By using timber instead of aluminium, we are able to create great depth and character to both the interior and exterior of our garden rooms. We can craft flush joints, sharp edges and traditional mouldings. Timber can also be repainted should you wish to change the colour in the future.

  • What kind of service can I expect from Westbury?
    • At Westbury, we care about getting things right and that’s why we ask our customers to help us identify opportunities for improvement as well as successes to celebrate.

      Much of our business comes from recommendation so upholding our reputation and continuing to deliver excellent service is paramount to our success.

      In a recent customer service satisfaction survey 100% of our participants said that we did everything we said we would do – in fact, 35% said we did everything and more!

      Take a look at our Client Testimonials and read about other customer experiences.

  • How much does a Westbury Garden Room cost?
    • By investing in a Westbury Garden Room, you will be adding value not only to your home but to your way of life. Each project is truly unique, and our portfolio generally starts from £65,000 (+VAT). We also welcome enquires for large scale, multi-install and commercial projects with POA.

      Investing in your property can be a huge commitment, so we will take the time to ensure that your new space is perfectly suited to you, your family and your home. Find out more.

      Take at look at our Case Studies to explore ideas for your project.

  • What timber/material is used to build Westbury Garden Rooms?
    • We use an environmentally friendly, stable and durable product that outperforms traditional hardwood in almost every respect, and this product is called Accoya®.

      Accoya® is an environmentally friendly, modified timber with a low carbon footprint. Cutting-edge technology, enables it to resist rot, defy the elements and stay strong for decades, meaning that our garden rooms do not need repainting for 10-12 years or more. Find Out More.

      Only 4% of the wood we use at Westbury is hardwood and this is reserved for areas with heavy footfall such as thresholds.

  • How secure are your garden rooms?
    • Our windows and doors go through rigorous testing, by a third party UKAS accredited laboratories, in order for us to provide accurate test results for energy efficiency, weatherproofing, acoustic testing and security.

      Our Garden Rooms, Windows and Doors are all PAS24 compliant meaning that they meet or exceed the enhanced security performance requirements for doorsets and windows in the UK.

  • What type of glazing do you use?
    • Our glazing is 4-16-4 toughened clear, argon filled sealed units with Low E coating and warm edge spacer bar as standard. Optional laminated, “self-cleaning”* or solar reflective glass is available (this is particularly popular in our roof lanterns).

      We glaze according to the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) standards which is to manufacture using a single glazing unit enhanced with joinery or leaded detail to achieve a multi pane look. Glazing in this way means that the windows are far less likely to fail, will perform (and even exceed) modern standards, and yet still encompass the elegance of classic fenestration.

       

      *search self cleaning glass on our blogs page for more information.

  • Do you offer any flooring options?
    • We offer a wide range of stone flooring options that have been specially selected to complement our garden rooms. View the full range here.

  • What is Westbury’s environmental policy?
    • We are committed to acting in an environmentally responsible way and maintaining our low carbon footprint. We love building garden rooms because we love nature and the sense of well-being that inviting the great outdoors into your home can bring.

      We minimise our ecological impact in many ways including the use of eco-friendly materials such as Accoya®. We use local suppliers wherever possible and always order/deliver in bulk, reducing the transportation of goods.

      We have also invested in the latest machine technology to optimise the cutting of our timbers and minimise our waste. We use a biomass boiler system which converts the waste we do create into sustainable heating for our workshop and offices.

      We have worked hard at increasing the energy performance of our garden rooms once they are built. Many of the materials we use are recyclable, though the chances are that your Westbury building may never need recycling due to the quality and longevity of our products.

      Take a look at our environmental policy or read our blog post on ‘How to achieve low carbon footprint in design’ for more information

  • How often will I need to paint my Westbury Garden Room?
    • The paint that coats our timber is of vital importance. All of our Garden Rooms are treated with a three-coat, spray-applied, microporous paint system made by Teknos. This system enhances the longevity of our products, meaning you should not have to repaint them for 10-12 years or more. To fully benefit from this longevity, you are required to wash down the timber frames at least twice a year.

      The paint is made up of a water and plastic combination. After application the water evaporates, leaving a highly durable, protective skin. Our standard finish is 3 coats at 120 to 150 microns per coat which provides the equivalent of approximately 10 brush coats.

       

  • How long does it take to build a Westbury Garden Room?
    • For a Supply and Install service, we would allow approximately 4-5weeks to get the room watertight. This does not include kitchen installations, final decorating and floor finishes.

      Our Supply and Install Service includes design, planning permission, structural calculations, supplying and installing the superstructure, all joinery, doors and windows, the lantern roof and ensuring that the completed building is 100% watertight.

      Your own builder will be responsible for the foundations, brickwork, plastering and floor screeding.

      Read more about our process here.

  • How much maintenance is required to keep my garden room looking and performing well?
    • A Westbury garden room has minimal maintenance. We recommend a biannual wash down of the joinery to maintain the warranty and fully benefit from our product’s longevity.

      We always leave a pot of specialist sealer and paint in case there is damage to the woodwork from everyday use.

      Windows, doors pilasters, facias and mouldings are constructed from the same material and receive the same treatment so, over the years there will be no element that fades faster (or slower) than the rest. Due to the specialist materials we use, and our thorough paint application, a Westbury garden room is unlikely to need repainting for 10-12 years or more.

      We offer a clean and maintenance service, carried out by our in-house window cleaner Lee, who can provide a thorough clean as well as a maintenance check, available exclusively for all our existing customers. Find out more.

  • What do I need to know about my project before I contact you?
    • You don’t need to have any specific knowledge, as we can guide you through the process in choosing the right style of glazed extension for your home. However, as a starting point it would be handy for you to know if your project has any requirements for planning, if there are any listed elements of your property, or if your home is based in a conservation area.

      You may also like to decide upon the style of room you would like, a garden room, orangery, conservatory or pool house. We would also ask for the rough dimensions of the size of the room you have envisaged.

      Take a look at our Case Studies or follow us on Instagram to explore ideas for your project.

  • Do Garden Rooms require planning permission? If so, is that something I need to have before I get in touch?
    • Some do, depending on the size of the Garden Room you are looking to create. A single storey rear extension must not extend beyond the rear of the original house by more than 6m for an attached house or by 8m if a detached house. If the proposed Garden Room is outside of these conditions, then planning permission is usually required.

      You don’t need to have this in place before you get in touch as we will take care of this process for you. If planning permission is required, we will do all the paperwork on your behalf and keep you informed as it progresses. We will handle the legal paperwork that is needed, for example building regulations, SAP (heat loss) and structural engineer’s calculations.

      We have great experience in listed building applications and use an independent planning consultant, where necessary, to assure a smooth ride navigating the planning process.

      Take a look at our tips on how to gain successful planning permission for more.

  • What is the Guarantee on a Westbury Garden Room?
    • Our confidence in the quality of our product and the skill of our tradesmen is reflected in the fact that we offer a comprehensive guarantee on all our garden rooms (unless otherwise agreed). This includes materials for a 10 year period and labour for a 5 year period. Full details are provided to clients on completion of their project together with a Care & Maintenance booklet which gives helpful guidance and tips about how to look after your garden room. For example, we recommend a biannual wash down of all joinery to avoid issues arising and to ensure our clients fully benefit from our product’s longevity.

       

  • What do other customers say?
    • Much of our business comes from recommendation so upholding our reputation and continuing to deliver excellent service is paramount to our success.

      In a recent customer service satisfaction survey 100% of our participants said that we did everything we said we would do – in fact, 35% said we did everything and more!

      Take a look at our Client Testimonials and read about how the addition of a Westbury Garden Room has enhanced homes and lifestyles across the UK.