GARDEN CABINS
& Media Walls
Tel: 087 4442593         e mail  info@gardencabins.ie

Are Garden Cabins low maintenance ?

We design our garden cabins to be as low-maintenance as possible—much like a modern home. Traditional log-cabin style garden rooms typically require regular upkeep: exterior timber treatments (often annually and at significant cost), ongoing interior timber maintenance, and a wood look aesthetic that can appear dated over time. Our garden cabins are different. We carefully select low-maintenance, durable materials to ensure your cabin requires minimal attention for years to come. As standard, the front elevation is clad in composite tongue-and-groove cladding, designed to look just like timber, while the sides and rear are finished in steel box-section cladding or a silicone render. This approach keeps maintenance and costs down without compromising on a sleek, contemporary appearance. Internally, all cabins are plaster-skim finished and ready to decorate—whether you choose emulsion paint or wallpaper—just like a room in your home. In short, our garden cabins are built to the same standards as a modern residential property, meaning far less ongoing maintenance and a space that stays looking great with minimal effort.

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Planning, Permitted Development & Future-Proofing

Under current Irish planning regulations, no stand-alone structure built within your garden can legally be used as living accommodation unless specific planning permission has been granted for that purpose.

Our Garden Cabins are designed and constructed to fully comply with permitted development rights, with an internal floor area of 25 square metres or less when not used as a dwelling.

Built for Today — Ready for Tomorrow

While planning permission is not currently granted for garden accommodation under permitted development , we deliberately future-proof our builds. This is in anticipation of proposed legislative changes expected to come into effect in early 2026, which will allow standalone garden accommodation of up to 45 square metres within property boundaries.

Why This Matters

Under the proposed changes, any new-build granny flat constructed under permitted development rules will be required to meet Part L of the Building Regulations—Specifically, strict U-value performance standards, which measure how effectively heat is retained within the building fabric.

(U-values explained in more detail here)

Built to Residential Standards

Our Garden Cabins are already constructed to meet these demanding Part L energy-efficiency requirements whether for intended use as a garden office/ She Shed/ Home bar etc, or with one eye on the upcoming law change.

This means that, subject to regulation changes and compliance, a cabin can later be adapted to include bedrooms and bathroom facilities, making it suitable for full-time living.

We are not aware of any other garden room provider currently building to this level of specification. Most garden rooms on the market do not come close to meeting Part L standards and would not be compliant for use as living accommodation without substantial and costly upgrades.

These regulations will be strictly enforced to ensure that future granny flats are proper dwellings, not upgraded “posh sheds” that are unfit for long-term habitation.

A Smarter Investment

If you needed further reassurance of the value of a Garden Cabin, this is it.

Our cabins are purpose-built to residential standards if needs be, ready for the much-anticipated change in legislation—protecting your investment and giving you genuine flexibility for the future.

Build once. Build properly. Build ready for what’s coming next.

This is where we truly excel. When visiting many garden room suppliers, you’ll often find vague references to “high levels of insulation” or even claims of A-rated energy efficiency, yet very little explanation of how those standards are actually achieved. Our builds are different. Every Garden Cabin is constructed in line with modern residential building practices and insulated to the stringent requirements set out in Part L of the Building Regulations, achieving excellent U-values across:

• Walls

• Roofs

• Floors

• Windows & doors

Advanced Build Systems

Our cabins incorporate modern construction principles throughout, including:

• Timber framing

• Vapour control layers

• Breathable membranes

• Ventilated batten systems for airflow

• Airtightness taping

• Proper ventilation

• Insulated plasterboard liners to eliminate thermal bridging

This approach gives a wall U-Value of 0.18W/m2.k) which meets stringent current building regulations for dwellings 2025.

Before you commit to any garden structure, ask of any company claiming to meet these standards how placing Rockwool between a steel/log/timber frame and still achieving 0.18 - A1 energy rating is possible. We sure would like to know too !

(Technical Guidance Document Part L of the Building Regulations)

To deliver outstanding thermal performance and sound insulation for comfortable year round use, we employ a combination of carefully considered construction methods and premium materials. As standard, we typically install 90mm Kingspan PIR insulation between the timber studs. This alone provides the equivalent thermal performance of approximately TWICE the thickness of Rockwool or Earthwool insulation commonly used by most garden room suppliers. Alternatively, we can fully wrap the structure in external insulation, finished with an attractive and durable silicone render for maximum efficiency and a sleek, contemporary appearance. While many suppliers promote “100mm of Rockwool insulation” as a selling point, our use of rigid PIR insulation effectively doubles that thermal performance with the same thickness of material as standard.

But we don’t stop there.

We strongly recommend the use of thermally lined plasterboard internally. This adds an additional layer of insulation and, crucially, eliminates cold bridging—where heat is lost through structural materials due to the absence of a thermal break. This upgrade comes at only the cost difference between standard plasterboard and the insulated alternative. In addition, our floors and roofs are insulated with 100mm Kingspan PIR, offering thermal performance equivalent to around 200mm (8”) of Rockwool. Where budget constraints apply, we can—reluctantly—install Rockwool insulation, as used by many competitors. However, insulation remains one of the wisest long-term investments you can make, and we firmly believe in using the very best materials available for our customers. Importantly, we do not apply inflated mark-ups for upgraded insulation—only the actual cost differential of the materials. The result is a Garden Cabin with thermal efficiency, typically up to three times greater than most garden rooms on the market. And when we describe our cabins as A1 energy efficient, it’s a claim we can confidently stand over.

Built like a home - Designed for your garden.

Our Garden Cabins are expertly designed and constructed to withstand the demands of the Irish climate.

Each cabin is built around a robust timber structural frame, incorporating multiple carefully considered layers that work together to deliver a striking exterior, exceptional thermal performance, and a healthy intrnal environment. This approach eliminates the risk of excess humidity the prime cause of condensation and mould, while allowing for a smooth, clean, plaster-skimmed interior finish—just like a modern home.

Exterior Finishes.

We offer a range of exterior finishes to suit both your style and budget. For front elevations, we typically recommend composite cladding, which offers the natural look and feel of timber while being completely maintenance-free. For those who prefer natural materials, options include Cedar or Siberian Larch for example, which are also available.

The sides and rear elevations—often less visible—are finished in cost-effective yet highly durable materials such as steel box-profile cladding or silicone render, ensuring longevity without unnecessary expense.

Advanced Build Systems

Our cabins incorporate modern construction principles throughout, including:

• Timber framing

• Vapour control layers

• Breathable membranes

• Ventilated batten systems for airflow

• Airtightness taping

• Proper ventilation

• Insulated plasterboard liners to eliminate thermal bridging

This approach gives a wall U-Value of 0.18W/m2.k) which meets stringent current building regulations for dwellings 2025.

Before you commit to any garden structure, ask of any company claiming to meet these standards how placing Rockwool between a steel/log/timber frame and still achieving 0.18 - A1 energy rating is possible. We sure would like to know too !

(Technical Guidance Document Part L of the Building Regulations)

Each element within the fabric is strategically positioned to retain heat, exclude cold, and maintain excellent indoor air quality (IAQ) for a healthy, comfortable space.

Roofing Options

Roof systems can be configured as warm roofs (insulated above rafter), cold roofs (insulated between rafter), or a hybrid of both, depending on your requirements.

Our preferred solution as a permanent roof covering is an EPDM rubber roof system—a single unbroken sheet of seamless, synthetic rubber membrane with a life expectancy of 50+ years.

Windows, Doors & Access.

All windows and doors are high-performance double-glazed units, available in various sizes and configurations to suit your design. Main access options include French patio doors, sliding doors, or premium bi-fold systems.

Foundations & Flooring

Your cabin can be installed on either:

• A raised, insulated timber base supported by block piers or ground screws, or

• A fully insulated concrete base.

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IMPORTANT: Please note Cabins and bases are priced separately.

You can have your base installed independently or we can take care of this aspect for you.

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The terms for your Garden Cabin build are as follows:

30% on signing of contracts

50% on commencement of the build

20% on completion and your complete satisfaction