Garden Rooms Are Very Popular In The UK…

…and it’s no secret as to why. Homeowners across the country are actively seeking space saving solutions for their home and many find that a garden room is the solution to that problem. We’re in an uncertain economy as of late, thanks to the introduction of Brexit, no one really knows where they stand financially. Generally speaking, if you need more space in your home, the first thing you do is, well, look to buy another home.

Due the uncertainty of the economy, a lot of homeowners are steering clear of seeking new properties and are attempting to source solutions to upgrade their current home. Of course, the first choice would be to have a fixed property extension but with that, there can be a lot of hassle. From planning permission to changes to your mortgage to finding reliable tradesmen to carry out the work professionally, it’s not an easy task.

This is why homeowners are choosing garden rooms as the ultimate space saving solution.

Garden Rooms Are Temporary

Due to their very nature, shipping container garden rooms are a temporary addition to your home. Of course, they can remain in position as long as you like but the difference is that you have the option to move and remove the garden room whenever you see fit. This means that planning permission, in most instances, isn’t necessary – however, we’d always recommend you check with your local council first.

Garden Rooms Are Cost Effective 

A permanent built extension to your home can be an incredibly costly investment, especially if works are delayed or you end up with unprofessional tradesmen. Shipping container garden rooms are available at a fraction of the cost of a house extension, yet can still provide the all important space necessary to add to your home.

Garden Rooms Are Multifunctional

Garden rooms are wholly versatile and their range of purposes certainly isn’t limited! We’ve created hundreds, if not thousands, of garden rooms since we began trading and all of which have been used for many different reasons. From offices, to art studios, to play rooms, to man (and woman) caves, the list is endless. Garden rooms can also be totally customised to suit your purpose in mind, which leads us on to our next point.

Garden Rooms Are Customisable

Shipping containers in their raw form allow for a huge range of customisation options, including UPVC windows and doors, anti vandal features, electrical fittings, lighting, heating, and more. If you have a purpose in mind for your shipping container garden room, then our professional team can recommend specific features suitable to your brief.

Garden Rooms Are Delivered & Installed

Once your shipping container garden room conversion has been completed to specification, you can sit back and relax. Our experienced team will deliver your garden room to your location (UK mainland) and install it securely on site, giving you peace of mind that your garden room can be fully functional in a short space of time without the need to employ other professionals.

Garden Rooms Are Built By Professionals

With over 40 years of combined experience in shipping container conversions, you can rest assured that any container conversion completed by the Universal Containers team is done so to the highest, safest standard possible. We create garden rooms and other container conversions for domestic and commercial clients across the country, and there is never a job too big or small.

Garden Rooms Are Durable

Shipping containers are built to safely carry goods via rail, road and sea, so it’s vital that they are strong and durable enough to withstand the elements. These features are not lost when the shipping container is converted. Constructed from galvanised steel, shipping containers will show very little sign of weathering, especially when correctly maintained.

Garden Rooms Are Long Lasting

Thanks to their durability and clever design, shipping container garden rooms aren’t as short-lived as you might first think. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. With proper maintenance and care, a converted shipping container can last in excess of 40 years.

Food for thought? We think so! The possibilities with shipping containers are endless. Every single day, we receive enquiries from up and down the country with different ideas for container conversions, including our popular garden rooms, and with each customer, we do everything we can to make their dream a reality.

If you would like more information on garden rooms, or if you wish to discuss a container conversions project you have in mind, feel free to call Universal Containers on 0845 050 0330 or email andy@universal-containers.com for a free, no obligation quote or friendly, helpful advice. 

We’ve been having a lot of conversations with customers and colleagues alike since the launch of our newest shipping container conversion – The Garden Room – and the root of each conversation has been the same. Why choose a Garden Room? Well, if you’re not quite in the know about the multitude of benefits that come with having a Garden Room, we’ve listed a few for you…

#1 – A Garden Room Is… DURABLE

Garden Rooms aren’t a quick-fix, space saving solution like a large wooden shed might be. Not only are they bigger and better, but they are built and converted to last. All of our Garden Rooms are made using brand new ISO steel shipping containers and the main benefit of this is that they are constructed from Corten steel – an anti-corrosive, long-lasting material developed to withstand the test of time.

#2 – A Garden Room Is… PORTABLE

Of course, we wouldn’t want you to assume that you can just stick your Garden Room in the back of your car. Moving your container to a different location – whether that be within your own garden or within a different property – would require professionals to do it effectively, but the good thing to know is that the option is there. So if you ever did decide to move house – thanks to the fact that Garden Rooms have no fixed foundations – you can take it with you!

#3 – A Garden Room Is… BESPOKE

We don’t have a batch of garden rooms ready to go with no lead time for the simple reason that each converted container is individually tailored to your unique specification. People choose garden rooms for a multitude of reasons so having them built and designed with their primary use in mind ensures that they are wholly fit for purpose and exactly what you want.

#4 – A Garden Room Is… GUARANTEED

Of course, we deliver to all UK mainland addressed and our professional team provide on-site installation of your garden room, but we don’t just leave it at that and consider our work here as done. No, we want to ensure that you continue to be happy with your Garden Room and we’re on hand if anything’s a miss. That’s why all our Garden Rooms are covered by a comprehensive 5-year structural guarantee against any defects.

#5 – A Garden Room Is… MULTI-FUNCTIONAL

Garden Rooms are being chosen by many different people for many different purposes. The main reason being a space-saving solution but what that space is used for varies massively. From home offices to playrooms to art studios to gyms to the odd man cave, they pretty much tix every box.

#6 – A Garden Room Is… AFFORDABLE

When considering additional space at home, the traditional go-to options are either to move to a new house or to extend your current property. Moving to a new house not only causes a lot of upheaval but can be a very expensive process, just as extending your property can be – especially if things don’t quite go to plan! However, with a Garden Room, the cost is discussed upfront with no strings attached and we can comfortably assure you that there are no hidden charges AND it’s MUCH cheaper than moving or extending.

#7 – A Garden Room Is… READY FOR USE

No need to whip out your paintbrush or head to B&Q for lighting fixtures, we cover all the basics of both the interior and exterior of your converted container so that you don’t have to. As standard, you can expect to have UPVC double-glazed windows and doors, professional plaster boarding and skimming, high quality flooring & skirting, internal LED lighting and electrical sockets, heating and consumer unit. All you need to do is add the finishing touches and you’re good to go!

Convinced yet? We’d be surprised if you weren’t. There are so many benefits to choosing a container converted into Garden Room as a space saving solution for your home, but if you need further convincing, we’re only a phone call away!

If you would like a friendly, honest chat about how we can create your bespoke Garden Room, call the Universal team today on 0845 050 0330 or feel free to email andy@universal-containers.com

There always comes a time when you look around your house and start to accept the fact that you’re outgrowing your home – you’re running out of space. When this happens – which it does at some point to most of us – you’ll consider a few different options.

The first and probably most popular, ‘no brainer’ option is to up sticks and move to a new house.

However, this doesn’t come cheap. Not only does upsizing generally mean a more expensive property, solicitors fees and refurnishing and a lot of other things on the list tot up to make it a pretty pricey option.

Second to this is the choice people make when moving isn’t an option, and that’s extending your current property.

Perhaps the addition of a conservatory, garage or conversion might just be the solution to the extra space needed? Although it’s not always a straightforward process. Finding the right people for the job, as well as completing works on time and within budget, can seem to be a bit of pipe dream, not to mention gaining planning permission in the first place!

So, what else could provide additional space without the upheaval of moving home or spending far more than you expected on a home extension? Third option – the Garden Room.

The Garden Room is exactly what it says on the tin – a room for your garden – and it can be used for a multitude of purposes, whatever you want really – the sky’s the limit. We began converting Garden Rooms from humble shipping containers for homes across the UK after a continuing and increased demand for space saving solutions. Developed to withstand the test of time as they are made from anti-corrosive steel, converted shipping containers are the perfect answer the additional space without the stress, huge budgets and lifestyle changes needed to move to a new house or extend your home.

Whether the use is a home gym, home office, man cave, children’s playroom, teenagers den, art studio, or just rest and relaxation – the choice is yours. The price is fully set at the beginning of the order normally built within 2 to 4 weeks and can fully be customised to your exact needs – no two garden rooms are ever the same.

As standard on all Universal Garden Rooms, you can expect the following:

• Delivery to any UK mainland address
• On-site installation by our professional team
• 5 year structural guarantee
• High quality flooring & skirting, including different flooring options
• UPVC windows & doors
• Internal LED lighting
• Electrical sockets, heating & consumer unit
• Part P installed, concealed internal wiring
• Acoustic slab insulation to walls & ceiling
• Professional plaster boarding & skimming
• External painting in any RAL colour
• Insurance approved door locks
• Pilkington K Argon Gas Filled Double Glazing

It’s a smooth process to get your garden room in-situ and ready to go.  We offer delivery to any UK mainland address and your garden room will be installed on site by our professional team. Oh and don’t worry, if anything goes wrong (which we’re sure it won’t but just to be safe), all our garden rooms as stated are covered by a comprehensive 5 year structural guarantee against any defects.

So there you have it. No need to move to a new house, no need to invest hundreds of thousands in extending your property, the garden room is portable, durable, personal and, well, problem solved!

If you would like a friendly, honest chat about how we can create your bespoke Garden Room, call the Universal team today on 0845 050 0330 or feel free to email andy@universal-containers.com

So, we’ve launched our garden rooms to the public and the enquiries have been coming in thick and fast and we’ve been really surprised at just how many different ideas people have when it comes to garden rooms. The best part is – it’s all good – because our garden rooms are completely bespoke and with a few tweaks to different fixtures, fittings and features, they will suit any idea pretty perfectly.

Our completely bespoke garden rooms are just that – bespoke. They are entirely designed to suit all needs, and imaginations for that matter! We do the hard bits – we equip them with everything you could need – full insulation, plastering, electrical sockets, some even have Bluetooth heating – so your garden room is wholly suited to your budget, style, space and design.

Oh and here’s the best bit. Garden rooms are made from shipping containers (which you’ve probably gathered by now) meaning that if you ever decided you wanted it placed in a different area in your garden, this could be arranged. Perhaps you even decide to move to a new house? No problem, your garden room can be stuck on a truck and go with you! Chances are you won’t even need planning permission either – this applies to most container conversions if the building doesn’t exceed 2.5m, but we’d almost recommend double-checking with your local council just to be on the safe side!

Now we’ve got the cogs in your head turning with ideas, we’ll give you a few more. If you’re considering a container conversion garden room, here are just a few things you could do with I (and a big thanks to our happy customers for the suggestions!)…

#1 Garden… Office

If you’re self-employed (or even if you’re not), sometimes you need that quiet space away from home to really concentrate on your to-do list and be as productive as you possibly can. A garden office is the perfect solution: not only would you have a dedicated space but you’d be as close to home as you possibly could be, so you could leave and return to work at the drop of a hat.

#2 Garden… Studio

If you fancy yourself as a bit of an artist or the likes, maybe a garden studio is right up your street? Garden studios can be designed to incorporate beautiful sliding windows and doors so that your lighting will be exceptional, not to mention you’ll have the space to really get creative without worrying about the Feng Shui of your living room!

#3 Garden… Gym

It’s not always easy working out in the house when the dog keeps weaving in and out of your legs and the kids are switching the channels. A Garden gym could be just the job to escape, sweat it out and gives you the peace of mind that you can eat that sneaky bit of chocolate knowing you only have to nip to your garden to burn off the cals. Winner winner.

#4 Garden… Summer House

Sometimes, you just want a bit of extra wiggle room. A safe place for the teenagers to hang out without the ‘uncool’ parents hovering around them? An indoor living area for when the Summer BBQ gets temporarily rained off? A Summer house is not just a space saver, it can be a life saver too!

#5 Garden… Play Room

Of course, it’s lovely to let the kids out to play in the street or where ever, but ideally, you’d prefer the nippers to have their own secure space where they can play and have fun whilst you’ve got peace of mind of where they are and what they’re doing – garden playroom. Need we say more?

#6 Garden… Man Cave

Potentially our favourite suggestion to date. Sometimes, the blokes need a space to whack on the Playstation, crack open a few cans and do the manly stuff men do. We’re not being biased, but think about ladies, this means you get the WHOLE HOUSE to yourself!

We’re being commissioned for lots of different garden rooms projects this year already, and this list can be pretty exhaustive so if we’ve missed something, let us know. Garden rooms are fast becoming the first choice for many home owners looking for space saving solutions, and now, we’re sure it’s clear to you why the humble shipping container is a fantastic alternative to a home extension.

If you would like a friendly, honest chat about how we can create your bespoke Garden Room, call the Universal team today on 0845 050 0330 or feel free to email andy@universal-containers.com