How to Connect Electricity to Your Garden Room
You’ve taken the leap and built your dream garden room. Now, you’re left in the dark without electricity. This article will shed light on how to power up your garden building.
From planning the layout to hiring a pro, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to illuminate your space and bring power to your garden room.
What is the cost of supplying a garden room with electricity?
Determining the cost of supplying your garden room with electricity primarily depends on several key factors, such as the capacity needed, potential future functionality, and the length of wiring required. It would be best if you considered how many sockets are needed for your setup. Think ahead about the possible future uses of the room. It’s better to install more sockets now than having to add them later. Additionally, the distance from your primary power source to the garden room is a significant factor.
The longer the distance, the more wiring, and hence, the higher the cost. Remember, proper selection of cabling and components is essential for sufficient capacity. You will also need to plan out how many circuits you have on your consumer unit, as this will help add new electrical points in the future.
Product Specs:
– Number of sockets & lights
– Anticipated future functionality
– Length of required wiring
Pros:
– Customisable according to needs
– Preparing for future functionality saves future costs
– Proper cabling ensures sufficient power supply
Cons:
– The cost increases with the number of sockets and the length of wiring
– Underestimating future needs can lead to additional costs
– Improper cabling can limit power supply and cause potential safety risks.
Planning and using a qualified electrician to connect your house to the garden room is essential and also required for safety. You will have a fuse board installed correctly and a certificate signing off their work, making it easier for you to sell the property in the future.
Where should you run the power cables for a garden room?
When planning how to connect electricity to your garden room, you’ll need to consider where to run your cables. Ideally, they should go underground for both safety and aesthetic reasons.
But running them along the fence, for instance, can provide a discreet and practical solution.
Underground - Digging Trenches
You’ll need to carefully plan the routing of your electricity cables underground to ensure they safely reach your garden room. The wiring for your garden room is essential in providing electricity in the garden.
In the UK, laying electric cables underground requires a depth of at least 600mm to avoid foreseeable disturbances. If this is going through a vegetable patch, it needs to be deeper.
To get started, lift any slabs and start digging a trench. Place the electric cable for the garden in the trench, ensuring it’s long enough to reach your garden room.
Once the electricity is connected, you’ll need to fill in the trench with the soil removed, completing the process of connecting the house to the summerhouse. Proper planning guarantees a safe and successful installation.
Fitting To the Fence
Instead of laying your electricity cables underground, you can also opt to run them along your fence line for a secure and visible setup. This works well during the garden room installation, especially when you’re wiring for garden electrics.
Using an armoured cable for garden use is crucial, as it’s durable and can withstand outdoor conditions. You can either run the electric cable garden along the top of the fence or a concrete kickboard beneath the fence.
It’s essential to keep the outside electric cable away from areas where you might use a lawn mower or from anything that could damage it. For your insulated garden room with electricity, ensure the cable isn’t a tripping hazard, and to deter rodents, install it at height with cleats.
How much does it cost to supply a garden room with electricity?
Typically, you’ll find that the cost of supplying your garden room with electricity can vary significantly, depending on your chosen provider and whether you decide to hire professional help or undertake some of the work yourself. The process involves extending an electrical cable from your electrical consumer unit in your house to your garden room. This usually requires digging a trench at least 600mm deep, which can be a laborious task, especially if you have hard terrain.
One of the primary considerations is the main electric supply cable size. Larger garden rooms or those serving as a garden office with electrics may require a larger cable. Therefore, it’s essential to consider the energy demand of the room to ensure an efficient electricity cable connection.
As for the garden wiring, hiring a professional electrician can guarantee safety and proper installation. While some homeowners might opt to dig the trench themselves to save on costs, remember that this task can be quite tedious and best left to professionals. Therefore, when budgeting for a garden room with electricity, take into account both the material costs and potential labour expenses.
What are the regulations on electrics in a garden building?
When considering the electrical setup for your garden room, it’s crucial to understand the regulations that govern such installations. Whether you’re wiring an insulated garden office with electrics, a summer house, or any type of garden office with electricity, you need to comply with Part P Electrical Safety work regulations.
These rules ensure safety from fire risks and electric shocks and apply to electrics in your garden or outbuildings, including garden rooms. Any significant electrical installations require you to inform your local authority building control or hire a government-approved electrician. This way, your electrics in the garden are verified to meet safety standards, and you’ll receive a certificate to confirm these regulations have been followed.
So, if you’re planning on enjoying summer house electricity or equipping an insulated summer house with electricity, remember to follow these guidelines. They’re not just legal requirements – they’re measures designed to protect your safety.
Does My Outhouse run the armoured Cable?
In line with the regulations we discussed, you might be wondering if My Outhouse handles the installation of the armoured cable for your garden room. The answer is, not directly. While My Outhouse is responsible for constructing your garden room, the installation of the armoured cable isn’t part of our package.
This doesn’t mean you’re left to fend for yourself, though. We’ll certainly assist you in arranging for an electrician to quote for this work. We understand that your garden room is a significant investment, and we want to ensure that the electrical work is done properly and safely.
The electrical work is handled by a third-party company to guarantee compliance with all regulations. This ensures the high standard of service you deserve. It’s important to note that the cost of this work isn’t included in our price. This is because every garden is a unique size and the cost varies on each project. But don’t worry; we’ll be there every step of the way to help you navigate this process. We’re committed to making your garden room a reality!