Compared
Garden room or extension?
Since 27 July 2026, a rear extension can be up to 45 m² without planning and garden structures up to 30 m² in total (S.I. 338 of 2026). An extension adds to the house; a garden room is a separate building with a garden between it and the house.
- €15,950for an insulated, fitted 4 m × 3 m room, incl. VAT and installation, from a Kilcoole firm's own price list (East Coast Carpentry)
- 30 m²the planning-exempt total for garden structures since 27 July 2026, up from 25 m² (S.I. 338 of 2026)
- 59%of people at work in Greystones-Delgany said they work from home (CSO Census 2022)
- 33 pricesfrom 5 sources, read 3 November 2026: the cost guide
FreeNo obligationOne company rings you, not fiveNothing agreed until you accept a written price
Side by side
The two compared
| Garden room (Class 3) | Rear extension (Class 1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt size | 30 m² for all garden structures | 45 m² in total, was 40 m² |
| Garden left | 25 m² | 25 m², now across the whole curtilage |
| Can it be lived in? | No | Yes, it's part of the house |
| Work on the house | None | Knocking through, a new roof joint |
From S.I. 338 of 2026 (S.I. 338 of 2026). Upper-floor windows in an extension now need to be at least 8 m from the boundary they face, down from 11 m.
Pick the room
When a garden room suits
- You want the work away from the house: an office, a studio, a gym.
- You don't want builders inside or a wall knocked.
- The garden is long enough to keep 25 m² open after it.
Pick the extension
When an extension suits
- The space is a kitchen, a bedroom or a bathroom: rooms that are lived in.
- You want it to add to the house's floor area and BER.
- The garden is short and a room at the end would leave too little.
See it first
A garden room in your own garden
Take a photo from the back door, pick the cladding and the front, and see a room at the end of your garden before anyone quotes. Free, in under a minute.
- Upload a photo, or answer 4 questions.
- We pass it to one company that covers your part of Wicklow.
- They ring you with a written price.
Preview of your photo, not a guarantee. Your photo goes to Google's Gemini service to make the picture and isn't kept.
Before you choose a spot
- Measure the garden. At least 25 m² of it has to stay open for the room to be exempt.
- Check how far the spot is from the house: the power cable runs that distance, and it's priced separately.
- Look at side access. Panels and a base have to get through.
- On a sloping hillside garden, ask about the base before anything else.
Free quote
Get a price in 4 taps
Tap what you need and leave your number. It goes to one garden room company that covers your part of Wicklow, and they ring you back to arrange a look at the garden and a written price.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is a garden room cheaper than an extension?
Usually, for the same size: no work on the house, no foundations tied to it. A fitted 5 m × 4 m room from a Wicklow firm is €20,950 incl. VAT (East Coast Carpentry).
Can I have both?
Yes. The extension counts under Class 1, the garden room under Class 3, and each has its own limits; 25 m² of open space has to remain (S.I. 338 of 2026).
Does a garden room add value?
It can, if it's built properly and within the rules. Keep the paperwork: spec, guarantee, the electrical certificate and any section 5 declaration.
Keep reading
Related guides
- Planning permission in WicklowThe 30 m² rule since July 2026, and Wicklow's €80 section 5 check.
- Garden room cost in WicklowWicklow and Irish firms' published prices side by side, checked November 2026.
- Insulated garden roomsWhat 'insulated' should mean, and what a fitted room includes.
- Garden officesSize, power, broadband and which Wicklow towns work from home most.
Where these numbers come from (2 public sources, checked 3 November 2026)
Sources (1)
Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages. We are not connected to these businesses.
- East Coast Carpentry: eastcoastcarpentry.ie