Why Does a Premium Outdoor Room Cost £30,000? A Transparent Breakdown

Bringing the outside in is one of the most popular aspirational home transformations in the UK especially when the sun shines.

Yet many people may balk at the cost of a single ground floor extension which can be as much as £100,000 depending on the specification and involve lengthy planning permission.

This is why homeowners are turning to the less expensive option of top of the range glass-roofed pergolas, which cost around a third of the average price of an extension.

A striking and adaptable space in just two days

People install premium pergolas as an additional modern room to dine or entertain in or poolside or in a garden area to create a seamless connection between inside and out, allowing you to enjoy your surroundings in every season.

They cost around £30,000 including the installation while providing you with a similar usable space to an extension while looking just as striking.

Another advantage is that pergolas take just two days to install (excluding groundworks and preparation).

No planning permission needed

Pergolas don’t generally need planning permission as they will come under permitted development rights.

This means they need to be under three metres high if more than two metres away from a boundary wall and 2.5 metres if within two metres of a boundary wall.

They mustn’t take up over 50 per cent of the garden area and can’t be put up at the front of a house.

If the property is located in a conservation area or your property is listed then you will have to apply for planning consent from the local authority.

Glass roofs at a fraction of the cost

Glass box extensions have become incredibly popular in the UK over the last few years which is why the cheaper alternative of a Calista pergola is so desirable.

In contrast to the glass-roofed Calista pergola, many similar products on the market are fitted with rotating louvres which can block light and make the roof more vulnerable to leaks when it rains.

Fully customised to your unique needs

Calista pergolas can be customised to meet your exact lifestyle needs.

So, we can add walls, sliding doors and vertical and horizontal blinds to block the solar glare at the hottest times of the day as well as keep pesky insects away.

We can also add LED lighting and integrated heating and speakers and even glazing to provide control over light, heat and privacy allowing you to use the space throughout the year whatever the weather.

The structure can also be powdercoated to any colour to meet your personal preferences.

A superior structure which lasts

Premium pergolas cost far more than cheaper imports because you’re paying for a quality structure and service.

The structure itself is made from long-lasting marine-grade aluminium and includes integrated drainage where water travels down through the posts invisibly.

You’re also paying for motorisation quality, the engineering of spans, powder coating and a warranty and special thermowood-clad Kozma walls providing warmth, privacy and acoustic insulation, all tailored to your needs.

The cost also covers installation which includes a site survey, bespoke manufacturing to fit the space you want to create, the professional two-day installation and electrical work.

Expertise backup always on hand so if anything does go wrong, an engineer will come out to fix any issues.

That’s why we back up every installation with a 25 year guarantee.

Hidden cost of cheaper imports

Homeowners may be tempted to buy cheaper imports from China which can cost a few thousand less - yet it’s worth considering the disadvantages.

But Chinese imports lack dealer support networks so if something goes wrong then you may have no comeback.

Buying a cheap pergola often means you need to install it yourself which can be complex and frustrating, and you won’t have a local expert engineer to call on for repairs.

In addition, they will often be made of poorer quality materials and won’t withstand our weather as long as our far sturdier structures installed by experts.

Talk to the experts

We consider every Calista installation individually, and our experts can advise you on whether you need planning permission and the installation process and we design your pergola together.

If you want to transform your outside space into an outdoor room that feels entirely natural to its setting, as though it has always belonged there, contact us.