From shed to chic

Growth in garden room and single-storey extension leads shows demand is there for installers, says Andy Royle of Leads 2 Trade.

The appeal of garden rooms lies in their simplicity thanks to their ability to create a separate space without the complexity and cost of a full-scale home extension.

At Leads 2 Trade, the UK’s leading provider of double-qualified sales leads for the home improvement industry, we have seen a significant increase in enquiries for garden rooms and single-storey extensions.

Compared to the same period last year, enquiries have surged by a remarkable 31.24%, and the shift in preferences is not just a statistic; it’s a reflection of changing lifestyles and evolving attitudes towards living spaces.

The blend of indoor and outdoor living is particularly popular with homeowners and garden rooms offer a unique blend of indoor comfort and outdoor charm. And despite being a standalone structure they are also fully-fledged living spaces that can be used in a multitude of ways for modern lifestyles.

With many people continuing to work from home they provide the perfect solution for those seeking a dedicated workspace away from the main house, or as anything from a yoga studio to a music room. They offer a quick, flexible and relatively non-disruptive way to add valuable space to a property, so it’s easy to see why enquiries have increased.

A golden opportunity

For installers, this surge in interest represents a golden opportunity. The shift in consumer preferences from traditional conservatories to more versatile garden rooms and extensions opens new avenues for business growth up.

However, tapping into this potential requires more than just technical skills. It demands a keen understanding of customer needs, efficient lead generation, and effective conversion strategies.

This is where Leads 2 Trade’s installer network comes into play, offering a game-changing advantage for businesses looking to ride this wave of opportunity.

Installers receive premium, fixed appointment leads in postcodes of their choice, operating on a no-pitch, no-fee basis. This targeted approach significantly increases the likelihood of converting leads into sales, allowing installers to focus their resources on potential customers who are already primed for their services.

Our targeted approach provides installers with a valuable opportunity to connect with homeowners who are actively in the market for garden rooms. So, they are more likely to convert into sales.

Bucking the trend

While garden rooms are stealing the spotlight, single-storey extensions are holding their own in the popularity stakes, thanks to offering homeowners the opportunity to expand their living space seamlessly, often creating light-filled open-plan kitchen and dining areas that again satisfies that blend of indoor/outdoor living, while the demand for conservatory roofs in 2024 has remained consistent.

Leads 2 Trade has also experienced a sizeable increase in double glazing enquiries in 2024, with a 23% rise in double glazing lead volumes in the first six months of 2023 when compared to the same period last year.

While some sectors of the home improvement industry may be experiencing a slowdown, seeing this demand is very encouraging.

However, the surge in garden room and single-storey extension enquiries represents more than just a passing trend – it’s a significant shift in how homeowners utilise their living spaces and successful installers will be those who offer a diverse range of solutions in the future.