Garden office and outbuilding power supply
Armoured supply to garden offices, studios and outbuildings across South Wales. Correct SWA sizing, sub-board, RCD protection and full certification.
A garden office needs a proper supply, not an extension lead through a window. That means steel wire armoured cable buried at the right depth or clipped on a safe route, a small consumer unit at the far end, and the whole thing designed so voltage drop over the run still leaves you with usable power for heating, monitors and a kettle at the same time.
We size the cable against the actual load and the actual distance rather than guessing. On longer garden runs, undersized cable is the single most common reason lights dim when the heater kicks in.
- SWA cable sized for the run length and intended load
- Sub-consumer unit with RCD/RCBO protection in the outbuilding
- Sockets, lighting, heating and data provision planned together
- Full BS 7671 certification and Part P notification
Getting the load right first
Before quoting we ask what actually goes in: desk equipment, a panel heater or air conditioning unit, lighting, maybe a small fridge or a workshop tool. Those numbers set the cable size and the protective device at the house end.
Planning for a heater you intend to add next winter costs very little at install time and a great deal afterwards.
Routing across the garden
Buried runs need the correct depth and marker tape; surface runs need mechanical protection where they are reachable. Where a run crosses a patio or driveway, we agree the route with you before any digging, and we will tell you honestly whether a longer route around is cheaper than a shorter route through.
Existing ducting from a previous build is often reusable — worth checking before pricing a new trench.
What you get on completion
A labelled sub-board in the office, tested circuits, an electrical installation certificate and the building-regs notification. The supply is documented so any future electrician can see exactly what was installed and why.
Common questions
How deep does the cable need to be buried?
Buried armoured cable should be at a depth that protects it from normal garden activity and marked with warning tape. We agree the exact route and depth at survey.
Can I run it off an existing outdoor socket?
No. A habitable outbuilding needs its own designed supply from the consumer unit, not a spur off a socket circuit.
Do I need planning permission for the electrics?
The electrical work itself is covered by Part P building regulations, not planning. The building may have its own planning considerations.
Get a fixed price
Tell us the distance from the house and what's going in the room — we'll come back with a cable size and a fixed price.