Johnsons Garden Buildings Omdömen 10

Look at all the reviews: the positive ones are straight after installation before the cabin has had time to settle, the negative ones address the longevity of the cabins.

Our initial experience was great resulting in a lovely garden cabin. In particular, the installation team were really professional. We followed all the instructions about sealing and painting it. However, during the first winter it started leaking in multiple places as the building settled. It even leaks through the knots in the wood, of which there are many on one side. We had electrics installed to make a home office and the total bill is near £14k, so very disappointing that we have to keep fixing problems.

Bottom line: you need to keep on top of maintenance 6 months after installation e.g. paint it every year before the winter. It's a real battle to keep it dry, wish we'd spent a bit more with another company for a proper garden building.

It is a shame I didn't know about Trustpilot (or it didn't existed yet) when we have purchased our bespoke log cabin. We have paid a fortune for it (very overpriced for what it is) unfortunately, we have also paid them to build it, thinking that hiring professionals would prolong the life span, well I don't recommend anyone to do that. After just couple of years, we had to mend the windows, as they were leaking and when we have removed them- there were unfilled gaps, just left there!
After 9 years, we have found ALL the foundation beams rotten and needing replacement - it was due to a wrongly installed waterproof membrane. The roof had to be fixed after 6th year. Very poor quality for what it is. The last drop for me was the poorest after sale customer service- when I have approached them to purchase replacement boards- they quoted me 5 times more then the alternative supplier we have found and given the waiting time of 8-10 weeks!
Just avoid if you don't want a headache for your money! There are much better players in this market

Avoid, over priced garden rooms that are low quality. First bit of wind and a patch of tiles blew off. They did attend and fix this. 2 years in now and warping has produced gaps where sealant is applied. Chrome flaking off door handles, bolt locks sticking. Their Customer service team called to advise I should paint the exterior every 2 years and would I like a quote for the paint. I thought this was good customer service until the quote arrived and was for £520 for 10 litres (5L undercoat, 5L top coat). Product is bot good value for money at £15k

My Advice would be, do not waste your hard earned money. There is a reason there is only a one year warranty - because that’s all their cabins are good for.
We had the misfortune of purchasing and dealing with Johnsons lack of customer service for 6 years now. Our cabin started to rot and leak 1 year after the build and is not fit for purpose. We have spent almost £10000 on a glorified shed, as that is all its good for. Johnsons will blame your painting for everything that goes wrong. As i have experienced and now read in reviews and social media comments (which are regularly deleted).

I have included pictures in my google review for Chelsham.

There have been many more issues but these are the main ones:

1. Johsons blamed our painting for every issue. Most significant: water ingress in all 4 corners and rot in the roof. Actual issue: our cabin was thrown up in a matter of hours and now has massive gaps in wood work. Johnsons now screw the timbers together to prevent separation (clearly was an issue).
2. Damp in all 4 corners - blamed our painting. Actual issue: poor design which has now been changed (weatherproofing).
3. Rotten roof with fungus: johnsons blamed moss on our roof and not painting behind facsias. Our roof v johnsons show room, complete with shrub growing out of roof. Actual issue: roof waterproof membrane did not adequately cover sides of roof, felt shingles did not addquately cover side of roof. Fascias: no mention of painting behind - not in customer care advice or explained to us in person or in the several emails after blaming our paint. This year in person we spoke to staff at a showroom who sent a youtube video regarding painting behind the fascias. This youtube video is unlisted and therefore you can only find it if the link is sent to you, which it never had been before. Additionally, it was uploaded 2 years ago, so after our cabin was constructed, is not mentioned in any care documents and seems very odd that you would dismantle something they have just built.
4. Final issue with roof: celotex insulation and wood materials left on wet grass in January (shown in picture). Dispite all the customer care info stating the wood is untreated - it was left on wet grass.
5. Shoddy workmanship - after taking fascias off. There were joins that did not meet, splintered wood. All that could only be seen once rotten wood was removed.
6. Poor workmanship from recommended electritians - no nice casings as you see in the show rooms, holes they drilled left splintered and unfinished, no weather proofing on holes they made to the building.
Please see my google review for pictures of our cabin V johnsons showroom.

Do not waste your money on a product unfit for purpose and a customer service which once they have your money is terrible.

We have been offered to pay an additional £1000 to rectify the rotten roof. Johnsons will not be receiving any more of our money for an unfit product. The stress of this over the past 5 years has been awful.

Terrible product, terrible customer service. AVOID - I still don't have a useable garden building which I ordered 6 months ago

28th May 2024: Unit Ordered
15/16th August: Installed by a sub-contractor (against their website commitment to only using ‘in-house’ personal - they've advised this has since been removed from their website)
17th August: Reported to JGB that the building had been left unfinished (problems with flooring, trim, windows not opening, screws and rubbish left throughout garden)
30th August: Returned to 'finish' unit. Whilst doing so they identified that the roof had been installed incorrectly by their sub-contractor so they needed to return and replace it.
9th September: Returned to replace roof
27th September: All 3 sets of windows leaking into the inside of the cabin. Reported to JGB.
4th October: Returned to check window seals etc. Informed me on-site that the manufacturer had infact added additional grooves into the frames by mistake causing the water to flow into the cabin. They covered up with plastic sheeting and advised that new parts would need to be ordered and should be ready in 2-3 weeks.
25th November: after various emails/calls, no updates. I still have a shed with plastic over all windows and doors, that isn't water-tight and therefore cannot be used, especially with electrical equipment needed to use for a gym. They don't respond to emails and havent provided an update on installation of new windows/doors but will accept orders from new customers (of course!). nb no financial compensation has been offered (except extended warranty and air-con unit)

Be very very wary before giving them any money - especially anything upfront. I wish I had waited until the building was properly installed before parting with hard earned cash.

As for JGB - an update would be much appreciated.

Very happy with our new Garden Building. Simon at the office in Marks Tey was extremely helpful and informative. The teams across the 3 days of erecting the building were fabulous. Luke, Arron and Dominic on Day 1, Jack, Jay and Matt/Harry on day 2 and Matt and Troy on day 3. They were friendly, customer-focused and efficient.

If less than 1 star was an option, I would choose it!
The longevity of the cabins Johnson’s provide are not up to standard for the amount of money paid for them in the slightest. Do not waste your money! No foundations put down before the Cabin gets put up within a day!
Cabins last around 3 years after paying almost £15,000! And when you ask them what they will do about this problem, they don’t want to know.
Johnsons Whitstable will happily con and push the elder generation who don’t have the structural/building experience to know that they are about to be left with a dodgy Cabin in a few years time that allows rain to enter in the winter and dislodge the wood used and sink into the soil!
I have lots of photos and I wish I could attach them to show how disgraceful this is and how they have gone about the situation even after the first email when it was sent years ago. They also send out unexperienced team members who don’t even bother to look at the problem but just tell you there is nothing to be done about it and leave you with nowhere to turn.
Disgusting

extra poor customer care supplied incorrect colour paint and try to make out its my fault??
DO NOT BUY AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!

Bought a Cabin from Johnsons and the team couldn't have been more helpful at Maidstone. I had a site visit confirming where I would like my cabin to go, and I didn't feel forced to buy extras. He gave me great advice on How to make the most of the space in my garden, and I adore my cabin. The lead time is about average for everywhere else I looked, but the finish and quality is far above other companies I tried. The installers were very happy and friendly, even in the pouring rain! overall I couldn't have asked for a better service, the lady was very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly too. Now i have my cabin, I have so much space to enjoy my home, and a much cheaper option than moving house just to have space to work! Very happy would 100% recommend, so much so I will be buying a Hot tub from them!

It all started out so well. We visited the site to look at buildings in Farnham. Dave & Tony were very helpful. We explained in great detail the problems we'd had with Dunster House on our last building and how we were looking to not repeat that experience! We should have walked away!

They openly advertise on their Web page that no planning permission is required on any of their buildings and if in doubt you should get a site survey 'where you will be advised'. We did! No advice given or any advice on how high the platform would be ...and you've guessed it, the building & platform were too high and we had a visit from the Council. The building including the platform were 20cm over the 2.5m high maximum.

Johnsons were not interested in helping at all with this and completely washed their hands of the matter...until it came to light that the building itself was overheight. The building is advertised at 2.47m but it was 2.54m. They pushed us to apply for planning permission and did provide their basic drawings.

Unfortunately the Council were not happy with this and it took a £2.5k legal bill to get the planning permission through. All the time creating anxiety and issues with our neighbours at a time in lockdown when we really don't need the additional stress!

Along with that there were times when the doors wouldn't open and I was locked out for weeks at a time because Johnsons wouldn't send anyone out to fix the issue.

AND, when we ordered the building we were offered interest free finance on the 50% balance. Because of the delay between order and delivery of the goods, it slipped my mind and I paid the balance. Once I remembered, about 30 minutes later I called and apparently I had to get the refund authorised by the branch...did that but on the completion day they duly took the 50% balance from my credit card. When I found out their 'customer service ' team said there was nothing they could do and I would have to ring the finance House. After kicking off, they sent the form but we had to sign to agree that we were 'completely satisfied' which we obviously weren't, because they'd built it too big!

The team on site were just young lads and not at all professional. At one point one of them was standing on the roof and was saying he was going to 'back flip' off the roof...the next thing I know, he's laying on the ground screaming that he's broken his expletive arm! A 2 day build turned into 4!

These are expensive buildings. Spend a bit more and go with someone better, who will provide you with the right advice and have excellent customer service.

**27th Match 2021 Update

I was contacted by Paul Hoyle, the GM of Johnsons a few weeks after posting this review. Mr Hoyle apologised for the problems that their building had caused us. Mr Hoyle listened to our grievance and appeared to understand how much stress this had caused us.

Mr Hoyle offered us 50% of our legal costs plus repainting the summerhouse to bring it in line with the planning regulations. We have received the payment & the painting has been completed. **