Published 28 September 2026 · Tom Cutts Joinery & Building
1. A description of the agreed work
Start with the purpose of the project, its position and approximate dimensions. Ask for the main materials and finishes to be named. For a garden room, that might include cladding, glazing, internal finish and the services being considered. For decking, it includes the board specification, layout, edges and steps.
Photographs and a simple marked-up sketch can help explain the discussion. If drawings or specialist design are needed, establish who provides them and how they become part of the agreed scope.
2. Site preparation and access
Discuss what is already in the space and what must happen before construction. Existing structures, changes in ground level and the access route all need to be understood. Confirm what the quotation includes for preparation, deliveries, storage of materials, protection of surrounding areas and disposal of waste.
3. Inclusions, exclusions and choices
Make it easy to see which items are included, which are optional and which sit outside the quotation. A room price may need to be considered alongside specialist services, decoration, flooring or work to the surrounding garden. Ask whether applicable VAT is included and whether any amount is an allowance that still needs a final selection.
If you are combining a room and a deck, ask for the relationship between them to be clear. This helps you compare a complete project with quotations that cover only one part.
4. Responsibilities and checks
Agree who will coordinate the job and who handles any specialist work, permissions enquiries or design checks that the project requires. Ask what information you need to supply and which decisions must be made before a start can be arranged. The answer should relate to your site and planned use.
5. Timing and changes
Discuss the proposed programme, the factors it depends on and how progress will be communicated. If you change a material, add work or choose a different layout, ask how the revised scope, cost and timing will be recorded before that work goes ahead.
A clear written change avoids two different understandings of what was agreed. Keep the original quotation, selections and later amendments together.
6. Payment and handover
Ask for the payment stages and their associated milestones to be explained before agreeing to proceed. At handover, confirm what care information, product paperwork, specialist documentation or workmanship terms apply to your particular project. Keep a note of how to raise any outstanding questions.
A simple brief to copy into your enquiry
My postcode:
I’m planning: a garden room / decking / both
Approximate dimensions:
I’ll use the space for:
Access or site details:
Preferred materials or examples:
Rough budget:
Preferred timing:
Add a few photographs of the space and the route to it. You can send these to our team on WhatsApp, or use the website form to start the conversation. We work from Colne across Pendle, the Ribble Valley and the surrounding service areas shown on the website.
Planning a local project?
Our Colne-based team covers Colne, the Ribble Valley and surrounding service areas. Explore the local guidance, then send your postcode and outline of work.