Frequently asked questions

Our buildings are designed to be incredibly durable structures and their timber constructs are designed in accordance with Euro Code Zero to exceed 50 years lifespan with minimal upkeep.

Typically a standard classroom will range in size depending on its function. For nurseries and SEN spaces we would recommend 3.5 sqm per child whilst most classrooms for KS1 and KS2 children are 2 sqm per child. If you are planning to use one of our buildings as a dining room then we would recommend 0.9 sqm per child.

Yes. We offer a full turn-key service, from foundations through to connecting all services, providing the site has adequate capacity (for example, sufficient mains supply for electrics and access to water and drainage). We’ll assess this as part of our survey, and we will also support any new incoming supplies and upgrades where required.

Unlike volumetric or portable buildings, TG Escapes buildings are permanent structures, and we can install any foundation solution to suit your site and ground conditions, including but not limited to:

• Pad and pier foundations
• Strip foundations
• Screw piles (ideal for close proximity to trees)
• Reinforced rafts (ideal for made up ground)
• Insulated slabs
• Piled foundations

Our team will recommend the right solution following a site survey, so you don’t need to decide. We’ll handle it all.

Not at all. We offer a wide range of cladding and rainscreen options including timber, composites, brick slips, render and aluminium, so we can match your site’s aesthetic and complement the existing context, even in more sensitive locations such as listed buildings or conservation areas.

Natural untreated cedar should last between 40 and 60 years. Over time it naturally weathers to a beautiful silver-grey patina, and many of our customers love this characteristic look. If you prefer to maintain the original warm tone, it can be treated or oiled to preserve the colour for longer.

No, our roofs aren’t actually flat. A pitch is built in to direct rainwater towards the gutters, keeping everything watertight and low maintenance. We also work on more complex and traditional roof forms. Take a look at the English classroom block at Ratcliffe College and our other recent projects to see the range of what’s possible.

We specify the most effective and appropriate heating systems to meet current building regulations and energy efficiency requirements. For larger spaces this typically means air source heat pumps, and for smaller rooms low surface temperature (LST) convector heaters, though we’ll always recommend the right solution for your specific building and usage.

Yes, we ensure all existing infrastructure can be linked with the new building and liaise with the existing school’s providers to ensure a fully compatible installation.

We offer a 10-year warranty on the structure, a 1-year warranty on the fixtures and fittings and a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty on the roof covering. Other components do have extended warranties and details on these can be provided on request.

Depending on the client and the size of project, there are a number of contracts that can be administered, the most common being a JCT minor or intermediate works contract.

As a design-and-build contractor, we have the in-house expertise to specify the most viable and sustainable hot water solution for your project. We favour low-carbon systems and will always recommend the right approach for your site, usage and budget, whether that’s an electric stored water heater, an air source heat pump, instantaneous water heaters, or an LPG system for off-grid locations.

Very. As standard, we use LED lighting throughout and specify heating systems that meet or exceed current energy efficiency requirements. Our building fabric is designed to achieve low U-values, meaning excellent thermal performance, and even without additional green technologies our buildings typically achieve a high B Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. With the addition of solar PV panels, an A+ rating is achievable.

Not always. Many of our buildings can be delivered through Permitted Development, provided they meet the relevant criteria, which can significantly simplify and speed up the process. Where full planning permission is required, we manage the entire application on your behalf as part of the project cost, ensuring you get the right building, in the right location, with full permanent planning consent. Either way, we’ll advise you on the best route from the outset.

For most applications, local authorities have an 8-week statutory determination period, though for larger or more complex projects this extends to 13 weeks. Add to that the time for the authority to validate and register the application, and you should typically allow 10 to 16 weeks in total, depending on the scale of the project and the local authority’s workload. We manage the entire process on your behalf and will keep you informed at every stage.

All buildings over 30 square metres require building regulations approval. As with planning, our approved inspector will obtain this approval on your behalf.

Depending on your project and location, there may be additional consents or assessments required alongside planning permission, including:

• Listed Building Consent if your site includes or is adjacent to a listed building
• Conservation Area Consent for sites within a designated conservation area
• Ecology or heritage assessments, sometimes required by the local authority as part of the planning process
• Party Wall Agreements if the build is close to a neighbouring property
• A Section 80/81 demolition notice if your project scope includes any demolition

As your design-and-build partner, we’ll identify all necessary consents at the outset and advise you on what’s needed for your specific project.

No, we work in live schools all year round. We will create a full Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan in collaboration with the school to ensure that all operations are carried out safely and have minimal impact on the day-to-day running of the school.

Every building is bespoke, so the cost depends on size, specification and site. Our Ranges & Prices page shows guide prices for typical classroom, office and sports buildings, and every project gets a fixed price from day one, so you can budget with confidence.

It depends mainly on floor area. As a guide, we recommend around 2 m² per child for KS1 and KS2 classrooms, so a class of 30 needs around 60 m² of teaching space before any lobby, toilets or storage. Our current guide rate for classrooms and teaching blocks is £3,000 to £3,900 per m² for the building itself, excluding foundations and groundworks, external works, professional fees and VAT. See Ranges & Prices for the rates and what affects them, and our modular classrooms page for what every project includes.

Nothing. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation for every project, visiting the site, discussing your specific needs, and producing an initial plan, visualisation and comprehensive quotation, all at no cost to you.

Our payment structure is aligned with industry-standard construction procurement. Payments are tied to completed works or agreed outputs, so you’re never paying for something before it has been delivered. Where pre-construction services are involved, such as those under a Letter of Intent or Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA), these are similarly structured around agreed milestones and deliverables. We’ll agree a clear payment schedule at the outset so there are no surprises.

No. We make all our prices clear and easy to understand, offering an all-inclusive price for the project which includes planning and fittings.