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Summerhouses are one of the ideal alternative outdoor buildings to relax, unwind, and entertain—providing an extra room that allows you to make the most out of your garden!
With several different styles and constructions available, shopping for a Summerhouse can be a bit tricky. To help you understand which building will best suit your needs, we’ve prepared this advanced guide with some handy tips on everything you need to know when you’re shopping for a Summerhouse.
Summerhouses vs Log Cabin
These two types of garden buildings are, in fact, often the UK top choices when it comes to adding a home extension. While both are guaranteed to provide the perfect place to relax, carry out your hobbies, or even host garden parties—you might still get confused about their differences.
Summerhouses and log cabins are distinguished by the way they are built. When building summerhouses, they have mitred corners and are made in the same way as sheds—shiplap cladding. On the other hand, log cabins are constructed using overlapping corner connections.
But there are actually other differences you will notice between the two, such as:
- Summerhouses can be in an octagonal or pentagonal shape—just like our BillyOh Renna Tongue and Groove Corner Summerhouse, whereas log cabins are generally in a rectangular or square shape.
- When it comes to wall options, summerhouses are only available in 11mm sections. Log cabins, on the other hand, are available with either 19mm or 28mm single tongue and groove panels.
Tongue and groove is a popular method which uses an interlocking technique to keep water out effectively. This protects the building from harsh weather, and it also keeps it looking great all year round. Remember, the thicker the wall is, the more stable and durable your garden building will be.
Our summerhouse units, including the BillyOh Bella Tongue & Groove Pent Summerhouse, are constructed using our incredibly popular, Tongue and Groove panels. The T&G boards provide them with a classic, smooth finish that will complement any garden, whether it has a traditional or more modern style.
If you want to know more about the differences between a log cabin and a summerhouse, our Summer House vs Log Cabin guide will come in handy. Be sure to read it!
What Type Do You Need?
1. Apex Summerhouse
A summerhouse with an apex roof has a ridge running along the length of the building with the roof sections tilting upwards from either side of the gutter meeting at the edge.
This type of Summerhouse is actually the most popular one due to its versatility and practicality, as well as its traditional and enticing appearance.
2. Reverse Apex Summerhouse
A reverse apex summerhouse is quite similar to the apex one. The main difference is that a reverse apex building’s doors and windows are situated on the longest side of the building.
3. Pent Summerhouse
Pent designs gear more towards contemporary architectural concepts to complement any modern garden. Most of these designs feature front overhang roofs that add style as well as practicality to your garden summerhouse.
4. Corner Summerhouse
Aside from offering a unique look, corner summerhouses are explicitly made for awkward garden spaces. Sometimes, traditional outdoor building designs don’t fit in smaller and more complicated garden areas, so corner summerhouses will help you save the day.
What Type of Construction Best Suit Your Needs?
1. Overlap Summerhouses
A traditional rustic style, an overlapping Summerhouse is designed with overlapping boards to allow rainfall to run off. It is often the most cost-effective style of wooden Summerhouse as it is reliable and long-lasting.
2. Tongue and Groove Summerhouses
A premium Summerhouse features interlocking Tongue and Groove boards which are designed to last. The tight-fitting construction provides excellent protection against the wind and rain.
In addition, the cladding is more secure and durable.
Features to Look Out For
Now it’s time to check out what other features are available, then you can choose for your summer house! To help you select the ideal summerhouse for you, here are the things you need to consider.
1. Summerhouse Roof Covering Options
When it comes to a summer house roof, there are two options you can choose from:
- Shingles – for heavy-duty protection and increased longevity.
- Felt – for water-repelling purposes and added weather protection. It also comes in two common types:
a.) Sand felt – for the basic roof covering protection.
b.) Mineral felt – you may upgrade your roof covering to this one to add extra protection against elements.
2. Summerhouse Customisable Roof Options
- Reasons to Choose T&G
T&G Roof Panels are stronger when compared with OSBs and Solid Sheets. Choosing T&G will also give you the option to use shingles as a cover for your roof, increasing the overall sturdiness and lifespan of the building.
- Reasons to Choose Pressure Treated
Experts say that the roof would have to be one of the toughest yet most bombarded sections of the building. We recommend all our customers to enhance the defensive capability of their roofs further by having it ordered pressure treated.
The treatments dramatically increase the durability of your roof and free you of your maintenance worries.
3. Summerhouse Flooring Options
When looking for a wooden shed, there are two available flooring options you can choose from:
- Oriented Strand Board (OSB) – this type of flooring is an engineered wood flooring made from compressed layers of wood strands stuck together.
- Tongue and Groove Flooring – if you’re looking for a stronger flooring, opt for this one, as they’re made from separate wooden boards that are designed to interlock. This is also ideal for storing bulky items.
4. Summerhouse Pressure Treatment Options
You can choose to purchase a pressure treated log cabin to keep the building entirely protected from the harsh elements. Here at Garden Buildings Direct, we also offer a pressure-treated option for ultimate weather protection!
The pressure treatment process suffused wood with chemical preservatives to prevent rot and corrosion, creating a low maintenance structure that does not need treatment at home. This option is especially great if you’re looking for a building that doesn’t require any effort to look great all year round!
Types of Summerhouses
There are many types of summerhouses available, especially here at Garden Buildings Direct, as we offer various styles and purposes—from contemporary summerhouses, traditional summerhouses to summerhouses sheds and log cabin summerhouses. Here’s how to know the difference between them all.
1. Contemporary Summerhouses
Contemporary summerhouses aren’t just ideal for those who are into more stylish and modern designs. This outdoor structure is also a perfect touch to give your garden a modern edge and look.
Made with an interlocking tongue and groove boards—it creates a smooth and clean aesthetic charm.
2. Traditional Summerhouses
Some people tend to go for the traditional looking summerhouses rather than opting for the contemporary ones. For them, this classic and traditional summerhouse is more appealing than any of the other summerhouse buildings.
The traditional summerhouse features Georgian windows and the common apex roof shape. So, if you want a classic edge on your garden, the traditional summerhouse is what you can opt for.
3. Corner Summerhouses
One of the difficult tasks you’d encounter when it comes to your summerhouse is to find the perfect space for it. This is where the corner summerhouses come in handy.
You don’t have to worry about how you are going to place your summerhouse in a small or awkward space because this type of outdoor building can fit into a corner. It also features double doors that provide you with a panoramic view of your garden.
4. Small Summerhouses
If you have a small and minimal garden space, a small summer house can be your best bet as it can measure as small as 6’ x 4’. It turns out that small summerhouses aren’t convenient, but they’re also budget-friendly.
You can take advantage of this small outdoor building as a little haven to relax or as a storage area to keep your outdoor furniture during the colder months.
5. Log Cabin Summerhouses
If you wish to have a luxurious style of the summerhouse, a log cabin summerhouse can be your best option. A log cabin summerhouse can add a touch of spectacular view in your garden.
Moreover, this lavish summerhouse is made with a sturdy outdoor building structure to withstand any harsh weather conditions and built to last.
6. Summerhouse Sheds
Yes, you’ve read that correctly. You can also use a summerhouse or a part of it for storage purposes where you can conveniently keep your garden tools safe.
In fact, this outdoor structure can also be the perfect place to escape and relax. Ideal for small families, couples or new homeowners—a summerhouse shed is an ideal solution for those who wish to have two different garden buildings without having to compromise on garden space as they are combined.
Summerhouse Maintenance Tips
If you want to keep your summerhouse looking neat and clean all year round, proper maintenance is essential. Here is our tip for maintaining your summerhouse.
In this way, you’ll be able to enjoy using your outdoor building for many more years to come.
1. Treatment
To protect your summerhouse against the harsh weather conditions, you can apply the wood treatment. It will not only help the structure withstand the weather but also help it last longer. Here are the other things you need to look out:
- Cleaning
- Roof, floor, and walls regular checking
- Insect and pest infestation
- Moisture
- Natural Shrinkage
Quality Summerhouses at Reasonable Prices from Us!
Made with quality materials and follows superior standards, summerhouses and other outdoor buildings available at Garden Buildings Direct are offered at extremely reasonable prices! If you need more help, why not check out our informative summerhouse buying guide?
