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Summer House Sheds
- How big can a summer house be without planning permission?
- What’s the difference between a shed and a summer house?
- How much does a summerhouse shed cost?
- What do you use a summer house shed for?
- Do I need planning permission for a summer house shed?
- What are your best summer house sheds?
- What is the best base to put a summer house shed on?
- How do you stop damp in a summer house shed
- How to build a summerhouse shed
- Is it worth insulating a summerhouse shed?
As long as your summer house shed is no higher than a 4m with a dual pitched roof (with an eaves height of no more than 2.5m) and no larger than 50% of the size of your garden, you should be able to build without planning permission.
Make sure to double check with your local councill or read our guide to planning permission.
Most ‘sheddies’ will say that a shed has to have certain features like an apex roof and ample storage space. On the other hand, a summer house is more likely to be used for leisure activities rather than as storage or a workshop. It will arguably feature more windows and glazing to allow natural light and may even be hooked up with utilities. However, with our BillyOh Penton summerhouse with side shed, you can have the best of both worlds!
We offer a range of BillyOh summerhouse sheds with customisable sizes and features to suit all buyers. For example, our 4 x 8 summerhouses start from just £879.
A summer house offers a whole host of potential uses, varying from the common and conventional to the decidedly outside of the box. If you’re looking for summer house ideas, you could use it for:
- Garden storage if you go for a summer house with shed
- A workshop or tool shed
- A room for relaxation
- Outdoor dining
- A garden office
- A home gym
With even a small summer house, the possibilities are endless.
Generally, garden buildings such as summer houses are classed as ‘permitted developments’, meaning you wouldn't need planning permission. This is as long as your summer house shed isn’t:
- Built further forward than the front of your house
- Higher than one storey
- Higher than a max height of 2.5m at the eaves
- Larger than 50% of the area of your garden
Despite this, we’d strongly recommend contacting your local planning authority to discuss this. The larger your garden building and the closer it is to your property boundary, the greater the likelihood that permission for a summer house will be required.
For more information, read this guide on planning permission.
Our summerhouses allow you to relax in your garden, regardless of the season, temperature or weather. Available in a variety of different shapes and sizes, we're almost guaranteed to stock the summerhouse which is perfect for you.
Listed below are what we believe to be the best summer houses that we sell, so check them out today!
The Holly Apex Summerhouse is a stylish and contemporary garden building that is perfect for relaxing in your garden all year round. With a strong Tongue & Groove build, the summerhouse is durable and long-lasting, becoming a feature of your garden for years to come. The Holly is complete with wide opening double doors for easy access and stunning long windows, which provide natural light and a view of your garden.
The Petra summerhouse is a great companion during the summer months and provides a cosy relaxing space throughout the rest of the year. The large windows and optional door placement allows you to get as much natural light as possible, great for entertaining.
The Darcy Log Cabin Summerhouse has been designed to provide an ideal and comfortable space you can relax in. With a Modern Reverse Apex design and contemporary style windows and doors, the Darcy would make for a stunning addition to any outdoor area. The summerhouse features fully glazed doors and opening windows, allowing for lots of natural light and helping to create a light and airy space for you to enjoy.
Maximise your space with a building designed specifically for the corner of your garden. The large windows, fully glazed doors and tall roof offer an abundance of natural light while offering you a large space to relax or entertain in the comfort of your garden.
A structurally sound base is essential in ensuring your summer house can last as long as possible. Your summer house base should be flat and level, so as to avoid cracking and breaking the timber or putting undue stress on window and door frames which could shatter glass. Your choices vary from a concrete base for your summer house to an ecobase or timber sub-floor. That’s why we offer many of these as add-ons upon purchasing your summer house.
If you’re not careful, condensation can rapidly build up in your garden summer house structure as a consequence of changing temperatures throughout the year. But with proper care and maintenance, you can stop damp in your summer house.
Make sure there is sufficient airflow through your summerhouse and be sure to aerate it even in the winter months. Leaving the doors and windows open will allow your garden building to breathe. To restrict the ability of moisture to penetrate the timber, and stop rot and mould:
- Don’t store damp items in your summer house
- Opt for pressure-treated timber or treat your summer house with wood treatment
- Think about installing a vapour membrane if need be
- Build your garden summer house on a raised base with no direct ground contact
For more on how to damp proof and insulate your wooden summer house, check out our comprehensive guide.
Our range of BillyOh summerhouses are all designed to be easy and simple to assemble. Using the digital assembly instructions included in your order confirmation and with a team of at least 2 people, the handy pre assembled panels mean you will have your BillyOh building up in no time! You’ll just require some basic tools like a drill and bits, level, and hammer.
Our tongue and groove panelling provides a weather-resistance, tight interlocking seal to keep your warm in winter and cool in summer. However, to further insulate your summer house, you could consider:
- Using a draught excluder
- Installing a vapour barrier
- Installing floor ad roofing Celotex insulation sheets
- Upgrading to double-glazed windows
This can be especially useful if you plan to use your summerhouse as a home office throughout the year or overnight. For more, read our guide to damp-proofing and insulating a garden building.