Summerhouses

Summerhouses

Summer houses have become a popular addition to gardens across the UK, providing homeowners with a versatile space that combines style and practicality.

Whether used as a garden retreat, home office, or hobby area, these structures help extend living space and make the most of the outdoors.

At Posh, we offer a wide selection of various materials, sizes, styles, and designs to suit different tastes and budgets. Our summerhouses buying guide will help you navigate key decisions, ensuring your new summer house complements your lifestyle and garden perfectly.

Why Choose a Summerhouse?

Benefits of Owning a Summerhouse

A summerhouse provides valuable extra space that serves multiple purposes, from a home office to a gym or hobby room. It also enhances the aesthetic appeal of your garden, creating a relaxing retreat. By extending your living space outdoors, a summerhouse can increase your property’s value.

With insulation options available, it can be enjoyed throughout the year, offering functionality beyond just the summer months.

How a Summerhouse Improves Lifestyle

A summerhouse creates the perfect space for outdoor living, allowing you to relax in comfort. With proper insulation, it becomes a functional year-round space for work, exercise, or hobbies.

Whether it’s used as a personal retreat or home office, a summerhouse can be tailored to suit your needs and garden layout, offering both practicality and enjoyment.

Planning Permission and Legal Considerations

In most instances, planning permission isn’t required if your summerhouse meets certain criteria, such as staying below a specified height and being a safe distance from boundaries. However, larger structures or those in protected areas may need approval.

To ensure compliance, it’s always best to check with your local council for specific planning and zoning rules before beginning construction.

Types of Summerhouses

Traditional vs. Contemporary Summer Houses

When choosing a summerhouse, it's important to consider the style that best suits your garden and preferences. Here’s a comparison of traditional, modern, and contemporary summerhouse designs:

• Traditional Summerhouse: With octagonal summer houses shapes, Georgian-style windows, and roof acorns, traditional summerhouses bring timeless charm and blend beautifully with classic gardens.
• Modern Summerhouse: Featuring sleek lines, minimalistic styles, and large wide-opening windows and doors, modern summerhouses maximise natural light and create a smooth connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Contemporary Summerhouses: These designs offer clean lines, composite materials, and weather-resistant options, combining style with low-maintenance practicality.

Wendy Houses

A wendy house provides a charming, smaller alternative to traditional summerhouses, often designed for children but easily adapted into cosy garden retreats or hobby spaces for adults.

With the look of a mini-cottage, they are available in both wooden and composite materials, offering weather-resistant, low-maintenance solutions that combine charm with practicality.

Corner Summerhouses

Corner summerhouses are space-efficient and ideal for small or awkward garden layouts. They maximise garden views and enhance space planning, making the most of every corner.

Available in both traditional and contemporary styles, they provide functionality without taking up too much space.

Summerhouses with Storage

Summerhouses with storage combine practicality and leisure, providing space for garden tools, furniture, and seasonal items alongside a relaxing retreat. Available in timber, composite, or steel frame materials, they optimise your outdoor space without sacrificing style.

Bespoke Summerhouses

Bespoke summerhouses are custom-designed to suit your preferences, with flexible layouts for windows, doors, and interior space.

They offer multi-functionality, from integrated storage to hobby areas, and are available in wooden, composite, or steel frame materials to perfectly match your garden and lifestyle.

What to Look For When Buying a Summerhouse

Size Considerations

Assess your garden space and ensure the site is prepared properly. Consider whether the summerhouse will be used as an office, garden retreat, storage, or hobby room, and think about future requirements.

Pay attention to the dimensions and ensure enough room for doors and windows to open fully.

Cladding Types and Long-lasting Materials

Cladding affects both the appearance and durability of your summerhouse. Overlap cladding is cost-effective but offers less weather resistance. Shiplap cladding provides a tighter fit for better protection, while loglap cladding is robust and suitable for year-round use.

Choose from timber, composite, or steel materials based on your maintenance preferences and the style you’re after.

Roof Style and Roofing Materials

The roof style significantly influences both the look and functionality of your summerhouse. An apex roof adds extra headroom, while a pent roof has a modern slope that fits well near fences.

A reverse apex offers a unique layout with doors on the longer side, and hipped roofs provide durability with a four-sided design. Roofing options include economical felt or premium shingles.

Windows & Doors

Windows and doors are key to the comfort and practicality of your summerhouse. Glazing options such as toughened glass or double glazing improve insulation.

Tilt-and-turn windows allow for ventilation, while large or small windows offer varying light levels. Bifold or French doors provide easy garden access, with lockable options enhancing security.

Additional Considerations

Summerhouse Security

Securing your summerhouse is essential, especially if it's used for valuable items or as a workspace. Basic options include mortice locks or a hasp and staple. For added security, consider installing alarms, security bars, or toughened glass windows.

Electrical Installation

You can choose between solar power hubs or connecting to the mains electricity, depending on your needs. Mains power supports heating, lighting, and appliances, while solar power is a more eco-friendly option.

If your summerhouse is in a remote area, a Wi-Fi booster can help improve connectivity.

Installation Options

DIY Assembly vs. Professional Installation

For those comfortable with DIY, many summerhouses come with step-by-step guides and require basic tools like a spirit level, hammer, and screwdriver. DIY assembly can be rewarding, but it’s important to carefully follow the instructions and ensure you have the right tools.

For larger or more complex summerhouses, professional installation is often the better option. It saves time and ensures the structure is built securely and correctly.

Site Preparation Tips

Before installation, ensure the ground is level and well-drained. Proper site preparation is key to ensuring the stability and longevity of your summerhouse, helping to avoid issues later on.

Why Choose Posh for Your Summerhouses

When it comes to choosing a summerhouse, Posh offers unbeatable value, quality, and customer service. Here are just a few reasons why we’re the top choice for your summerhouse needs:

• Free Delivery on most items and all orders over £500, ensuring you save on delivery costs.
• Best Price Guarantee – if you find it cheaper elsewhere, we’ll beat it.
• Flexible Payment Options, including PayPal Pay in 3 and Klarna over 12 months, to make purchasing easier.

Trusted Service with five-star ratings, a comprehensive returns policy, and expert aftercare from our dedicated team.