Choosing Your Summerhouse

We know that with the amount of options available that choosing a summerhouse can be confusing. We have put together this guide to help you choose which shed is right for you. We always advise going through the features & specifications of the summerhouses you are looking at to make sure they suit your needs.

In this Section:

  • What is the difference between a shed and a summerhouse?
  • Apex vs Pent
  • Styles of Summerhouse
  • Cladding
  • Flooring
  • Doors & Windows
  • Which model and size should I choose?

Kensington

Combi Sunningdale

What is the difference between a Shed and a Summerhouse?

On the surface the most obvious difference between a shed and a summerhouse is the style of building and the general use of them.

Sheds are generally fairly plain buildings with some features to make it attractive. They are primarily used for storage or for workshops.

Summerhouses are very different in that they are designed to be a feature themselves in your garden. They tend to have a lot more glass and other features to draw the eye and allow for more light within. This is because summerhouses are generally used for more interaction with the most common uses being as a home office or outdoor “summer” room.

Apex vs Pent

The most common question we receive is “Should I buy an Apex or a Pent?” and “What is the difference between them?”.

The Apex Roof is the classic summerhouse look and features two slopes that meet in an “apex” at the centre of the shed. This provides a large amount of head room in the centre of the shed making it ideal if you spend a lot of time in your shed. Apex summerhouses differ from Apex sheds in that most summerhouses have the gable (the shaped side) on the longer side of the shed with the doors and front windows on that side as well.

Summer Cabin

Ascot
Kensington

The Pent Roof is a more modern style of summerhouse featuring a single sloping roof providing a gradual change in internal height. Pent sheds are becoming far more popular as they allow for more height around the walls which allows for more storage. All of our Pent buildings (both sheds and summerhouses) come as standard under the general planning permission rules for height making them a great option for smaller gardens!

Pavilion

Dual Pent Summerhouse
Sunningdale

The Hipped Roof has a unique look to it with its steeper pitch with slopes coming up from every side of the building. Hipped roof summerhouses typically come on our Octagonal, Stretch Octagonal and Sandringham summerhouses. With all sides of the shed meeting to a point in the centre of the shed it creates a very strong roof that withstands rain, snow and wind very well so it’s ideal for places with more exposure to the elements.

Octagonal 8

Whatever your roof style, it’s important to consider its construction. Tongue and Groove boarded roofs are far superior in terms of strength, durability and longevity. Roof panels made from OSB or other chipboard types will make the shed cheaper (certainly to make – it’s often a cheeky way for manufacturers to make more money because an OSB roof is hidden under felt), but in general they are a good indicator of lower quality standards.

The roof is one of the most exposed parts of the building – it takes the brunt of the wind and rain – so choosing a shed with chip, strand or shredded-wood board would not be the best choice.

All of our buildings come with Tongue & Groove roof’s and floors. We NEVER use any sheet material in the construction of our sheds.

Styles of Summerhouse

Georgian style summerhouses bring timeless elegance to your garden. Characterised by its balanced proportions, distinctive glazing, and refined detailing, this traditional design offers a bright, welcoming space for relaxation, entertaining, or enjoying your surroundings throughout the year.

Pavilion

Chatsworth
Windsor and a Superior Apex

Contemporary style summerhouses are designed with modern living in mind. They combine striking architecture, expansive windows, and premium materials to create a stylish retreat for work, relaxation, or entertaining.

Customised Combi Sunningdale

Custom Sunroom
Sunningdale

Leaded style summerhouses are inspired by heritage style buildings. These summerhouses offer a charming and distinctive appearance that is perfect for those looking for a traditional look. Their decorative windows create a welcoming atmosphere while enhancing the building’s period-style character.

Dual Pent Summerhouse

Stretched Octagonal
Summer Cabin

Corner summerhouses allow you to make the most of every inch of your garden. Cleverly designed to nestle into unused corners, these attractive buildings provide a perfect place to sit and enjoy your garden without dominating outdoor space.

Contemporary Corner

Georgian Corner
Contemporary Corner

Cladding

Standard Cladding is the cladding that all of our sheds come with as standard (with 2 exceptions). Our standard cladding is made from high quality Russian Redwood cut and planed to 12mm finish.

Premier Cladding is our thicker and more heavy duty option for those that want a stronger and more long lasting shed. Made from the same high quality redwood as our standard cladding, however, they are cut and planed to have an 18mm finish, this is one of our most popular options.

Tanalised Cladding is our pressure treated timber finish. We use the same high quality timber but with a thicker 15mm thick finish. This timber is pressure treated with Tanalith E for extra protection against decay, rot and insect attack.

Please see our Custom Build & Optional Extras page for pricing and more information.

Standard Cladding

Side by Side Comparison

Premier Cladding

Flooring

Standard Flooring is the cladding that all of our sheds (with 2 exceptions) come with as standard. Our standard flooring is made from high quality Russian Redwood cut and planed to 12mm finish.

Heavy Duty Flooring is our thicker and more heavy duty option for those that want a stronger and more long lasting shed. Made from the same high quality redwood as our standard flooring, however, cut and planed to have an 18mm finish, this is one of our most popular options.

Tanalised Flooring is an option that comes as standard when you upgrade the cladding on the shed to Tanalised. It is made from the same high quality timber as our standard flooring but has been pressure treated with Tanalith E for increased protection from decay, rot and insect attack. This flooring as standard is cut and planed to a 12mm finish

Heavy Duty Tanalised Flooring is the perfect option if you want to increase the strength of your flooring but also want the tanalised upgrade. Cut and planed to an 18mm finish, this flooring is made from the same high quality timber we use in all of our components however it has been pressure treated with Tanalith E for increased protection from decay, rot and insect attack.

Please see our Custom Build & Optional Extras page for pricing and more information.

Standard Flooring

Side by Side Comparison

Heavy Duty Flooring

Windows & Door Options

We make every building to order so the positions of the door and windows are up to you. Summerhouses tend to work a little different from sheds in that we generally have one preselected option in terms of styling which is generally the one you see in the image of the shed. However we can always move doors and window around our buildings if those positions do not suit you!

The number of windows on your summerhouse as standard depends on your model and size. For more information on how many windows your selected model will come with please feel free to contact a member of our team! All of our summerhouses can also come with no windows if that is what you would prefer!

We can also add doors, windows and other features to really make the building your own. We really advise you look through our Custom Build & Option Extras for more information on all of the options available!

On top of the options above we can also install the hinges on your shed on any side so the choice is really yours!

Modified Pent Summerhouse & a Standard Pent

Custom 6′ x 6′ Sunningdale

Summer Cabin

Which Model & Size Should I Choose?

We offer a huge range of models and sizes to give you the most amount of choice we can! We highly recommend that you have a good read through the features and specifications of the models that interest you so that you can choose the one that most suits your needs.

Models

We offer a huge range of different models of Summerhouse to fit every need! When it comes to picking the right one for you, the most important things to consider are your own personal style and needs. Most of our summerhouses are the same premium quality as each other with similar specifications structurally.

Our best summerhouse both in terms of quality and longevity is our Sunroom. This contemporary style summerhouse is made with our best quality joinery doors and windows. It also features our Premier Cladding and our Heavy Duty Floor as standard.

Size

The size of the model you choose is very dependent on the area you have available. We highly recommend that you double check your measurements before ordering.

We recommend that you leave enough space around the summerhouse to allow for you to be able to get around it. This will allow you access in order to retreat it and prolong your summerhouses lifespan. Being based in London we know this is not always possible or ideal so we always say you should leave enough space in order to get a roller on a pole down the sides to allow for retreating.

When choosing the size it is important to consider the following:

Space Available: It is important to consider the amount of space you want to take up in your garden. A larger size shed also is more imposing if you have a small garden this is something to consider as well.

Planned Usage: Knowing what you want to use your summerhouse for can be a huge help in determining the space you need. We have listed some common uses for summerhouses below as well as some items you may want to include within.

  • Home Office
    • Desk
    • Chairs
    • Filing Cabinets
    • Shelves & Units
  • Garden Room
    • Sofa
    • Table
    • Chairs
    • Shelves & Units
  • Storage
    • Lawnmower
    • BBQ
    • Garden Tools
    • Outdoor Furniture

Space to move around: Whilst the ones above may be more obvious, many people forget to consider that you will need space to move around inside the summerhouse depending on the usage you have planned for it.

Roof Overhang: This is really important to consider when discussing the size of your summerhouse. Whilst we recommend enough space to be able to retreat your building easily, the minimum amount of space we need is approximately 6″ (150mm) all the way around to allow for airflow and the roof overhang.

If you are still stuck you can always come down to our Display Site to get a better idea on the size or model you may need/want. We normally have approximately 16 sheds on display ranging in sizes from 6′ x 2’6″ Garden Tidy to a 16′ x 10′ Heavy Duty Apex.