The Ultimate Summerhouse Buying Guide

Whether you’re a new summer house owner or thinking about getting one, you probably have a lot of questions. You might be wondering which type is best for you, among other queries — that’s where this guide comes in.

What Are Garden Summerhouses?

Garden summerhouses are standalone structures that offer a relaxing place during the warm weather. They come with windows and doors, some of which are floor-to-ceiling, so you get plenty of natural light.

But summerhouses aren’t just for summer, despite their name. With good insulation, they can be enjoyed year-round, even in winter. What you use them for can vary based on the type you choose. Speaking of types…

Types of Summerhouses

Summerhouses come in different styles to fit your needs. We’ll start with traditional designs and then explore contemporary options, corner styles, multi-purpose models, and those with extra features.

Traditional summerhouses

Traditional summerhouses stay true to their classic roots. They often feature an apex roof and may have wooden or shingle cladding with details like ornate shutters or carved wooden trim.

Take BillyOh Harper, for instance. It has a pitched roof for water drainage and two large glass doors at the front. The doors are divided into several small glass panes, allowing plenty of light inside. There are matching windows on each side of the doors with the same grid pattern.

A traditional summerhouse is perfect if you love a rustic, nostalgic look.

Contemporary summerhouses

Contemporary summerhouses have a fresh, updated look with minimalist designs, clean lines, and large, unobstructed windows. They can be customised with features like open-plan interiors and insulation for year-round use.

The BillyOh Dojo is a great example, offering everything a modern garden building needs! It stuns with its modern, reversible design, insulation, and double-glazing. It’s great as a garden office, gym, music room, garden pub, entertainment space, or whatever you can think of. Check it out for more information if you’re interested.

Corner summerhouses

Corner summerhouses are just as functional as standard models, but their five-sided shape sets them apart from the usual four-sided designs.

The BillyOh Picton Corner Summerhouse fits this description well. Its pentagonal design makes excellent use of corner spaces that might otherwise go to waste. For instance, with the doors placed in one corner, you don’t have to worry about extra space for them to open.

A corner summerhouse is a great option if you have limited space or a neglected nook in your garden.

Log cabin summer houses

This concept combines the aesthetic of a summer house and a log cabin in one structure. It has sturdy log-clad exteriors but keeps the relaxing vibe of a summerhouse.

Take a cue from the BillyOh Darcy Log Cabin Summerhouse unit for reference. It has large glass windows and doors that let in plenty of light, making the space bright and relaxing, like a typical summerhouse. The roof is slightly sloped for water drainage, and the wooden deck adds extra outdoor space.

If you’re torn between a summer house and a log cabin, this could be the perfect solution.

Insulated summerhouses

As the name suggests, insulated summerhouses are designed with built-in insulation. This insulation is added to the walls, roofs, and sometimes even the floor to help regulate the temperature. The BillyOh Outpost, for one, comes fully insulated with high-performance multi-foil insulation. These layers trap heat to keep things warm in winter and cool in summer.

While adding insulation may cost more than a regular building, it saves you money in the long run, e.g., by reducing the use of electric heaters and the hassle of installing them yourself. Overall, it’s a useful feature that turns a summer house into more than just a seasonal retreat, making it a worthwhile investment.

Pressure treated summerhouses

Durability is key for wooden garden buildings as they’re exposed to the elements all year round. That’s where pressure treatment comes in — cue pressure-treated summerhouses.

These structures undergo a process where the wood is treated with preservatives under high pressure. This makes the timber material rot-resistant and protects it from decay and insect damage. Over time, this also means less maintenance. You won’t need to worry about dampness or pests damaging the wood. Plus, it saves you time and effort on future treatments or repairs.

The treatment darkens the wood and gives it a more even tone than to untreated wood. Over time, it may take on a more weathered appearance, but it will still resist rot and decay.

If you want a summerhouse that stands up to the elements and is easy to care for, pressure-treated wood is a great choice.

So, which summerhouse type suits your needs and garden best? Whatever that may be, this next read, ‘Summer House Ideas: Types, Designs, and Uses,’ will help you make the most of it — be sure to check it out!

Summerhouse Frequently Asked Questions