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If you’re thinking about buying a summerhouse, you might be wondering about whether you will be able to enjoy them at all times of year, or only in warm weather.
Summer houses are enjoyed across the UK as rooms which feature large windows through which to enjoy the view of a beautiful garden. If you have family and friends together in the garden, the summerhouse is a great place to retreat to if the weather suddenly turns wet. Summer rain can be very pleasant from inside a summerhouse. However, what about when it goes cold?
Are Summerhouses Good on a Cold Day?
The fact is: a traditional wooden summerhouse made of tongue and groove panels will be cooler in the winter than some of the other types of garden rooms on the market. This is due to the thinner walls, single-glazed windows, and uninsulated floors and roofs.
If you’re looking for a summerhouse you can use all year round, you have two options: look for a warmer alternative, or modify your summerhouse to make it warmer.
How to Keep a Summerhouse Warm
There are 2 main ways to keep a summerhouse warm through autumn and winter: insulation and heating.
It is possible to insulate your summerhouse by replacing the windows with double glazing or by padding the walls with insulation material. You can find out more about these options in our guide: Summer House Insulation Methods.
For heating, you will need an electricity supply to your summerhouse and then an electrical heater to bring much-needed warmth to the building.
Warm Summerhouses for Year Round Use
Instead of modifying your summerhouse, you could opt for an alternative type of garden room that still enables you to enjoy the view of your garden while staying comfortable through the colder months.
First of all, there are log cabin summer houses. These buildings keep you warmer thanks to their thicker walls, made of individually interlocking logs rather than panels. For extra warmth, look out for models which offer increased wall thickness up to 44mm, as well as double glazing window upgrades.
Then there are insulated garden buildings. These come with insulation already packed into the walls, floors and ceilings, as well as double glazed windows as standard.
Check out some of the best options for warm summerhouses below.
BillyOh Dojo E Insulated Building
Dojo E is BillyOh’s most premium log cabin to date. It has everything a modern garden building needs for all-season use, thanks to its top-of-the-range insulation, from the walls and floors to the roof.
Starting with the 15mm tongue and groove exterior cladding and 11mm tongue and groove interior cladding that form the structure. In between these boards is the EPS insulation, a slide-in foam that improves insulation even further. At the heart of our premade panels is the extra strong 27x44mm internal framing for added durability, longevity, and rigidity.
The floorboards are made from 19mm T&G and supported by 38x38mm pressure-treated bearers, with EcoQuilt multifoil insulation sandwiched between. As for the roofing, 11mm T&G interior ceiling panels are pre-assembled to support the EPDM rubber roof, OSB roofing panels, and the same EcoQuilt insulation.
As if that weren’t enough, the Dojo E’s hybrid insulation and double glazing combine to provide unbeatable comfort in any weather.
When it comes to the garden room itself, you’ll love its contemporary and reversible design. This means you can reverse the position of the inset floor-to-ceiling windows and doors to the left or right, adapting it to suit your garden and needs. The low-pitch roof with an added fascia frame gives it a modern finish.
And it gets even better—the extended platform base not only provides a stable foundation for the Dojo E, but also creates a raised area ideal for seating. You can place your bistro set here for an al fresco breakfast or enjoy an afternoon wine while watching the sunset.
BillyOh Kent Garden Office
If you’re working from home and need a private workspace that doesn’t involve your bedroom and dining table, a garden office could be just what you’re looking for.
This BillyOh Kent model, in particular, fits the bill, no matter the weather. And believe it or not, Dojo E’s T&G cladding thicknesses are just the beginning because the Kent is made from solid, interlocking 28mm logs, with the option of 44mm for more protection and insulation.
11mm tongue and groove floorboards and roof boards come as standard, with a 19mm upgrade available for both. More customisations are on offer (for an added fee), including:
- Window glazing: Georgian and/or Modern single-glazed (SAN) are standard, but you can opt for double-glazed (toughened glass). We recommend getting the double-glazed option for extra insulation. They’re excellent at blocking out drafts and noise, making them ideal for the colder months.
- UPVC: The unit doesn’t come with UPVC as standard, but you can add it in white or anthracite shades. UPVCs are great for keeping the warmth and coolness in the garden room during winter and summer. They’re worthwhile upgrades for the windows and doors as they have better energy efficiency.
- Lean-to storage: If you’re going for the smallest size for Kent (13x10ft), you can make it multi-purpose by adding extra storage on the side. Use it to store your garden furniture or BBQ when not in use during the off-season or winter. It’s almost similar to a corner summerhouse with side storage unit. Check out the possibilities here: Things You Can Do With a Summer House with Side Storage
BillyOh Kent’s two larger sizes, 16x13ft and 18x16ft, feature a multi-room layout. This means there are two distinct spaces separated by an internal wall for you and your co-workers or family to make the most of them. Check more of its key features here.
BillyOh Fraya Pent Log Cabin
Now, if you like the construction design and customisation options of the BillyOh Kent but are looking for more of an outdoor living extension than an office, the BillyOh Fraya is the one for you.
The fully glazed doors and opening front windows let in plenty of natural light and fresh air. This, in turn, creates a bright, airy space perfect for relaxation or a small get-together with family and friends.
Our favourite way to use the Fraya is as a garden bar—specifically, with the BillyOh Nightjar Garden Bar Table. It has a classic L-shaped design and room to seat 3-4 people. It’s the perfect place to enjoy drinks with your loved ones and could be a dream come true for anyone wanting a mini pub in the comfort of their garden.
The Fraya is an all-year-round family room that suits medium to large gardens, with sizes ranging from 13x8ft to 16x13ft. See more of what it offers here.
BillyOh Studi Insulated Garden Room
The BillyOh Studi is designed and constructed with year-round use in mind. It’s made from advanced Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) using higher-quality insulation materials.
The 45mm EPS insulation in the walls, Ecofoil insulation on the floor, and SIP roof panels ensure a comfortable experience in any weather or season. Plus, stepping into the Studi means escaping distractions, thanks to its soundproofing feature.
This unit also has that ‘wow’ factor to suit the aesthetic you’ve wanted to go for. The interior walls come pre-primed and are ready to be painted or wallpapered however you prefer. For the exterior, choose from a range of smart colours (customised options): Stone grey, Slate grey, Mendip mist, Soft mocha, and Nude Taupe high-grade stain. The Studi’s rot-resistant composite finish is easy to paint (perfect if you’re taking the DIY route) and requires very little maintenance.
Explore more of its key features here.
Round-up
When it comes to wooden garden buildings, the thicker the logs, the better the insulation—and the more ideal for year-round use. Special features like built-in insulation, double glazing, and UPVCs also make a difference, which is why it’s worth paying attention to design details when shopping for one.
The models listed above are just some of our best-selling units that are up to the task. Have a look through our range of garden buildings for more options. The choices are categorised, so you can easily find the cladding thickness you want and more.
Note: Upgrades to pressure treatment are available in all garden rooms mentioned above. You can always go right with this one as it reduces maintenance requirements and extends the BillyOh guarantee against rot, decay, and insect infestation to 15 years. However, manufacturing time will be extended by approximately 2-4 weeks.
Up next on your reading list: Find the Ideal Thickness for Your Log Cabin Based on These Sizes
