Traditional Summerhouses
- What do you use a summer house for?
- What are the best traditional summer houses?
- Do I need planning permission for a summer house?
- What is the best base to put a traditional summer house on?
- Where should I put a traditional summer house in my garden?
- How do you stop damp in a traditional summer house?
- What colour should I paint my summer house?
- How to build a traditional summerhouse
- How to insulate a summerhouse
- What to put in a traditional summer house
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.
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 BillyOh Ivy Apex Summerhouse has been designed in a modern style, to add a contemporary feature to any garden. With stylish long windows and a veranda, the Ivy is guaranteed to look great in any garden forming a stunning centerpiece.
The long and plentiful windows that wrap around the front gives the Bella an ultra-modern and stylish look. Whilst the adaptable door placement means you have the ultimate say in how the summerhouse looks in 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.
Before deciding on which garden summer house is best for you, you need to consider any planning regulations which may apply to your garden building. This is especially worth bearing in mind if you intend to use it as a home office or living quarters. Generally, garden buildings such as summer houses are classed as ‘permitted developments’, meaning you wouldn't need planning permission. 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.
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.
When it comes to a wooden summer house, positioning and planning requires some thought. Preferably, you’ll want your summer house to be south-facing. Though, you should observe how the sun moves through your specific garden throughout the day, as well as the times of day you’ll be using your summer house most often. The spot for your summer house may get a lot of sun in the morning and little in the evening, or vice-versa, which will naturally influence your decision. Then, be sure to position your summer house (if possible) away from hazards and overhanging branches and to build on level, dry ground that allows for water runoff.
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.
Ultimately, this is an issue of personal preference! Take a look at your garden surroundings and think about what colour would best complement your pre-existing aesthetic. As a result of varying weather conditions, summer house timber tends to contract and expand. Luckily, our tongue and grooves panels allow for this natural occurrence. But, to ensure that you keep your summer house moisture-free, prime, treat, then paint it. We even offer paint and treatment options as add-ons to our BillyOh summerhouses.
Our range of BillyOh traditional 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.
If you’re looking for summer house ideas, think about what purpose you’ll be using your summer house for. For example:
- Home gym - A weight rack, exercise matts, and yoga ball would fit perfectly.
- A relaxation room - Soft furnishings like throws, blankets, and even rattan furniture.
- A home cinema - Projector, beans bags, and maybe even a small popcorn machine.
- For entertaining - Consider including a wooden table and chairs with space to serve prosecco and cream teas.
A home office - A good desk, ergonomic chair, and install utilities to your garden building