What you need to consider ahead of buying a summerhouse

A summerhouse can be a charming gathering place or a functional extra space. Be it a place to relax, a wonderful open-air kitchen, or a quiet garden workspace, the quality of the materials used to build your summerhouse are critical.

Thinking about buying a summerhouse?

A garden room can be the perfect place to gather with friends. Be it a place to carry out your hobbies, a wonderful outside kitchen, or a quiet workspace, you need to focus on the quality of the construction, insultation and what timber and materials it is made from. You should invest in the highest quality of materials and workmanship to guarantee the longevity of your summerhouse.

Tips and tricks to create the perfect summer retreat.

Securing and arranging planning is the main goal:

Buildings in your outside space are viewed as permitted development, which doesn't require arranging planning consent subject to abiding by the following conditions:

If the summerhouse is within 2m of the property’s boundary, the building’s maximum overall height (including the roof) must be under 2.5 metres.
If the summerhouse is over 2m from your property’s boundary, the building’s maximum height (eaves) must be under 2.5 metres. A summerhouse with a pent or hip roof can have a total height of up to 3 metres, while a summerhouse or garden room with an apex roof can have a maximum height of 4m.
The summerhouse must not be over 30m2 internally and must not be installed at the front of a property.
The summerhouse must not be used as accommodation (self-contained).
The summerhouse, and other garden buildings, must not take up more than 50% of land around the house.

Additional rules are in effect for areas of interest e.g. national parks or listed buildings. See The Planning Portal for more information.

Pick the right foundation for your timber summerhouse:

You can build a summerhouse or garden room on practically any surface; be that as it may, picking the suitable foundation for the house is fundamental to how long it will last. As wood is permeable, it can somewhat twist, swell or bend over the long haul - moisture is its enemy of timber. Keeping the summerhouse on a solid, permanent foundation that keeps it dry is very important and the choices that you make when choosing your foundation will have an impact on the lifespan of your summerhouse.

Suggested foundation types:

Slabs on a sand or crushed rock base
Wooden post-and-pillar foundation
Paving stones
A poured concrete base
Ground Screw foundation

The type of foundation that you choose, should be based on the size of the garden room, the surface that you are building on, and the motivation behind the house. The general rule being, the larger the summerhouse, the better the foundation should be. Also, larger summerhouses will cost more, so investing in the right foundation becomes even more important.

No matter what the kind of foundation you choose, it is important to realise that a completely level base is expected to guarantee the soundness and strength of your summerhouse.

Note: You should prepare and construct your foundation well in advance of your summerhouse arriving.

It is difficult to assemble level walls on a shaky or uneven foundation, nor will the entryways and windows work appropriately.

The Summerhouse build:

Are you building it yourself or are you using a contractor?

Building a small to medium sized garden room is possible if you are a skilful Do-It-Yourself fan. For the build, you want something like two people, equipment including a ladder, hammer, spirit level, saw, drill, knife, screwdriver, and a tape measure. As well as couple of weekends of your time and buckets of patience.

Alternatively, you can buy a summerhouse that includes installation and fitting, professionals installing your summerhouse is hassle free, yes it costs money, but if there are any issues with your summerhouse you can rightly contact the company that installed it and easily get it fixed under warranty or guarantee of works.

Delivery of your new summerhouse:

Summerhouses can weigh a significant amount, depending on the size of your summerhouse it could weigh as much as 850kg to +3,000kg. Professional teams including heavy equipment such as Crane vehicles, trucks outfitted with a forklift, or standard haulage vehicles are necessary for moving summerhouses and garden rooms.

A summerhouse kit typically includes:

Foundation and wall beams
Lots of timber for the roof, walls and floors
Windows and Doors
Screws, nails, and so forth.
Braces

You will need to have the space cleared, including the route to your garden for the team to deliver. If you are not ready to start the build, then you will need to make sure that you have a suitable, dry place to store your summerhouse until you are ready.

What size summerhouse should I go for?

What size of summerhouse you should buy, what shape it is and what furnishings you would like to include vary depending on what you want to use your summerhouse for. Also, consider the size and space of the garden and where it is most likely to be sited. If you are creating an outdoor yoga retreat, perhaps you should consider a large bright sunroom. If you are trying to fill a small nook, then perhaps a small corner summerhouse would suit you best. With all things considered it comes down to usage and the space that you have available. Regardless of the size or shape of the summerhouse you choose, prepare yourself for years of enjoyment and outdoor time.

Summerhouses are a fantastic addition to any garden. They create the perfect space to enjoy your garden whatever the time of the year. They are a focal point; a place to gather, a place to eat or a peaceful space that can be a place of work or leisure. They even add value to your property as well.

We hope that our hints and tips have helped you to prepare for your next summerhouse. However, you enjoy your new garden room, we wish you endless hours of quality indoor - outdoors time.