Summer houses are a great way to enhance your garden. While sheds are typically used for storage, many people use summer houses as an extra room – functioning as an extension of their home. They can really bring a garden together, acting as a design feature or centrepiece as well as a practical building to make the most of your outdoor space.
Summer houses can be used as a place to focus on hobbies, concentrate on work, enjoy leisure time, or even run a business. Popular uses for summer houses are garden offices, workshops, home gyms, craft rooms, outdoor lounges, games rooms, and bars. They’re available in a wide variety of styles, with the choice of modern or traditional designs. Summer houses with lots of windows can also function as a potting shed – perfect for budding gardeners.
While summer houses can be used year-round, it is common for them to be used for storage in the colder months. This increases their versatility, allowing you to store seasonal items in winter, such as garden furniture and outdoor toys.
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Are you looking to add some elegance and charm to your garden? A summerhouse is the perfect choice! Not only are they practical and economical, but they also come in a variety of designs, styles and sizes to fit any space or taste.
With so many different styles to choose from we’re here to help you decide which design could work for you…
Want to make the most of your garden views? Check out these beautiful octagonal summerhouses that tick all the right boxes for a more traditional style. With partially or fully glazed walls with gorgeous Georgian-style windows, these garden buildings are sure to become your favourite spot in no time. Plus, you can't go wrong with classic roof acorns, antique-style door furniture, and scalloped barge boards for added charm.
Perfect for a modern garden with features such as full pane glazing.
Corner summerhouses offer stunning garden views without taking up too much outdoor space. With modern and traditional designs available, you can make that neglected corner into your own personal garden hideaway.
For something a little different why not opt for your very own custom design – just tell us what you’d like to create and we’ll aim to design something that reflects your ambition. You can also create your own summerhouse using the TigerFlex® Configurator.
Get creative with your summerhouse – you can decide where to position your windows and doors with TigerFlex® modular summerhouses so you can get the best views of your garden. Designed for maximum sunlight and minimum stress, get ready for those sunny days, and enjoy the outdoor life in your own custom-made TigerFlex® summerhouse.
Welcome to the world of multi-purpose living! With a summerhouse and storage unit combo, you get the best of both worlds - no need to sacrifice style for practicality.
Ahhh, the summerhouse with a ‘veranda’ - the perfect spot for soaking up summertime style! More room, more shelter, and extra charm make it the perfect place to kick off shoes, display planters, and pop a deck chair for a picturesque view of the garden.
Consider a summerhouse with an overhanging roof. Not only does it provide an extra sheltered area for you to enjoy, but it also shields your interior from harsh glare and your facade from harsh weather. Plus, the design feature adds a dramatic touch - adding both visual appeal and a welcoming feel.
Summer means spending more time outside, and if you’re thinking of getting a summerhouse, you need to know which cladding materials are best! The following will help you with your plans for a summerhouse…
Explore the wonderful world of summerhouse roofing with us! Before you choose your roof design, keep a few things in mind.
Check out our tips for finding the perfect shed roof for your garden room.
For classic aesthetic appeal and maximum headroom, the Apex roof is the perfect choice for your summerhouse. An Apex-style roof features two slopes that meet in the middle, providing ample headroom for you to easily move around inside. Plus, the iconic style of the Apex roof adds a timelessly chic look to your summerhouse. Apex garden rooms tend to have doors on the shorter end, but some retailers will allow you to move the position of the door.
A Pent roof features a sleek and modern design that is perfect for your outdoor living space. The sloped design allows for additional headroom when entering the space and this attractive and efficient roof style is perfect for locations closer to walls or fences, and is designed to give your space a stylish and contemporary look.
A Hip roof is characterized by its upward-sloping design on all sides of a building. The "Hip" refers to the outer angle formed when the adjacent sloping sides of the roof converge. In contrast to a gable roof, which typically has two sides, a Hip roof boasts four sides. This architectural choice imbues a Hip roof building with exceptional strength and durability. The four sloping sides work in harmony to create a remarkably stable structure that excels in withstanding the challenges of high winds, heavy rain, and snow. Consequently, a Hip roof stands out as a robust and resilient roofing option.
The Gambrel roof is often referred to as a "Barn roof" or a "Dutch roof," and it finds widespread use in larger sheds and similar structures. This roof style features two distinct sides, each boasting two slopes. The steeper pitch on each side offers exceptional resilience against rain, snow, and strong winds, making it particularly well-suited for regions with heavy snowfall. The Gambrel, or "Barn" style roof, distinguishes itself with its distinctive appearance, characterized by its pronounced pitch and dual slopes.
Once you’ve chosen your roof style, you can then choose between felt or shingles. Some companies do not supply felt as standard, so be sure to check this when purchasing. Roofing felt offers weatherproof protection for your summer house, helping to prevent the ingress of water which could lead to damage. High quality roofing felt will protect your building against wind, rain and snow.
If you would like to upgrade your summerhouse, shingles can be a great option to consider where they are available (such as on the Tiger Mayflower Summerhouse). They provide an attractive finishing touch to your building and tend to be of a more premium quality. They are usually available in a choice of colours.
Make sure to factor in opening windows to help regulate the temperature inside your summerhouse and just the right amount of glazing to let in enough natural light.
Investing in good-quality, joiner made opening windows with thick toughened glass is recommended along with pre-fitted glass for added durability and insulation.
For peace of mind and security, all Tiger summerhouses come with a free lock, key, and door pull as standard. Not all companies offer this – so make sure you check what comes included with your building
All garden buildings must be installed on a base of adequate size. An incorrectly assembled base will have a negative effect on the life of your summer house, so it’s important to make sure it is a firm and level surface. Concrete, paving slabs, and timber bearers are the most common materials for a base.
The base should be no smaller than the base of your chosen building, but not too large so water has a chance to pool if your garden is on a slope. Different manufacturers quote sizes differently, so be sure to confirm the building’s dimensions with the supplier. The technical section of a product page will usually contain exact dimensions.
If you plan on walking to and from your summer house quite frequently, ensure that it is not in a location where repeated footfall could cause damage – such as through grass or tender plants. Consider installing your summer house by a path or walkway, if possible. This should be a factor to keep in mind if you plan on using your summer house for storage in the colder months.
You also don’t want to build a base too close to a boundary fence, as a sloped roof could cause water to run into a neighbour’s garden. Additionally, proximity to a wall or fence could result in your building being exposed to excess water, leading to damp, mould and timber damage. Make sure that you have enough space around your base so that you can regularly treat and paint your building. We would recommend a minimum distance of 18 inches is left around the summer house.
Tiger Tip: Read our Build a Base guide for more information.
Do you find yourself pondering what's the best type of summerhouse for you, but unsure how much money to put into it? We understand that you maybe feeling overwhelmed with the decision-making process, so we've put together a must-read guide to help you get the most value for your money. Check it out now and learn the key differences between different summerhouse types – you'll be sure to get the most bang for your buck!
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Ideal if you need improved storage or if you intend to spend a lot of time in your summerhouse. They are expertly constructed with high-quality materials, including high grade solid timber cladding and attractive tongue and groove timber roof and floorboards. There are also pressure treated 'tanalised' summerhouses that offer guaranteed protection from the elements with their extra thick 16mm shiplap cladding. They hold up well in harsh weather and don't require as much maintenance. |
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| Cladding | Shiplap tongue and groove, loglap and logboard 12mm-16mm board thickness |
| Treatment | Dip treated or pressured treated |
| Windows | Tiger offer 3mm thick toughened glass as standard |
| Roof Covering | High-grade mineral TigerFelt® as standard EPDM also available Moulded Plastic |
| Roof & Floor | Tongue and groove timber boards |
| Modular options available? | TigerFlex® available in dip-treated versions |
| Average Industry Guarantee | 10 Years |
| Tiger Guarantee | 20 Years |
| Bespoke Option | Yes |
| Price | £1,000 - £3,000 |
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For those seeking the highest quality summerhouse. A log cabin summerhosue is the preferable option due to its thick timber walls and heavy-duty tongue and groove roof and floor boards. Ideal for year-round usage as a workshop, hobby room, or luxury storage area. |
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| Cladding | High grade interlocking logs, tongue and groove link - 19mm-44mm log thickness |
| Treatment | Un-treated |
| Windows | Glazed, 4mm toughened glass, joiner made frames, opening windows |
| Roof Covering | High-grade mineral TigerFelt® as standard EPDM also available |
| Roof & Floor | Tongue and groove timber boards |
| Modular options available? | Yes – TigerFlex® cabins available |
| Average Industry Guarantee | 10 Years |
| Tiger Guarantee | 20 Years |
| Bespoke Option | Yes |
| Price | £1,500 - £10,000 |
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For those who need spacious garden room, a standard summerhouse is fantastic. It will typically be made of shiplap cladding, which provides greater weatherproofing than a value summerhouse. Look for summerhouses that are constructed from superior grade 12mm shiplap tongue and groove cladding and with strong rounded 4 corner framing, making them ideal spaces for relaxing, entertaining or indeed working. |
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| Cladding | Shiplap |
| Treatment | Dip Treated |
| Windows | Tiger offer 3mm thick toughened glass as standard |
| Roof Covering | High-grade mineral TigerFelt® as standard EPDM also available |
| Roof & Floor | Tongue and groove timber boards |
| Modular options available? | Yes – TigerFlex® is available |
| Average Industry Guarantee | 10 Years |
| Tiger Guarantee | 20 years |
| Bespoke Option | Yes |
| Price | £500 - £1,700 |
Once you’ve chosen your roof style, you can then choose between felt or shingles. Some companies do not supply felt as standard, so be sure to check this when purchasing. Roofing felt offers weatherproof protection for your summer house, helping to prevent the ingress of water which could lead to damage. High quality roofing felt will protect your building against wind, rain and snow.
If you would like to upgrade your summerhouse, shingles are a great option to consider. They provide an attractive finishing touch to your building and tend to be of a more premium quality. They are usually available in a choice of colours.
Before you make an investment, it’s important to consider a few more things to make sure you get the best summerhouse, value and a great fit for your space...
The questions of whether planning permission is necessary for the construction of a summerhouse is a highly pertinent one that we frequently encounter. A summerhouse is classified as a permitted development and regarded as an outbuilding for non-residential purposes. Consequently, no planning permission is required provided that the garden room adheres to specific criteria regarding its specifications and location within the garden. For more information, please read our Summerhouse Planning Permission Guide.
We provide hassle-free kerbside delivery for all our standard Tiger Sheds! Unless otherwise agreed prior to delivery, of course. Our summerhouses are delivered in single panels and unloaded by hand on arrival. Make sure to carefully inspect your order before assembly to ensure all parts, components and fixings are present and correct. Not sure if something is missing? No problem - just shoot us an email at customersupport@tigersheds.com
Our innovative range of TigerFlex® modular summerhouses are delivered kerbside on a standard 4x4 pallet, so now all you need to do is unpack and build it when you need it.
While installing a summer house may seem like a daunting task, they are quite straight-forward to assemble. With moderate DIY knowledge and the appropriate tools, it is an achievable task that can be completed with relative ease. Installation should be carried out by at least 2 people, so that panels can be supported before they are secured with fixings. Many suppliers offer an installation service which can usually be added at the time of purchase.
We recommend that you have at least the following for assembly – spirit level, hammer, adjustable spanner, handsaw, Stanley knife, stepladder, and sealant gun for the windows.
Once you have decided what type of summer house you would like, it is important to think about where you want to place it. If you’re seeking a suntrap, have a look at your garden on a sunny day to determine which areas get the most sunshine. In general, south-facing buildings will receive more hours of sunshine but be aware of any garden features (such as trees, fences, bushes or play-areas) which may cause shade.
If you’re using your summer house as an office, gym or workshop, it may be better to not have direct sunlight, as this could cause glare while working or result in technology being exposed to excess heat.
Many people choose to run electricity to their summer house so that they can have wired technology such as televisions, fridges or chargers. If this is something you would want to do, your building should be installed within reach of your mains electrics, or with a clear path for cable to run over or under the ground. This should be discussed with a qualified electrician.
Another factor to consider is the view. If you’re thinking about a summer house with many windows, it would be better to be facing a more attractive area of your garden, if possible. Your favourite rose bush or well-landscaped water feature would certainly be a more appealing view than your neighbour’s fence. Octagonal or corner summer houses are perfect to provide panoramic views if you have a garden you’re particularly proud of. If you’d prefer a square or rectangular building, you can look out for designs which feature multiple windows.
Security should be a factor to consider when purchasing a summer house. If you’re using your summer house as a workspace, studio or entertaining room, there’s a good chance that it will be home to valuables. Some buildings will come with a lock and key as standard which you may find adequate for your security needs – but make sure to check. Some companies will also give you the opportunity to purchase additional security accessories. These include security bars, anti-vandal screws, alarms, and hasp and staples.
As well as security options, many companies will offer additional accessories to customise your summer house. If the style of the building permits, a window box would be an attractive addition, especially in spring and summer months when flowers will be in bloom.
Shelving and staging are practical options which are ideal for adding personal touches to the summer house, such as photographs, books and ornaments. If you want to use your summer house as a potting shed, additional shelving is a great way to double the function of your building – perfect for herbs, tender plants, fruits and vegetables. You could even consider solar lighting which is designed to extend your time in your summerhouse as the evenings draw in.
Summer houses tend to come with attractive features for a stylish finishing touch. These can include decorative hinges, door pulls and wings.
We really hope you found our summerhouse buying guide helpful. We totally get that building your dream summerhouse can be a bit overwhelming, but don't worry - we've got you covered! We offer a huge selection of top-quality summerhouses and all the info you need to choose the perfect size, features, and budget for you.
If you're ready to take the plunge and buy your new garden building, check out our awesome range of summerhouses. And if you need any help at all, just give our super friendly sales team a call on 0113 537 9013. We're always here to lend a hand!
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