Summer Houses at a Glance
Prices: Summer houses start from £1,520, with fully insulated and double-glazed Platinum Odiham models from £4,931. Our premium Royal range, featuring full insulation and UPVC double-glazed doors and windows, starts from £7,269 . Construction: Quality timber summer houses, normally made from redwood deal · Sizes: From compact 7x5 buildings to large 28x16 models · Glazing: Toughened glass as standard · Floors: Solid wooden floors · Styles: Apex, pent, corner, traditional and contemporary designs.
Uses: Garden retreat, home office, studio, hobby room, gym or entertaining space · Insulation: Insulation options available · Installation: Free installation or assembly on our main ranges · Finishes: Colour paint options available · Bases: Base-building options available · Customisation: Bespoke sizes and options available · See before you buy: Full-size summer houses on display at our Surrey show site near Guildford and Woking.
Need advice? Our experienced team can help with summer house size, style, insulation, glazing, base requirements and installation before you order.
Diamond vs Platinum vs Royal Summer Houses
Our Diamond, Platinum and Royal ranges offer different levels of specification depending on how you want to use your garden building. Diamond is an excellent choice for a traditional or contemporary summerhouse with plenty of flexibility and value; Platinum steps up the specification with pressure-treated construction and insulation options. At the same time, Royal provides a fully insulated garden room designed for customers wanting a more substantial year-round space.
| Feature |
Diamond |
Platinum |
Royal |
| Best for |
Relaxing, entertaining, hobbies and seasonal garden use |
Regular leisure, hobbies, home working and extended-season use |
Year-round home office, studio, hobby room and premium garden-room use |
| Price position |
£ – Best value |
££ – Higher specification |
£££ – Premium specification |
| Construction |
Quality timber summerhouse construction with solid timber floor and roof |
Higher-specification pressure-treated timber construction |
Substantial garden-room construction designed around insulation and regular use |
| Insulation |
Not the main focus of the range |
Full insulation options available; selected models fully insulated |
Fully insulated |
| Bespoke flexibility |
Excellent choice of sizes, styles and bespoke options |
Extensive configuration and specification options |
Premium specification with design choices depending on model |
| Styles |
Traditional, Georgian, contemporary and corner designs |
Apex, pent, contemporary, traditional and corner designs |
Contemporary premium garden-room designs |
| Installation |
Professional installation or assembly on applicable models |
Professional assembly included on applicable models |
Professional assembly included on applicable models |
| Why choose it? |
You want an attractive, flexible summerhouse without paying for year-round specifications you may not need |
You want a stronger specification and the option of insulation for more regular use |
You want a fully insulated premium garden room for frequent or year-round use |
Specifications and available options vary between individual models. Always check the specifications of your chosen summerhouse before ordering.
View More Summerhouse Images
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
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Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of sumerhouse shed combos
Click on images below to see larger versions of combination garden rooms with shed
We recommend OPTIONAL Demidekk Ultimate log cabin paint range which can be colour matched to suit. See examples in
our photo gallery.Please note that all colour shown are indicative only and will vary depending upon the light on the day the photo was taken. Additionally all screens will display the image differently. If exact colour is essential then please order a sample pot.
Choosing the Right Summer House for Your Garden
I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and I have worked with timber garden buildings since 1979. Over the years, I have seen summer houses develop from relatively simple buildings for enjoying the garden in good weather into the huge choice available today, including traditional and contemporary designs, painted summer houses, buildings with integral storage and fully insulated models for more regular year-round use.
That choice is good news, but it can make deciding which summer house to buy more difficult. Let’s start with what you actually want the building to do. Think about how often you will use it, during which months of the year, what needs to fit inside and where it will stand. Once you know those things, choosing the right size and specification becomes considerably easier.
What Will You Use Your Summer House For?
A traditional summer house can be ideal if you want somewhere attractive to sit with a cup of tea, read, entertain friends or enjoy your garden while being sheltered from the British weather. For that type of use, you may not need to spend additional money on insulation or a specification intended for regular year-round use.
If the building will be a hobby room, art studio, home office or somewhere you expect to spend considerably more time, think carefully about insulation, natural light, ventilation, electrics and heating. If you expect to use it regularly throughout winter, I would look particularly closely at our insulated summer houses rather than assuming that any timber summer house with a heater will provide the comfort you want.
What Size Summer House Do You Need?
One lesson I have learned over the years is that customers rarely complain that their summer house has too much usable space. When working out the size you need, don’t just measure the table, chairs, desk, or other furniture you intend to put inside. Allow enough room to move around comfortably, open doors and position furniture without the building feeling cramped.
At the same time, the largest building you can physically fit into your garden is not automatically the best choice. A summer house should sit comfortably within its surroundings and leave sensible access for installation and future maintenance. Marking out the proposed dimensions with canes and string, pieces of timber, or even a garden hose is a simple way to get a better idea of how the footprint will feel before ordering.
What Should You Look for When Buying a Summer House?
When comparing summer houses for sale, I recommend looking beyond the photographs and headline price. Two buildings can look remarkably similar online but differ significantly when you examine how they are built. Timber thickness, framing, floor and roof construction, glazing, doors, treatment and what is actually included in the price can all affect the finished building and its value for money.
This is one reason we provide detailed specifications and maintain a physical display site. I would rather customers understand what they are buying and why one building costs more than another than make a decision based purely on an attractive photograph.
Check the Timber and Framing
The walls and framework form the basic structure of a timber summer house, so look at the type and thickness of the cladding and the dimensions and spacing of the framing. I prefer actual specifications to descriptions such as “strong”, “substantial” or “heavy duty”, because those words can mean different things to different sellers. Measurements give you something meaningful to compare.
Don’t Overlook the Floor and Roof
Customers naturally concentrate on the attractive parts of a summer house, particularly the doors and windows, but I always recommend checking the floor and roof as well. You will be walking on the floor, putting furniture on it and expecting the roof to protect everything underneath it for years to come.
Check what the floor and roof are actually made from and what roof covering is supplied. The right specification depends partly on the size and type of summer house, but these are fundamental parts of the building and should never be treated as an afterthought.
Doors, Windows and Glazing
One of the pleasures of a summer house is the natural light it can provide. Think about the position of the doors and windows in relation to your garden, the view you want to enjoy and where your furniture will sit. More glass is not necessarily better if it leaves you without a suitable wall for a desk, sofa, television or shelving.
Check the glazing specification as well. Toughened glass is standard on the summer houses within our principal ranges, with different glazing specifications available depending on the model. If thermal performance is particularly important, consider the glazing alongside the insulation and overall construction rather than looking at any one feature in isolation.
Do You Need an Insulated Summer House?
Insulation is one of those subjects where I think it is important to be practical. A fully insulated summer house can be a worthwhile investment if you genuinely intend to use it regularly throughout the colder months, but I would not tell somebody to pay for insulation simply because an insulated building sounds better.
If you mainly want somewhere to enjoy the garden during spring, summer and pleasant autumn days, a good quality conventional timber summer house may suit you perfectly well. If you intend to work inside five days a week, pursue a hobby throughout winter or use the building regularly as an additional room, insulation becomes considerably more important.
When comparing insulated summer houses, look beyond the walls. Consider insulation in the roof and floor, together with the glazing, doors, ventilation and how you intend to heat the building. Insulation helps reduce heat loss; it does not generate heat on its own. The complete building needs to be considered if comfortable year-round use is your objective.
Summer Houses Delivered and Installed
If you are looking for summer houses delivered and installed, it is important to establish exactly what is included before ordering. Professional installation is included with our principal summer house ranges, subject to the particular product, delivery area, suitable access and base requirements.
I regard professional installation as an important part of the overall package. Even a well-made summer house needs to be assembled correctly and installed on a suitable foundation. Having experienced installers erect the building also removes one of the biggest jobs associated with buying a substantial timber garden building.
Delivery coverage varies according to the range and manufacturer, so please check our garden building delivery areas or give us your postcode and details of the building you are considering. We can then confirm delivery and installation availability for your location.
What Access Is Needed for Installation?
Garden buildings normally arrive in sections which need to be carried from the delivery vehicle to the prepared site, so suitable access is important. Narrow passages, restricted gateways, steps, tight corners, neighbouring land and having to take components through a house can all affect what is possible.
If access to your garden is unusual or restricted, tell us before ordering. Photographs and measurements can be extremely helpful. We should identify a possible access problem beforehand, rather than having an installation team discover it when your new summer house arrives.
A Good Summer House Needs a Good Base
I have been saying this for decades: a good building needs a good base. It is one of the least glamorous parts of buying a summer house, but also one of the most important. Your building needs a firm, flat and level foundation suitable for its size and construction.
An unsuitable or uneven base can create problems with the building and may affect how doors and windows operate. Do not prepare a base based solely on the nominal size in a product description. Establish the correct dimensions and requirements for the exact summer house you intend to buy before starting the groundwork.
If you need help preparing the site, take a look at our additional garden building services. Depending on your location and project, we can help with base preparation, removing an existing building, and other work to get your garden ready for your new summer house.
Where Should You Position a Summer House?
Position can make an enormous difference to how much you enjoy your summer house. Before deciding where it will stand, spend some time looking at your garden at different times of day. Think about sunlight, shade, the view from inside, privacy, nearby trees and how the building will look when viewed from your house.
Also consider the practicalities. There needs to be suitable access for installation and, ideally, enough room around the building for future maintenance. Consider boundaries, rainwater, and any applicable planning restrictions before finalising the position.
If a conventional rectangular building does not make the best use of your garden, one of our corner summer houses may be worth considering. They can work particularly well where you want the building to sit neatly in a corner while facing back into the garden.
Summer House or Summer House With a Shed?
Storage is easy to forget when you are imagining yourself relaxing in a new summer house. If you still need somewhere for garden tools, cushions, furniture, or other equipment, incorporating separate storage into the same building can be a practical solution.
Our summer houses with a shed combine leisure and storage space within one building. This can be particularly useful in smaller gardens, where a separate summer house and garden shed would take up too much space.
When considering a combination building, think carefully about how much space you genuinely need for each purpose. There is little benefit in creating a lovely summer house if the leisure area becomes too small because too much of the footprint has been allocated to storage.
Painted or Natural Timber Summer House?
This is largely a matter of appearance, maintenance and the finish you want in your garden. A painted summer house can create a very different look from natural or treated timber and may suit customers who want the building to complement their house, fencing or existing garden colour scheme.
If colour is important to your plans, explore our painted summer houses. Always check the treatment or paint system supplied with the particular building and what ongoing maintenance is required. Timber is a natural material, and looking after the external finish is an important part of keeping a timber garden building in good condition.
Summer House or Garden Room – What’s the Difference?
There is no universal point at which a summer house suddenly becomes a garden room, and different manufacturers and retailers use the terms differently. I therefore recommend concentrating on the construction and intended use rather than the name given to the building.
A traditional summer house is commonly bought as a garden retreat for relaxing and entertaining, particularly during milder weather. What people describe as a garden room is often more substantial and may be fully insulated for more frequent year-round use, but these are generalisations, not rules.
If you need somewhere for regular home working or another use where winter comfort matters, compare insulation, glazing, floor and roof construction and the overall specification. Buy the building that meets your requirements rather than the one carrying the most fashionable description.
Why I Recommend Seeing a Summer House Before You Buy
We sell buildings online, so it may seem strange for me to say this, but if you can see garden buildings before buying, I recommend doing so. The internet is excellent for research, but photographs cannot tell you everything about a summer house.
You cannot feel how substantial a floor is from a photograph. It is difficult to appreciate framing, internal headroom or the proportions of a building from a screen, and you cannot open and close the doors or stand inside and imagine where your furniture will go.
At our Surrey garden building show site near Guildford and Woking, you can see full-size display buildings and compare different types of construction. Naturally, we cannot display every summer house in every size, colour, and configuration, but representative buildings let you see many of the important differences for yourself.
Why Buy a Summer House From 1st Choice Leisure Buildings?
There are plenty of companies offering summer houses in the UK, so I think it is reasonable for customers to ask why they should buy from us. Part of the answer is the choice of buildings we offer, but an equally important part is the experience behind that choice.
I left school at 15 and started my first garden building business in 1979, trading as Marina Sheds. Business was very different then. There were no e-commerce websites, online configurators or search engines allowing customers to compare dozens of buildings in a few minutes. You built your reputation through the products you supplied, the advice you gave and the way you dealt with people.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not ultimately receive all of the money due to me from the sale. It was a hard business lesson, but it certainly did not end my involvement with garden buildings.
From Marina Sheds to Titan Garden Buildings
In 1992 we broadened the business by adding summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. As we were no longer selling sheds, this new direction led to a change of name to Titan Garden Buildings.
My son Craig also joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry background brought practical knowledge of timber and construction, complementing the garden building and business experience I had accumulated since starting in 1979.
We continued developing Titan Garden Buildings before selling the business in 1998. Two years later, Craig and I decided to take a different approach to the garden building market.
Why We Formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
In 2000, we decided to retail quality garden buildings from a selection of manufacturers rather than return to manufacturing and being tied to products from our own factory. That decision led to the formation of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
The principle behind it was straightforward. Different customers have different requirements, and different manufacturers have different strengths. By selecting products from manufacturers we were happy to work with, we could offer customers a genuine choice rather than having to claim that one manufacturer’s products were right for everybody.
Today Craig runs the day-to-day business, and I am here to support him and the team as required. The garden building industry has changed enormously since I started in 1979. However, the fundamentals are much the same: offer good products, provide clear information, answer questions properly and help customers choose buildings suitable for what they actually need.
You can read more about Craig, me and the history of the company on our About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
Don’t Choose a Summer House on Price Alone
Price obviously matters, and everybody has a budget, but one of the biggest mistakes when comparing a summer house for sale is looking only at the headline figure. You need to understand what you are actually getting for your money.
Check the construction and what is included. Is delivery included? What about professional installation? What are the walls, floor and roof made from? What glazing is supplied? Is treatment or paint included? Are the doors and windows appropriate for how you intend to use the building? Will you need to pay for additional items before it is ready to use?
A cheaper summer house can be excellent value if it provides everything you need. Equally, paying for features you will never benefit from is not good value simply because the building has a higher specification. I would rather see a customer buy the right summer house than automatically move towards either the cheapest or most expensive option.
Do You Need Planning Permission for a Summer House?
Many summer houses at domestic properties can be installed without making a planning application when they comply with the relevant permitted development requirements. However, this depends on factors including the building’s dimensions, height, position, intended use and the particular property.
There can also be additional considerations for listed buildings, designated land and properties where permitted development rights have been restricted or removed. For that reason, I would never rely solely on a general statement that summer houses “do not need planning permission”. Your own property and circumstances matter.
If you are unsure, check with your local planning authority before ordering. We can provide dimensions and relevant information about the summer house you are considering, but you should establish whether permission is required for your particular property and intended use.
Looking After Your Timber Summer House
A timber summer house will need looking after. The exact maintenance depends on its construction and the treatment or paint system supplied, so follow the recommendations for your particular building rather than assuming every timber summer house should be treated in the same way.
I recommend checking the exterior regularly and dealing with maintenance when required rather than waiting until deterioration becomes obvious. Keep an eye on the roof covering, external finish, doors and windows, and avoid allowing vegetation or stored items to remain pressed against the walls where they can restrict airflow and retain moisture.
Good initial installation, a suitable base and sensible ongoing maintenance all contribute to the service you can expect from your summer house.
Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Houses
Do Your Summer Houses Include Installation?
Professional installation is included with our principal summer house ranges, subject to the individual building, delivery area, suitable access and base requirements. Check the details of your chosen model or ask us to confirm exactly what is included before ordering.
Do You Offer Summer Houses Delivered and Installed in the UK?
Yes. Our principal ranges of summer houses are delivered and installed across applicable UK delivery areas. Coverage varies between products and manufacturers, so check our delivery areas or give us your postcode and details of the building you are interested in.
How Much Does a Summer House Cost?
Our current summer houses start from around £1,520, with prices varying according to size, construction and specification. Paint finishes, insulation, bespoke alterations and other options can affect the final price, so always use the individual product pages for current prices and specifications.
What Is the Best Size Summer House?
There is no best size for everybody. Think about what you intend to put inside, allow enough space to move comfortably around the furniture and then consider how the proposed building will sit within your garden. Marking the footprint before ordering is a simple, effective way to visualise the space.
What Base Does a Summer House Need?
A summer house requires a firm, flat and level base suitable for the particular building. The correct dimensions and requirements can vary, so check the manufacturer’s specifications for your chosen summer house before building the base.
Can I Use a Summer House Throughout the Year?
Yes, but how comfortable it will be depends on the building’s specification and the weather conditions. If regular winter use is important, consider a properly insulated summer house with suitable glazing, ventilation, and heating, rather than expecting a conventional uninsulated timber building to perform like a room in your house.
Can a Summer House Be Used as a Home Office?
A summer house can be used for home working, but think carefully about how frequently you will use it. For occasional work during warmer months, a conventional building may be adequate. For regular year-round home working, I would consider an insulated model and think about electrics, lighting, heating, ventilation, internet connectivity and security.
Can I Have a Bespoke Summer House?
Bespoke sizes and alterations are available on selected ranges. Depending on the building, you may have options for dimensions, doors, windows, paint finishes, and other features. Tell us what you are trying to achieve, and we can advise which ranges offer the flexibility you need.
How Long Does a Timber Summer House Last?
There is no honest single lifespan that applies to every timber summer house. Construction quality, timber, treatment, location, base, installation, exposure to the weather and ongoing maintenance can all make a difference. My advice is to buy an appropriate specification, have it installed correctly and follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations.
Are Painted Summer Houses Available?
Yes. We offer painted summer houses in a variety of designs, with colour options depending on the particular range. Check the individual product for available finishes and ongoing maintenance requirements.
Can I Buy a Summer House With Storage?
Yes. A summer house with an integral shed can provide leisure and storage space within one footprint, which can be particularly useful where garden space is limited. Think about how much space you need for each purpose before deciding on the proportions.
Can I See Your Summer Houses Before I Buy?
Yes. We have full-size garden buildings on display at our Surrey show site near Guildford and Woking. If you can visit, I recommend doing so. Seeing and walking inside representative buildings makes it much easier to appreciate dimensions, construction and the differences between specifications.
Which Is the Best Summer House to Buy?
After all my years in the garden building business, I still would not name one summer house as the best for everybody. The best choice is the building that suits your intended use, garden, preferred appearance and budget while providing the construction and features you genuinely need. If you are unsure, ask us to help you compare the options.
Need Help Choosing Your Summer House?
There is a lot to consider when buying a summer house, but you do not have to work everything out yourself. Craig, the 1st Choice team, and I can help you compare sizes, construction, insulation, finishes, delivery, installation, and bespoke options, and explain the differences between suitable ranges.
You can request a summer house quotation with details of what you need, or visit our Surrey display site to see representative garden buildings and discuss your requirements in person.
I started in the garden building business in 1979 and, despite all the changes since then, my approach remains straightforward: understand what the customer wants, explain the differences honestly and help them choose a garden building which is suitable for the job.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
Working with garden buildings since 1979
More Information In Our Help Articles and Blogs
If you are researching summer houses and want a little more guidance before making your choice, the articles below cover some of the most important things to consider. From choosing the right building and setting a realistic budget to planning permission, foundations, insulation and heating, these guides provide practical information for planning, installing and enjoying your summer house.
How To Choose a Summerhouse Shed
A practical guide to choosing the right summerhouse shed for your garden, including important considerations such as size, style, position, construction and how you plan to use the building. Read our guide to choosing a summerhouse shed.
Best Summerhouse Guide
Compare the main types, sizes and styles of summer houses and discover the factors worth considering when choosing a building to suit your garden, budget and intended use. Read our best summerhouse guide.
How Much Does a Summer House Cost in the UK?
Learn what can affect the price of a summer house, from its size and construction to its specification and additional features, so you can plan a more realistic budget. Find out how much a summer house costs.
Planning Permission Guide
Find out when a summer house may fall within permitted development rights and which factors, including its position, dimensions and intended use, could affect planning requirements. Read our summerhouse planning permission guide.
Heating Your Summerhouse Ideas
Explore different ways to keep a summerhouse warmer during cooler weather, along with practical considerations such as insulation, electricity, building size and frequency of use. Explore ideas for heating your summerhouse.
Are Summer Houses Worth It?
Consider the benefits of owning a summer house and the different ways one can provide useful extra space for relaxing, hobbies, entertaining, home working and more. Discover whether a summer house is worth it.
How To Build the Foundations and Base
Understand why a firm, level and stable base is essential and explore the different foundation options available when preparing your garden for a new summer house. Read our guide to summerhouse bases and foundations.
How To Control Condensation
Discover what causes condensation and excess moisture in summer houses and learn practical ways ventilation, heating and regular maintenance can help keep the interior drier. Learn how to control condensation in your summerhouse.
How To Insulate Your Summer Building
Learn about insulating the walls, floor and roof of a summerhouse and how improved insulation can make the building more comfortable for use beyond the warmer months. Read our guide to insulating a summerhouse.
Colourful Summer House Paint Ideas
Find inspiration for summerhouse colour schemes, from traditional natural finishes to brighter shades and contrasting doors, windows and trim that can make your building stand out. Explore colourful summerhouse paint ideas.
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