Small Gallery of Customer Summer Houses We’ve Built
Explore our gallery of summer houses supplied and installed for customers across the UK. From peaceful garden retreats and hobby rooms to stylish spaces for relaxing and entertaining, discover how the right summer house can transform your garden.
Customers Summerhouses Supplied
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18×6 Summerhouse Size, Uses and Garden Fit
Why Choose an 18×6 Summerhouse?
An 18×6 summerhouse has a nominal footprint of around 108 square feet, or approximately 10 square metres. What makes this size particularly interesting is its shape. Eighteen feet gives you a considerable amount of usable wall length, while the six-foot depth lets the building fit into gardens where a deeper eight-, ten-, or twelve-foot summerhouse might project too far onto the lawn.
I recommend marking the complete 18ft x 6ft footprint on the ground before ordering. Stand inside it, think about where your furniture will go and consider where the doors and windows need to be. Remember that 18×6 is a nominal description, so always check the precise external dimensions, roof overhangs and required base size for the individual model you choose.
What Can You Use an 18ft x 6ft Summer House For?
An 18ft x 6ft summer house can work particularly well when you want to arrange different activities along the length of the room. You might have comfortable seating at one end with a desk, hobby table, workbench or cupboards at the other, or use the entire building as a studio, craft room or long garden office.
The dimension I would plan most carefully is the six-foot depth. You have plenty of length, but unnecessarily deep sofas, cupboards or desks can restrict movement through the room. Measure important furniture before ordering and use those measurements when deciding where the doors and windows should go.
Why a 6 x 18 Summerhouse Can Suit a Long or Narrow Garden
A 6 x 18 summerhouse will normally refer to the same nominal 108-square-foot footprint as an 18 x 6 summerhouse, with the measurements stated in the opposite order. Its long, shallow shape can be especially useful when you have plenty of garden width but don’t want the building extending deeply into the available lawn or patio area.
Manufacturers do not always describe frontage and depth in the same sequence, so always use the individual product plan when positioning your building. Check which side is eighteen feet, which is six feet, and how much additional clearance you need for roof overhangs, fitting, and future maintenance.
18×6 Summerhouse Models and Roof Layouts
Which 18×6 Summerhouses Should You Compare?
The genuine 18×6 choices currently shown within our Platinum range include the Winchester Apex, Winchester Pent and Winchester Transverse. These designs are available in sizes well beyond 18ft x 6ft, and all currently offer colour paint and full insulation, plus professional assembly.
The three roof and layout choices mean you can compare more than appearance. The position of the ridge, entrance and glazing can affect how the building sits in your garden and how easily you can arrange furniture inside.
Winchester Apex, Pent or Transverse?
The Winchester Apex gives you the familiar traditional pitched-roof shape. The Winchester Pent uses a single-slope roof for a cleaner contemporary appearance, while the Winchester Transverse changes the relationship between the roof ridge and frontage. There is no universally best option because each can suit a different garden and intended layout.
I would think about the building from the inside as well as the outside. Consider where you want to sit, the view you want through the windows, where your desk or furniture will stand, and how much uninterrupted wall space you need.
Insulation, Offices, Studios and Interior Areas
Should an 18×6 Summerhouse Be Insulated?
The Winchester 18×6 summerhouses currently offer full insulation as an option. Whether I recommend it depends on how you intend to use the building. If it will mainly be a place to relax during pleasant spring and summer weather, you may decide the additional expense is unnecessary. If you plan to work, paint, craft or spend several hours inside during colder periods, insulation becomes much more useful.
Insulation does not create heat; it reduces the rate at which heat passes through the structure. Heating, glazing and ventilation matter as well. If you need extended-season or year-round use, compare our wider range of insulated summer houses and look at the full specification rather than relying on the word “insulated” alone.
Can an 18ft by 6ft Summer House Be Used as a Garden Office?
Yes. An 18ft by 6ft summer house can make a very practical long garden office. Eighteen feet provides plenty of space for desks, shelving, and cupboards, and can allow two separate working areas or a desk at one end with occasional seating at the other.
The six-foot depth makes careful furniture selection important. I would measure desks and office chairs before ordering to keep a comfortable walkway through the room. For regular year-round working, also consider insulation, glazing, heating, ventilation, electricity, lighting and internet connectivity.
An 18×6 Summerhouse for Hobbies, Crafts or a Studio
The long proportions can be excellent for hobbies because you have a substantial amount of linear wall space. Workbenches, desks, shelving and cupboards can run along the building while leaving the opposite side comparatively clear. Artists may prioritise natural light, while model makers, crafters and collectors may value storage and uninterrupted wall space more.
This is why I recommend planning the interior before choosing your final glazing arrangement. More windows aren’t automatically better if they take up wall space you wanted for cupboards, shelving, or specialist equipment.
Can You Create Separate Areas Inside an 18×6 Summerhouse?
Yes. Eighteen feet of length lets you create separate zones, even though the building is only six feet deep. You could have a seating area at one end, a working or hobby area at the other and useful storage between them without necessarily installing permanent partitions.
Selected buildings can also be adapted with changes to doors, windows and internal layout. If you know how you want to use each end of the room, discuss that before ordering so the building can be planned around your intended use.
Construction, Bespoke Options and Storage
Why I Look Beyond the Photograph
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, I know that two attractive photographs can hide considerable differences in construction. Photographs help you judge style, but they cannot tell you everything about the timber, framing, floor, roof, doors, glazing, or joinery.
I look at the complete building. Good cladding needs suitable framing behind it, substantial doors depend on proper joinery, and a solid floor requires adequate support. I would never choose a summerhouse based solely on one headline measurement or photograph.
Why Timber, Framing, Floors and Toughened Glass Matter
Our main timber summerhouse ranges use quality redwood deal, solid wooden floors and toughened glazing. These fundamental construction details interest me far more than many decorative accessories because they form part of the building you will use every time you step inside.
I encourage customers to inspect the details that can be difficult to appreciate online. Stand on the floor, open and close the doors, look at the window joinery and examine the framing and roof construction where possible. Those practical details can reveal considerably more about quality than attractive photography alone.
Can an 18 x 6 Summerhouse Be Made Bespoke?
Yes. Bespoke options are available on selected Platinum buildings and can include changes to dimensions, doors, windows, height and layout. This flexibility can be particularly valuable with an eighteen-foot-long building because moving a door or window can dramatically change the amount of uninterrupted wall space available inside.
If you already know where your sofa, desk, workbench, cupboards or hobby equipment will go, plan those positions before ordering. We can then explain what alterations are available and whether the standard layout or a bespoke arrangement will work better.
Can an 18ft x 6ft Summer House Include Storage?
A long summerhouse can lend itself well to combining leisure or working space with storage. Depending on the model and bespoke options, a separate section can hold garden tools, furniture, bicycles, or hobby equipment. At the same time, the remainder of the building remains available as a summer room or office.
If integrated storage is important, explore our summer houses with shed storage. It is worth deciding how much room you genuinely need for each purpose before settling on the final layout.
Bases, Professional Fitting and Display Sites
A Good 18×6 Summerhouse Needs the Right Base
One piece of advice I have repeated throughout my working life is that even the best garden building needs the right foundation. An eighteen-foot-long summerhouse needs to stand on a firm, flat and level base suitable for the exact building. Small variations in level become more significant over a long structure and can affect how the building sits and how its doors operate.
Do not prepare your foundation simply from the description “18×6”. Get the precise manufacturer-required dimensions first. Our summer house base guide explains the main options and why careful preparation matters.
Professional Fitting Included
The applicable Platinum 18×6 summerhouses include professional assembly, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable site access and the correct prepared base. At eighteen feet long, this is a substantial timber structure, so having installers familiar with the product assemble it correctly removes much of the project.
Check access before you order. If your garden has narrow passages, tight turns, steps, high walls, or other restrictions, please contact us so we can discuss the practical details before installation.
See a Summerhouse Before You Buy
When I started in garden buildings in 1979, there was no internet, so customers naturally inspected buildings before buying them. Online research makes comparing products far easier today. However, photographs still cannot show you how solid a floor feels, how a door operates or what an eighteen-foot-long interior actually feels like when you stand inside it.
That is why I continue to recommend visiting our Surrey garden building display site if practical. We cannot display every model in every size, but representative buildings let you compare materials, construction, doors, glazing, and overall quality before committing to your own summerhouse.
Over 45 Years of Summerhouse Experience
My Garden Building Experience Goes Back to 1979
I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. I left school at 15 and started my own garden building business in 1979, trading as Marina Sheds. I learnt the business hands-on by making and selling timber buildings, delivering them and dealing directly with customers, and that practical experience still influences the way I assess garden buildings today.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not receive all the money that was due to me from the sale. It was a difficult business lesson, but I remained involved in the garden building industry.
From Marina Sheds to Titan Garden Buildings
By 1992 we had expanded beyond traditional sheds and added summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. Marina Sheds no longer properly described what we were doing, so that wider direction led to the name Titan Garden Buildings.
My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry background brought additional practical woodworking and timber-construction knowledge to the business, alongside the experience I had already gained through manufacturing, retailing, and dealing directly with customers.
Why Craig and I Formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998. In 2000, Craig and I made another important decision. Rather than manufacture everything ourselves and be limited to products from one source, we decided to retail carefully selected, quality garden buildings from established manufacturers. That was when we formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
I still believe that independence matters because customers have different requirements. Someone wanting an attractive summer retreat shouldn’t automatically be sold the same specification as someone planning a regularly used insulated garden office or studio. Our job is to explain those differences and help customers choose what suits them.
Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I remain involved to support him and the team whenever required. You can read more about my background, Craig and how the business developed on our About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
What More Than 45 Years Has Taught Me About Summerhouses
The first lesson is that dimensions alone do not define a garden building. Two buildings described as 18ft x 6ft summer houses can occupy approximately the same amount of garden while differing considerably in timber, framing, floors, roofs, doors, glazing, insulation and overall construction.
The second lesson is to buy according to how you genuinely intend to use the building. There is no benefit in paying for features you will rarely use. Similarly, I wouldn’t choose a straightforward seasonal specification if I already knew the building would become a regularly occupied office or studio during colder weather.
Frequently Asked Questions About 18×6 Summerhouses
How big is an 18×6 summerhouse?
A nominal 18×6 summerhouse provides around 108 square feet of floor footprint, equivalent to approximately 10 square metres. Exact internal, external and required base dimensions vary between models, so always use the manufacturer’s detailed measurements when planning your site.
Is an 18ft x 6ft summer house a good size?
It can be an excellent size if you want considerable internal length without a building extending deeply into the garden. Its eighteen-foot length is useful for desks, seating, workbenches and storage, while the six-foot depth makes sensible furniture planning particularly important.
Is a 6 x 18 summerhouse different from an 18 x 6 summerhouse?
Usually the two descriptions refer to the same nominal 108-square-foot footprint with the measurements reversed. However, manufacturers may describe frontage and depth differently, so always check the individual plans and exact dimensions before preparing your site.
What can I fit inside an 18ft by 6ft summer house?
The exact arrangement depends on the doors, windows and furniture, but the long interior can accommodate seating, desks, shelving, cupboards, workbenches or hobby equipment. The eighteen-foot length also makes it practical to create different activity zones within the same room.
Can I get an insulated 18×6 summerhouse?
Yes. The current Winchester 18×6 summerhouses offer full insulation as an option. If insulation is important, compare the complete wall, roof, floor, glazing and lining specification and consider appropriate heating and ventilation as well.
Can I use an 18×6 summerhouse throughout the year?
That depends on its specification and how it is equipped. A suitably insulated summerhouse, with appropriate heating, glazing, and ventilation, can be much more comfortable in colder periods than an uninsulated seasonal building. Choose the specification based on when and how often you intend to use it.
Can I use an 18×6 summerhouse as a home office?
Yes. The eighteen-foot length provides substantial room for desks, office storage and shelving and can allow more than one working area. Because the building is relatively shallow, measure desks and chairs carefully and consider insulation, heating, ventilation, electricity and internet connectivity for regular use.
Can an 18×6 summerhouse be made bespoke?
Selected Platinum buildings offer bespoke options which can include changes to dimensions, doors, windows and layout. If a standard arrangement is almost right but a door or window conflicts with your intended furniture position, discuss what can be altered before ordering.
Can an 18ft x 6ft summer house include storage?
Summerhouse and storage combination designs are available within our wider range. An eighteen-foot-long footprint can be well-suited to dividing the space between a leisure or working area and a separate storage section, depending on the model and layout you need.
Does an 18×6 summerhouse need a base?
Yes. A suitable firm, flat and level foundation is essential. Don’t assume the required foundation should measure exactly eighteen feet by six feet; get the manufacturer’s exact base dimensions for your chosen building before starting any foundation work.
Do I need planning permission for an 18×6 summerhouse?
Many domestic summerhouses can fall within permitted development rights, but this depends on factors including the property, building height, position within the garden, proximity to boundaries, overall garden coverage and intended use. The 18×6 footprint alone does not determine whether permission is required. Read our summerhouse planning permission guide and check with your local planning authority where appropriate.
Is fitting included with these 18×6 summer houses?
The applicable Platinum 18×6 summerhouses include professional assembly, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable access and the correct prepared base. Always check the individual product information for the precise conditions applying to your chosen summerhouse.
Advice Before Buying an 18×6 Summerhouse
My Advice Before Buying Your 18×6 Summerhouse
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, my advice is straightforward: decide how you genuinely intend to use the building, mark the 18ft x 6ft footprint out in your garden, measure your furniture, compare the actual construction and decide whether insulation is appropriate for your use. An 18×6 summerhouse can make excellent use of a long garden position, but its shallow depth makes good planning especially important.
Craig, the team and I are here to explain the differences rather than automatically direct you towards the most expensive option. Please tell us how you intend to use your summerhouse, and we can help you compare the Winchester Apex, Pent and Transverse designs, insulation, bespoke options, bases and professional fitting.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
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