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
Create a welcoming space in your garden with the Platinum Fleet Apex Summerhouse. Its 10ft x 10ft footprint gives you room to relax, entertain or enjoy a quiet retreat, while the classic apex roof adds a distinctive finish. Supplied to one of our customers, this summerhouse shows how a dedicated garden space can make the outdoors feel like an extension of home.
One of our customer's recently installed Platinum Kingsclere 16 foot x 8 foot summer house that our painter has just completed painting in Demidekk Cleantech "Sandsten" with the paint purchased from ourselves also.
A lovely photo to receive of our customer's building in their sunny garden in Woking! This is one of our Platinum Bursledon corner summer houses 8ft x 8ft and with some really good upgrades; roof and floor insulation and walls lined with 12mm vertical T&G, EPDM rubber roof, double glazed PVCu windows and door frames "White" internally and "Agate Grey" externally and painted in a Valtti Plus Kesto stain.
One of our Platinum supplier's recently installed Kingsclere 14 foot x 8 foot summer house. The customer upgraded to have the building fully insulated with double glazed PVCu windows and door frames with the building painted in Thorndown Agate Grey with Agate Grey PVCu windows and doors also. The customer also included black felt tiles for their roof and laminate floor in Light Grey Oak.
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Platinum vs Royal Insulated Summer Houses
Compare Platinum vs Royal Insulated Summer Houses
| Feature | Platinum Insulated Summer Houses | Royal Insulated Summer Houses |
| Best for | Leisure, hobbies, home working and customers wanting flexibility over specification | Regular home working, studios, hobbies and comfortable year-round garden room use |
| Price position | ££ – Great value, with plenty of choice and a high specification | £££ – Premium specification |
| Insulation | Full insulation is available on selected models, while the Fleet and Odiham come fully insulated | Fully insulated as standard throughout the range |
| Size choice | A very good choice of sizes, with selected models available up to around 28×16 ft | Sizes range from around 8×6 to 20×12 ft |
| Styles | Apex, pent, corner and contemporary designs | Purpose-designed premium garden room styles |
| Colour finish | Colour paint finish options available | Colour paint finish options available |
| Installation | Professional assembly included on applicable orders | Professional assembly included on applicable orders |
| Why choose it? | You want an insulated summerhouse with more choice over size, style and specification | You want a premium fully insulated building for frequent or year-round use |
Choosing and Understanding Insulated Summer Houses
Choosing the Right Insulated Summer House
When comparing insulated summer houses, my advice is to start with how you intend to use the building rather than choosing the design you like most. A summerhouse used occasionally on warm weekends has very different requirements from a garden office or hobby room occupied for several hours during colder months. Our summerhouse buying guide offers further advice on what’s worth considering before you choose.
I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and I have worked with timber garden buildings since starting Marina Sheds in 1979. In my experience, customers get the best value when they choose the specification that suits what they genuinely intend to do inside the building. Insulation can be extremely worthwhile, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs the highest possible specification.
What Is an Insulated Summer House?
An insulated summer house has insulating material incorporated into its construction to reduce the rate at which heat passes through the building. Depending on the model and specification, insulation may be fitted to the walls, roof and floor, with an internal lining creating a more finished appearance inside.
This makes an insulated summerhouse particularly attractive if you want a garden office, hobby room, art studio, games room, exercise space or comfortable garden retreat that you can use beyond the warmer summer months.
Insulation does not actually create heat. In colder weather, it helps a heated building retain warmth longer, while in warmer conditions it can reduce the rate at which outside heat enters. If regular winter use is important, consider the complete specification, including insulation, glazing, ventilation, and suitable heating, rather than focusing on the walls alone. If you want more detail, our guide to insulating a summerhouse explains insulation materials, where to insulate, and the main considerations involved.
Full Insulation and Year-Round Use
Do I Need a Fully Insulated Summerhouse?
A fully insulated summerhouse makes most sense when you expect to spend significant amounts of time inside throughout the year. If you work from home for several hours a day, pursue hobbies in winter, or want a garden room that stays comfortable for more of the year, consider full insulation.
If the building will mainly be used for relaxing or entertaining during pleasant spring and summer weather, you may not need to pay for insulation. A quality conventional building from our wider summer houses range could be the more sensible choice.
If your main requirement is a room for regular home working or extensive year-round use, it is also worth comparing our garden rooms and offices. The distinction between a premium fully insulated summer house and a garden room can sometimes be quite small, so compare the actual construction and specification rather than relying solely on the name given to the building.
Fully Insulated or Insulation as an Option?
Some of our buildings are supplied as fully insulated summer houses, while selected models allow insulation to be added as an option. Neither approach is automatically better. What matters is choosing the right specification for your intended use and budget.
A fully insulated model is the straightforward choice when insulation is already central to your plans. Alternatively, an optional insulation package lets you choose the summerhouse design you prefer and upgrade the specification to add the comfort you need.
When comparing prices, check exactly what is included. Check whether the walls, roof, and floor are insulated, what internal lining is supplied, the glazing specification, and whether assembly is included. Two insulated summerhouses can look remarkably similar online while having quite different specifications.
Can You Use an Insulated Summer House All Year?
A properly specified insulated summer house can be used comfortably for much more of the year than a conventional uninsulated summerhouse. However, I would be wary of assuming that the words “fully insulated” automatically mean a building will remain warm throughout a British winter without heating. You can read more about the different ways these buildings can be used throughout the seasons in our guide to summer houses for year-round use.
Insulation slows heat loss; it does not generate heat. For comfortable colder-weather use, consider the building as a whole, including its walls, roof, floor, glazing, ventilation and an appropriate heat source. How often you open doors and how long you spend inside will also make a difference. Our summerhouse heating guide explains the different heating systems and practical points to consider.
This is why I prefer to ask customers how they intend to use their building. Someone working in a garden office five days a week has different requirements from somebody using an insulated summerhouse as a hobby room for a couple of hours at weekends.
Garden Offices, Sizes and Base Requirements
Insulated Summer Houses for Garden Offices
One of the most popular reasons for choosing an insulated summer house in the UK is to create a garden office. Moving your workspace away from the house can provide useful separation between home and working life without requiring an extension or sacrificing an existing bedroom.
If you are planning a garden office, think about more than insulation. Consider where your desk will go, the position of doors and windows, natural light, electrical requirements, heating, ventilation and your internet connection. If you’ll spend seven or eight hours a day inside, these practical details matter as much as the building’s appearance. Our garden office Wi-Fi guide explains options for getting a reliable internet connection to a garden workspace.
You should also check whether your proposed building and intended use are covered by permitted development or whether you may need consent; our summerhouse planning permission guide explains the main points to consider.
What Size Insulated Summer House Should I Choose?
The right size depends on what you intend to put inside. A compact insulated summerhouse can work extremely well as a one-person office or peaceful garden retreat. At the same time, a larger building may be required for sofas, multiple desks, gym equipment or a substantial hobby area. Our summerhouse sizes guide can help you compare the available dimensions.
Before ordering, I recommend marking the proposed dimensions on the ground in your garden. I have suggested this to customers for many years because it gives you a far better appreciation of the actual footprint than looking at measurements on a screen. Place some garden furniture within the marked area as well, and you will get an even better idea of the usable space.
Remember to allow sufficient room around the building for installation, access and future maintenance. If you are unsure where to begin, our garden building product finder can help narrow down the available choices.
What Base Does an Insulated Summer House Need?
An insulated summer house needs a suitable firm, flat and level foundation. This is particularly important for larger, lined, and insulated buildings because the base supports the entire structure and helps doors and windows operate correctly.
Do not prepare the foundation using the nominal summerhouse size alone. Check the precise base dimensions required for the individual model before starting work and allow for any installation and access requirements. Our summer house base guide covers concrete, paving slab, and timber sub-frame bases, plus the main points to consider.
Experience and Insulated Building Quality
Why Experience Matters When Buying a Summerhouse
I left school at 15 and later entered the garden building industry, starting my own business, Marina Sheds, in 1979. Working in timber building manufacturing taught me to look at how a building is actually made rather than judging it purely by its appearance.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not receive all the money due from the sale. I stayed in the garden building industry, and in 1992 we expanded into summerhouses, garages, garden rooms, and log cabins. That broader direction led to the business becoming Titan Garden Buildings.
My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry background complemented the practical experience I had gained from manufacturing and selling timber garden buildings. We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998.
In 2000, we formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings with a different approach. Instead of being tied to one manufacturer’s products, we wanted to retail quality buildings from selected manufacturers so customers could choose based on their requirements rather than what one factory happened to make.
Today Craig runs the day-to-day business, and I support him as needed, while sharing the experience I have gained since 1979. You can read more about me, Robin Antill, and my experience or discover more about the history of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
What I Look for in an Insulated Summer House
After more than 45 years around garden buildings, I still believe customers should look beyond attractive photographs and headline prices. Examine the wall construction, framing, roof, floor, insulation, internal lining, doors and windows. Find out what is included in the price and what costs extra.
Good glazing is particularly worth considering if you intend to heat and regularly use the building during colder weather. Likewise, if year-round comfort matters to you, check whether insulation extends beyond the walls to the roof and floor. The overall specification matters more than any single feature.
Most importantly, do not automatically buy more building than you need. The most expensive fully insulated summerhouse is not necessarily the best choice for you. The right building is the one whose size, construction, and specification match how you intend to use it.
See an Insulated Summerhouse Before Buying
See an Insulated Summerhouse Before You Buy
Photographs and specifications are useful, but there is still no substitute for seeing a garden building in person. You can get a much better impression of the timber, floor, doors, windows, internal finish and overall construction when you can actually walk inside a representative building.
You are welcome to visit our Surrey garden building display site at Sutton Green, near Guildford and Woking. If you are making a special journey to see a particular model or specification, please check with us beforehand to confirm what is currently available to view.
Insulated Summer House FAQs
Insulated Ply Lining
Are insulated summer houses worth it?
Yes, an insulated summer house can be well worth the additional cost if you intend to use it regularly during colder weather, particularly as an office, studio, hobby room or leisure space. If you only expect to use your summerhouse on warm days, full insulation may be unnecessary.
Does a fully insulated summerhouse need heating?
If you want the building comfortably warm during cold winter weather, normally yes. Insulation helps retain the heat you put into the building but does not generate heat itself. Required heating depends on the building’s size, construction, outside temperature, and how you use it. Our summerhouse heating guide explains the main options in more detail.
Can I use an insulated summer house as a home office?
Yes. A suitably specified insulated summer house can make an excellent garden office. Alongside insulation, consider glazing, heating, ventilation, electrics, internet connectivity, natural light and the positioning of your desk and other furniture.
What is the difference between an insulated summerhouse and a garden room?
There is no universal industry definition separating the two. Summerhouses are traditionally associated with leisure and seasonal use, while garden rooms tend to describe more room-like buildings intended for frequent use. A high-quality fully insulated summerhouse can therefore have a great deal in common with an insulated garden room. I recommend comparing the actual specifications rather than relying on the product name.
Should the walls, roof and floor all be insulated?
If regular colder-weather use is important, I recommend looking at the complete building rather than the walls alone. Check which parts of the particular summerhouse are insulated, together with the type of glazing and internal lining, because specifications vary between models. Our summerhouse insulation guide provides more information about the different areas of a building that can be insulated.
What base does an insulated summer house need?
A suitable firm, flat and level foundation is essential. The exact requirements depend on the building and site, so use the manufacturer’s required dimensions rather than assuming the nominal summerhouse size is the required foundation size. See our summer house base guide for more information.
Where can I buy an insulated summer house in the UK?
1st Choice Leisure Buildings supplies a range of insulated summer houses and garden rooms in the UK, including fully insulated models and buildings with insulation options. Browse the products above to compare prices, sizes and specifications, or visit our Surrey display site to see representative garden buildings in person.
Help Choosing Your Insulated Summer House
Need Help Choosing Your Insulated Summer House?
If you are unsure whether you need a standard summerhouse, an insulation upgrade or a fully insulated summerhouse, start by telling us what you intend to use the building for and when you expect to use it. We can help you compare the right sizes, specifications, and options, rather than simply pointing you to the most expensive building.
After working with garden buildings since 1979, my advice remains straightforward: decide what you want your new garden room to do, then choose the building and specification capable of doing that job properly.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
From £4931