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Diamond Range
Platinum Range
Bespoke Options
When choosing a summer building, you need to check the specifications to ensure it will have the strength to last. So always check out the thickness of the timber, whether it’s made from redwood or the cheap inferior whitewood, how thick the framing is etc. Are the doors and windows joinery made, meaning they will last a long time? Does it has toughened glass for safety or imperfect horticultural glass, plastic or perspex? All important questions.
On many of the buildings available on the web, you will find that they will deliver them to your house and leave them for you to build. You can save a little money this way, but you will have to build it yourself. That’s OK if you are a good DIYer, but it will still be hard work. The best option is to take advantage of 1st Choice’s FREE assembly option on the Diamond and Platinum buildings. They will do all the hard work – all you need to do is build a level base for it to go onto. And they can even arrange that for you as well if you wish. This way, you can be sure your new building will be built correctly, and all you need to do is enjoy it.
We have a large range of
summerhouse sizes for you to choose from and in several styles. However, we specialise in making buildings to suit your needs. Whether it needs to be taller, extra or fewer windows, the doors and windows moved, we can do that for you. Ensure you buy the building to suit you and your family with no compromises. Give us a call on (0333) 800 8880 or visit our showroom and discuss what you would like. We are happy to provide a quote to suit you with no pressure.
To make the most of your new building, it’s a good idea to have it
lined and insulated to get the most use out of you all year round. Doing so will keep the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter. It’s possible to do this yourself if you feel confident. However, there is an option to do this for you on all the
Platinum buildings. It can be seen as a luxury, but you will be glad you did on those hot summer days or cold winter days. Just contact us, and we will arrange a free quote for you.
We provide a protective treatment on all our buildings but why not consider one painted with Sadolin (Diamond Buildings) or Valtti (Platinum Buildings) paints. Both are available in a range of colours so you find a colour to suit you. You can find more details about
painted summerhouse here. Or, just contact us, and we will arrange a free quote for you.
Sadolin 'Blue Grey' Wood Stain
Sadolin 'Hidcote Green' Stain
Sadolin 'Polynedia White' Paint
Sadolin 'White' Wood Stain
Tikkurila 'Oak' Wood Stain
Tikkurila 'Jet Black' Stain
Tikkurila 'Carolina Blue' Wood Stain
Tikkurila 'Kesto Plus' Clear Lacquer
Before deciding on a new 12×12 summer building for your garden, you should always do your homework (sorry!) as it’s very easy to be taken in with a flashy website leaflet or colour brochure. Try to find time and make a trip down to our showroom where you can examples on view. By doing so, you will then be able to decide what you may be buying. We have a large collection of wooden buildings that you are welcome to view. We will be delighted to show you the different buildings and answer any queries you may have. We can provide quotations as well. Another thing to do is to take a look at the
feedback from previous customers which can be enlightening.
All of our 1st Choice summerhouses can be made in sizes to your exact requirements. Just let us know what you would like and we will quote for you. Don’t settle for second best. You know it makes sense. These sun rooms can be made with internal partitions if you choose with extra doors creating several different areas. One for leisure, one for storage, one for the children. The choice is yours.
All of our Diamond and Platinum Buildings are available with an extra room to suit you. Whether it’s at the back, the side or accessed from the front, we can make a
summerhouse shed combo for you. Don’t compromise on what you would like to meet your requirements.
Contact us NOW and chat through your needs or visit us and see examples for your self.
The shed was in its heyday after the Second World War, which is understandable, due to the need to use the garden for growing produce for the family to use. Although most of these sheds, initially, were make do and mend which was one of the important message drummed into the country during this terrible time. Even rationing did not stop until the early 50’s for many food items and when we think how easy it is and the wide range of food stuffs available to us today, it’s hard to understand how people lived their lives then.
Fathers and grandfathers utilised these buildings and used their gardens in most of their spare time where they felt productive but also enjoyed what they were doing in general. I can relate to that as there is nothing better than digging up vegetables from your garden and enjoying them with your meal at home. Just the thought that from a package of seeds you can feed your family is great.
As I say these sheds were quite often ramshackle old buildings and were made up from any materials available whether it was timber or metal nothing like a 12 x 12 summer house which can be bought these days. Plastic was not really available very much in those days. The main thing was for the shed to keep the garden tools dry and a place to start the seeds off in pots before transferring them into the garden. Nowadays there are a large range of summerhouses which are available ready made to save them the bother.
These summer houses were also often full of items collected over the years which were kept ‘just in case’ however many of the men who had returned from active duty had brought back ‘souvenirs’ from their travels. Many of these souvenirs were not really suitable for collecting due to their volatile properties and this including grenades, bombs and guns etc. And over the last few years many of these souvenirs have become news items.
Earlier this year at a Leominster home a young man found a bomb in the family’s garden summerhouse. Initially they removed it and put it in their van, as you do (NO), before deciding this would be better off back in the shed. Which they thought having moved the bomb once was a good idea and then to move it a second time was another good idea beats me. He then decided to ‘Google’ what to do and finally decided to call the police.
When the police officers arrived they were able to ascertain that the bomb was in fact safe. How they decide I don’t know. The bomb had laid inactive for over 40 years, perhaps that’s what they go on.
The owner of the house was astounded about the discovery and said this was a shock to her system. This is the last thing you expect to find. Her husband had built shelves in their 12×12 summer houses shed as well as putting an old sideboard in there and she assumed the bomb was behind there. She was obviously happy the bomb did not go off.
Also, even more recently, there was another case in north east London where some grenades were found in another garden shed. It turned out that the occupant of the house, who died last year, served during the war and had many collectibles in his house and shed. These grenades still had their pins in them so potentially were very dangerous.
The lady who lived next door said she was very scared about what the outcome could have been. She had two little babies in the houses and when she heard the bomb squad were coming she went out, hopefully with the babies. The police said that they had received reports of two Second World War pineapple shaped grenades and acted accordingly.
It’s easy to think this could not happen to you but many years after we had removed an old 12 x 12 garden summerhouse and putting in foundations for a new swimming pool house we heard a clunk as we dug into the earth. Examining it a little closer discovered it was about 12 inches diameter and had a 1 inch stud coming out of the side. Undeterred we carried on digging until we finally got it out of the ground and it turned out to be an old water main.
However, in hindsight, we should have took more care. We joked that we had found a bomb but carried on. If this happened again I think I would call the Bomb Disposal Squad just to be sure. I think I rather look a fool than to get blown up. Perhaps this is what happens as you get older.
Take a look at our 12ft x 12ft Diamond summerbuildings as well as the Platinum summer rooms.