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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Choosing, Using and Orienting a 12×7 Summerhouse
Choosing the Right 12×7 Summerhouse
A 12×7 summerhouse has a nominal footprint of around 84 square feet, or approximately 7.8 square metres. I think this is a particularly useful rectangular size because the 12-foot length provides plenty of usable wall space. At the same time, the 7-foot depth gives you more flexibility for furniture than a narrower 12×6 building. It can provide a comfortable garden room without taking up the area required by some larger summerhouses.
Before ordering, I recommend marking out the full 12ft by 7ft footprint in your garden. This lets you see how much lawn and surrounding space will remain and helps you decide where the doors and windows should face. Remember that 12×7 is a nominal size, so always check the precise dimensions, roof overhangs, access requirements and required base dimensions for the particular model you choose.
What Can You Use a 12ft x 7ft Summer House For?
A 12ft x 7ft summer house is large enough for several different uses without necessarily dominating an average garden. You might create a comfortable seating area, hobby room, craft space, art studio or home office. Its rectangular proportions also make it possible to create informal zones, perhaps with a sofa and chairs at one end and a desk or hobby table at the other.
The extra foot of depth compared with a 12×6 building may not sound significant on paper, but it can make furniture positioning noticeably easier. If you already own the furniture you want to use, measure it and sketch the approximate arrangement before ordering your summerhouse.
Is a 7 x 12 Summerhouse the Same Size?
A 7 x 12 summerhouse will normally describe the same nominal 84-square-foot footprint as a 12 x 7 summerhouse, with the dimensions written in the opposite order. However, different manufacturers can describe frontage and depth differently, so never rely on the category name alone when preparing your site. Check the individual product drawing and exact measurements to establish which side is 12ft and which is 7ft.
Available 12×7 Summerhouses, Ranges and Insulation
The 12×7 Summer Houses Available on This Page
The current 12×7 range includes Platinum summerhouses with a higher specification. They are particularly worth considering if insulation or greater design flexibility is important to you.
I do not believe everyone should automatically buy the highest specification available. Someone wanting an attractive summerhouse for relaxing on pleasant days has different requirements from somebody planning to work inside for several hours during autumn and winter. Start with how you intend to use the building and then choose the specification that meets that requirement.
If you are not certain that 12ft x 7ft is the ideal footprint, compare our complete summer houses range or browse our summer houses by size.
Choosing a Platinum 12×7 Summerhouse
I would look particularly closely at the Platinum range when you want a higher specification or insulation. The Platinum 12×7 buildings currently shown include the Winchester Apex, Winchester Pent and Winchester Transverse, which offer full insulation as an option. That can make them particularly useful for home working, hobbies or extended seasonal use.
The correct choice is the building whose construction and available options best suit what you intend to do inside it.
Can a 12ft by 7ft Summer House Be Insulated?
Yes. Insulation is available on selected 12ft by 7ft summer houses within our Platinum range. If you mainly want a pleasant place to sit in spring and summer, you may find conventional construction gives you everything you need. If you plan to work, paint, craft or pursue hobbies inside during colder weather, insulation becomes much more worthwhile.
Insulation does not generate heat; it reduces the rate at which heat passes through the building. Heating, glazing, ventilation and the overall construction also affect comfort. If extended-season or year-round use is a main priority, compare our wider selection of insulated summer houses.
Can You Use a 12×7 Summerhouse as a Garden Office?
Yes. A 12×7 summerhouse can make a very practical garden office. The twelve-foot length gives you room for a good-sized desk, shelving or cupboards, while the seven-foot depth allows more space behind an office chair than narrower garden buildings. Depending on the door and window positions, you may also have room for an occasional chair or small meeting area.
If the building will only be used occasionally on mild days, a conventional summerhouse might be sufficient. If you expect to work there regularly throughout the year, consider insulation, glazing, heating, ventilation, electrical requirements, and internet connectivity alongside the basic floor size.
Construction, Bespoke Options and Combined Storage
Why I Look Beyond the Photograph
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, I know that two summerhouses can look remarkably similar on a computer screen while being very different when you inspect their construction. That is why I look first at the materials and specifications rather than decorative accessories or clever photography.
Timber quality is important, but I also look at the framing supporting the cladding, the floor and roof construction, the doors, window joinery and glazing. You should compare the complete specification because no single measurement tells you whether one summerhouse represents better value than another.
Redwood Timber, Floors, Roofs and Toughened Glass
The main summerhouse ranges we offer use quality redwood timber, with solid timber floors and roofs and toughened glass. These are the sorts of basic construction details I believe customers should understand before comparing headline prices.
I would never judge a building solely by the thickness of its cladding. Good cladding needs suitable framing behind it, just as good doors need proper joinery and a solid floor needs adequate support. The whole structure works together, which is why seeing representative buildings in person can be so useful.
Can a 12 x 7 Summerhouse Be Made Bespoke?
Yes. Selected Platinum summerhouses offer considerable bespoke flexibility. Depending on the model, changes can include different dimensions, repositioned doors and windows, extra or fewer windows, and layout alterations.
Bespoke design can be particularly useful with a 12 x 7 summerhouse because door and window positions determine how much uninterrupted wall space you retain for furniture. If you already know where you want to position a sofa, desk, cupboards or workbench, please tell us before ordering, and we can discuss the available design options.
Can You Add Storage to a 12ft x 7ft Summer House?
Selected designs can incorporate an additional storage area or separate room. This can be a useful way to combine a space to relax or work with practical storage for garden tools, furniture, bicycles, or hobby equipment, without having to find another position for a separate shed.
The amount of space available for each use depends on the design and the proportions you require. If integrated storage is important, take a look at our summer houses with shed storage or contact us to discuss what may be possible with your preferred building.
12×7 Summerhouse Bases, Fitting and Display
Your Summerhouse Is Only as Good as Its Base
One piece of advice I have repeated throughout my working life is that a good garden building needs a good base. A 12×7 summerhouse should stand on a firm, flat and level foundation designed for the particular building. If the base is not level, the structure can sit incorrectly, and doors and windows may not operate as they should.
Do not prepare a foundation simply by measuring out twelve feet by seven feet. Always obtain the exact manufacturer’s required base dimensions first. Our summer house base guide explains the main foundation options and what to consider before installation.
Professional Fitting Included
Professional installation or assembly is included with the applicable Platinum 12×7 summerhouses currently shown, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable access and a correctly prepared base. I regard this as an important part of the package because the installers are familiar with the building and the correct assembly sequence.
You will still need to provide the required level base and suitable access to the installation position. If you have a narrow passage, steps, walls, restricted access or uncertainty about your base, please contact us before ordering so these practical details can be discussed.
See a Summer House Before You Buy
The internet has made researching summerhouses much easier than when I started in 1979, but photographs still have limitations. You cannot feel how solid a floor is, open and close the doors, inspect the joinery or properly understand the internal space until you stand inside a representative building.
That is why I continue to recommend visiting our Surrey garden building display site near Guildford, Woking and Ripley if you can. We cannot display every model in every size, but seeing representative summerhouses allows you to compare construction, layouts and specifications before deciding what is right for you.
Garden Building Experience and Practical Advice
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 first garden building business in 1979, trading as Marina Sheds. I was involved hands-on with manufacturing, selling and delivering timber buildings, and that practical experience continues to influence the way I assess garden buildings today.
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990, although unfortunately I did not receive all the money I was due from the sale. It was a difficult lesson in business, but my involvement with garden buildings continued.
From Marina Sheds to Titan Garden Buildings
By 1992 we were offering much more than sheds. We added summerhouses, garages, garden rooms, and log cabins, and that broader direction led to the name Titan Garden Buildings. My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990, bringing his own practical knowledge of woodworking and timber construction into the business.
Craig’s carpentry training and my experience of manufacturing, selling and dealing with customers gave us a useful combination. It reinforced our belief that customers should understand what’s underneath the attractive exterior of a timber building, rather than deciding solely from a photograph.
Why We Formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998. In 2000, Craig and I decided that rather than manufacturing and being restricted to our own products, we wanted to retail quality buildings from selected manufacturers. That decision led to the formation of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
Being independent allows us to offer different specifications rather than trying to make one range suitable for everybody. Someone looking for a conventional 12×7 summerhouse for relaxing has different requirements from somebody wanting an insulated building for regular home working, and I believe customers benefit from being able to compare those alternatives.
Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I support him and the team as needed. You can read more about our history and how we approach garden buildings on our About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
What More Than 45 Years Has Taught Me
My first piece of advice is to decide what you want your summerhouse to do before deciding which specification to buy. There is little point paying for features you will never use, but buying too basic a building and expecting it to perform as a regularly used garden office can also prove disappointing.
Second, look at the complete construction. Timber, framing, floors, roofs, doors, glazing and insulation all matter. Third, prepare the correct base. Finally, see representative buildings in person whenever possible. Those simple steps will tell you far more than choosing solely by price or photographs.
Frequently Asked Questions About 12×7 Summerhouses
How big is a 12×7 summerhouse?
A nominal 12×7 summerhouse provides approximately 84 square feet of floor footprint, equivalent to roughly 7.8 square metres. Exact external and internal dimensions vary by model, so check the detailed measurements of the specific building before preparing your site or ordering furniture.
Is a 12ft x 7ft summer house a good size?
For many gardens, yes. The twelve-foot length provides useful wall space while the seven-foot depth is large enough for comfortable furniture without requiring the footprint of a much deeper building. It can work particularly well for relaxing, hobbies or a compact garden office.
Is a 7 x 12 summerhouse different from a 12 x 7 summerhouse?
Usually, the terms describe the same nominal footprint with the measurements reversed. However, always check the manufacturer’s plans, because frontage and depth can be described differently, and precise measurements may vary slightly between models.
What can I fit inside a 12ft by 7ft summer house?
The exact layout depends on the doors, windows and furniture, but the proportions can accommodate substantial seating, a desk, hobby equipment, shelving or storage. You can also divide the room informally into different areas, such as seating at one end and a working or hobby area at the other.
Can I get an insulated 12×7 summerhouse?
Yes. Full insulation is available as an option on selected Platinum 12×7 summerhouses. If insulation is important, compare the complete wall, roof, floor and glazing specification and consider how the building will be heated and ventilated as well.
Can I use a 12×7 summerhouse all year?
A conventional timber summerhouse is primarily suited to seasonal leisure use, although its useful period can be extended. If you want regular use in colder months, I recommend a suitably insulated specification with appropriate glazing, heating, and ventilation.
Can a 12×7 summerhouse be made bespoke?
Selected Platinum buildings can be customised. Depending on the model, options may include changes to dimensions, doors, windows, height and layout. Please tell us what you need the building to do, and we can explain which alterations are possible.
Can my 12ft x 7ft summer house include storage?
Selected buildings can incorporate a storage area or separate room. This can be particularly useful if you want one structure to provide both leisure space and somewhere for garden equipment instead of installing a separate shed.
Does a 12×7 summerhouse need a base?
Yes. It needs a suitable firm, flat and level base. Do not assume that a base measuring exactly 12ft x 7ft will be correct; use the precise foundation dimensions specified for the individual building.
Do I need planning permission for a 12×7 summerhouse?
Many garden summerhouses can fall within permitted development rights, but this depends on the individual property, building height, position, proximity to boundaries, overall garden coverage and intended use. A 12×7 footprint alone does not determine whether permission is required. Read our summerhouse planning permission guide and check with your local planning authority when necessary.
Is fitting included with these 12×7 summer houses?
Professional installation or assembly is included with the applicable Platinum buildings currently shown, subject to the product, delivery area, site access and the correct prepared base. Always check the individual product details for the precise terms applying to your chosen model.
Advice Before Buying Your 12×7 Summerhouse
My Advice Before Buying Your 12×7 Summerhouse
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, my advice remains straightforward: decide how you will use the building, mark the 12ft x 7ft footprint out in your garden, plan the furniture and door positions, compare the actual construction and make sure the correct base is ready. A 12×7 summerhouse is a very useful size, but the right specification depends on what you expect it to do for you.
Craig, the team and I are here to explain the differences rather than automatically direct you towards the most expensive building. Tell us how you intend to use your summerhouse, and we can help you compare the Platinum choices, insulation, bespoke design, integrated storage, bases and installation.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
From £3928