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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16×8 Summerhouse Size and Uses
Why Choose a 16×8 Summerhouse?
A 16×8 summerhouse has a nominal footprint of around 128 square feet, or approximately 11.9 square metres. In my experience, this is a particularly useful summerhouse size because sixteen feet gives you substantial wall length. At the same time, the eight-foot depth provides enough room for conventional sofas, desks, tables, and hobby equipment without creating an unnecessarily deep building.
I recommend marking out the complete 16ft x 8ft footprint in your garden before ordering. Stand inside it, think about where your furniture will go and consider which direction the doors and windows should face. Remember that 16×8 is a nominal description, so always use the exact manufacturer’s dimensions and required base size for the individual model you choose.
What Can You Use a 16ft x 8ft Summer House For?
A 16ft x 8ft summer house gives you enough length to create more than one functional area within the same room. You might have comfortable seating at one end with a desk, hobby table, workbench or storage at the other, or use the complete building as a studio, craft room, entertaining space or sizeable garden office.
The eight-foot depth is also important because it allows more conventional furniture arrangements than a very shallow building. If you already own a sofa, desk, table or large hobby equipment you intend to use, measure those items before deciding on the final door and window positions.
Is an 8 x 16 Summerhouse the Same Size?
An 8 x 16 summerhouse will normally refer to the same nominal 128-square-foot footprint as a 16 x 8 summerhouse, with the dimensions written in the opposite order. However, manufacturers do not always describe width and depth in the same sequence, so always check the individual product drawing before preparing your garden.
Establish which elevation is sixteen feet, which is eight feet and how much additional clearance is required for roof overhangs, installation access and future maintenance. This matters particularly if the proposed position is close to a fence, hedge or other building.
Available Platinum and Royal 16×8 Summerhouses
Which 16×8 Summer Houses Are Available?
The current 16×8 category gives you fifteen buildings across our Platinum and Royal ranges. The Platinum range includes Fleet Apex, Odiham Pent, Kingclere Apex, Highclere Apex, Twyford Pent, Winchester Apex, Winchester Pent and Winchester Transverse. The Royal choices currently include Buckingham, Denham and Marlow garden rooms.
This amount of choice is useful because two buildings described as 16ft x 8ft summer houses may occupy almost identical areas of your garden while offering very different construction, insulation, glazing and overall specifications.
Platinum or Royal 16×8 Summerhouse?
Platinum makes sense when you want a higher specification, more flexibility for a larger building, or the option of full insulation. Royal is aimed at customers looking for something much closer to a substantial fully insulated garden room.
The correct choice is not automatically the most expensive one. Someone wanting a pleasant garden retreat in spring and summer has different requirements from someone creating a garden office used five days a week through winter.
If you are still deciding on the overall footprint, browse our complete summer houses range or compare other summer houses by size.
Platinum 16×8 Summerhouses
The Platinum range gives you eight choices at this size: Fleet Apex, Odiham Pent, Kingclere Apex, Highclere Apex, Twyford Pent, Winchester Apex, Winchester Pent and Winchester Transverse. Fleet and Odiham are supplied fully insulated, while the Kingclere, Highclere, Twyford and Winchester models currently offer full insulation as an option.
That makes Platinum particularly worth considering if the summerhouse will become a home office, studio or regularly used hobby room. Compare the individual specifications carefully, as insulation arrangements and other construction details vary between models.
Royal 16ft by 8ft Summer Houses and Garden Rooms
The Royal choices currently shown in this size are the Buckingham, Denham and Marlow garden rooms. These are fully insulated buildings and should be compared differently from a conventional seasonal summerhouse, because they are designed for customers who want something closer to a substantial extra room in the garden.
If you need regular use throughout the seasons, I would compare these Royal options with the fully insulated Platinum buildings. If you mainly want somewhere to relax in pleasant weather, however, buying a simpler specification may represent better value.
Insulation, Offices, Hobbies and Interior Areas
Should a 16×8 Summerhouse Be Insulated?
Whether insulation is worthwhile depends mainly on when and how you plan to use the building. For typical spring and summer leisure use, you may decide a good traditional timber summerhouse is all you need. If you expect to work, paint, craft or spend several hours inside during colder periods, insulation becomes considerably more useful.
Insulation does not create heat; it slows heat transfer. Heating, glazing, ventilation and the construction of the walls, floor and roof also affect comfort. If colder-weather use matters to you, compare our insulated summer houses and look at the complete specification rather than relying on the word “insulated” alone.
Can a 16ft x 8ft Summer House Be Used as a Garden Office?
Yes. At around 128 square feet, it provides useful space for a garden office. The sixteen-foot length gives you plenty of room for desks, shelving and storage. At the same time, the eight-foot depth normally allows comfortable chair movement and potential space for additional seating or a second workstation.
If you will work inside only occasionally on mild days, a conventional timber summerhouse may be adequate. For regular year-round working, I would also consider insulation, glazing, heating, ventilation, electricity, lighting and internet connectivity.
A 16×8 Summerhouse for Hobbies, Crafts or a Studio
This footprint can work particularly well as a hobby room or studio because the sixteen-foot dimension gives you substantial wall length for workbenches, shelving or cupboards. At the same time, the eight-foot depth leaves useful working space in front. Artists may prioritise natural light, whereas crafters, model makers or collectors may prefer more uninterrupted wall space.
I recommend deciding how you intend to use the room before choosing the final glazing arrangement. Extra windows aren’t automatically an advantage if they take up the exact walls you wanted for shelving, storage, or equipment.
Can You Create Separate Areas Inside a 16×8 Summerhouse?
Yes. One advantage of sixteen feet of length is the ability to create separate activity zones without necessarily installing permanent partitions. You could have a seating area at one end and a working, craft, or storage space at the other, while still retaining a practical route through the building.
Selected buildings can also be designed with partitions or additional rooms. If you already have a specific arrangement in mind, discuss it before ordering rather than discovering afterwards that a standard door or window position prevents the layout you wanted.
Construction, Roofs, 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 disguise substantial differences in construction. Photographs show style and appearance well, but they cannot tell you everything about the timber, framing, floor, roof, doors, glazing or joinery.
I look at the complete building. Good cladding requires suitable framing behind it, substantial doors depend on decent joinery, and a solid floor requires adequate support. One headline specification should never replace looking at how the whole building is constructed.
Why Timber, Framing, Floors and Toughened Glass Matter
The applicable summerhouse ranges use quality timber construction, solid wooden floors and toughened glazing. These core elements interest me more than many decorative accessories because they shape how the building feels every time you use it.
I encourage customers to inspect the details that are difficult to judge online. Stand on the floor, open and close the doors, examine the window joinery and look at the framing and roof construction where possible. Those practical details often tell you far more about quality than the paint finish or photography.
Apex, Pent or Transverse 16×8 Summerhouse?
The 16×8 range gives you apex, pent and transverse choices. Apex roofs provide the familiar traditional garden-building shape, while pent roofs create a cleaner single-slope look that works well in contemporary settings. The Winchester Transverse provides another relationship between the roof, frontage and entrance.
I would choose partly according to appearance but also according to practicality. Consider nearby fences, trees, and buildings; which direction you want to face while sitting inside; and how door and window placement affects your furniture.
Can a 16 x 8 Summerhouse Be Made Bespoke?
Yes. Bespoke options are available on selected models and can include changes to dimensions, doors, windows, height and layout. With sixteen feet of length, moving a door or window can sometimes make a considerable difference to the amount of uninterrupted wall space inside.
If you know where your sofa, desk, table, shelving or hobby equipment will go, plan those positions first. We can then explain which models provide the flexibility you need to build around your requirements.
Can a 16ft x 8ft Summer House Include Storage?
Yes. Selected Diamond and Platinum designs can incorporate a separate storage area or shed compartment. A sixteen-foot-long building lends itself particularly well to this arrangement because one end can remain dedicated to leisure or work while the other provides practical storage.
If integrated storage is important, explore our summer houses with shed storage. Decide how much space you genuinely need for each use before choosing the final dimensions or partition position.
Bases, Professional Fitting and Display Sites
A Good 16×8 Summerhouse Needs a Good Base
One piece of advice I have repeated throughout my working life is that even the best garden building needs a good foundation. A 16×8 summerhouse is a substantial structure and should stand on a firm, flat and level base designed for the exact building being installed.
Do not prepare the foundation simply from the description “16ft x 8ft”. First, get the exact base dimensions for your chosen model. Our summer house base guide explains the principal options and why correct preparation matters.
Professional Fitting Included
Professional fitting or assembly is included with the applicable 16×8 summerhouses shown, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable garden access and the required prepared base. At sixteen feet long, this is a substantial timber building, so having installers familiar with the product assemble it correctly removes a major job from the project.
If your garden has a narrow passage, steps, walls, height restrictions or anything else which might affect delivery, please contact us before ordering. Resolving access and foundation questions in advance normally makes installation much easier.
See a Summerhouse Before You Buy
When I started in the garden building business in 1979, there was no internet, so customers naturally inspected buildings before buying them. Online research makes comparison much easier today, but photographs still cannot demonstrate how solid a floor feels, the weight of a door, the quality of the joinery or what the interior actually feels like when you stand inside.
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 allow you to compare materials, construction, layouts and specifications before deciding what matters most to you.
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 first garden building business in 1979, trading as Marina Sheds. I was involved hands-on with making, selling and supplying timber garden buildings, and that practical background still influences the way I assess 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 it didn’t end my involvement in the garden building industry.
From Marina Sheds to Titan Garden Buildings
By 1992 we had broadened what we offered beyond sheds and added summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. Marina Sheds no longer properly described the direction of the business, so we changed the name to Titan Garden Buildings.
My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry training added practical woodworking and timber-construction knowledge to the experience I had already gained from 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 decided to take a different approach. Rather than manufacture everything ourselves and be limited to our own products, we decided to retail carefully selected, quality garden buildings from other manufacturers. That decision led to the formation of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
I still believe that independence matters because different customers genuinely need different specifications. Someone wanting a traditional 16×8 summerhouse for relaxing does not necessarily need the same building as somebody creating a fully insulated garden office. Our job is to explain those differences rather than automatically sell the highest specification.
Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I 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 16ft x 8ft summer houses can occupy almost the same amount of garden while differing considerably in timber, framing, floors, roofs, doors, glazing, insulation and overall specification.
The second lesson is to buy for how you genuinely intend to use the building. There is no advantage in paying for features you will rarely benefit from, but equally a straightforward seasonal summerhouse should not be expected to perform exactly like a purpose-designed fully insulated garden room.
Frequently Asked Questions About 16×8 Summerhouses
How big is a 16×8 summerhouse?
A nominal 16×8 summerhouse provides approximately 128 square feet of floor footprint, equivalent to around 11.9 square metres. Exact internal, external and required base measurements vary between models, so always use the manufacturer’s detailed dimensions when planning your site.
Is a 16ft x 8ft summer house a good size?
For many gardens, it is an excellent large summerhouse size. The sixteen-foot length provides substantial usable wall space while the eight-foot depth allows comfortable furniture arrangements without requiring the footprint of a much deeper garden room.
Is an 8 x 16 summerhouse different from a 16 x 8 summerhouse?
Usually the two descriptions refer to the same nominal 128-square-foot footprint with the dimensions reversed. However, manufacturers may describe frontage and depth differently, so always check the individual building plans before preparing the foundation.
What can I fit inside a 16ft by 8ft summer house?
The precise arrangement depends on the model, doors, windows and furniture, but there is normally enough room for substantial seating, desks, tables, shelving, storage and hobby equipment. The sixteen-foot length also makes it possible to create separate activity areas.
Can I get a fully insulated 16×8 summerhouse?
Yes. The current selection includes fully insulated Platinum Fleet and Odiham buildings together with fully insulated Royal garden rooms. Several other Platinum models offer full insulation as an option, giving you a range of specifications to compare.
Can I use a 16×8 summerhouse throughout the year?
That depends on its construction and how it is equipped. A well-insulated building, with appropriate heating, glazing, and ventilation, can be much more comfortable in colder periods than a conventional seasonal summerhouse. Choose the specification based on how often and when you intend to use it.
Can I use a 16×8 summerhouse as a home office?
Yes. Approximately 128 square feet provides useful room for one or more desks, office chairs, shelving and storage. If it will be a regular year-round workplace, also consider insulation, glazing, heating, ventilation, electricity and internet connectivity.
Can a 16×8 summerhouse be made bespoke?
Selected models offer bespoke options which may include changes to dimensions, doors, windows, height and layout. If the standard design is almost right but a door or window interferes with your intended furniture position, ask what can be changed before ordering.
Can a 16ft x 8ft summer house include storage?
Yes. Some summerhouses include a separate shed or storage room. A long 16ft building can work particularly well as a combination because the leisure and storage spaces can be arranged at opposite ends.
Does a 16×8 summerhouse need a base?
Yes. A firm, flat and level foundation suitable for the individual building is essential. Don’t assume the required foundation must measure exactly sixteen feet by eight feet; check the manufacturer’s base requirements before starting any work.
Do I need planning permission for a 16×8 summerhouse?
Many domestic summerhouses can fall within permitted development rights, but this depends on factors including the property, overall building height, position within the garden, proximity to boundaries, garden coverage and intended use. The 16×8 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 16×8 summer houses?
Professional fitting or assembly is included with the applicable buildings currently shown, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable access and the correct prepared base. Always check the specific product information for the exact installation conditions applying to your chosen summerhouse.
Advice Before Buying a 16×8 Summerhouse
My Advice Before Buying Your 16×8 Summerhouse
After working with timber garden buildings since 1979, my advice is straightforward: decide how you genuinely intend to use the building, mark the 16ft x 8ft footprint out in the garden, measure your furniture, compare the actual construction and choose an insulation specification appropriate for your intended use. A 16×8 summerhouse gives you considerable flexibility, but good planning is still essential.
Craig, the team and I are here to explain the differences rather than automatically steer you towards the most expensive option. Please tell us how you intend to use your summerhouse, and we can help you compare Platinum and Royal buildings, insulation, bespoke layouts, storage, bases and professional fitting.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
From £4931