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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Benefits and Layout of 8×8 Summerhouses
Why Choose an 8ft x 8ft Summer House?
An 8ft x 8ft summer house has a nominal footprint of approximately 64 square feet, or around 5.9 square metres. For me, this size is particularly useful because the square shape gives you genuine depth as well as width, making furniture placement easier than in many shallower buildings.
An 8 x 8 summerhouse can comfortably accommodate seating and a table while still leaving useful space for shelving, hobby equipment or compact storage. Depending on the design and specification, it can also provide enough room for a small desk if occasional home working is part of the plan.
An 8ft by 8ft summer house can therefore work as a garden retreat, reading room, craft room, entertaining space or hobby room. If year-round home working is your main requirement, I would also compare our garden rooms and offices, where insulation and all-season comfort matter more.
Why a Square 8×8 Summerhouse Is So Versatile
The square footprint is one of the main attractions of an 8×8 summerhouse. With roughly equal width and depth, you have more freedom to position chairs, tables and other furniture without everything having to sit against one long wall.
I recommend marking out approximately eight feet square on the ground before ordering. Put the chairs, table, desk or hobby furniture you intend to use inside the marked area and walk around it. It costs nothing and gives you a much better idea of how the finished room will work than simply looking at measurements on a screen.
Types and Styles of 8×8 Summerhouses
Which Type of 8×8 Summerhouse Should You Choose?
The live 8×8 category gives you considerably more choice than many smaller sizes. There are traditional Diamond summerhouses, Georgian and contemporary designs, corner summerhouses, higher-specification Platinum buildings with insulation options and fully insulated Royal garden rooms.
I would therefore start with how you intend to use the building rather than simply sorting by price. Someone wanting somewhere attractive to sit in spring and summer has very different requirements from someone planning to work inside for several hours every weekday throughout the winter.
Diamond 8×8 Summerhouses
I would start with the Diamond range if your main requirement is a traditional leisure summerhouse for relaxing, reading, hobbies or entertaining. The live category includes styles such as the Ashington, Bolney Georgian, Keymer Contemporary, and Washington Classic, along with the Worthing Corner design, giving you a useful choice of looks and layouts.
Diamond also offers colour finishes and bespoke options on suitable models, which can be particularly useful when the standard door or window arrangement does not quite suit your garden or intended furniture layout.
Platinum 8ft x 8ft Summer Houses
I would look more closely at Platinum if you want a more substantial specification or insulation. The current 8×8 choices include Apex, Pent and corner designs, with full insulation available or included on selected models.
That can make Platinum particularly relevant for hobbies, occasional home working and customers who expect to use their building for more of the year than they would a conventional seasonal summerhouse.
Royal 8×8 Garden Rooms
I would consider Royal when regular year-round use is the real objective. These are fully insulated garden rooms rather than conventional summerhouses, so they suit additional usable garden rooms for an office, studio, hobbies, or entertaining.
Traditional, Contemporary or Corner 8×8 Summerhouse?
The square 8×8 size works with several different styles. A traditional design can complement an established garden; a contemporary summerhouse can suit a more modern house and landscaping. In contrast, a corner summerhouse can make efficient use of an area which might otherwise remain empty.
Consider the appearance from your house as well as the view from inside the building. You may look at your summerhouse every day, so choosing a style which works naturally with its surroundings matters just as much as choosing the right furniture.
Choosing the Right 8×8 Summerhouse Specification
What Should You Look for When Buying an 8×8 Summerhouse?
After working with garden buildings since 1979, I always encourage customers to look beyond attractive photographs and headline prices. Two 8×8 summerhouses can have identical nominal dimensions but be very different buildings once you examine their construction and specifications.
Look carefully at the timber, cladding, framing, floor, roof, doors, windows, glazing and insulation where applicable. Also check exactly what the price includes. The best-value building is not automatically the cheapest or the most expensive; it is the one with the specification that suits what you genuinely need it to do.
Whenever practical, I strongly recommend seeing garden buildings before buying. You can visit our Surrey garden building display site, where almost 80 representative garden buildings can be inspected and compared in person before you make your decision.
Insulation, Office Use, Bespoke Options, Bases and Fitting
Can an 8×8 Summerhouse Be Insulated?
Yes. The current 8×8 category includes Platinum models with full insulation options, fully insulated Platinum buildings and fully insulated Royal garden rooms. This gives you far more choice than insulating a conventional summerhouse after it’s been installed.
I would look beyond the word “insulated” and compare the complete construction. Walls, floor, roof, doors, windows and glazing all influence how suitable a building will be for regular colder-weather use.
If insulation is particularly important, compare our dedicated insulated summerhouses as well. Remember, insulation slows heat transfer rather than producing heat, so you may still need a suitable heating source during colder periods.
Can an 8ft by 8ft Summer House Be Used as an Office?
Yes, but I would distinguish between occasional laptop use and a genuine garden office. An 8ft by 8ft summer house provides enough physical space for a compact desk and chair, but the building specification matters as much as its dimensions.
If you intend to work inside occasionally during pleasant weather, a conventional summerhouse may be perfectly adequate. If you intend to work there throughout autumn and winter, I would compare an insulated Platinum building or one of the fully insulated Royal garden rooms instead.
Can an 8×8 Summerhouse Be Made Bespoke?
Yes. Bespoke options are available on suitable buildings, particularly within the Diamond range. Depending on the model, alterations can include different dimensions, door positions, window positions, and other design changes.
If a standard 8ft x 8ft summer house is nearly perfect but a door or window is exactly where you want to place furniture, I would ask whether it can be changed rather than automatically accepting a compromise. You can contact us and explain what you need before ordering.
Does an 8ft x 8ft Summer House Need a Proper Base?
Absolutely. I have been saying for decades that a good garden building needs a good base. An 8ft x 8ft summer house needs a firm, flat, level foundation suited to the exact model you choose.
Do not simply mark out an eight-foot square and assume that is the required base. Nominal dimensions, manufacturing dimensions, roof overhangs and installation clearances can differ, so always work from the exact base requirements supplied for the individual building.
FREE Fitting on Our 8×8 Summerhouses
Professional fitting, assembly or installation is included on the main Diamond, Platinum and Royal buildings currently shown in this category, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable access and having the correct base ready before installation.
I consider professional assembly an important part of the overall value. Garden-building panels are large and awkward, and correct assembly matters. You still need to ensure that access is suitable and the correct level foundation is complete before the fitting team arrives.
Garden Building Experience and Practical Advice
Why My Garden Building Experience Matters
I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, and I believe customers should know who is behind the advice they are reading. My experience with garden buildings began in 1979 and comes from manufacturing, selling, delivering and supplying timber buildings rather than simply selling products online.
I left school at 15 and in 1979 started my own business trading as Marina Sheds. In those early years I made buildings, sold them, delivered them and dealt directly with customers. That hands-on experience taught me where strength matters, why good floors and framing matter, and where shortcuts in construction are likely to show later.
From Marina Sheds to Titan Garden Buildings
I sold Marina Sheds in 1990. Unfortunately, I did not receive all of the money I was due from the sale. It was a difficult business lesson, but it certainly did not end my involvement with garden buildings.
By 1992 we had expanded beyond traditional sheds and added summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. Because the business was no longer principally about sheds, that broader direction led to a change of name to Titan Garden Buildings.
My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry training brought practical woodworking knowledge and an understanding of timber construction to the business, and from that point on, garden buildings became a father-and-son concern.
Forming 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998. In 2000, Craig and I made another important decision. Rather than manufacturing everything ourselves or being restricted to one manufacturer’s range, we wanted to use our experience to select and retail quality buildings from established manufacturers. That led to the formation of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
Our manufacturing background still influences the way we assess garden buildings today. We know to look at timber, framing, floors, roofs, doors, glazing and overall construction rather than judging a product simply from attractive photographs or its headline price.
Today Craig runs the day-to-day business, and I remain involved to support him and the team whenever required. You can read more about Craig, me and our history on our About 1st Choice Leisure Buildings page.
What More Than 45 Years Has Taught Me About Choosing an 8×8 Building
The first thing I would decide is how you genuinely intend to use the building. A summerhouse for relaxing on pleasant afternoons needs different specifications than a room you intend to work in every weekday through winter.
The second consideration is furniture. Mark out about eight feet square and place the chairs, table, desk, or hobby furniture you plan to use inside that area. You can immediately see whether the size will work and whether you need to move up or down a size.
The third is orientation. Think about where the doors and windows face, the view from inside and how the building looks from your house. On a square building, changing the frontage can make a considerable difference to how the space works.
Most importantly, buy the specification you need. Paying for insulation and additional features you will never use is unnecessary, but choosing too lightly for regular winter use can prove equally disappointing.
Frequently Asked Questions About 8×8 Summerhouses
How big is an 8ft x 8ft summer house?
An 8ft x 8ft summer house has a nominal footprint of approximately 64 square feet, around 5.9 square metres or roughly 2.4m x 2.4m. Always use the exact product and base dimensions supplied for your chosen building rather than relying solely on the nominal size.
What can I fit inside an 8×8 summerhouse?
An 8×8 summerhouse can usually accommodate comfortable seating and a table, with extra room for shelving, hobby equipment, or compact storage. Depending on the layout, there can also be enough space for a small desk and office chair.
Is an 8 x 8 summerhouse suitable for a smaller garden?
It can be. The square footprint provides useful internal space without requiring the length of a large rectangular summerhouse. You should still allow appropriate clearance around the building for fitting, access and future maintenance.
Can an 8ft by 8ft summer house be insulated?
Yes. The live 8×8 category includes Platinum buildings with insulation options, as well as fully insulated Platinum and Royal models. Compare the complete construction specification if regular colder-weather or year-round use is important to you.
Can an 8×8 summerhouse be used as a garden office?
Yes. An 8×8 footprint can accommodate a compact workstation, but I would choose the building specification based on how often you will use it. For regular year-round office use, an insulated Platinum or fully insulated Royal building deserves serious consideration.
Is fitting included with an 8ft x 8ft summer house?
Professional fitting, assembly or installation is included on the main Diamond, Platinum and Royal ranges currently shown on this page, subject to the individual product, delivery area, suitable access and correct base requirements. Always check the precise terms for your chosen model.
Do I need planning permission for an 8×8 summerhouse?
Many garden summerhouses can be installed under permitted development rights, but the rules depend on factors including the property, building height, intended position and proximity to boundaries. Listed properties, designated land, and other circumstances may have additional requirements, so check the rules that apply to your property with the relevant local planning authority when necessary.
Final Advice on Choosing an 8×8 Summerhouse
My Final Advice on Choosing an 8×8 Summerhouse
An 8ft by 8ft summer house is a particularly versatile size because the square footprint gives you useful furniture space without moving into the dimensions of a much larger garden building. Start by deciding exactly how you want to use it, then choose the specification that matches that requirement.
After working with garden buildings since 1979, my advice remains to look beyond attractive photographs and headline prices. Compare the timber, framing, floor, roof, doors, glazing, insulation and complete specification, and only pay for features which will provide genuine value to you.
If possible, visit our Surrey display site to compare representative garden buildings in person. If you cannot visit, contact us and explain how you intend to use the building. Craig, the team and I would much rather help you choose the right specification before you buy.
Robin Antill
Founder, 1st Choice Leisure Buildings
From £4931