Crawley Summer Houses at a Glance
Construction: Quality redwood timber · Floors & roofs: Timber construction · Glazing: Toughened glass as standard · Sizes: From compact garden summerhouses to large designs up to 28 x 16ft · Styles: Apex, pent, corner, contemporary and traditional designs.
Uses: Garden retreat, relaxation space, entertaining, hobby room or home workspace · Installation: Free assembly included on our main Diamond, Platinum and Royal ranges in Crawley · Insulation: Insulated and fully insulated options available · Customisation: Bespoke sizes, layouts and coloured paint finishes available · Bases: Base-building service available · Delivery area: Summer houses supplied and installed throughout Crawley and the surrounding West Sussex area.
See before you buy: Full-size summer houses are on display at our Surrey show site near Guildford, Woking and Ripley. Need advice? Our experienced team can help with summer house size, style, base requirements, insulation, installation and bespoke options before you order.
View More Summerhouse Images
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
l Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of summerhouses
Click on images below to see larger versions of sumerhouse shed combos
Click on images below to see larger versions of combination garden rooms with shed
We recommend OPTIONAL Demidekk Ultimate log cabin paint range which can be colour matched to suit. See examples in
our photo gallery.Please note that all colour shown are indicative only and will vary depending upon the light on the day the photo was taken. Additionally all screens will display the image differently. If exact colour is essential then please order a sample pot.
Choosing the Right Summer House for Your Crawley Garden
Choosing a summer house is not simply a matter of finding a design you like and selecting a size. After working with garden buildings since 1979, I have learnt that it pays to look closely at how a building is made, what is included, and whether its specification suits how you intend to use it. Two summerhouses can look remarkably similar in photographs but be quite different when you compare the timber, framing, floor, roof, doors and glazing.
If you are considering one of our garden summer houses in Crawley, start by deciding what you want from the building. A place to sit with a cup of tea and enjoy the garden has very different requirements from a home office, hobby room, or building you hope to use throughout much of the year. Once you know its purpose, it becomes much easier to compare suitable designs and specifications.
Summer Houses Crawley – What Should You Look For?
I always encourage customers to look beyond the headline price. Check what the walls are made from, the strength of the framing, whether the floor and roof are timber, the type of glazing, the quality of the doors and what is included with delivery and installation. A cheaper summerhouse is not necessarily better value if compromises have been made in areas that affect its strength, appearance or useful life.
Size is equally important. Measure the available space carefully and remember that the building needs sufficient room for installation and future maintenance. Consider where the doors will open, which direction the windows will face, and what you will see when sitting inside. Positioning a summerhouse well can make as much difference to your enjoyment of it as choosing the building itself.
Which Type of Garden Summer House Is Best?
Traditional Summer Houses
A traditional timber summerhouse is ideal if you want an attractive garden retreat for relaxing, reading, entertaining or enjoying the garden during the warmer months. Many sizes and styles are available, so I recommend comparing the actual specifications rather than deciding from photographs alone. You can explore our complete range of summer houses to see the different options.
Contemporary Summer Houses
Contemporary summerhouses are popular where a cleaner, more modern appearance suits the house and garden. Larger areas of glazing can also create a bright interior and offer better views of the garden. Our contemporary summer houses include a choice of modern designs and specifications.
Corner Summer Houses
A corner summerhouse can be particularly useful in a Crawley garden where you want to make good use of an otherwise awkward corner without dominating the central lawn or patio. The angled frontage can also provide attractive views across the garden. Take a look at our corner summer houses if this style would suit your available space.
Insulated Summer Houses
If you intend to work, pursue hobbies or spend long periods in your summerhouse outside the warmer months, I recommend considering insulation rather than assuming a standard summerhouse will provide the comfort you need. Our insulated summer houses are worth comparing when extended seasonal or more regular use is important.
Summer Houses With Storage
Not every garden has enough room for both a summerhouse and a separate shed. A combination building can provide an attractive leisure area, plus separate storage for garden tools, furniture, bicycles, and other equipment. Our summer houses with shed storage can be a practical solution where garden space is at a premium.
Why My Experience With Garden Buildings Matters
I’m Robin Antill, founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings. I left school at 15 and eventually started my first garden building business in 1979, trading as Marina Sheds. Working directly with sheds and timber buildings taught me lessons that have stayed with me throughout my working life, particularly the importance of focusing on construction and specification rather than being influenced solely by price or appearance.
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 business lesson, but it did not end my involvement with garden buildings.
In 1992 we expanded into summerhouses, garages, garden rooms and log cabins. As the business no longer concentrated primarily on sheds, this new direction led to a name change to Titan Garden Buildings. My son Craig joined me in 1992 after studying carpentry at Guildford College from 1990. His carpentry training gave him a practical understanding of timber and construction, which has always been valuable when assessing garden buildings.
We sold Titan Garden Buildings in 1998. In 2000, we decided that rather than manufacture everything ourselves, we would offer customers quality products from selected garden building manufacturers. This led to the formation of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings and gave us the freedom to compare different manufacturers and offer buildings with different styles, specifications and price points.
Craig now runs the day-to-day business, and I am here to support him and the team as required. More than four decades after I started Marina Sheds, I still believe customers deserve clear information about what they are buying. You can read more about me, Craig and the history of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.
Can You See Our Summer Houses Before Buying?
Yes, and whenever practical, this is one of the best ways to choose a garden building. Photographs are useful, but they cannot fully show the feel of the timber, the strength of the floor, the construction of the doors, or the overall solidity of a building. Customers looking for summer houses in Crawley can visit our Surrey garden building display site to inspect representative buildings and compare construction before making a decision.
We cannot display every building, size and option available, but seeing representative models can give you a much better understanding of the differences between ranges. It also allows you to discuss what you want from your summerhouse and which specification is likely to suit you best.
Summer Houses Crawley – Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Supply Summer Houses in Crawley?
Yes. We supply a wide selection of summer houses for customers in Crawley, including traditional, contemporary, corner and insulated designs. Professional assembly is available on our principal ranges, subject to the individual building, delivery location, suitable access and base requirements.
What Size Summer House Should I Choose?
Choose a size that gives you enough usable internal space without overwhelming the garden. Before ordering, mark the proposed dimensions on the ground and consider access around the building, door opening, window positions and space required for future maintenance. It is usually better to choose a well-proportioned building that works with your garden than to buy the largest summerhouse that will fit.
Do I Need an Insulated Summer House?
That depends on how you intend to use it. For relaxing and entertaining mainly during warmer weather, a conventional timber summerhouse may be ideal. If you intend to work from the building, use it regularly during colder periods or want greater year-round comfort, an insulated model is normally worth considering.
Can a Summer House Be Made to My Requirements?
Bespoke options are available on selected ranges. Depending on the manufacturer and model, changes may be possible to the size, doors, windows, layout and other features. If your Crawley garden has an unusual space or you have a particular layout in mind, speak to us about your requirements before ordering.
What Is Most Important When Comparing Summer Houses?
My advice is to compare the complete specification rather than price alone. Look at timber quality, wall construction, framing, floor, roof, doors, glazing, treatment and installation. Also establish exactly what is included in the advertised price. These details can explain why two garden summer houses that look similar online may have very different prices.
Who Is Robin Antill?
I am the founder of 1st Choice Leisure Buildings and have worked with garden buildings since starting Marina Sheds in 1979. I later developed Titan Garden Buildings before Craig, and I formed 1st Choice Leisure Buildings in 2000. Craig now manages the business day-to-day, while I continue to support him and the team with the knowledge and experience I have gained over more than four decades.
Need Help Choosing a Summer House in Crawley?
With so many styles and specifications available, choosing the right summerhouse can seem complicated. My advice is to start with how you intend to use the building, decide how much garden space you can comfortably give it and then compare construction and specification within your budget. Our aim at 1st Choice Leisure Buildings is to give you enough information to make an informed decision rather than steer you towards one particular building.
Browse the full range of summer houses, visit our Surrey display site, or contact us if you would like help comparing the options for your Crawley garden.
We also supply summer houses across nearby areas, including Croydon, Epsom, Surrey, Guildford, London, Horsham, East Grinstead, Reigate, Redhill, Haywards Heath in Sussex
From £3928
