Summerhouse/studio

[bednobs]

thinking of getting a summerhouse - anyone have one? Do you use it? Can you use it in the winter. What will i have to consider extras etc.
I think someone has one - zacs mzybe?

[Zacs-Master]

Ha! No I don't have one. But if I had a large south facing garden, I probably would, if only to combat SADS. One big cost factor would be getting electricity to it.

[237SJ]

My friend has one. It is quite big. What kind of size are you looking at?

[bednobs]

about 4.5m wide

[Zacs-Master]

By how deep?

[Zacs-Master]

Build it yourself or have it built?
Double or single skin?
Double or single glazed?
Gas, electric?
Drainage and water supplies?

[237SJ]

My friend who has moved from London down to Somerset has one in her garden. Her husband wanted it and I have been in it albeit before it was finished. It is a bit of a man cave. I will ask her about it tomorrow. I think it came as a kit.

[bednobs]

3m. i have a southfacing garden, but actually i want it at the end so north facing would be better

[goodgoalie]

Some interesting ones here:
https://www.gardenstudio.co.uk/

[bednobs]

the one we looked at has electricity - we'd have to get an armoured cable. It's also insulated etc

[anneasquith]

Great idea can only add value to you're home, a dream house for a little girl :-)

[Buenchico]

Although this web page is from a commercial site it still goes quite along way towards answering your " Can you use it in the winter?" question:
http://www.gardenlifelogcabins.co.uk/blog/make-your-summerhouse-warm-in-winter-interior-design-tricks/

[jno]

will you need council permission for it?

[Buenchico]

>>> will you need council permission for it?

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/43/outbuildings

[ethandron]

We have a summerhouse, bednobs, this will be our second winter with it.
It's actually called a log cabin and is more substantial than many we looked at. It's not insulated and although we thought we may use it through winter, the reality is we haven't. We do use it on very chilly days and have a couple of throws/fleece blankets in there to snuggle under.
My husband laid an armoured electricity cable (cost about £20, easy peasy according to him) to it before the company we bought it from came and erected it. We already had the concrete base as it's where we used to keep our touring caravan before we sold it. It's 4m x 3m and is pretty much east facing due to where it had to go, which is perfect. If it was completely south facing it would get far too hot.
It's used purely as a summerhouse (or gin palace as it's known in the family) although when we were contemplating getting it I did wonder if I'd do any painting out there. The reality is it's too small for both purposes.
It's single glazed, has no gas or water, and is one of the best things we've ever bought :)

[bednobs]

thanks everyone