What kind of base do I need for a Summerhouse

Does my Summerhouse really need a base?

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So, let’s get right to it then… here’s everything you need to know about prepping the base for your Summerhouse. “Hang on? What? You need a base for a Summerhouse? What’s that all about then? Surely a Summerhouse has a floor, right? So can’t you just plonk it in the garden and have your pals round for wine time?” Easy there Janice, not quite. It’s really important that you have a base installed BEFORE your Summerhouse arrives, and here’s why… Why do I need a base? Summerhouses typically weigh around 1 – 2 tonnes, depending on what you want to put in them. And all that hefty body needs a solid foundation to keep it steady. If we don’t prepare …

Why won’t my Summerhouse door close?

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What about this heat?! I know – best we’ve had since 1976.  “When looking at daytime temperatures the UK average for the month was 19.9 C, the same average maximum daytime temperature as in the June of the still talked-about summer of 1976, and placing it joint-second…” (Met Office 2018) So what’s that got to do with your Summerhouse doors? Well, quite a lot actually. This heat is playing havoc with your timber. Timber is a porous, natural living breathing material. This means when we have a prolonged spell of dry, sunny weather it’s only a matter of time before your timber starts to shift. Summerhouse doors are particularly susceptible because they are facing south… with the hottest of the sun …

What kind of base do you need for a Summerhouse?

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Summerhouses require a slabbed base as standard. And by this we mean a properly formed slabbed base. Not just a couple of slabs chucked on the lawn. The preferred formation would be to; dig down to firm ground, compact Type 1 Hardcore, level sharp sand and then lay the slabs for the full size of the summerhouse. I.E. a 10′ x 8′ Rannoch summerhouse needs a 10′ x 8′ slabbed base. It is important to make sure that the base is NOT bigger than the summerhouse. The base must be within the summerhouse size to ensure that the water runs off the roof and away from the Summerhouse. If the slabbed base bigger than the summerhouse, the water runs off …

3 reasons your Summerhouse might be leaking

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No one likes a leaky Summerhouse! And our Scottish weather is so unpredictable, with a fair bit of rain to contend with. But that wouldn’t be the cause of your Summerhouse leaking. There are other factors to consider, as I mention in this wee video below: VIDEO CHATTER Now, depending on age, there may be a time where your Summerhouse will spring a leak and where this leaking comes from is what you need to know. 1. Slab Base The first one, and the most common one, is when a Summerhouse sits on its slab base and then the customer has put a decorative slab around the outside of it. And put it right up to the Summerhouse. What we …

New garden building: Dealing with difficult neighbours

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Dealing with difficult neighbours when you’re thinking about getting a summerhouse for your garden can seem like a nightmare. Well, let me put your mind at ease… check out this wee video where I explain that there’s really not a lot they can do about it!

Shed vs Summerhouse: What’s the difference?

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The way I look at it is a shed is for a practical use. It’s something that is either going to be there for storing your garden equipment or there for practical working space. By practical I mean messy pretty much. Vehicle maintenance, tinkering about with tools. That type of thing. Pottery would work. All those sorts of things that are a bit messy. That’s what a shed is ideally for. It’s nice and practical. The timber is structural and its main priority is to be structural sound. The timbers are pressure treated (green) and rough sawn. They’re not decorative, clean or finished. Being a sturdy strong building is primarily what the sheds are about.

Summerhouse Maintenance: How to look after your Summerhouse

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That’s right… our Summerhouses are built to last! But, only if you remember to keep up with the aftercare. If you really want your Summerhouse to stand the test of time and still look as amazing in a few years as it does now, then there are some things you need to do. Treat it Air it Paint it That’s it… just three simple things to maintain your lovely timber building, ensuring it’s longevity and giving you years of enjoyment. Want to know more? Check out this short video I made explaining all about it…     VIDEO CHATTER If you have just bought a Gillies and Mackay Summerhouse, you should be considering the aftercare for that Summerhouse and how …

How often should you re-roof your Summerhouse?

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If you’re looking at your Summerhouse and wondering if you should have it re-roofed, wait… it might not need it yet. Here’s why… VIDEO CHATTER If you have a Gillies and Mackay Summerhouse, that’s maybe eight or nine years old, you’re probably thinking that you’re going to have to re-roof it soon. And you’d be right… because when you bought the Summerhouse, we told you it had a life expectancy of 10 years and is guaranteed by the manufacturers for 10 years. So you’re right in thinking it’s time to get it re-roofed. What I would suggest first of all, is to check if it actually needs to be done. If the felt that’s on it is not actually letting …

Do I need to paint my decking?

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If you have ordered a playhouse or a summerhouse from Gillies and Mackay and it has a veranda and canopy on it, the veranda is made out of decking. That decking is a pressure treated timber, which means that you don’t actually need to treat it with anything. However, some people want to know if they can paint it, and that’s absolutely fine. You can, but please remember that the Sadolin that you’re putting on the building isn’t really compatible for a walkable surface. You should be looking at some sort of decking stain alternative. The one that we would recommend is Jotun, and it’s called Demidekk.

Best type of roofing for a Pent Shed

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Some time ago, when the rain wouldn’t stop and Scotland was completely drenched, Gillies and Mackay were faced with leaking pent roofs. We’d been putting the conversation off because our decision would involve a significant price increase. Ultimately, it came down to either a leaking Shed, which is no use to anyone, or a Shed that’s more expensive but doesn’t leak! Although the normal felt works well on Apex pitches, the gradient of Pent isn’t enough to allow the water to run off as readily. What we found was the water would seep back up under the felt and then through the sarking.