12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse

Our verdict on the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse

The 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse is fit with lockable double doors that use a lock and key locking system and is treated using a tigerskin burnt orange (water based) process ^[1]. The 2 full length windows used on this particular 12’x8′ use a 3mm toughened glass material.

Base material: wood

Our experts say this has 5 stand out features. A stand out feature is something found on over 70% of the top 10% of products in a particular category or is an exceptionally good feature as rated by our panel of experts.

1. When looking at cladding material used on the top 10% of all garden rooms, shiplap tongue & groove is used on 78% of them.

2. The tongue & groove construction used for the roof is the same kind you’ll find used across 89% of the top 10% of garden rooms.

3. The tongue & groove floor material is a great choice and is what we find being used by 100% of the top 10% of garden rooms.

4. The toughened glass window installation is known to be a great choice, and our data shows us that 78% of the top 10% of garden rooms make use of this kind of glazing.

5. The mineral felt roof covering found on this garden room is rated to be one of the best by our experts.

Below is a brief overview of how some of the key points of this garden room fairs across the market.

Cladding

The shiplap tongue & groove cladding(walls) used here is one of the best forms of construction for garden room walls out of the 3 types ^[2] we’ve identified on same-size garden rooms, that you’ll also see getting used on 43% (41 of 95) of all garden rooms analysed ^[3], as well as being used on 78% (7 of 9) of the top 10% of garden rooms ^[4]. You’ll also find the shiplap tongue & groove cladding showing up on 42% of 12’x8′ garden rooms (8 in total) ^[5], and when taking the average Expert Score of those 12’x8′ garden rooms (83), the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 85.

The walls are 12mm thick and we rate this an about average thickness out of the 9 found on same-size garden rooms ^[6]. It is used on 44% of all garden rooms ^[7] and is also used across 44% of the top 10% of garden rooms ^[8] we analysed. 42% of 12’x8′ garden rooms (8 in total) use 12mm thick walls ^[9], and if we compare this item against those 8 we find it’s Expert Score is 5% higher than the average score for a 12’x8′ 12mm garden room.

Read full analysis for cladding.

Roofing

Tongue & groove is the cladding used for the roofing, our experts rate this the best form of roof material out of the 2 types we’ve found on same-size garden rooms ^[10]. This roofing material is used on 48% of all garden rooms analysed, and 89% of the top 10% of garden rooms. 47% of 12’x8′ garden rooms (9 in total) use tongue & groove construction for the roof, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 12’x8′ garden rooms (84), the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 85.

A 12mm thick roof boarding was used on this garden room which is one of the best thicknesses used for a roofing material out of 6 thicknesses identified on same-size garden rooms ^[11]. It’s used on 29% of all garden rooms and 44% of the top 10% of garden rooms. 21% of 12’x8′ garden rooms (4 in total) use a 12mm thick roof boarding, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 12’x8′ garden rooms (83), the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 85.

Mineral felt is used as the roof covering, and out of 2 types identified on same-size garden rooms ^[12], is said to be one of the best roof covering materials. It comes fitted on 32% of garden rooms and used on 56% of the top 10% of 12’x8′ garden rooms. 26% of 12’x8′ garden rooms (5 in total) make use of a mineral felt material as a roof covering, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 12’x8′ garden rooms (82), the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 85.

Read full analysis for roofing.

Flooring

The manufactures of this garden room chose tongue & groove for the floor construction, we rate this the best form of floor construction out of 2 types found on same-size garden rooms ^[13]. This type of floor construction is used on 51% of all garden rooms we analysed, and 100% of the top 10% of those garden rooms. 53% of 12’x8′ garden rooms (10 in total) use tongue & groove construction for the floor. Additionally when taking the average Expert Score of those 12’x8′ garden rooms (84), the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 85.

A 12mm thick floor boarding is used here, this is one of the best floor board thicknesses according to our experts out of 6 found on same-size garden rooms ^[14]. It’s found on 36% of all garden rooms and used on 56% of the top 10% of garden rooms. 37% of 12’x8′ garden rooms (7 in total) use 12mm thick floor boarding, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 12’x8′ garden rooms (81), the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 85.

Read full analysis for flooring.

Window

Toughened glass windows come installed on this garden room. As a glazing option, we rate it the best out of the 2 glazing types found on 12’x8′ garden rooms ^[15]. This particular type of glazing is used on 22% of all windowed garden rooms and 88% of the top 10% of garden rooms with windows we analysed. While you may not find a toughened glass of this kind on many of the 12’x8’s (only 24% use it), with it being on 88% of the top 10%, it’s quality can generally be assured, even though the Expert Score of this 12’x8′ is 4% lower when compared to the average 12’x8′ garden room that uses toughened glass windows.

The windows on this garden room use a 3mm thick glazing, we rate this an about average thickness for window glazing out of 4 different thicknesses found on same-size garden rooms ^[16]. Glazing this thick is found on 14% of all the windowed garden rooms we analysed and used on 50% of the top 10% of windowed garden rooms. Out of all windowed 12’x8′ garden rooms this is the only garden room to make use of 3mm windows.

The 457mm x 1605mm windows on this garden room are 1% equal than the average 12’x8′ garden room.

Read full analysis for window.

Height

The height of this garden room is 1985mm (6′) which is 4% less than the average 12’x8′ garden room, giving you 77.5mm (0.3′) less headroom.

Read full analysis for height.

Doors

The door height is 1,792.00mm (6′) tall which is 3% or 48.33mm (0.2′) shorter than the average 12’x8′.
The door width is 1,092.00mm (4′) wide which is 28% or 310.00mm (1′) narrower than the average 12’x8′.

Read full analysis for doors.

You Might Also Consider

We found 18 12’x8′ garden rooms with comparable specifications. The 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse has an Expert Score that is 1% equal than average and is £163 less expensive than average. If you are looking for the best value or highest expert scoring garden rooms out of the 18 with comparable specifications the following might be of interest.

Best value – If you are looking for something comparable that costs less, then you could save £2,035 with this Optional extra – Add top coat Shire 10′ x 10′ Double Door with Two Opening Windows Dip Treated Garden Studio Summerhouse Top Coat. It is priced at £239, this is 852% less than this and has an Expert Score of 87, 2 points higher than the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse.

Highest Expert Score – With an Expert Score of 92 vs 85 for this product, the Redlands 16′ x 8′ Studio Summer House is the best 12’x8′ garden room with comparable specifications, and is priced at £5,474, that’s £3,201 more than the 12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse.

High Wind Area – If you live in a particularly exposed or high wind area then having a garden room with a thicker cladding and higher than average frame thickness can be preferable. We found at least 3 garden rooms that have a combination of features that can make them more suited to higher wind areas.
Redlands 16′ x 8′ Studio Summer House
Redlands 14′ x 8′ Studio Summer House
Shire 10 x 10ft Double Glazed Timber Apex Garden Office

Coastal Consideration – If you live in a particularly wet or harsher environment such as by the coast then you might want to consider something with a more robust pressure treatment or something made from metal or plastic, both materials that are particularly suited to such harsh environments. We’ve found at least 3 garden rooms that have a combination of features that can make them more suited to higher wind areas.
Redlands 16′ x 8′ Studio Summer House
Redlands 14′ x 8′ Studio Summer House
10 x 10 FULLY INSULATED Pent COMBI Summerhouse 64mm Walls, Floor & Roof 12mm + 40mm Insulated EcoTherm + 12mm T&G)-Double Glazed Safety Toughened Windows +EPDM Roof+FREE INSTALL

Public-Facing – Extra security measures might be more of a concern if you’re placing your building in an area that is more public-facing than a garden. Features such as security windows or even having no windows at all, and the ability to lock all opening doors are usually much more important when you have something that is more public-facing. We found at least 3 garden rooms that have options that you might find a better fit if this is a concern you have.
12’x8′ Tiger Barn Retreat Summerhouse
Forest Xtend 3.0+ Insulated Garden Office 2.98m x 2.9m
12’x8′ Shire Aster Combination Wooden Contemporary Summerhouse

More Child Friendly – If you have children and you are looking for something that has that little extra in terms of durability then tougher glazing options might be a better option. Here we have at least 3 other options that will fill those needs.
Redlands 16′ x 8′ Studio Summer House
Redlands 14′ x 8′ Studio Summer House
Shire 10 x 10ft Double Glazed Timber Apex Garden Office