EXPERT REVIEWED 
FREE DELIVERY 
INSTALATION AVAILABLE 4×8 Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse
First Added - February 27 2022
Last Updated - August 4 2022 - 26 Data Points Updated - 3 Data Points Added
Reviewed & curated by a panel of garden building experts. Using methodology 1.1
Product ID: GTIN: 5060767735114.0
Size: 4'x8'
Merchants Checked: 12
Available From: 1
Support WhatShed: by making a purchase after clicking a link above, a portion of the sale supports this site.
Our verdict on the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse
The 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is fit with lockable single doors that use a magnetic safety catch locking system and is treated using a tigerskin burnt orange (water based) process [1]. The 3 georgian windows used on this particular 4’x8′ use a 2mm styrene [2] material.
Base material: european softwood
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. The choice of roof covering (mineral felt), is also what we find that 88% of the top 10% of playhouses use.
2. The styrene window installation is known to be a great choice, and our data shows us that 94% of the top 10% of playhouses make use of this kind of glazing.
3. The shiplap tongue & groove cladding used on this playhouse is one the best available for playhouses rated by our experts.
4. The tongue & groove construction like the one used on the roof of this playhouse is rated one of the best by our panel of experts.
5. Our experts say this the tongue & groove floor material used here is one of the best available on all playhouses.
Below is a brief overview of how some of the key points of this playhouse fairs across the market.
Cladding
The shiplap tongue & groove cladding(walls) used here is one of the best forms of construction for playhouse walls out of the 3 types [3] we’ve identified on same-size playhouses, that you’ll also see getting used on 59% (103 of 175) of all playhouses analysed [4], as well as being used on 47% (8 of 17) of the top 10% of playhouses [5]. You’ll also find the shiplap tongue & groove cladding showing up on 54% of 4’x8′ playhouses (20 in total) [6], and when taking the average Expert Score of those 4’x8′ playhouses (75), the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 77.
The walls are 12mm thick and we rate this an about average thickness out of the 4 found on same-size playhouses [7]. It is used on 49% of all playhouses [8] and is also used across 59% of the top 10% of playhouses [9] we analysed. 54% of 4’x8′ playhouses (20 in total) use 12mm thick walls [10], and when taking the average Expert Score of those 4’x8′ playhouses (76), the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 77.
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 playhouses [11]. This roofing material is used on 26% of all playhouses analysed, and 12% of the top 10% of playhouses. 19% of 4’x8′ playhouses (7 in total) use tongue & groove construction for the roof, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 4’x8′ playhouses (74), the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 77.
A 12mm thick roof boarding was used on this playhouse which is one of the best thicknesses used for a roofing material out of 11 thicknesses identified on same-size playhouses [12]. It’s used on 18% of all playhouses and 12% of the top 10% of playhouses. 16% of 4’x8′ playhouses (6 in total) use a 12mm thick roof boarding, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 4’x8′ playhouses (74), the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 77.
Mineral felt is used as the roof covering, and out of 2 types identified on same-size playhouses [13], is said to be one of the best roof covering materials. It comes fitted on 64% of playhouses and used on 88% of the top 10% of 4’x8′ playhouses. 73% of 4’x8′ playhouses (27 in total) make use of a mineral felt material as a roof covering, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 4’x8′ playhouses (77), the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is the same with an Expert Score of 77.
Read full analysis for roofing.
Flooring
The manufactures of this playhouse chose tongue & groove for the floor construction, we rate this the best form of floor construction out of 2 types found on same-size playhouses [14]. This type of floor construction is used on 41% of all playhouses we analysed, and 24% of the top 10% of those playhouses. 41% of 4’x8′ playhouses (15 in total) use tongue & groove construction for the floor with this product having an Expert Score of 6% higher than the average.
A 12mm thick floor boarding is used here, this is one of the best floor board thicknesses according to our experts out of 10 found on same-size playhouses [15]. It’s found on 26% of all playhouses and used on 24% of the top 10% of playhouses. 16% of 4’x8′ playhouses (6 in total) use 12mm thick floor boarding, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 4’x8′ playhouses (74), the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 77.
Read full analysis for flooring.
Window
Styrene windows come installed on this playhouse. As a glazing option, we rate it one of the best out of the 2 glazing types found on 4’x8′ playhouses [16]. This particular type of glazing is used on 77% of all windowed playhouses and 100% of the top 10% of playhouses with windows we analysed. 83% of 4’x8′ playhouses with windows (29 in total) use styrene windows, and when taking the average Expert Score of those styrene 4’x8′ playhouses (76), the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 77.
The windows on this playhouse use a 2mm thick glazing, we rate this one of the worst thicknesses for window glazing. You’ll also find this is the only thickness glazing used on same-size playhouses [17]. Glazing this thick is found on 17% of all the windowed playhouses we analysed and used on 13% of the top 10% of windowed playhouses. 17% of 4’x8′ playhouses (6 in total) use 2mm thick glazing, and when taking the average Expert Score of those 4’x8′ playhouses (74), the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse is just above the average with an Expert Score of 77.
The 457mm x 610mm windows on this playhouse are 1% equal than the average 4’x8′ playhouse.
Read full analysis for window.
Height
The height of this playhouse is 1316mm (4′) which is 6% less than the average 4’x8′ playhouse, giving you 84.0mm (0.3′) less headroom.
Read full analysis for height.
Doors
The door height is 1,130.00mm (4′) tall which is 1% or 11.41mm (0.0′) taller than the average 4’x8′.
The door width is 548.00mm (2′) wide which is 14% or 75.56mm (0.2′) narrower than the average 4’x8′.
Read full analysis for doors.
You Might Also Consider
We found 35 4’x8′ playhouses with comparable specifications. The 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse has an Expert Score that is 3% higher than average and is £26 less expensive than average. If you are looking for the best value or highest expert scoring playhouses out of the 35 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 £501 with this 6′ x 5’6 Shire Cubby Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse. It is priced at £440, this is 114% less than this and has an Expert Score of 80, 2 points higher than the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse.
Highest Expert Score – With an Expert Score of 85 vs 77 for this product, the 5×7 Mercia Snowdrop Cottage Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse is the best 4’x8′ playhouse with comparable specifications, and is priced at £719, that’s £222 less than the 4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse.
High Wind Area – If you live in a particularly exposed or high wind area then having a playhouse with a thicker cladding and higher than average frame thickness can be preferable. We found at least 3 playhouses that have a combination of features that can make them more suited to higher wind areas.
7×5 Mercia Tulip Tower Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
6 x 5 Shire Pixie Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
4’10 x 6’6 Mercia Poppy Kids Wooden Tower Playhouse
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 playhouses that have a combination of features that can make them more suited to higher wind areas.
BillyOh Gingerbread Junior Tower Playhouse
5 x 7 Jake Wooden Tower Platform Playhouse with Apex Roof, Single Door and Window.
5 x 7 Jake Wooden Tower Platform Playhouse with Slide , Apex roof, Single Door and Window.
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 playhouses that have options that you might find a better fit if this is a concern you have.
6 x 5 Shire Pixie Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
6′ x 5’6 Shire Cubby Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse
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.
5×7 Mercia Snowdrop Cottage Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
6×5 Mercia Tulip Slide Tower Playhouse
Mercia 6 x 5ft Wooden Snug Playhouse & Tower with Assembly
Product Details
Comparisons of Similar Sheds
 |  |  |  |  | |
| Expert Score | 70 | 63 | 68 | 70 | 68 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,829.00 | £2,240.00 | £1,699.00 | £1,351.34 | £1,699.00 |
| Size | 10' x 8' | 7' x 5' | 8' x 9' | 7' x 5' | 6' x 8' |
| Brand | Traditional | Country Living | Shire | Broadfield Garden Buildings | Shire |
| Material | Wooden | Wooden | Wooden | Wooden | Wooden |
| Cladding Thickness | 12mm | 12mm | 12mm | 12mm | |
| Guarantee | 1 Years | 10 Years | 1 Years | 1 Years | |
| Go | Go | Go | Go | Go |
Sources
Merchants Checked
12 different sources were used to research information on this product, and 1 contained information that we were able to use to compile the data used on this page.
The following merchants were checked on the 06 August, 2022 to see if they stocked this product.
Tiger Sheds – 635 products checked, found 1 match.
Waltons – 231 products checked, found no matches.
Wickes – 19576 products checked, found no matches.
B&Q – 78905 products checked, found no matches.
ManoMano UK – 922302 products checked, found no matches.
Wilko.com – 21232 products checked, found no matches.
Homebase – 35509 products checked, found no matches.
Buy Sheds Direct – 1635 products checked, found no matches.
sheds.co.uk – 1999 products checked, found no matches.
BillyOh – 1244 products checked, found no matches.
Garden Buildings Direct – 1284 products checked, found no matches.
Shedstore – 1373 products checked, found no matches.
1. TigerSkin®: Is a solvent based wood treatment that is manufactured by AChem. Solvent based wood treatments are considered better than water based wood treatments. A solvent based treatment typically consists of 70% white spirit, this helps the treatment penetrate deeper into the wood. Water based treatments typically only consist of 10% white spirit, this reduces the penetration effectiveness of the treatment.
Achem claim the treatment acts against wood discolouring fungi (blue stain) as well as against wood boring insects. They say that the preservative requires 2-3 coats, and dries in 12 hours under normal conditions (20 °C / 65% rel. humidity). Low temperatures, increased humidity may increase drying time. The treatment is regulated under the European Biocides Regulation (EU BPR; EU 528/2012). ↩
2. Styrene (Polystyrene (High Impact) HIPS): Styrene as it is commonly known or High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) is a very versatile form of plastic. It has a very wide range of uses but for garden buildings styrene is typically used as a budget option for windows.
Styrene is a shatter-resistant material, which is why it is ideal for situations where safety needs to be considered, such as playhouses. This benefit can be offset by a few other drawbacks, unfortunately styrene has a tendency to yellow over time (the technical term is Photoyellowing and it is caused by prolonged exposure to UV Light), the degradation of its polymers over time also causes it to become more brittle.
Another drawback of styrene is its thermal coefficient of expansion (it is 80 x 10-6), this is higher than most other glazing options. This means that as the material heats up and cools it can contract and expand more than other glazing options. This cycle can lead to a loose fit of windows over time.
According to data from the British Plastics Fedaration the physical properties of Styrene (Polystyrene (High Impact) are that it is not very good when exposed to high heat with a maximum continuous use temperature of between 60 to 80 °C. This is coupled with the fairly low range the Notched Impact Strength data shows of 10.0 – 20.0 Kj/m². ↩
3. Cladding types identified: european softwood, shiplap tongue & groove, tongue & groove ↩
4. Global cladding data sourced from: All shiplap tongue & groove playhouses ↩
5. Top cladding data sourced from: Top 17 shiplap tongue & groove playhouses ↩
6. 4’x8′ cladding data sourced from: 37 4’x8′ shiplap tongue & groove playhouses ↩
8. Global cladding thickness data sourced from: All 12mm playhouses ↩
9. Top cladding thickness data sourced from: Top 17 12mm playhouses ↩
10. 4’x8′ cladding thickness data sourced from: 20 4’x8′ 12mm playhouses ↩
11. Roof material types identified: osb, tongue & groove ↩
12. Roof thickness types identified: 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 16mm ↩
13. Roof covering types identified: mineral felt, styrene ↩
14. Floor material types identified: osb, tongue & groove ↩
15. Floor thickness types identified: 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 12mm, 16mm ↩
16. Glazing material types identified: single glazed, styrene ↩
17. Glazing thickness types identified: 2mm ↩