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INSTALATION AVAILABLE 8x6w Two Storey Shiplap Timber Country Cottage Children’s Playhouse
First Added - August 4 2022
Last Updated - August 4 2022 - 0 Data Points Updated - 59 Data Points Added
Reviewed & curated by a panel of garden building experts. Using methodology 1.1
Product ID: SKU: 040410RM25
Size: 7' x 5'
Merchants Checked: 12
Available From: 1
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Our verdict on the 8x6w Two Storey Shiplap Timber Country Cottage Children’s Playhouse
The 8x6w Two Storey Shiplap Timber Country Cottage Children’s Playhouse is fit with lockable single doors that use a magnetic safety catch locking system and is treated using a dip treated process [1]. The 5 georgian windows used on this particular 7′ x 5′ use a 2mm styrene [2] material.
Base material: european softwood
Our experts say this has 6 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. A dip treated treatment process lets us know that this playhouse should be expected to last for a good few years, and is used on 82% of the top 10% of playhouses.
4. The tongue & groove cladding used on this playhouse is one the best available for playhouses rated by our experts.
5. 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.
6. 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 tongue & groove cladding(walls) used here is the best form of construction for playhouse walls out of the 2 types [3] we’ve identified on same-size playhouses, that you’ll also see getting used on 35% (61 of 175) of all playhouses analysed [4], as well as being used on 47% (8 of 17) of the top 10% of playhouses [5]. Even though the Expert Score of this particular playhouse is 8 points below that of the average tongue & groove clad 7′ x 5’s (they have an average Expert Score of 78), with it being on 47% of the top 10%, its use here is a reassuring sign of a high quality cladding. You’ll also find the tongue & groove cladding showing up on 47% of 7′ x 5′ playhouses (17 in total) [6].
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. Even though the Expert Score of this particular playhouse is 6 points below the average 12mm clad 7′ x 5’s score of 76, the fact that 59% of the top 10% use a cladding this thick is reassuring as a sign of quality. 50% of 7′ x 5′ playhouses (18 in total) use 12mm thick walls [10].
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. While you’ll find that the Expert Score of this playhouse is 5 points lower than the average for 7′ x 5’s that use tongue & groove roof material (70 vs the average of 75), you can be sure it’s not due to the roofing as this one of the highest scoring materials found on 7′ x 5′ playhouses. 36% of 7′ x 5′ playhouses (13 in total) use tongue & groove construction for the roof.
A 12mm thick roof boarding was used on this playhouse which is one of the best thicknesses used for a roofing material out of 6 thicknesses identified on same-size playhouses [12]. It’s used on 18% of all playhouses and 12% of the top 10% of playhouses. Even though the Expert Score of this particular playhouse is 5 points below that of the average for 7′ x 5’s that use 12mm roofing (70 vs the average of 75), you can be sure it’s not due to the roof thickness as this one of the highest scoring thicknesses available on 7′ x 5′ playhouses. 25% of 7′ x 5′ playhouses (9 in total) use a 12mm thick roof boarding.
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 7′ x 5′ playhouses. Even though the Expert Score of this particular playhouse is below the average 7′ x 5’s cover their roofs with mineral felt (70 vs the average of 76), with it being on 88% of the top 10%, this should give you confidence in its quality. 61% of 7′ x 5′ playhouses (22 in total) make use of a mineral felt material as a roof covering.
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. Even though the Expert Score of this playhouse is 3 points lower than that of the average for 7′ x 5’s floored with a tongue & groove material (70 vs the average of 73), you can be sure it’s not due to the flooring because this one of the highest scoring flooring materials available on 7′ x 5′ playhouses. 50% of 7′ x 5′ playhouses (18 in total) use tongue & groove construction for the floor.
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 7′ x 5′ playhouses [15]. 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. Even though the Expert Score of this particular playhouse is 6 points below the average of 76 for windowed 7′ x 5’s use styrene windows, with it being on 100% of the top 10%, you can be assured that this playhouse is using a quality glazing type. 79% of 7′ x 5′ playhouses with windows (26 in total) use styrene windows.
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 [16]. 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. 24% of 7′ x 5′ playhouses (8 in total) use 2mm thick glazing.
The 457mm x 610mm windows on this playhouse are 1% equal than the average 7′ x 5′ playhouse.
Read full analysis for window.
Height
The height of this playhouse is 1759mm (6′) which is 34% more than the average 7′ x 5′ playhouse, giving you 443.0mm (2′) extra headroom.
Read full analysis for height.
Doors
The door height is 1,130.00mm (4′) tall which is 2% or 26.94mm (0.1′) shorter than the average 7′ x 5′.
The door width is 548.00mm (2′) wide which is 10% or 53.57mm (0.2′) narrower than the average 7′ x 5′.
Read full analysis for doors.
You Might Also Consider
We found 5 7′ x 5′ playhouses with comparable specifications. The 8x6w Two Storey Shiplap Timber Country Cottage Children’s Playhouse has an Expert Score that is 6% lower than average and is £13 more expensive than average. If you are looking for the best value or highest expert scoring playhouses out of the 5 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 £413 with this 8x6w Single Storey Shiplap Timber Wendyhouse Children’s Playhouse. It is priced at £939, this is 44% less than this and has an Expert Score of 77, 7 points higher than the 8x6w Two Storey Shiplap Timber Country Cottage Children’s Playhouse.
Highest Expert Score – With an Expert Score of 77 vs 70 for this product, the 8x6w Single Storey Shiplap Timber Wendyhouse Children’s Playhouse is the best 7′ x 5′ playhouse with comparable specifications, and is priced at £939, that’s £413 less than the 8x6w Two Storey Shiplap Timber Country Cottage Children’s 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.
6×6 Mercia Honeysuckle Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
6×6 Mercia Dutch Barn Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
6’x6′ Tigercub Funhouse | 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
6’6″ x 6′ 2″ Lookout Playhouse
6 x 6 Platform Playhouse
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’x6′ Tigercub Funhouse | Playhouse
4’x8′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | Playhouse
6’x6′ 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.
6×6 Mercia Honeysuckle Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
6×6 Mercia Dutch Barn Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
5×7 Mercia Snowdrop Cottage Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
Product Details
Comparisons of Similar Sheds
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.
ManoMano UK – 922302 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.
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.
Tiger Sheds – 635 products checked, found no matches.
1. Dip Treated: Dip treating is a temporary protective base coat treatment that is mainly designed to help protect the building during transit and for around one month after it is assembled. This water-based treatment is the least time-consuming and cheapest type of wood treatment. It involves dipping the wood in a protective water-based preservative and then leaving it to dry. The action of dipping is where ‘dip treatment’ comes from.
A dip-treated garden building is not considered fully treated with wood preservatives; it’s vital to re-treat your dip-treated building, preferably with a solvent-based (or oil-based) wood treatment. Then re-treat it on an annual basis using a solvent-based (or oil-based) wood treatment.
If you don’t want to treat something on an annual basis then a pressure treated wooden building might be a better option, this is where the wood undergoes a process called tanalisation (pressure treatment) during production. This is where the timber is submerged in specialist wood preservatives (such as Tanalith E, this is actually the origin of the word ‘tanalisation’), the wood then goes into a high pressure vacuum tank to draw out excess moisture and air and force in the preservatives. This deep penetration of the exterior wood protects it from the elements and all forms of insect attack. Wood treated this way can last many years without being re-treated. The Wood Protection Association has a good article/video on this. ↩
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: shiplap tongue & groove, tongue & groove ↩
4. Global cladding data sourced from: All tongue & groove playhouses ↩
5. Top cladding data sourced from: Top 17 tongue & groove playhouses ↩
6. 7′ x 5′ cladding data sourced from: 36 7′ x 5′ 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. 7′ x 5′ cladding thickness data sourced from: 18 7′ x 5′ 12mm playhouses ↩
11. Roof material types identified: osb, tongue & groove ↩
12. Roof thickness types identified: 8mm, 12mm, 16mm ↩
13. Roof covering types identified: mineral felt, styrene ↩
14. Floor material types identified: osb, tongue & groove ↩
15. Glazing material types identified: single glazed, styrene ↩
16. Glazing thickness types identified: 2mm ↩