EXPERT REVIEWED 
FREE DELIVERY 
INSTALATION AVAILABLE Shire 8 x 6ft Loft & Bunk Split Level Wooden Playhouse
First Added - February 27 2022
Last Updated - August 4 2022 - 10 Data Points Updated - 3 Data Points Added
Reviewed & curated by a panel of garden building experts. Using methodology 1.1
Product ID: SKU: 147581
Size: 8' x 6'
Merchants Checked: 12
Available From: 1
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Our verdict on the Shire 8 x 6ft Loft & Bunk Split Level Wooden Playhouse
The Shire 8 x 6ft Loft & Bunk Split Level Wooden Playhouse comes with an apex style roof, is treated using a dip treated process [1], and makes use of fsc® certified materials. The 3 windows used on this particular 8′ x 6′ use a single glazed glazing material (Thickness was not specified).
Base material: european softwood
Certifications this product meets:
FSC certified timber[2]
Our experts say this has 2 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. 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.
Below is a brief overview of how some of the key points of this playhouse fairs across the market.
Cladding
The european softwood cladding(walls) used here is an about average form of construction for playhouse walls out of the 4 types [3] we’ve identified on same-size playhouses, that you’ll also see getting used on 2% (4 of 175) of all playhouses analysed [4], and sadly not present at all on any of the 17 playhouses that make up the top 10% of playhouses [5]. In fact this is the only 8′ x 6′ playhouse you’ll find that uses a european softwood wall [6].
Read full analysis for cladding.
Roofing
Mineral felt is used as the roof covering, and out of 2 types identified on same-size playhouses [7], 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 8′ x 6′ playhouses. Even though the Expert Score of this particular playhouse is below the average 8′ x 6’s cover their roofs with mineral felt (70 vs the average of 73), with it being on 88% of the top 10%, this should give you confidence in its quality. 74% of 8′ x 6′ playhouses (20 in total) make use of a mineral felt material as a roof covering.
Read full analysis for roofing.
Window
Single glazed windows come installed on this playhouse. As a glazing option, we rate it one of the worst out of the 2 glazing types found on 8′ x 6′ playhouses [8]. This particular type of glazing is used on 3% of all windowed playhouses with a look at the top 10% of playhouses showing us that none of them choose to install windows with this kind of glazing. Out of all windowed 8′ x 6′ playhouses this is the only playhouse to make use of single glazed windows.
Read full analysis for window.
Height
The height of this playhouse is 2310.0mm (8′) which is 4% less than the average 8′ x 6′ playhouse, giving you 97.0mm (0.3′) less headroom.
Read full analysis for height.
You Might Also Consider
We found 27 8′ x 6′ playhouses with comparable specifications. The Shire 8 x 6ft Loft & Bunk Split Level Wooden Playhouse has an Expert Score that is 3% lower than average and is £56 less expensive than average. If you are looking for the best value or highest expert scoring playhouses out of the 27 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 £370 with this Mercia 10 x 5ft Wooden Snug Playhouse including Tower & Slide with Assembly. It is priced at £700, this is 53% less than this and has an Expert Score of 85, 15 points higher than the Shire 8 x 6ft Loft & Bunk Split Level Wooden Playhouse.
Highest Expert Score – With an Expert Score of 85 vs 70 for this product, the Shire 7 x 7ft Children’s Wooden Penthouse Playhouse with Bridge, Slide & Climbing Wall is the best 8′ x 6′ playhouse with comparable specifications, and is priced at £1,360, that’s £290 more than the Shire 8 x 6ft Loft & Bunk Split Level Wooden 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.
8′ x 5’6 Shire Loft Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
8’x6′ Tigercub Funhouse | Playhouse
8’x6′ Tigercub Magic Mansion | 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.
Shire 7 x 7ft Children’s Wooden Penthouse Playhouse with Bridge, Slide & Climbing Wall
6 x 8 Hideout Wooden Playhouse with Apex Roof, Single Door And Window + T&G Verandah
8′ 7″ x 6 Cottage 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.
8′ x 5’6 Shire Loft Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
8’x6′ Tigercub Funhouse | Playhouse
8’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.
Mercia 10 x 5ft Wooden Snug Playhouse including Tower & Slide with Assembly
6×8 Mercia Bramble Cottage Childrens/ Kids Wooden Garden Playhouse
8′ x 5’6 Shire Loft 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.
Wickes – 19576 products checked, found 1 match.
Waltons – 231 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.
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. FSC Certified Timber: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organisation that is “dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.” When you see the FSC certification it means the forest where this wood was sourced from is being managed in a way that preserves biological diversity, while ensuring it sustains economic viability. FSC-certified forests are managed to strict environmental, social and economic standards. FSC certified timber is comparable to Certified Timber. ↩
3. Cladding types identified: european softwood, shiplap tongue & groove, tongue & groove, wood ↩
4. Global cladding data sourced from: All european softwood playhouses ↩
5. Top cladding data sourced from: Top 17 european softwood playhouses ↩
6. 8′ x 6′ cladding data sourced from: 27 8′ x 6′ european softwood playhouses ↩
7. Roof covering types identified: mineral felt, styrene ↩
8. Glazing material types identified: single glazed, styrene ↩