Tiger Summer Shed – Expert Review

Expert Opinion Based on Long-Term Tiger Show-Site Inspection Experience

The Tiger Summer Shed is one of those buildings that looks straightforward at first glance — but the more you think about it, the clearer it becomes that it doesn’t fit neatly into a single category.

Tiger classify it as a summer house, but based on how it’s laid out, how it’s built, and how similar Tiger buildings actually behave in real-world use, I think that label is slightly misleading.

In practice, this isn’t a traditional sit-back-and-relax summer house. It behaves much more like a summer work room or a light-filled garden workshop — and whether that’s a positive or a negative depends entirely on what you want to use it for.

Understanding that distinction is the key to deciding whether this is a great choice for you, or the wrong one.

Inspection Transparency: What We’ve Seen (and What We Haven’t)

We weren’t able to physically inspect the Tiger Summer Shed at the show sites we’ve visited.

However, everything discussed in this review — the cladding, doors, windows, framing, roof construction, and flooring — is based on many years of hands-on inspections of Tiger sheds and summer houses built using exactly the same construction methods.

We’ve been visiting Tiger show sites since 2014, and the photos used across our reviews are taken directly at those sites. Over that time, we’ve inspected dozens of Tiger buildings using this same 12mm tongue-and-groove construction, apex roof design, and window and door specification.

So while I haven’t stood inside this exact model, I know precisely how it’s built — and, more importantly, how buildings of this type actually feel and perform once assembled.

What the Tiger Summer Shed Actually Is

The best way to understand the Tiger Summer Shed is to forget the name for a moment and look at the layout.

The window arrangement tells you almost everything you need to know.

You get:

• Two windows flanking the door at the front
• A bank of windows along one side wall
• Two remaining solid walls with no glazing

That immediately suggests working space, not lounging space.

Classic summer houses usually place glazing low and wide, creating sightlines from seating height. Here, the windows sit higher up the wall, which is ideal for:

• Workbenches
• Shelving
• Tools
• Hobbies
• Standing tasks

It’s a layout designed to give you light without sacrificing usable wall space.

If what you’re imagining is deckchairs, coffee tables, and a place to sit back and read, there are better options elsewhere in Tiger’s range — models like the Tiger Penthouse or more heavily glazed summer houses are designed specifically for that kind of use.

But if what you want is:

• A bright, pleasant place to stand and work
• A space that feels solid and purposeful
• Natural light that makes time spent inside more enjoyable

Then the Tiger Summer Shed starts to make a lot of sense.

A Subtle Clue: Optional Upgrades

One thing that reinforces this interpretation is the upgrades Tiger offer.

The option to add:

• Heavy-duty framing (It doubles the thickness)
• Loglap cladding

isn’t aimed at people who want a delicate leisure space. Those upgrades are aimed squarely at people who want something robust, durable, and work-oriented.

That doesn’t mean the standard version isn’t solid — it absolutely is — but it does show how Tiger expect many people to use this building.

Construction Quality (Based on Identical Tiger Buildings)

As standard, the Tiger Summer Shed is built using:

• 12mm shiplap tongue-and-groove cladding
• 12mm tongue-and-groove floor
• 12mm tongue-and-groove roof

This is an area where Tiger consistently outperform many competitors.

Across every Tiger building we’ve inspected with this specification, one thing has always been clear:

They never feel flimsy.

We’ve been inside plenty of sheds from other manufacturers where you lean against a wall and the whole structure moves with you. That has never been our experience with Tiger’s 12mm tongue-and-groove buildings.

They use:

• Slower-grown Nordic spruce with tighter grain
• More fixings than many competitors
• Sensible framing spacing

The result is a structure that feels locked together, not loosely assembled.

Real-World Performance: What Comparable Tiger Buildings Show

On Tiger buildings of similar size and construction, we routinely carry out a series of practical tests.

Floor deflection

Using a laser measure, we test the floor before and after placing a 75kg load in the centre.

On comparable Tiger sheds, we consistently see around 2mm of deflection — roughly the thickness of a pound coin.

In practical terms:

• No sponginess
• No bounce
• No movement you can actually feel

Wall deflection

We repeat a similar test by leaning 75kg against the largest wall panel.

On similarly sized apex Tiger buildings, this typically shows around 4mm of movement, which is extremely low and exactly what you’d expect from a well-built timber structure.

Based on everything we’ve seen elsewhere, this is exactly how the Tiger Summer Shed should behave in real use.

Roof Design, Detailing, and Finish

The apex roof structure is properly braced and neatly finished. The 12mm tongue-and-groove roof boards are smooth and well fitted, and the decorative roof overhang adds more visual polish than you might expect on what is, fundamentally, a work-oriented building.

It’s one of those details that Tiger could have cut back on — and didn’t.

That extra attention to finish makes the building far more pleasant to live with long-term.

Windows, Doors, and the One Recurring Niggle

The windows are fitted with toughened glass, which is exactly what you want.

However, like many Tiger buildings, the glazing is installed using:

• Silicone sealant
• Glass seated into position
• Secured with small retaining nails

Structurally, this works perfectly well, and we’ve only ever seen issues where silicone wasn’t applied thoroughly.

That said, from a craftsmanship point of view, it’s never been my favourite system. A timber beading approach would feel cleaner and more refined.

It’s not a deal-breaker — just a small aesthetic niggle in an otherwise very solid design.

Loglap and Heavy-Duty Framing: When It Makes Sense

If you upgrade to loglap cladding, the character of the building changes noticeably.

Tiger’s loglap is beautifully milled, splinter-free, and feels premium both inside and out. Every time I’ve handled it at a show site, it’s been smooth and reassuringly solid.

Combine that with the heavy-duty framing, and you end up with something that’s frankly bombproof — far beyond what most people would ever need for a garden workspace.

If you plan to use this building hard, or want maximum longevity with minimal flex, that upgrade path makes sense.

Who the Tiger Summer Shed Is For

This building makes the most sense if you want:

• A bright, pleasant place to work
• Natural light without losing wall space
• A solid, durable structure for regular use
• Something practical that still looks good in the garden

It’s ideal as:

• A summer workshop
• A hobby or craft room
• A garden work room
• A light-filled storage-plus-workspace

Who Should Probably Look Elsewhere

You may be better served by another Tiger model if you:

• Want a purely leisure-focused summer house
• Plan to use it mainly for sitting and relaxing
• Prefer low-level, wraparound glazing
• Want a more traditional “garden room” feel

Final Verdict

The Tiger Summer Shed isn’t a traditional summer house — and that’s not a weakness.

It’s better understood as a bright, attractive summer workshop or work room. Used for the right purpose, it strikes a very smart balance between:

• Practicality
• Build quality
• Natural light
• Visual appeal

If you want somewhere to lounge, there are better options.
If you want somewhere to do things — and still enjoy being there — this makes a lot of sense.

It’s an unusual building, but it’s a well-executed one — and for the right buyer, it’s a very good choice.