12ft x 8ft summer house questions
How to get internet in a summer house
Bringing the internet to your summer house could be as simple as moving your home router closer. If that’s not an option, or the signal won’t reach, you could consider a booster or simply rely on mobile tethering to get online in your summer house. For more reliable connectivity, running an ethernet cable alongside your power cable is a great option. If your electricity cable is already in place, you can avoid digging it up again by buying a plug-in adapter that sends the signal down a pre-existing power cable.
Can I put a toilet in a summer house?
Normally, summer houses don’t require planning, but this is only the case so long as it’s for ‘incidental’ use – that’s, for use as a hobby room, workshop, or for relaxing in. When you install a toilet, this may be considered ‘ancillary’ use, which applies to things you’d normally do in the house, like sleeping, cooking, and bathing. As such, you’d have to apply for permission to add a loo, and your building would also have to comply with building regs. If in doubt, check with your local planning office.
How to lay a concrete base for a summer house
Clear and level the site before marking out the location of your concrete base – this should always be larger than the footprint of your summer house. Next, dig down to a depth of at least 150mm. That’s 75mm for hardcore, which you should tamp down as you go, and 75mm for the concrete. Assemble shuttering to contain the concrete mix before pouring it. Agitate the wet concrete to release air bubbles and level using a long batten. Leave your base to dry for a couple of days before attempting to walk on it.
