Pergola / summer house / decking

[Honest23]

Having a debate with hubby with what we need in the back garden to make it more useful.

Those with a summer house, how much do you use it? This is the most expensive option we’re considering. Do they increase the value of your property?

Pergola with decking - middle option, provides some privacy and enclosure when sitting / eating / hosting etc…

Decking alone with garden furniture - cheapest option and can only really be used on nice days.

Would love to know your opinions if you have any of these!

TIA

we used to have a summerhouse but didn’t use it as one.. it became more of a glorified shed.
we currently have a pergola which is nice but don’t be fooled by the beautiful insta pics. Any sign of rain it all needs packing away or covering and it’s a mammoth pita to keep getting it in and out.
Decking is slippery and rots in a few years (unless you go for composite) and we changed that for a patio

We are looking at a fixed pergola in wood. Composite decking too not timber.

thanks for your response!

Summerhouse is a shed here. Pergola lovely for growing things up and giving some shade. Decking is somewhere for the rats to nest. How about a patio under the pergola?

In what way are you intending to use the garden?

If you want to sit out in the sun with a beer/wine/beverage of choice, a patio with garden furniture is a good move (with a shed to store cushions etc). What would you use a summer house for? They're very expensive and not exactly versatile, although you could store garden stuff in it.

Pergolas are structures for climbing plants - are you thinking of a gazebo type item? They're useful for providing shade if it gets very sunny.

I wouldn't bother with decking, I'd have a patio laid of stone or pavers. Easier to maintain and no chance of rodents living underneath.

We have composite decking with a metal gazebo with a folding roof. It's got a slatted wall next to the neighbours for privacy. It's great to be able to sit out even in rain and it provides lovely shade when it's hot. We've had it 5 years & although it wasn't cheap it still looks great. We love it!

Unless you have a massive garden, then I think a summer house is a waste of money, because as other posters have said, it will generally end up being used as extra shed space. Summer houses were made popular by people with acres of garden, so there was somewhere they could sit and read, or enjoy a drink, etc. in the shade, without having to go back to the house, as so many of us have pocket handkerchief gardens these days, they're really not appropriate. A pergola with or without a roof of some sort, with a patio below would be my choice.

I used to have a big garden with a summerhouse that I inherited. I never ever used it, never saw the point. If it's not nice enough to sit outside, then I'd sit inside, there never seemed a point to the summerhouse. It just ended up being used to store garden furniture when not in use. It's not great for shade when it's blazing hot as it gets too warm, so I'd much rather be properly outside.

I don't really get pergolas either, but can see the point of a more permanent gazebo for shade etc.

I was about to post a similar thing when I came across your post. DH would like more of a covered gazebo along these lines: https://www.breezehouse.co.uk/product/safari/.
But the cost is huge and we are putting it in a north facing, shady area and I just don't think we would get the use out of it. I have always wanted a swing seat so am looking at covered arbour seats something like this, but again it's pricy.
https://duckpaddle.com/products/the-richmond-pergola-swing
We're putting ours on a new patio. Other option is to a pergola and hope that some plants will grow up it (not at all certain given the shade).

Rats love decking

I assume ours is a traditional pergola as it’s without a roof. It’s in the part of the garden last to get the sun, at just that time when insects congregate! It also is popular with pigeons who decorate it with their poo. Plants do grow up it though. I have thought of getting rid of it but it “sets off” the garden.
Decking attracts rats.
We spend our time nearest the house on the patio. The latest ones I’ve noticed are done with porcelain.

I’d go for patio slabs over decking - decking gets very slippery and when we pulled ours up found a dead rat underneath. We have 2 seating areas in our garden and one we have bought a gazebo with fabric roof. I was thinking it would be waterproof but it’s only really a sun shade (which explains the price). We have decided we love it and will save for a more substantial roof structure so I can sit in the garden in the rain (light rain rather than a storm) because I love sitting outside with a blanket and a coffee in colder months but the rain hinders it. I’m not convinced I’d use a summer house though.

@Barneysmomma
May I ask where you got the metal one with folding roof.
I am currently looking for one that retracts but not material roof.