Summer houses in North Essex

Summer house installation and base in Colchester and Essex

We build Dunster House summer houses as an independent installer across Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea and North Essex, from the base to the roof, and can lay a patio or deck in front. Send us your model and a photo of the spot for a free, no-obligation quote.

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  • Based in Colchester, covering North Essex and South Suffolk
  • Base, build and finishing from one local team
  • Built to Dunster House's published instructions
  • Free, no-obligation quotes

What makes a summer house kit harder than it looks

Dunster House's summerhouses page lists tongue and groove, log and insulated summer houses, including corner and hexagonal designs. Dunster House's delivery page says the kit is left at the front of your property, such as the driveway, and not carried through a back gate or the house.

The glazed doors and windows are the parts to look after. Keep those packs flat, dry and off the ground. Corner and hexagonal designs have more angles to line up, so the base has to match the shape on the plan.

How we build your Dunster House summer house

We are an independent building company based in Colchester. Dunster House's help centre says "We do not currently offer an installation service on any of our product ranges", so we build it for you, following Dunster House's published assembly instructions step by step. Dunster House's terms say its guarantees do not include cover for "failure to correctly assemble the goods as per the assembly instructions".

  • Lay a concrete or paving-slab base, or lay a RapidGrid base you ordered from Dunster House
  • Assemble it in the order the manual sets out, doors and windows included
  • Fit the roof covering supplied, or the shingles or EPDM you bought as an upgrade

Choosing a sunny spot and preparing the base

Most people want the summer house where the afternoon sun lands. Check that water does not pool there after rain.

Dunster House's base guide for its log cabins asks for a base that is "flat, square and one hundred per cent level", the size of the bearer plan "plus an additional 100mm on all sides". Our garden building bases page explains the options.

The Planning Portal says any outbuilding within the grounds of a listed building needs planning permission, and it sets extra limits on designated land such as conservation areas. Treat this as general guidance and confirm with Colchester City Council, Tendring District Council or Ipswich Borough Council before you build.

Treatment, decking and a patio for your summer house

Check whether your summer house is pressure treated. For its log cabins, Dunster House's help centre suggests treating "after construction, allowing you to fit everything together and rectify any errors". We also offer painting and decorating, so we can apply a timber treatment once the build is finished.

Landscaping is another of our services, so we can lay a patio, a path or a deck in front. The Planning Portal lists "No verandas, balconies or raised platforms (a platform must not exceed 0.3 metres in height)" among its conditions for outbuildings, so check with your council before planning anything raised.

How it works

  1. Photos of the spot Tell us the model, the delivery date and where it will go, with a photo of the spot.
  2. Open every pack early Check each pack, glass included, against the component list on arrival. Unsure what you are looking at? We can go through it together before the build is booked.
  3. Look at the spot, then quote We check the position and the access, and send you a free, no-obligation quote.
  4. Base first We prepare and lay the base. A concrete base needs time to dry before the build starts.
  5. Build and glazing We build to Dunster House's instructions, fit the doors, windows and roof, and check everything opens and closes.
  6. Patio, treatment and walk-round Any treatment, patio or decking you asked for follows, then we walk round the building with you.

Garden buildings, bases and timber work we have built

Real photos from our own jobs around Colchester. See more in the project gallery.

  • Black timber-clad garden building with a corrugated roof, brick plinth and lit glazed door in a Coggeshall garden
    Garden building, Coggeshall
  • Timber formwork with a damp-proof membrane laid over levelled ground for a new base in a Lexden garden
    Base preparation, Lexden
  • Timber canopy over a side passage with trellis screening, close-board fencing and stone paving in Lexden
    Timber canopy with trellis, Lexden
  • Raised timber deck with a spindle balustrade and steps, in front of a log cabin in a Witham garden
    Raised deck with balustrade, Witham

Questions we are often asked

Can you build a corner or hexagonal summer house?

Yes. Whether you ordered a RagePanda Hex or a corner design, we follow the assembly instructions for that model and check the base matches the plan before anything goes up.

What if the glass is cracked when it arrives?

Tell the driver if you see it at delivery. If you only notice later, take photos and contact Dunster House straight away: Dunster House's terms allow "within 2 calendar days from receipt of delivery" for reporting damage.

Can the summer house go right next to the fence?

The Planning Portal's permitted development rules allow a maximum height of 2.5 metres for an outbuilding within two metres of a boundary, and Dunster House's help centre says "Almost all Dunster House products are under 2.5m high". Check your model's height, and leave room to reach the back for future treatment. Confirm with your council, such as Colchester City Council, before you build.

Can I have power in my summer house?

Tell us early if you plan lights or sockets, so power can be planned with the base. The Planning Portal lists a complete new circuit as notifiable electrical work under Part P, and advises using an electrician registered with a competent person scheme; otherwise building control must be notified before work starts.

Bought in a sale months ago? Can you still build it?

Often, yes. Go through the kit against the component list first. Clause 14.5 of Dunster House's terms says "during excessive weather conditions timbers may warp and assembly can take longer", so we will go through it together before booking your build.

Other garden buildings we build

Tell us what you have bought

Send us the model name and size, your delivery date and a photo of where it will go. We will come back to you with a free, no-obligation quote for Colchester, North Essex & South Suffolk.

Request a quote Send photos on WhatsApp

Independent installer. McKenzie Property Renovations Limited is an independent building contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of Dunster House Ltd. "Dunster House" and product names are used only to describe the products we build and remain the property of their owner.

Information about Dunster House is quoted from its own help centre and terms, and planning guidance from the Planning Portal, checked 27 September 2026.