Style and Design
The widely available Barclay Corner Summerhouse is an attractive budget corner design with full length perspex glazed windows in both walls and doors for maximum exposure to the light. Have a look too at the similarly priced Hampton corner summerhouse, design along the same lines but with Georgian style windows. Materials/Construction
The walls and floor of the Pinnacle Barclay are finished in 12mm tongue and groove cladding on 34 x 34mm framing while the roof is solid sheet OSB (oriented strand board - board formed by layering strands or flakes of wood in specific directions). The windows and doors are glazed in clear perspex and the door is fitted with a black ring gate latch for use with a suitable padlock.
Dimensions
The summerhouse is available now in three sizes; 7' x 7' (2.13 x 2.13m), 8' x 8' (2.44 x 2.44) and 10'x10'. Height at the eaves is 6' 7'' (2.009m) rising to 7' 2'' (2.2m) at the ridge. The double door opening is 4' 5'' (1.36m) wide by 5' 8'' (1.74m) high.
Finish/Treatment
The Barclay is finished with a protective base coat wood treatment prior to delivery. A final finish will require to be applied at the time of construction.
Options
A number of optional extras are available for the Barclay depending on the seller. You'll find these may include an "Ecobase" shed base constructed in 100% recyled plastic, a security sensor light, clear wood stain and an algae/mould inhibitor. Some sellers also offer an assembly/installation option.
Delivery/Assembly
The summerhouse is delivered ready for assembly by the purchaser.
Availability
See the details of sellers and prices given above.
Our Verdict
As a budget corner summerhouse the Pinnacle Barclay is undoubtedly great value. It's widely available and sells well within its price category. The range of sizes available means you should be able to find one to fit the space you have available and in its appearance the Barclay is a stylish corner building.
The Barclay's main strengths are its price and the amount of summerhouse you get for your money. In addition, the large side windows and glazed doors will ensure plenty of light always gets to the interior - and the perspex glazing is an asset from a safety point of view. Of course, there is always a downside. Unlike for example the Hampton, the windows are fixed and can't be opened for ventilation. In addition perspex is more prone to scratches than glass and the larger windows may give rise to a loss of privacy unless curtains or screens are installed.
The tongue and groove floor however is a bonus as cheaper buildings often feature OSB flooring which tends to be more susceptible to ground water damage. Tongue and groove is stronger too and better able to support heavier items of furniture.
As the Barclay is a budget summerhouse there are certain aspects you have to accept. The 12mm cladding for example is generally the minimum specification for a building of this type and although the standard is entirely acceptable, there are likely to be some rough edges and perhaps some splits and knot holes which will require filling. No great work involved though and it doesn't affect the status of the Barclay as a great value summerhouse.
Another job you will have to attend to at the time of assembly is the application of a good quality decorative/preservative finish. The summerhouse does receive a base coat treatment prior to delivery but realistically this will protect it only up to the time it arrives on your doorstep and a final finish will have to be applied - and maintained on a regular basis - to ensure a long life for the building. There's no lock either so be prepared to splash out on a good quality padlock to protect any valuable items stored in the summerhouse.
All these are however relatively minor matters when you take the price and size of the Barclay into account. We don't really think it can be faulted as a leading budget corner summerhouse combining style with keen pricing. If you're looking for comparisons, the Barclay falls within the same niche in the market as the 7x7 Cranbourne, the Hampton, the Standard and Premier 7x7 and 8x8 and the Premier 9x9. Have a look at these too. There's not much to choose between them so it may just come down to personal preference and the price on the day.
We've awarded the Barclay 4 out of 5 stars - just to reflect the fact that it is a budget summerhouse You should always take this into account and be prepared for the possibility of having to carry out some minor additional diy work at the time of assembly prior to application of the final finish.
