Outdoor Classrooms – To Enclose or Not to Enclose

One of the most frequent questions we get asked the whole time is “can I use the outdoor classroom all year round?”

The answer of course is yes but there are a few considerations to take into account here. The basic specification of outdoor classroom we offer is a gazebo style with a solid timber felt shingle tile roof  and this is available in different sizes and shapes. But all of them have solid timber lower level panels, a roof with felt shingle tiles and a decking floor with internal benches running internally around the perimeter. The upper section however is open sided – so something typically like below

However, if you wanted to add another level of protection from the elements (and let’s face it the British weather is pretty unpredictable!), then we can include marine grade PU coated canvas panels to the window and door/entrance. These can be rolled up when the weather is playing nicely but they can easily be let down and secured when it is not so good.

But we can offer another level or specification and this is why we always ask our customers first – what are you wanting to use the building for? Outdoor classroom of course is a generic term for an outdoor shelter or building but they are used for a whole variety of applications. So if your school was wanting to have an outdoor library, a break out nurture room or a sensory room for example then the application alone would dictate that the building needs to be fully enclosed and therefore capable of being used all year round. And what we mean by enclosed is that instead for having the canvas panels, we would supply laminated glass windows (can be double glazed too), solid timber panels and French doors which can either be made out redwood pine or a more durable hardwood Sapele. Another option up from this is for us to fully insulate the building to the floor, walls and roof. We would only recommend this option if the school was going to be running out electrics to the building and heating it. With an insulated building, it is always worth remembering that it keeps the heat out and the heat in so in the summer, the building should naturally be cooler to be in. Timber too is also a natural insulator.

Once we have established the above, we can then recommend various options and packages and draw upon our most comprehensive range of building options.

For further information on our enclosed outdoor classroom range, please contact the Hideout House Company on 01832 275902 or email info@hideouthouse.com