Why get a Log Cabin instead of a Summerhouse?

A Log Cabin can be considered for a greater range of uses than a Summerhouse, for example; a games room, home office or studio.  Our extensive range of Log Cabins offer floor areas up to 30 square metres. Depending on the style and model, your cabin can have room partitions, a porch or veranda.

Do I need permission?

We recommend that you consult your Local Authority to confirm whether Planning Permission or Building Regulations approval is required.  For more help, visit the Planning Portal.

The Site:

Naturally the intended use of your Cabin will determine your preferred location.  Don’t forget that you will need room around the cabin for construction and occasional maintenance, plus sufficient height.  Make allowances for adjacent trees and shrubs growing in the years following construction.  It may also be worth speaking to your neighbours – it is much easier to consult with them at the planning stage, than to try and overcome objections once the project is completed!

The Base:

The base is fundamental to successful construction, so don’t skimp.  The cabin is likely to be in position for many years and a long lasting, level, non-moving base is essential.  Use cast concrete or slabs laid correctly on a firm substrate for best results.  Aim for the edge of the base to be just a few inches outside of the perimeter wall of the cabin, this will avoid water pooling under the floor when it runs off the roof.  Have the base completed in good time prior to construction of the cabin, so that concrete or mortar has time to set.

What size cabin?

Assuming no regulatory restrictions, go for the size of cabin that is large enough for your purposes, yet will not look out of place in your garden.  For example, a one person home office will probably require less space than a games room and will cost less to heat per day.  If the cabin is going to be used for social gatherings then large internal space and porch or veranda may be preferable.  If you are looking for a storage solution, consider cabins with internal partitions or side sheds.

Timber thickness:

Almost all log cabin designs have interlocking, tongue and grooved timber wall construction.  Timber thickness typically varies from 19mm to 70mm.  Our most popular sizes are 28mm and 44mm, offering a cost effective balance of strength and price.  Roofs and floors of cheaper cabins may have OSB (oriented strand board) roof and floor sheet panels.  Cabins from our popular and exclusive Alpine range offer 18mm tongue and grooved softwood floor and roof boards.  If you intend placing very heavy items on the floor then it should be reinforced with plywood sheets.

Insulation:

In standard form a log cabin is intended for seasonal use in the warmer months.  If you are considering using a cabin as a home office, use 28mm wall timber thickness or greater and install additional insulation, such as dry lining the walls and ceiling, and carpeting the floor. You will find this will also help to keep the temperature inside the cabin down in the summer too.

Power:

Many customers want a power supply in their cabin and there are strict rules about who can carry out the work and how it must be done.  Bear in mind that if you move house you will now have to supply a certificate, showing that the installation complies with Regulations.  All electrical work should follow the safety standards in BS 7671 (the 'wiring regulations').  For more information, click here.

Construction:

Erection of a Log Cabin is a straightforward DIY job, however, depending on the size, there can be many parts and some of them will be heavy.  Allow at least two days and for two people to erect your Cabin.  Tool-wise, you are unlikely to need anything more than is found in the average DIY toolbox, plus a stepladder.   

Before you start, check the Parts list thoroughly to familiarise yourself with  the components and ensure that they are all present, correct and undamaged.  Follow the instructions closely and aim to do the job during a spell of dry weather.  Wood is a natural product and will expand when wet, contracting as it dries.  If you erect a cabin in damp weather, components will dry and contract afterwards, leading to gaps or splits appearing.  This is not a fault with the timber and therefore not covered under guarantee.

During or as soon as possible after erection, treat your log cabin with preservative and every year thereafter for long cabin life.

Security:

Most thieves are merely opportunists.  By not drawing attention to your cabin’s contents you will be taking a significant step to reduce the likelyhood of your cabin being targeted.  Simple measures such as fitting window nets, leaving as few valuables on display as possible and the use of simple partitions or screens to hide computers from view, will go a long way to make breaking into your cabin a less attractive proposition.  A separate alarm or extension of the home system can add to the deterrent.