Are garden log cabins watertight is a query we got asked all the time here at See range here .

The brief simple answer to your query is an unquestionable yes!

Why would they not be?

Well,let’s take a look at some of the practical complications with a timber cabin which would make the log cabin not watertight and fairly frankly not fit for purpose.The main thing to seem at immediately is the roof,that’s where you would imagine the main problem would start (this is not always the situation but that’s where we will start today). The main problem with the roof would be to have the felt or roof shingles to not be mounted properly. This is fairly easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be undertaken by an expert especially if you are putting in a lot of your hard earned cash on a timber cabin.

• Make certain that the overlies are overlapping in the correct way. You should always start felting at the bottom of the construction and felt upwards. By doing this you guarantee that the felt overlies on top of the piece of felt that is further down the roof. This will guarantee there is a natural run off of the water,if you start felting at the top of the roof and you put the overlie from the bottom pieces over the top of the felt higher up when the rain works off it will operate underneath the felt and therefor cause a leak. This is precisely the same when doing shingles,make certain you place from bottom upwards.

• Make certain the overlies of the felt/shingles are fairly generous. You don’t want them to be just barely overlapping because this could cause rainwater to get between the felt sheets and this will cause a leak

.• Make certain you use more than enough felt nails. Ideally you want to be spacing the felt nails around 6 inches apart from each other. Always do this on both sides of the felt and dependent on the quality of the felt you are using possibly put another row of pin in the middle,possibly two rows but again this depends on the quality of the felt. Failure to put enough felt pin in there could result in the felt blowing off during a bad storm which would then leave your construction exposed to leaks.

• It is additionally crucial that when you reach the overhang of the construction with the felt you nail the felt to side of the roof but DO NOT tuck the felt underneath the overhang of the roof as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can cause premature rotting of the construction and in some situations cause the roof to water leak around the top corners of the construction as water could build up.

• Make certain you use the correct size fixings. If the roofing system boards on your construction are let’s say 10mm,you don’t want felt nails of 16mm. Doing this would cause the felt nails to come completely through the roof. This would not seem cosmetically pleasing and would additionally be a real possibility of a leak in the construction. They way felt is now designed,there should be a watertight seal around the nail but throughout the seasons with wear and tear this may fail resulting in a leak.

• The most typically ignored area on a timber cabin construction is the felt or shingles on the roof. This is normally because we can’t see it most of the time and it’s a lot more difficult to get up there and have a look,but this is precisely what you should do and I would highly recommend at least once a year or if you notice a leak. Because log cabins are not built as high as the typical house and the felt and shingles aren’t fairly as tough and sturdy as a normal house tile they require a little more focus. They are exposed to more elements on a daily basis because they are lower,this can result in a number of things from falling debris from trees,or another good example would be a kids’s toys getting thrown up there which would all cause harm to the felt/shingles. Not to mention lots of bird excrement can rot the felt if it is in an area where natural rainwater can not pass through it to create a natural run off and cleaning system (for good example if your log cabin sits under a plant).

Timberdise Garden Buildings place all of our log cabins,we do this because we know you are investing a lot of cash into a timber cabin and you want it to be around for a long period of time. So the best way we can guarantee this occurs is to take care of the installation and make certain it is mounted properly. We’ve been out to repair log cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the construction is not put together properly then number one it won’t be safe but additionally it could cause a failure in the construction to be watertight.

A prime good example of this would be that the timbers haven’t been assembled properly on the walls. This would then cause the log cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof was mounted there might be gaps between the roof and the wall. Gaps could additionally appear on the walls of the log cabins themselves and in some situations if the initial build of the log cabin was so bad you would have no choice but to take down the log cabin and rebuild it.

This is why View our products place all of our log cabins so you don’t have this to worry about. As you can imagine if there is a space in the wall or a space between the roof and the wall this would leave the log cabin open and it would most definitely water leak which is what we want to avoid at all costs.

I additionally want to bring focus to the flooring a second. Having your log cabin mounted on a proper ground base is a must. That could be a Timberdise ground base,cement base or a paved area. As long as they’re flat,level and solid you should be ok. Be mindful of where you put the log cabin,don’t put it anywhere that is at risk of flooding as just like the house that you live in. If the water level rises and there is no getaway for it then the log cabin will flood,that is regardless of how thick and tight your timbers are.

Lastly let’s talk about sealants around the windows and doors. Make certain after you have treated your log cabin you fit the relevant sealants around the doors and the windows. The log cabins don’t come with these fitted as standard,this is so you can treat the log cabin first and then apply the sealants afterwards. By not fitting the doors and windows with sealants then there’s a chance rainwater could pass through the inside of the log cabin,which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.

Also,at times especially during the winter months,condensation can materialize inside a log cabin. This is typical due to the log cabins not having any insulation fitted,it is not a leak and can be fairly typical. We suggest at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electrical access in there and leave it operating during the colder months. This will help take humidity out of the air and further increase the life of your log cabin.

If you observe all the above recommendations you should have a leak free log cabin for the duration of its life which can offer endless fulfillment and relaxation.Don’t forget prevention is much better than the cure.