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August 14, 2022 By Keith Lynch

Painting a log cabin after installation – a hint worth knowing about!

A log cabin will settle down immediately after it is built – it doesn’t matter how hard you hit the logs as you are building it (for instance, one log may bow down a millimetre or two, but the next log on top may bow in the opposite direction – suddenly you cabin is 3 or 4mm higher). The weight of the roof bearing down on the cabin walls is enough to start straightening these “imperfections” out, but this take a little bit of time of course. It is easily possible for a cabin to settle down 50mm in the first few weeks – we have built very tall cabins that have settled 100mm! The taller the cabin, the more it will settle down (because it is made with more logs and therefore more joints between the logs which need to “mould” into each other). It is also a fact that the thicker the wall logs, the longer it will take to settle down (they are stronger and so will resist this compression phase for longer).

So that’s the initial settlement phase of a log cabin, but there is also the seasonal change as well…..

SUMMER – as the air temperature and moisture content decrease, this will be reflected in the wall logs. Depending on the exact use of the timber, it is classed as “normal” for external use at 19%. When timber loses moisture, it shrinks – in extreme cases, ie heatwaves, external timber can reach below 5% moisture content, meaning that a typical 135mm high log could reduce down to 132mm. This doesn’t sound like much, but if a cabin is 15 logs high, it means the cabin can be 45mm shorter than it’s equilibrium status (during Spring and Autumn)!

WINTER – conversely, timber swells when it gains moisture content (who remembers the old style wooden kitchen doors jamming up in the Winter???). This is where using a good quality timber treatment/paint comes in – it will stop too much rain getting to the timber face and stop too much being absorbed which would cause the logs to swell (and if left unprotected long term, going rotten of course). Nonetheless, the moisture content of the logs will rises during Winter, meaning the cabin could be as much as 20mm taller than it’s yearly average.

So that is the background to this article – log cabins move up and down!

This then leads on to a helpful hint when painting cabins (usually in the first few days after installation and before any of the settlement / movement has happened) – Most people would paint around the window and door trims / architraves……But what happens when the cabin walls move?…….

Winter – the walls swell up, leaving potentially unpainted wood showing above the frame.

Summer – the walls shrink, leaving unpainted areas below the architrave “haunches”.

There is of course a very simple solution that most people don’t think of – unscrew the top trim from the frame before painting, and then replace when the cabin is painted, it’s as simple as that! It doesn’t matter what time of year it is (ie the timber moisture content, and so the height of the cabin) – the cabin will still move up and down (as it should do) but there won’t be any unpainted timber showing.

The more all-encompassing way to paint a cabin is to paint it before the windows and doors have been fitted – which means that all of the logs are covered all round, even the parts that can never be seen. Ensuring a longer cabin lifespan.

The best option is one that not many other companies offer (but we do!) – factory painting. Not only are all logs (including the tongues, grooves and all notches), windows, doors, fascia boards painted all round (twice) but you get a much better finish because the paint (or stain) is sprayed on, so there are no brush marks at all.

Filed Under: UKlogcabins blog page Tagged With: Log cabin movement, Log cabin painting

August 7, 2022 By Keith Lynch

Damp proof membranes for log cabins

There are many companies who sell log cabins, there are very few that provide a damp proof membrane (DPM) for their cabins – or even advise customers about this.

There are a few main reasons why cabins don’t last as long as they should do, a major one being the lack of a DPM which prevents damp rising up into the base timbers that the cabin is built upon……..”The bearers are pressure treated, so it doesn’t need one” – WRONG! The base timbers will eventually rot, even if treated. The base timbers will transfer this moisture up into the floor boards and bottom wall boards. Such a shame to have to replace a whole cabin when just a few extra pounds would eliminate this problem from the outset.

So laying a DPM is essential in our view, but it’s also how it’s laid that also makes a big difference – it it is cut off around the edge of the floor / floor bearers then there are open edges at ground level and rain / rain water will get on top of it and run in under the building with nowhere to go because the DPM id waterproof! Even worse if there’s a dip in the base as this will cause a puddle under the floor where the water could evaporate creating a high air moisture content which will rise up through the floor into the building where it will condense on any colder surface to the point where it looks like there is a leak (especially if it condenses on the underside of the roof) – this is not fantasy, we have seen this actually happen. This could also happen if the bearers are just laid on strips of damp proof course (not as likely, assuming the ends of the bearers are open and will therefore ventilate).

The best way to lay a DPM is if it is over-size, then the bearers are laid on top of it, and then crucially the excess DPM is folded back on top of the bearers before building the walls – this way there are no cut edges at ground level, ensuring it stays dry. Our DPM kit also adapts the floor such that an extra timber cover fillet is fixed all around the edges to cover the DPM and protect it from UV degradation and also mechanical damage (strimmers etc)…..

If the floor is insulated, then the spaces between the bearers is full of insulation – there are no air gaps and therefore nothing to ventilate (warm deck). If it is not an insulated floors then the spaces between the bearers should be ventilated, this can be easily achieved by drilling a series of holes along the appropriate flank (with an upward angle at least 30mm up from the bottom so if any water does find it’s way to the opening, it will simply run back out again).

These measures will probably at least double the life of your cabin, all for the sake of a few pounds.

Filed Under: UKlogcabins blog page

July 24, 2022 By Keith Lynch

Log Cabin Maintenance Service

We have had many enquiries over the years asking whether we offer re-roofing services, painting services and other maintenance options – none more so than currently. Therefore we have decided to add this to our repertoire.

Log cabins aren’t like other types of garden buildings – if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can do more harm than good. There ahve been many instances over the years where a customer has employed a jobbing builder or handyman than “has been doing this type of works for decades and I know what I’m doing!”………..Guess what – they think it’s a shed and start nailing and screwing everywhere, stopping the logs from moving (they must be free to move) and causing all sorts of issues (gaps in walls, lifting the roof off when the cabin settles down, stopping the doors from working because the door frame has been pushed out of square – you name it, we’ve seen it!).

We have various teams of installers who “know” log cabins and how to build them – this is essential knowledge if working on a cabin, not only what to do but also how to do it……there’s no point in having a theory of what to do if you do irreparable damage trying to get to the bit that you think is causing the issue. Our installers have 2 major advantages here – they will almost certainly know what the problem is being caused by AND they know how to rectify it without destroying the building.

There is also ongoing maintenance to be considered – re-painting, re-roofing, adjusting doors and windows, etc. We can also offer these services – we have a big advantage here…..we stock many of the items required to carry this work out (felt roll, felt shingles, insecticide & fungicide base coat treatments, spare hinges, spare wall logs, spare roof & floor boards etc), so not only can webring these with us but also they will be much cheaper than buying from a local timber merchant or hardware DIY store.

Whatever you need doing to your garden outbuilding (including sheds, garden workshops, log cabins, summerhouses, garages, etc) then we are able to help you – please contact us for details or find more details here – https://www.hortonsgroup.com/cabin-shed-maintenance-repairs.

Filed Under: UKlogcabins blog page Tagged With: garden building repair, log cabin maintenance, shed re-roofing, summerhouse painting

July 9, 2022 By Keith Lynch

Do log cabins need to comply with building regulations

There are many myths regarding this subject. As a rule, small garden building don’t need to comply with Building Regulations (this is different to planning permission). Building regulations are concerned with structural stability, insulation values and generally how it’s built whereas planning permission is generally concerned with where you put it and how it looks.

Hortons 4×4 log cabins and smaller do not fall under any restrictions in a garden regardless of where site them (unless it is within a conservation area or ANOB, in which case you would need to check with your council). Most people know about the planning permission side of things (2.5m high if close to a boundary and less than 50% of garden area, plus some others). BUT most people aren’t aware of Building Regulations – these can get complicated if it’s going to be more than just a summerhouse / shed / game room type structure (ie, habitable or semi-habitable). All buildings over 30sqm “INTERNAL FLOOR AREA” are governed by Building Regs (quite a few people know this) which also includes the base as well – do not buy a Building Regs building and think you can just build it on an existing base – you may come unstuck! Bases will need to comply by using the standard Building Control specifications for your area (usually way over the top for a timber garden building) or employing a structural engineer to calculate what is actually required (this may cost a bit to start with but usually saves a fortune because the base can be proven to a much lower spec once the calculations are shown to the council official).

It can also be the case that some buildings between 15sqm – 30sqm also fall within Regs as well, but only for 1 specific set of circumstances – if sited closer than 1m to ANY boundary then it needs to be “constructed substantially of non-combustible materials”. We offer factory applied fire protection coating to Class B – s1,d0 which used to be universally accepted by all councils but this is not guaranteed to be the case any more (needs to be checked and signed off by your local Building Control department). Most companies either do not have a clue about this, or if they do then they keep quiet as they are much more interested in knowingly taking your order without either offering a solution or telling you to contact the council.

However, any garden building of less than 15sqm internally isn’t required to comply with this regulation either. Our log cabins are measured log end to log end, so by the time this is taken into account and the wall thicknesses (which vary) are taken into account then Hortons 4x4m cabins (16sqm externally) come out to be just less than 14sqm – although the external size is indeed 16sqm, the internal footprint for a 45mm wall log cabin is just under 14sqm, so it can be built anywhere in your garden (even right up to the boundary should you wish, however think about future maintenance before you decide to do this! This topic will be addressed in a later blog.). This is how to work out the internal measurement for one of our cabins –

There is a little bit more to consider if you are looking to buy a Twin Skin log cabin as there is another wall thickness and wall cavity to include within the calculations as well –

Log cabins and Building Regulations

Filed Under: UKlogcabins blog page

June 26, 2022 By Keith Lynch

Flexible cabin designs

A very common question from customers is “How flexible or fixed are our log cabin designs”? The simple answer is that they aren’t fixed at all.

So the next question (quickly following that answer) is “Does that cost a lot extra?”. Another very simple answer from us is “Very little, possibly nothing at all or even that it could cost less depending on what needs changing”. All of the styles and designs on our website are purely there as a starting point to give ideas to customers. If the customer needs fewer windows or doors, then it’s highly likely that it would cost less. If doors or windows need moving to a certain position (but the total number remains the same) then there may be a very small charge for this. Or there may not depending on what else is going on with the cabin (adding partitions to make into a multi room log cabin will obviously cost more).

The upshot is simple – we have our own dedicated factory. Therefore we can be as flexible as required and for very little (or no) extra cost. The way to think about it is that cabins (and all garden buildings) are timber boxes with windows, doors and canopies – you choose where you want them and how many, and leave the rest to us. This even applies to our residential log cabin houses – you tell us what you need.

log cabin with 2 rooms

In summary, if it is possible to draw a design, then we are able to make and install it.

NB – it is always worth pointing out that there my be certain restrictions that apply. Planning permission, building regulations, etc may be required. Follow these links to the relevant government website for more info –

Planning permission for garden buildings – http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/outbuildings/miniguide

Building Regulations for garden buildings – https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/43/outbuildings/2

We offer many different cabins that have no restrictions, so there is no need to get involved in any planning applications. Some of them can be seen here – https://www.uklogcabins.co.uk/log-cabins/

Filed Under: UKlogcabins blog page Tagged With: custom log cabins

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