Are Garden Timber Cabins Waterproof?

Are garden log cabins waterproof is a question we got asked all the time here at View our products .

The very short simple answer to your query is a resounding yes!

Why would they not be?

Well,let’s take a look at some of the likely issues with a log cabin which would make the log cabin not waterproof and fairly frankly not fit for purpose.The main thing to seem at right away is the roof structure,that’s where you would imagine the main complication would commence (this is not always the situation but that’s where we will commence today). The main complication with the roof structure would be to have the felt or roof shingles to not be mounted appropriately. This is fairly easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be undertaken by a qualified professional particularly if you are spending a lot of your hard earned money on a log cabin.

• Make certain that the overlies are overlapping in the proper way. You should always commence 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 structure. This will guarantee there is a natural run off of the water,if you commence felting at the top of the roof structure and you put the overlap from the bottom pieces over the top of the felt higher up when the rain works off it will work underneath the felt and consequently create a water leak. This is exactly the same when doing shingles,make certain you mount 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 create rain to get between the felt sheets and this will create a water leak

.• Make certain you use plenty of 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 water leaks.

• It is also vital that when you reach the overhang of the construction with the felt you attach the felt to side of the roof structure but DO NOT tuck the felt underneath the overhang of the roof structure as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can create early rotting of the construction and in some cases create the roof structure to leak around the top corners of the construction as water could build up.

• Make certain you use the correct size fixings. If the roof boards on your construction are let’s say 10mm,you don’t want felt nails of 16mm. Doing this would create the felt nails to come completely through the roof structure. This would not seem cosmetically pleasing and would also be a real possibility of a water 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 water leak.

• The most generally overlooked area on a log cabin construction is the felt or shingles on the roof structure. This is mainly 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 exactly what you should do and I would strongly recommend at least once a year or if you notice a water leak. Because log cabins are not built as high as the normal 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 plants,or another good example would be a kids’s toys getting thrown up there which would all create damage to the felt/shingles. Not to mention lots of bird droppings can rot the felt if it is in an area where natural rain 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 mount all of our log cabins,we do this because we know you are investing a lot of money into a log 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 appropriately. We’ve been out to repair log cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the construction is not put together appropriately then number one it won’t be safe but also it could create a failure in the construction to be waterproof.

A prime good example of this would be that the logs haven’t been constructed appropriately on the walls. This would then create the log cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof structure was mounted there might be openings between the roof structure and the wall. Voids could also 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 reconstruct it.

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

I also want to bring focus to the floor a second. Having your log cabin mounted on a proper ground base is a must. That could be a Timberdise ground base,concrete 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 at any place 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 logs 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 rain could pass through the inside of the log cabin,which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.

Also,occasionally particularly during the winter months,condensation can materialize inside a log cabin. This is normal due to the log cabins not having any insulation fitted,it is not a water leak and can be fairly normal. We recommend at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electric access in there and leave it running during the colder months. This will help take dampness out of the air and further increase the life-span of your log cabin.

If you follow all the above recommendations you should have a water leak free log cabin for the duration of its life-span which can offer unlimited fulfillment and relaxation.Remember prevention is better than the treatment.