Are garden log cabins waterproofed is a query we got asked all the time here at Timberdise.
The brief simple answer to your query is a definite yes!
Why would they not be?
Well, let’s take a look at some of the likely complications with a timber cabin which would make the log cabin not waterproofed and quite frankly not fit for purpose.The main thing to appear at right away is the roof, that’s where you would envision the main complication would start (this is not always the case but that’s where we will start today). The main complication with the roof would be to have the felt or shingling to not be installed successfully. This is quite easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be tackled by a qualified professional most especially if you are investing a lot of your hard earned money on a timber cabin.
• Make sure that the overlies are overlapping in the proper way. You should always start felting at the bottom of the construction and felt upwards. By doing this you ensure that the felt overlies on top of the piece of felt that is further down the roof. This will ensure there is a natural run off of the water, if you start felting at the top of the roof and you put the overlap from the bottom pieces over the top of the felt higher up when the rain works off it will operate under the felt and therefor bring about a leak. This is just exactly the same when doing shingles, make sure you mount from bottom upwards.
• Make sure the overlies of the felt/shingles are quite generous. You don’t want them to be just barely overlapping because this could bring about rain to get between the felt sheets and this will bring about a leak
• Make sure you use sufficient 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 nails in the middle,possibly two rows but again this depends on the quality of the felt. Failure to put enough felt nails in there could result in the felt blowing off during a bad storm which would then leave your construction subjected to leakages.
• It is also essential that when you reach the overhang of the construction with the felt you pin the felt to side of the roof but DO NOT tuck the felt under the overhang of the roof as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can bring about early rotting of the construction and in some cases bring about the roof to water leak around the top corners of the construction as water could build up.
• Make sure 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 bring about the felt nails to come completely through the roof. This would not appear cosmetically pleasing and would also 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 frequently neglected area on a timber cabin construction is the felt or shingles on the roof. This is generally 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 just exactly what you should do and I would suggest at least once a year or if you notice a leak. Because log cabins are not built as high as the normal house and the felt and shingles aren’t quite as tough and resilient as a normal house tile they require a little more focus. They are subjected 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 children’s toys getting thrown up there which would all bring about damage to the felt/shingles. Not to mention lots of bird excrement 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).
See range here mount all of our log cabins, we do this because we know you are investing a lot of money into a timber cabin and you want it to be around for a long period of time. So the best way we can ensure this happens is to take care of the installation and make sure it is installed successfully. We’ve been out to repair log cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the construction is not put together successfully then number one it won’t be safe but also it could bring about a failure in the construction to be waterproofed.
A prime good example of this would be that the logs haven’t been constructed successfully on the walls. This would then bring about the log cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof was installed there might be gaps between the roof and the wall. Gaps 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 Timberdise Garden Buildings mount all of our log cabins so you don’t have this to worry about. As you can envision if there is a void in the wall or a void 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 also want to bring focus to the flooring a second. Having your log cabin installed 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 escape 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 sure 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.
In addition, in some cases most especially during the winter months, condensation can take place inside a cabin. This is normal due to the log cabins not having any insulation fitted, it is not a leak and can be quite normal. We advise at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electric 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 pointers you should have a leak free log cabin for the duration of its life which can supply limitless enjoyment and relaxation. Bear in mind prevention is more desirable than the treatment.