Are garden timber cabins rainproof is a query we got asked all the time here at Timberdise Garden Buildings.
The brief simple answer to your question is an unqualified yes!
Why would they not be?
Well,let’s take a look at some of the practical complications with a log cabin which would make the timber cabin not rainproof and fairly honestly not fit for purpose.The main thing to appear at immediately is the roof,that’s where you would imagine the main trouble would begin (this is not always the scenario but that’s where we will begin today). The main trouble with the roof would be to have the felt or shingling to not be placed correctly. This is fairly easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be undertaken by an expert most especially if you are investing a lot of your hard earned money on a log cabin.
• Make sure that the overlaps are overlapping in the correct way. You should always begin felting at the bottom of the construction and felt upwards. By doing this you ensure that the felt overlaps 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 begin 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 create a leak. This is just exactly the same when doing shingles,make sure you mount from bottom upwards.
• Make sure the overlaps 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 leak
.• Make sure 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 attach in the middle,possibly two rows but again this depends on the quality of the felt. Failure to put enough felt attach in there could result in the felt blowing off during a bad storm which would then leave your construction exposed to leakages.
• It is in addition vital 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 under the overhang of the roof as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can create premature rotting of the construction and in some situations create the roof to leak around the top corners of the construction as water could build up.
• Make sure you use the right 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. This would not appear cosmetically pleasing and would in addition be a real option 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 neglected area on a log cabin construction is the felt or shingles on the roof. 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 just exactly what you should do and I would suggest at least once a year or if you notice a leak. Because timber cabins are not built as high as the normal house and the felt and shingles aren’t fairly as tough and resilient as a typical house tile they require a little more attention. 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 create 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 penetrate it to create a natural run off and cleaning system (for good example if your timber cabin sits under a tree).
Timberdise mount all of our timber 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 ensure this happens is to take care of the installation and make sure it is placed correctly. We’ve been out to repair timber cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the construction is not put together correctly then number one it won’t be safe but in addition it could create a failure in the construction to be rainproof.
A prime good example of this would be that the logs haven’t been assembled correctly on the walls. This would then create the timber cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof was placed there might be spaces between the roof and the wall. Gaps could in addition appear on the walls of the timber cabins themselves and in some situations if the initial build of the timber cabin was so bad you would have no choice but to take down the timber cabin and rebuild it.
This is why garden log cabins mount all of our timber 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 and the wall this would leave the cabin open and it would most definitely leak which is what we want to avoid at all costs.
I in addition want to bring attention to the floor surface a second. Having your timber cabin placed 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 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 timber 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 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 cabin first and then apply the sealants afterwards. By not fitting the doors and windows with sealants then there’s a chance rain could penetrate the inside of the cabin,which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.
Additionally,occasionally most especially during the winter months,condensation can arise inside a cabin. This is normal due to the log cabins not having any insulation fitted,it is not a leak and can be fairly normal. We advise at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electrical access in there and leave it working during the chillier months. This will help take wetness out of the air and further increase the life-span of your cabin.
If you follow all the above guidelines you should have a leak free cabin for the duration of its life-span which can supply infinite enjoyment and relaxation.Keep in mind prevention is far better than the cure.