Are Garden Log Cabins Waterproof?Are Garden Log Cabins Waterproof?
Are garden timber cabins waterproofed is a question we got asked all the time here at See range here .
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 plausible problems with a timber cabin which would make the timber cabin not waterproofed and fairly frankly not fit for purpose.The main thing to appear at as soon as possible is the roof structure, that`s where you would imagine the main complication would commence (this is not always the scenario 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 properly. This is fairly easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be tackled by a professional particularly if you are spending a lot of your hard earned cash on a timber cabin.
• Make sure that the overlies are overliing in the right way. You should always commence 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 structure. This will ensure there is a natural run off of the water, if you commence felting at the top of the roof structure and you put the overlie from the bottom pieces over the top of the felt higher up when the rain operates off it will operate underneath the felt and therefor trigger a water leak. This is exactly the same when doing shingles, make sure you place from bottom upwards.
• Make sure the overlies of the felt/shingles are fairly generous. You don`t want them to be just barely overliing because this could trigger rainwater to get between the felt sheets and this will trigger a water leak
• Make sure you use ample 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 exposed to leakages.
• It is also vital that when you reach the overhang of the construction with the felt you nail 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 trigger early rotting of the construction and in some cases trigger the roof structure to 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 trigger the felt nails to come completely through the roof structure. This would not appear cosmetically appealing 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 forgotten area on a timber cabin construction is the felt or shingles on the roof structure. This is typically 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 timber cabins are not built as high as the typical house and the felt and shingles aren`t fairly as tough and sturdy as a typical 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 example would be a children`s toys getting thrown up there which would all trigger damage 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 permeate it to create a natural run off and cleaning system (for example if your timber cabin sits under a plant).
See range here place all of our timber 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 ensure this takes place is to take care of the installation and make sure it is mounted properly. We`ve been out to repair timber 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 also it could trigger a failure in the construction to be waterproofed.
A prime example of this would be that the logs haven`t been constructed properly on the walls. This would then trigger the timber cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof structure was mounted there might be voids between the roof structure and the wall. Voids could also 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 reconstruct it.
This is why See range here place all of our timber 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 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 covering a second. Having your timber 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 anyplace 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 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 log cabin you fit the relevant sealants around the doors and the windows. The 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 permeate the inside of the log cabin, which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.
In addition, in some cases particularly during the winter months, condensation can arise inside a cabin. This is typical due to the cabins not having any insulation fitted, it is not a water leak and can be fairly typical. We encourage at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have power access in there and leave it running during the cooler months. This will help take humidity out of the air and further increase the lifespan of your log cabin.
If you stick to all the above ideas you should have a water leak free log cabin for the duration of its lifespan which can supply endless pleasure and relaxation. Always remember prevention is more desirable than the treatment. Check out -
May 16, 2021May 16, 2021