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 an unqualified yes!
Why would they not be?
Well,let’s take a look at some of the potential problems with a log cabin which would make the log cabin not waterproofed and quite honestly not fit for purpose.The main thing to appear at quickly is the roof structure,that’s where you would imagine the main problem would begin (this is not always the situation but that’s where we will begin today). The main problem with the roof structure would be to have the felt or roof shingles to not be set up appropriately. This is quite easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be tackled by a specialist most especially if you are investing a lot of your hard earned cash 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 building 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 structure. This will ensure there is a natural run off of the water,if you begin 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 runs off it will operate under the felt and consequently cause a water leak. This is just exactly the same when doing shingles,make sure you set up from bottom upwards.
• Make sure the overlaps of the felt/shingles are quite generous. You don’t want them to be just barely overlapping because this could cause rain to get between the felt sheets and this will cause a water 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 building exposed to leakages.
• It is in addition important that when you reach the overhang of the building with the felt you tack the felt to side of the roof structure but DO NOT tuck the felt under the overhang of the roof structure as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can cause premature rotting of the building and in some cases cause the roof structure to leak around the top corners of the building as water could build up.
• Make sure you use the right size fixings. If the roofing boards on your building are let’s say 10mm,you don’t want felt nails of 16mm. Doing this would cause the felt nails to come completely through the roof structure. This would not appear cosmetically pleasing and would in addition be a real chance of a water leak in the building. 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 typically neglected area on a log cabin building is the felt or shingles on the roof structure. This is normally 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 encourage 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 quite as tough and resilient 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 trees,or another example would be a kids’s toys getting thrown up there which would all cause 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 example if your log cabin sits under a plant).
timberdise garden log cabins set up all of our log cabins,we do this because we know you are investing a lot of cash 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 occurs is to take care of the installation and make sure it is set up appropriately. We’ve been out to repair log cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the building is not put together appropriately then number one it won’t be safe but in addition it could cause a failure in the building to be waterproofed.
A prime example of this would be that the timbers haven’t been built appropriately on the walls. This would then cause the log cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof structure was set up there might be openings between the roof structure and the wall. Voids could in addition 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 set up all of our log 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 in addition want to bring focus to the floor surface a second. Having your log cabin set up 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 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 escape for it then the log cabin will flood,that is regardless of how thick and tight your timbers 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.
Additionally,occasionally most especially during the winter months,condensation can happen inside a cabin. This is normal due to the log cabins not having any insulation fitted,it is not a water leak and can be quite normal. We recommend at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electric access in there and leave it running during the chillier months. This will help take wetness out of the air and further increase the life-span of your log cabin.
If you follow all the above ideas you should have a water leak free log cabin for the duration of its life-span which can provide limitless fulfillment and relaxation.Always remember prevention is far better than the cure.