Are garden timber cabins water resistant is a question we got asked all the time here at timberdise garden log cabins .
The short simple answer to your question is a resounding yes!
Why would they not be?
Well, let’s take a look at some of the plausible issues with a log cabin which would make the timber cabin not water resistant and quite honestly not fit for purpose.The main thing to seem at instantly is the roof structure, that’s where you would visualize the main complication would start (this is not always the scenario but that’s where we will start today). The main complication with the roof structure would be to have the felt or shingling to not be mounted correctly. This is quite easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be carried out by a qualified professional particularly if you are spending a lot of your hard earned money on a log cabin.
• Make sure that the overlies are overlapping in the right way. You should always start felting at the bottom of the structure 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 start 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 operates off it will operate under the felt and consequently create a leak. This is exactly the same when doing shingles, make sure you set up 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 create rainwater 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 tack in the middle,possibly two rows but again this depends on the quality of the felt. Failure to put enough felt tack in there could result in the felt blowing off during a bad storm which would then leave your structure subjected to leaks.
• It is additionally crucial that when you reach the overhang of the structure 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 create early rotting of the structure and in some situations create the roof structure to water leak around the top corners of the structure as water could build up.
• Make sure you use the correct size fixings. If the roof boards on your structure 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 appealing and would additionally be a real chance of a leak in the structure. 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 commonly ignored area on a log cabin structure 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 highly recommend at least once a year or if you notice a leak. Because timber cabins are not built as high as the typical house and the felt and shingles aren’t quite as tough and sturdy 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 example would be a kids’s toys getting thrown up there which would all create harm 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).
timberdise garden log cabins set up 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 guarantee this happens is to take care of the installation and make sure it is mounted correctly. We’ve been out to repair timber cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the structure is not put together correctly then number one it won’t be safe but additionally it could create a failure in the structure to be water resistant.
A prime example of this would be that the logs haven’t been constructed 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 structure was mounted there might be gaps between the roof structure and the wall. Gaps could additionally 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 View our products set up all of our timber cabins so you don’t have this to worry about. As you can visualize if there is a gap in the wall or a gap between the roof structure and the wall this would leave the cabin open and it would most definitely water leak which is what we want to avoid at all costs.
I additionally 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,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 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 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 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 rainwater could permeate the inside of the cabin, which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.
Also, at times 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 leak and can be quite typical. We encourage at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electric access in there and leave it working during the colder months. This will help take humidity out of the air and further increase the life of your cabin.
If you adhere to all the above pointers you should have a leak free cabin for the duration of its life which can offer limitless pleasure and relaxation. Don’t forget prevention is much better than the cure. Check out -