Are garden timber cabins rainproof is a question we got asked all the time here at garden log cabins .
The short simple answer to your question is a definite 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 look at right away is the roof,that’s where you would imagine the main issue would begin (this is not always the case but that’s where we will begin today). The main issue with the roof would be to have the felt or roof shingles to not be installed correctly. This is fairly easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be carried out by an expert especially if you are spending a lot of your hard earned cash on a log cabin.
• Make sure that the overlaps are overliing in the ideal 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 runs off it will run underneath the felt and consequently result in a water leak. This is exactly the same when doing shingles,make sure you set up from bottom upwards.
• Make sure the overlaps of the felt/shingles are fairly generous. You don’t want them to be just barely overliing because this could result in rainwater to get between the felt sheets and this will result in 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 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 construction subjected to leaks.
• It is additionally crucial 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 underneath the overhang of the roof as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can result in early rotting of the construction and in some scenarios result in the roof to water 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 result in the felt nails to come completely through the roof. This would not look cosmetically appealing and would additionally be a real chance 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 neglected area on a log cabin construction is the felt or shingles on the roof. This is primarily 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 recommend at least once a year or if you notice a water leak. Because timber cabins are not built as high as the normal house and the felt and shingles aren’t fairly as tough and durable as a normal house tile they require a little more attention. 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 result in harm to the felt/shingles. Not to mention lots of bird droppings 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).
View our products set up all of our timber 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 installed 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 additionally it could result in a failure in the construction to be rainproof.
A prime example of this would be that the timbers haven’t been built correctly on the walls. This would then result in the timber cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof was installed there might be openings between the roof 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 rebuild it.
This is why See range here set up 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 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 attention to the floor a second. Having your timber 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 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 getaway for it then the timber 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 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 especially during the winter months,condensation can occur inside a cabin. This is normal due to the cabins not having any insulation fitted,it is not a water leak and can be fairly normal. We recommend at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electrical access in there and leave it operating during the chillier months. This will help take water out of the air and further increase the life of your cabin.
If you adhere to all the above recommendations you should have a water leak free cabin for the duration of its life which can supply unlimited enjoyment and relaxation.Don’t forget prevention is far better than the cure.