Are garden timber cabins waterproofed is a question we got asked all the time here at -.
The brief simple answer to your query is a definite 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 timber cabin not waterproofed and fairly frankly not fit for purpose.The main thing to seem at immediately is the roof structure,that’s where you would imagine the main issue would start (this is not always the situation but that’s where we will start today). The main issue with the roof structure would be to have the felt or roof shingles to not be placed successfully. This is fairly easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be carried out by a qualified professional most 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 proper way. You should always start 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 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 works off it will operate under the felt and consequently lead to a water 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 overliing because this could lead to rain to get between the felt sheets and this will lead to a water leak
.• Make sure you use sufficient 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 building subjected to leaks.
• It is also essential that when you reach the overhang of the building with the felt you nail 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 lead to premature rotting of the building and in some scenarios lead to the roof structure to water leak around the top corners of the building as water could build up.
• Make sure you use the right size fixings. If the roof boards on your building are let’s say 10mm,you don’t want felt nails of 16mm. Doing this would lead to the felt nails to come completely through the roof structure. This would not seem cosmetically appealing and would also be a real possibility 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 regularly overlooked area on a log cabin building 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 just 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 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 plants,or another instance would be a children’s toys getting thrown up there which would all lead to harm 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 permeate it to create a natural run off and cleaning system (for instance if your timber cabin sits under a plant).
- mount 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 takes place is to take care of the installation and make sure it is placed successfully. We’ve been out to repair timber cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the building is not put together successfully then number one it won’t be safe but also it could lead to a failure in the building to be waterproofed.
A prime instance of this would be that the logs haven’t been assembled successfully on the walls. This would then lead to the timber cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof structure was placed there might be gaps between the roof structure and the wall. Gaps 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 - mount all of our timber cabins so you don’t have this to worry about. As you can imagine if there is a void in the wall or a void between the roof structure and the wall this would leave the log cabin open and it would most definitely water leak which is what we want to avoid at all costs.
I also want to bring focus to the floor 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 log 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 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 permeate the inside of the log cabin,which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.
In addition,at times most especially during the winter months,condensation can arise inside a log cabin. This is normal due to the log cabins not having any insulation fitted,it is not a water leak and can be fairly normal. We advise at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electrical access in there and leave it running during the chillier months. This will help take moisture out of the air and further increase the life-span of your log cabin.
If you observe all the above guidelines you should have a water leak free log cabin for the duration of its life-span which can supply unlimited enjoyment and relaxation.Don’t forget prevention is better than the cure.