If you’re thinking of expanding your living space with a garden building; in addition to our Guide to buying a Summerhouse and Log Cabin and Log cabins explained video Forest have put together some handy Log Cabin FAQ’s to help you choose the perfect cabin for suit your needs.
• Q: What sort of timber are Forest cabins made of?
• A: The logs used in our range of cabins are manufactured from kiln dried spruce, a process with extracts moisture to an exact level. This method minimises the risk of splitting and reduces warping to an absolute minimum.
• Q. Is the timber FSC and from a sustainable source?
• A: Yes, they are all manufactured from FSC certified timber
• Q: What log thickness would you recommend?
• A: 28mm log thickness is suitable for summerhouses but for home office we would recommend either 34mm or 44mm and a double glazed option. This will make the building more suitable for all year round use.
• Q: What sort of windows do the buildings have?
• A: 28mm log buildings are single glazed, 44mm, selected 34mm & 58mm buildings aredouble glazed with a standard 4mm/6mm/4mm. The windows are casement windows with weather seals featured on double glazed units. Where opening windows are specified,windows on 28mm cabins are top hung outward opening and all 34m and 44mm windowsare tilt & turn inward opening.
• Q: Do the buildings come with the floor and bearers?
• A: Yes, pressure treated 40mm x 55/70mm floor bearers with either 19mm or 28mm tongue and grooved floor boards depending on the model log thickness.
• Q: What thickness are the roof boards? Do you use any sheet material for the roof?
• A: There is no sheet material used in the log cabins, all roof boards are19mm tongue and grooved.
• Q: Do the buildings come with any roof covering?
• A: Yes the Forest range of cabins are supplied with black/green fleck shingles which are 2.2mm in thickness.
• Q: Are the log cabins treated with any preservative?
• A: Log cabins are not pre-treated with any preservative.
• Q: Do I need to treat my log cabin? If so, how often?
• A: Yes, as soon are your cabin is built you need to treat it with a good quality solvent based preservative such as Sadolin, Sikkens or Cuprinol Trade range. Treatment should be applied to both the inside & outside of a cabin within a maximum of three weeks of assembly. As the UK has a very wet climate it is important to ensure that your timbers remain dry and protected until such time as a treatment is applied. Your cabin should then be regularly retreated every year.
• Q: How difficult are they to build?
• A: All cabins are perceived as an advanced DIY project. If you are in any doubt please opt for the assembly service
• Q: What base do I need to build my cabin on?
• A: The choices are either a concrete base or a timber raft frame
• Q: What size do I need to make my base?
• A: Ideally to the outer wall measurement. To work this out you need to subtract the log ear measurement form each end which is in all cases 100mm. So for example if the cabin is 4.0m x 4.0m this measurement the base needs to be 3.8m x 3.8m. Make up to 100mm larger if you wish but try to avoid splash back from dripping water off the roof as this could affect the lower wall logs long term performance if not treated and maintained regularly.
