Log cabins and sheds are beginning to crop up all over the place in the UK with people enjoying the versatility that they help provide in a garden. Indeed, increasingly they are being used not only as places to leave your garden tools, but also as dens away from the hustle and bustle of the house.
If you are going to be spending plenty of time in the garden log cabins over the winter, then you will need to ensure they are properly insulated.
Indeed, if you’re planning on making frequent visits during the winter, or even if you plan on restricting your activities to the supposed warmer months, insulation will help keep the contents warm, as well as protecting them from things such as moisture, mould and structural damage. The floor and roof are the two most important aspects that need to be insulated.
Get the insulation right when you are installing the log cabin
So you’ve picked out your log cabin from Waltons and you’re about to assemble it in the garden, now you need to make sure you insulate all the important parts. You’ve got the foundations all sorted, the building itself is the main worry now:
1. First, fit insulation material between the timber battens and apply plywood or something similar to create an insulated and sturdy roof for the shingles to cling to. Alternatively, you can also use corrugated sheets for roofing material (if you are in need of corrugated roof sheets, search online for local sellers) to get a robust roof over the outhouse.
2. Staple moisture-repellent polyethylene film to the underside of the drywall, which will help to add moisture protection to the cabin – something that is really needed in the English climate!
3. Perhaps roll down a sheet of self-adhesive lino on the base of the floor before installing the floor itself as this should ensure it is pressure treated and minimise the potential for wear and tear over time.
4. Seal any areas where the soffit beams connect to the beams with exterior caulk, which should help to further insulate the cabin.
5. It might also be a good idea to collect rocks, gravel and landscape fabric in order to cover the underside of the cabin ground to help prevent the growth of weeds.
Keep your cabin safe
This may seem a bit simplistic to say that you need to ensure that your log cabin is safe, but think about what you keep in the building. As suggested earlier, some people are using these as entertainment rooms away from the home with widescreen TVs, DVD players and stereos in them. This means that you would be very foolish not to think of security with your log cabin.
I’m not saying it needs to be something ultra sophisticated to stop criminal masterminds, but a simple padlock or lock and key could suit you down to the ground. If you have something super valuable like a laptop it might be a good idea to take it into the house once you’ve finished with it.
While it is essential to protect your cabin from security threats, it is just as important to protect it from natural threats, like hail storms. It can cause serious damage to your roof, and can compromise the structural integrity of your cabin as well. If you live in an area of frequent storms, consider routine maintenance and upgrades to your roof. Similarly, if you notice any damage like leaks, cracks, dents after a storm, reach out to a professional by searching “roofing Minneapolis MN“, or for a location near you, to take care of any damages to the roof.
Treat the wood
Alongside the insulation to prevent water damage and erosion, it is also important to treat the wood. It is recommended that you use a good quality, spirit-based application for longer-lasting protection. Apply the same treatment at least annually to ensure you get the most out of your log cabin. Water-based treatments can become less effective after a few months, so stick to a spirit-based one. No matter what procedure you choose, wood treatment is necessary to defend against wood-destroying and wood-discoloring mold. In its absence, your log cabin might be prone to frequent mold infestation. Mold eats away at wood, and it isn’t as easy to get rid of once it has taken root. Left on its own, it greatly undermines the structural integrity of the item, furniture or facility built from wood. And if that were the situation, then you best get in touch with Mold Busters (bustmold.com/locations/dorval), or someone similar, for ready and effective solutions to the problem. That said, prevention is always better than cure. So, have the wood treated and you should be fine!
Conclusion
No on likes to spend their holiday trying to mend and fix what’s broken in a cabin when they can spend all that time in a more enjoyable manner. If you really want to enjoy the log cabin experience, you would also have to ensure that it remains in great condition. That way, when you and your family visit your vacation home next, you can spend the time taking in the great outdoors without having to think twice about your safety.
