Log cabin to replace garden shed

Log cabin to replace garden shed

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eniacs

Original Poster:

207 posts

139 months

Monday 18th May 2015
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I'm looking for any experience of a garden log cabin. I need to replace our current shed with something a bit more attractive and a bit larger. The space available would fit a 3.5x3.5 with a veranda as well.

I will need to put down a new concrete base and probably offer the old shed on freecycle/gumtree as it is still usable for a chicken shed etc.

The log cabins I've been looking at are about £1300 and have 19mm floor, walls and roof. Plastic windows as standard in this price bracket.
http://www.devongardensheds.co.uk/logcabins.php
Specifically the "Augusta Log Cabin 3.7m x 3.3m"

What experiences has anyone else had with these? How long do they take to build as well, as most places seem to charge around £500 for on site installation which seems steep.

eniacs

Original Poster:

207 posts

139 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Bump.

Anyone any experience to share of building this sort of thing? Notes on quality etc?

Thanks.

Collectingbrass

2,198 posts

194 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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I don't think it was this firm, but my dad has one in this style. It's lasted very well and will probably see him out ( & he is only 68).

From what I remember he said install was fairly easy with two handy people, but get someone professional to build the base for you. The mistakes he made were to build the base to the overall dimensions, which included the roof overhang & which I think the seller gave to suggest the shed was a touch bigger than it actually was, and to open the plastic packs the timber came in all at once so the sections started to warp before they got it finished. It didn't warp by much but the last bits needed the joint notches easing to get them properly home.

Harry H

3,379 posts

155 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Built one myself recently from Dunster House. They were OK nothing special just as you would expect.

Brilliant fun to build. Like a giant lego set and dead easy even on your todd. Easily have it done in a weekend. Don't need much more that a hammer and screwdriver.

Keep it dry until built. The interlock system is a very fine tolerance so you'd be pretty stuffed if there's any swelling from damp. Makes a good solid structure once up though. Then just use fence paint to the colour of your choice.

A flat base is absolutely essential. Start off even a few mill out and the problem just exaggerates as you build.

Go for at least the 28mm logs. Anything less just looks noddy. They look so much better than a bog standard shed

There's millions of em on the net. I'd have thought you'd get something pretty decent for around £1k if you pick one from the never ending sales they all seem to have.When I was looking invariably you'd find the same shed (even the photo) on several different sites at a price variance of a few hundred quid.

eniacs

Original Poster:

207 posts

139 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Thanks for the responses so far.

Does it really take 2 days to build? I've seen some pictures of them going up and though they were dragging it out a bit to take 2.5 days at it.

All the units I've looked at under the cheaper end of the bracket are 19mm wood. To get anything higher you are looking at another 50% on the price. Probably because it takes an extra 50% wood to do it. I think I will be forced to do the cheaper 19mm wood so hope a 3x3m building will be ok in that thin material.

Collectingbrass

2,198 posts

194 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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eniacs said:
Thanks for the responses so far.

Does it really take 2 days to build? I've seen some pictures of them going up and though they were dragging it out a bit to take 2.5 days at it.

All the units I've looked at under the cheaper end of the bracket are 19mm wood. To get anything higher you are looking at another 50% on the price. Probably because it takes an extra 50% wood to do it. I think I will be forced to do the cheaper 19mm wood so hope a 3x3m building will be ok in that thin material.
19mm wood is pretty thin, floor boards are only 18mm so I would want to know how the walls are supported against lateral movement over that length.

Does the two days (& £500) include the base or not?

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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We bought ours around seven years ago, from memory it cost around £900, quality is absolutely first class, although it is VERY important to keep up the maintenance, they told us to give it a couple of coats of good quality clear varnish immediately after erecting it.

For around 2-3k, you could probably have one that would be more like a summerhouse, but ours is plenty big enough to store deck chairs and the like in

I think it took about a day to put up, but we spent another day making sure it was on a very firm foundation, concreting all the supports in properly.

Certainly no regrets, I would definitely have another, so much better than a shed.




Bebee

4,678 posts

224 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Some info here on self build, look for the youtube vids.

http://www.logcabins.co.uk/

Piglet

6,250 posts

254 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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We've got a summerhouse from http://beaminstersheds.co.uk/summerhouses/, it's the same style as the second one down on the right that says "Summerhouse in Dorchester".

We paid about £1800 for it including erection on site, double glazing, additional windows, additional opening windows. They also tweaked the design and position of the windows to fit our site. Probably not the cheapest around but very good service and we liked being able to spec it as we wanted it to get good airflow, light etc. We put electrics in and insulated the inside ourselves. We aren't planning to move anywhere so we wanted to get it right.

We were advised against a roof overhang and veranda as we are on the top of a hill. Personally I would go for a bigger building rather than having the veranda.


eniacs

Original Poster:

207 posts

139 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Yes i had seen that site, they took 2.5 days to build the thing. Although it looks like their timings are a little off. At one point they only managed to put down 4 bits of wood in an hour. Between the four people that were doing it, that is slow going. Im guessing there was a lot of chatting and making bacon sandwiches etc!

£500 is the cheapest I've seen an install price and thats just the install. You must receive delivery of the shed yourself, the base must be fully prepared by yourself or others, then they will come and build the shed. Pretty fancy price if you ask me. But they may be driving down from far up north so could be a very long day for 2 people which could easily be £200+ each pay rate...

I will build it myself I think, it looks like lego pieces and a few screws here and there.

DJFish

5,917 posts

262 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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You can do it yourself in a day, although the roof felt will be easier with two.

kryten22uk

2,344 posts

230 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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I just finished building mine. Its a 3m x 4m logcabin, using 44mm logs. It depends on what you want it for, but 19mm walls is just wrong for a logcabin. I'm suprised they even sell them that size. I didnt even use 19mm for my floor, I spec'd 28mm flooring, and so glad I did as it feels just right; no bounce. Used 19mm for the roofing, but thats fine given its not weight-bearing. I topped the roof off with 40mm celotex insulation before adding the shingles.

If I were you, I'd do it right and get thicker walls, and certainly dont go for a product with plastic windows. Mine are double glazed, but admittedly thats not essential.

The build took me and two mates a whole day. But that only included the shell. It took me a further day to lay the floor insulation (40mm celotex foam) and floor boards. And a further few hour sessions after work to fit the shingles. Finally, as the wood logs are untreated, they need to be treated asap. This takes longer than expected, and will add another few afternoons.

eniacs

Original Poster:

207 posts

139 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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Brilliant info thanks Kryten. Mine is just to be used as a fancy shed really. So I wasnt going to insulate - I saw some nice examples with insulation and glass and as you say these were much thicker. But their prices were too, I wonder if they are more aimed at small office/gym/year round playroom? I would be aiming to store the wheelbarrow and various garden junk in mine!

AndrewO

647 posts

182 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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I built one from a kit, 6mx4.2m on a concrete base. Fully insulated, cedar roof tiles and double glazed windows, electric, TV, etc. About £10k though all in.

eniacs

Original Poster:

207 posts

139 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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Wacky thats a cracking view and cabin! My cabin will have a nice view of the side of the house and another fence.

Andrew - a little out of my price range, and think i would need a bigger garden for that! Maybe in the house i buy one day that I plan to keep for ever.

Steve Campbell

2,110 posts

167 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
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Here's a timelapse of me and 10 year old (with some help from SWMBO) building our shed. Took about half a day all in including the felting.

It's a 19mm and just slots together. I pre-treated some sections (under the flooring and the roof apex) as I thought it would be easier. To be honest, it took more effort to put 2 coats of wood stain on than it did to build.

I agree with an earlier comment on making sure the base is absolutely flat. Mine isn't quite flat...and it led to some "tinkering" at the end for the install and since it has "settled" a little a few minor niggles to sort out. Overall I'm very pleased.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EPRzbuPp2k

DJFish

5,917 posts

262 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Excellent use of the Benny Hill music!

eniacs

Original Poster:

207 posts

139 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Nice video - i'll show it to the wife as some education. Pretty sure shes planning on sitting and watching the build lol.

How were the 19mm boards? Not too flexible? Walls not feeling like a piece of cardboard?

EggsBenedict

1,770 posts

173 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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One thing to watch is the insulation on a log cabin if you're planning on spending any time in it. It'll turn itself into a sauna in the summer!

Steve Campbell

2,110 posts

167 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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I was coming from a knackered old shiplap shed...so this feels pretty sturdy in comparison.