Log cabin to replace garden shed
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
£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.
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!
Thats a beautiful garden. All of it is very nicely done, like your choice of well everything!
I think I'm gonna go for the 19mm. Still havent found a similar size cabin for anything less than 500 extra in the larger thickness wood. Like has been said, I'm just looking to go for better than my previous cheap rubbish shed. I'll do a thread for the shed when it arrives and show how it was put together!
Thanks all.
I think I'm gonna go for the 19mm. Still havent found a similar size cabin for anything less than 500 extra in the larger thickness wood. Like has been said, I'm just looking to go for better than my previous cheap rubbish shed. I'll do a thread for the shed when it arrives and show how it was put together!
Thanks all.
Little update, the new shed is here and the old shed needs to go.
(I'll post the photos day by day to give a little interesting story for the week rather than beast them all out of the way in one day)
Old shed will be put on gumtree as free to collector along with the cuttings from the tree. I had intended on processing the cuttings into firewood, but never did
The old shed looks good on the inside, but the outside is shot. Having no roof for the last 3 years will do that to a shed lol.
(I'll post the photos day by day to give a little interesting story for the week rather than beast them all out of the way in one day)
Old shed will be put on gumtree as free to collector along with the cuttings from the tree. I had intended on processing the cuttings into firewood, but never did
The old shed looks good on the inside, but the outside is shot. Having no roof for the last 3 years will do that to a shed lol.Well after an unbelievable response on gumtree the shed is gone. I had to bag up the wood in builders bags though and then the same person that took the shed returned to take the wood as well. Definitely a bearded hippy type with lots of good ideas of what to do with free stuff, but i was happy as he took it away for free! Shame you cant find people to take rubble for free as well.
I know what you mean welshbeef, it wouldnt have cost much to get it in a more presentable state. But I was fairly certain I didnt want the tiny little shed as soon as I had moved in, and plans began to formulate to replace it.
I am one of the (possibly daft) diy types that enjoys reading about, thinking about and then actually improving something. I do not think my house or garden will ever be finished and I even look at a more expensive house and one of my first lines of reasoning is that our current house is nearly done and I will enjoy doing up the new one to my standards and making it my own.
I am one of the (possibly daft) diy types that enjoys reading about, thinking about and then actually improving something. I do not think my house or garden will ever be finished and I even look at a more expensive house and one of my first lines of reasoning is that our current house is nearly done and I will enjoy doing up the new one to my standards and making it my own.
Personally given that I've built this one up, I wouldnt bother with a kit shed again. I would just (if you feel you can handle it diy) buy the timber and build a 2x4 or 2x6 frame, then clad the exterior in a nice cladding, insulate in the frame and plaster internally. Probably a similar price, much stronger than these flimsy sheds and will look way better. This sort of shed and be an extension of the house, suitable for use all year round, rather than just a shed for storing garden junk.
Concrete poured.
Odd that the first bit set very quickly (not sur eyou can see but to the right of the image, one bit has already set and was quite stony). Anyway its roughly flat. Im regretting not removing the original base, but i suppose it would just be a waste of time and effort for a shed which will cover the area. It just grind on my OCD i suppose.
Anyway concrete turned out to be 1.4m3 and cost me £240. Not sure if i should have bought the ingredients and mixed myself though to save money?
Odd that the first bit set very quickly (not sur eyou can see but to the right of the image, one bit has already set and was quite stony). Anyway its roughly flat. Im regretting not removing the original base, but i suppose it would just be a waste of time and effort for a shed which will cover the area. It just grind on my OCD i suppose.
Anyway concrete turned out to be 1.4m3 and cost me £240. Not sure if i should have bought the ingredients and mixed myself though to save money?
A quick mornings work and most of the cabin is up! Incredible how quickly I was able to build it up. I thought this was going to take me ages.
I had a quote to build the cabin from a specialist - £800 was his quote and He said it would be 2 people for 2 days. I initially thought this would include the concrete base, but when he said no this was just to build the cabin I thought it was ridiculous. Im glad I built it myself now...
I had a quote to build the cabin from a specialist - £800 was his quote and He said it would be 2 people for 2 days. I initially thought this would include the concrete base, but when he said no this was just to build the cabin I thought it was ridiculous. Im glad I built it myself now...
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