Are garden timber cabins waterproofed is a question we got asked all the time here at Timberdise Garden Buildings.
The short 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 timber cabin which would make the timber cabin not waterproofed and quite frankly not fit for purpose.The main thing to seem at instantly is the roof, that’s where you would visualize the main issue would begin (this is not always the scenario but that’s where we will begin today). The main issue with the roof would be to have the felt or shingling to not be mounted correctly. This is quite easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be carried out by a qualified professional particularly if you are putting in a lot of your hard earned money on a timber cabin.
• Make sure that the overlaps are overliing in the right way. You should always begin felting at the bottom of the structure 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. This will ensure there is a natural run off of the water, if you begin felting at the top of the roof and you put the overlie from the bottom pieces over the top of the felt higher up when the rain operates off it will run under the felt and therefor cause a leak. This is precisely the same when doing shingles, make sure you mount from bottom upwards.
• Make sure the overlaps of the felt/shingles are quite generous. You don’t want them to be just barely overliing because this could cause rainwater to get between the felt sheets and this will cause a leak
• Make sure you use ample 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 tack in the middle,possibly two rows but again this depends on the quality of the felt. Failure to put enough felt tack in there could result in the felt blowing off during a bad storm which would then leave your structure exposed to leakages.
• It is additionally essential that when you reach the overhang of the structure with the felt you pin the felt to side of the roof but DO NOT tuck the felt under the overhang of the roof as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can cause premature rotting of the structure and in some cases cause the roof to water leak around the top corners of the structure as water could build up.
• Make sure you use the right size fixings. If the roofing system boards on your structure are let’s say 10mm, you don’t want felt nails of 16mm. Doing this would cause the felt nails to come completely through the roof. This would not seem cosmetically pleasing and would additionally be a real possibility of a leak in the structure. 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 leak.
• The most typically forgotten area on a timber cabin structure is the felt or shingles on the roof. This is primarily 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 precisely what you should do and I would strongly recommend at least once a year or if you notice a leak. Because timber cabins are not built as high as the typical house and the felt and shingles aren’t quite as tough and sturdy as a normal house tile they require a little more attention. They are exposed 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 example would be a kids’s toys getting thrown up there which would all cause damage to the felt/shingles. Not to mention lots of bird droppings can rot the felt if it is in an area where natural rainwater can not permeate it to create a natural run off and cleaning system (for example if your timber cabin sits under a plant).
View our products mount all of our timber cabins, we do this because we know you are investing a lot of money into a timber 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 mounted correctly. We’ve been out to repair timber cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the structure is not put together correctly then number one it won’t be safe but additionally it could cause a failure in the structure to be waterproofed.
A prime example of this would be that the logs haven’t been built correctly on the walls. This would then cause the timber cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof was mounted there might be voids between the roof and the wall. Openings could additionally 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 See range here mount all of our timber cabins so you don’t have this to worry about. As you can visualize if there is an opening in the wall or an opening between the roof and the wall this would leave the cabin open and it would most definitely water leak which is what we want to avoid at all costs.
I additionally want to bring attention to the floor covering a second. Having your timber cabin mounted on a proper ground base is a must. That could be a Timberdise ground base,cement 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 cabin,don’t put it at any place 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 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 cabin first and then apply the sealants afterwards. By not fitting the doors and windows with sealants then there’s a chance rainwater could permeate the inside of the cabin, which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.
In addition, occasionally particularly during the winter months, condensation can take place inside a cabin. This is typical due to the log cabins not having any insulation fitted, it is not a leak and can be quite typical. We recommend at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electrical access in there and leave it operating during the chillier months. This will help take moisture out of the air and further increase the life-span of your cabin.
If you adhere to all the above ideas you should have a leak free cabin for the duration of its life-span which can supply infinite enjoyment and relaxation. Don’t forget prevention is much better than the cure.