cabin-living

Lymington log cabin installation - Garden Office

2012-01-31T18:21:00.001Z

A bespoke cabin based on the Liverpool log cabin with internal dimensions of 4.5m x 5m and a lowered ridge height of 2.5m

Painted inside and out and fitted with skylights, roof and floor insulation.

The Liverpool log cabin fitted with the optional verandah

The skylights certainly add quite a bit of additional natural light.

Oak effect laminate fitted. Ideal for use with underfloor heating.

Skylights fitted with double glazing are available from Screwfix for around £120 each excluding fitting costs.

Celotex insulation fitted above the standard floor in this case to be finished with oak effect laminate.

Celotex (50mm) is fitted to both the floor and ceiling providing a comfort grade level. It is possible to upgrade to meet building regulations for residential use where almost double the amount would be required.

50mm of Polyurethane insulation is sufficient for comfortable home working in most Garden Office applications.

The Dulux Weathershield white seemed to take more and more paint requiring almost 10 litres in this case. We would therefore still be inclined towards an oil based paint to save labour.

Oil based Sadolin Superdec can be mixed to a variety of colours and may be the subject of a blog entry shortly!

Doors fitted with first coat of white applied.

Dulux Weathershield can be mixed to almost any colour and provides a satin finish to the cabin.

First layer of top coat on the windows and second coat of blue on the walls.

A greyish undercoat is first applied prior to doing the top coat.

Quick drying Dulux Weathershield is usually dry within 2 hours even in January!

A frame is created around the skylight to cover the insulation and plasterboard.

Walls go up relatively quickly and we are usually up to roof height end of day one.

Wall pieces are sorted as they are brought round to the base to speed up the installation process.

Garden Building with Gym and Sauna

2011-12-01T13:51:00.001Z

A large modified Liverpool log cabin built in Ivinghoe near Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable.

First of all the area is levelled for the former and we mix the concrete on site.

A 5m x 5m base so at least 5 Jumbo bags of ballast required and around 25 bags of cement.

Base laid and set, we can start the cabin assembly. Floor joists are covered with good quality damp proof course.

Walls lined up we start the build. Drilling and fixing wall logs as we go.

Soon up to window height so windows are slotted into place and the door frame is fitted.

Close of day one and or at least the close of daylight and we have roof boards and a good covering of quality damp proof membrane so the cabin will remain dry overnight.

Start of the second day and we fit bitumen roof tiles. Note the cabin next door (not one of ours) with an inferior roof covering!

Spot the difference in the quality of these two roofs!

Interior floor fitted ready for Bob to insulate and fit the sauna!

The 5 metre by 5 metre option offers a huge amount of additional recreational space.

Bob Opted for the doors from the Devon log cabin as opposed to the full length glazed doors standard to the Liverpool. We can accommodate door style changes at no extra cost.

Lowered to 2.5m ridge height this cabin complies with rules to avoid the need for planning permission in England.

Garden Office Building in Dollar

2011-11-30T16:49:00.008Z

A lovely situation to install a garden office on this occasion with lovely mature trees and views along the River Devon.

Cabin delivered and time to transfer the timber to the base for assembly.

Plenty of pieces in the jigsaw.

Walls line up. with a low threshold cabin such as this you can use one of the rear wall logs to ensure the front walls either side of the door are in the correct position before fixing them to the floor joists.

Timber (spruce) stacked up and ready to go

Floor joists fitted with damp proof membrane to avoid rising damp.

Door frame assembled the windows can start to go in as the walls get higher.

A few gaps in the timber pile now.

Time to get out the steps as we get above comfortable working height.

Roof joists in place ready to fit the roof boards

A low angle roof so first of all we fit a good quality damp proof membrane.

Then we fit roofing felt with a healthy overlap in the layers

Finally we fit Onduline bitumen roofing sheets.

70mm screw fixings particularly for the triple overlapped sections.

A good overlap at the rear for guttering if necessary.

Picture perfect in this wonderful setting.

With almost any garden office building we recommend 50mm Celotex insulation fitted in the floor and ceiling. Ceilings are finished with plasterboard mounted between the roof joists to maintain the character of the log cabin.

Timber floor over the insulation.

Ready to install the underfloor heating and real wood flooring. More updates coming soon!

New Bitumen roof tiles available with home delivery

2011-09-24T17:37:00.004+01:00

Due to popular demand we now have Black Hexham roof shingles in stock. Our current black/grey hexham and bourne tiles are both best described as mottled grey whereas the new hexham black tile is black! See the photos below to get an idea of just what these new tiles look like.

We are leading suppliers of bitumen roof shingles with prices permanently low at £10 per sqm. Delivery will normally be £50 direct to your door within a few days but you can save on delivery if purchasing orders in excess of 30sqm.

Call us on 01259 769203 to place an order.

Roald Dahl - shedworking classics

2011-09-13T16:24:00.003+01:00

Interesting articles on the web and news today regarding the workspace of a certain Roald Dahl.

The peaceful solitude of his writers hut complete with armchair and writing board. Apparently he hated sitting at a desk and wanted to save his aching back.

A detailed article in the Metro provides a little more insight into this famous "Shedworker"

Mokki log cabin - near Hitchin

2011-08-24T16:38:00.010+01:00

We've been rather busy these past few weeks so a bit of catching up to do on the blog! Here's the first of many!

One of our summer installations took us to Pirton near Hitchin and Luton. The Mokki log cabin is part of our finnforest log cabin range and although it is toward the budget end of our range the quality of finnforest timber is quite clear.

Concrete base completed on day one.

First the floor joists are cut to length and evenly spaced within the concrete pad.

Budget finnforest cabins make use of corner channels instead of the more traditional interlocked corners of most models. It could be argued that these types of joints may provide better weather protection.

Once all the corners are in place the process of assembling the walls is quite straightforward.

Check the levels of the door frame, posts and window before fitting the wall apex sections.

Again check the corner posts are vertical before starting to fit the roof boards.

Devon 3m x 3m log cabin in Birmingham

2011-08-22T16:37:00.004+01:00

Installation of a Devon 3m x 3m having completed the concrete base the day before.

Blink and you'll miss it! It was so damp during the assembly that there wasn't much time for pictures!

Not much space to sort the pieces.

Osmo woodstain being applied whilst we finished the interior

A tight squeeze with overhanging branches and established architectural planting in place!

The green hexham bitumen roof tiles are complete.

Insulated ceiling with 50mm Celotex, 9.5mm tapered edge plasterboards and timber edging to finish.

50mm Celotex or Kingspan in the floor followed by underfloor heating and then finished with oak effect laminate.

Retrofitting insulation in a garden office log cabin

2011-08-19T10:44:00.003+01:00

This week we were asked to insulate a log cabin purchased a few years ago from a competitor. The company in question were asked if they would fit insulation but they said they couldn't we on the other hand were more than happy to help.

Celotex foil backed insulation fitted between battens fixed to the side of the roof joists

Celotex on the standard floor if sufficient drop over the door threshold. This could be a problem if the door has a low threshold and may mean lifting the standard floor to fit insulation underneath between the floor joists. Obviously this is easier if insulation is added during installation as lifting the fitted floor without damage could be difficult.

In this case there was a 70mm drop across the threshold which is more than enough.

We fit 50mm Celotex in the roof and floor and most typically laminate or real wood floors on top of the insulation. Ceilings are finished with 9.5mm tapered edge plasterboard between the rafters and then edges are tape and joint filled. Finally the edges of the plasterboard and laminate floor are finished with a finishing timber. This finishing timber also helps to support the plasteboard.

Do you need larger log cabin doors?

2011-08-19T10:16:00.010+01:00

On a recent project, one of the the most surprising things we found, about a cabin supplied by another company, is just how low the doors were.

The opening is only 5 feet 5 inches. As a consequence whilst we were retro-fitting the insulation we found ourselves banging our heads on the door frames on more than one occasion. The first time this has ever happened in our experience.

We found it rather amusing that this company (to avoid their prolific intellectual property applications we'll call "Hunster Douse" ) devotes a large percentage of its website to critcising competitors and yet in truth it is actually criticising the very same models they were supplying only a few years ago.

It did make us think that there must be many more customers out there with doors that are too small so if you find yourselves in this predicament please contact us for a quotation to change the doors to safer and more practical door sizes for your garden office.

Holiday homes for the holiday season

2011-08-05T15:05:00.004+01:00

With the holiday season in full swing thoughts turn to getaway breaks, a chance to enjoy the countryside, experience a peaceful time and take things at a slower pace.

With the rising Euro many more of us are looking at holiday destinations here in the UK.

The rise in holiday park breaks is set to continue and what better building to fit in with natural surroundings is there than a log cabin?

Any log home immediately looks good in a natural setting and the feeling of being one with nature continues when you walk through the door into the open plan living space.

We can supply multiple orders of log cabin lodges allowing you to budget your project into separate phases if you desire.

Perfect also for toilet block facilities or utility facilities for campsites our log cabin kits are very adaptable.

Our ability to offer a bespoke log cabin design service means virtually anything is possible. The prices are very affordable so if you have a plan for holiday homes or holiday park facilities why not enquire today?

Cambridge log house - residential log cabin interiors

2011-08-05T09:53:00.003+01:00

Some more pictures of the interior of the Cambridge log cabin a residential log cabin ideal for holiday parks

Cosy attic rooms either side of the central stairs.

Open plan living area in this cosy log cabin

Space to relax and enjoy the setting.

The Cambridge log cabin has 68mm walls which is the standard specification for most of our log houses. Double walls are an option, though with comfort grade insulated floor and ceilings unless you are building to meet building regulations there is no need to insulate the walls.

Carbeth Hutters on BBC news

2011-08-02T13:50:00.003+01:00

Very interested to see the Carbeth Hutters on BBC news earlier today.

Apparently they have plans (subject to planning) for 1000 new huts ideally with kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom.

We have the answer with our extensive range of log houses and bespoke hut designs we can produce, supply and install any design you like.

Shower / Toilet Block for Camp sites

2011-06-30T10:27:00.003+01:00

Below we have an enquiry for a shower and toilet block log cabin for a camp site utility area. Complete with disabled toilet this is a cost effective way of settting up all the facilities you would need to get a comfortable campsite up and running.

Initial plan drawing provided by the customer. We can then produce preliminary drawings of the layout in 3D.

After initial rendering we can provide these drawings to the customer to help them visualise the final product and establish the finer details such as roof overhang, verandahs etc before submitting the drawings to the factory for final costings.

Bespoke Garden Offices - CAD Software

2011-06-29T18:07:00.005+01:00

We are frequently dealing with customers looking for bespoke garden office designs. Quotations are available on receipt of a sketch. In some cases these sketches can be very basic but the more information the better. One free tool you may like to use is Google sketchup which is a very easy tool to grasp the basics of CAD.

However if your IT skills are not up to it we should be able to get an idea from a pencil sketch posted or scanned and emailed. Ideally you will show a side, end elevation and a plan or birds eye view. Then we just need to know the specification. 34, 44 or 68mm walls double glazing or single glazing.

As a guide for installation costs simply compare with a standard garden office kit with a similar footprint and you will get a good idea of the costs.

We will send you sketches prepared using Google sketch-up for you to review then these designs are passed onto the factory who then prepare formal CAD/CAM drawings for final approval by you before manufacturing begins.

The whole process typically takes 6 weeks to complete from sketch to manufacture and delivery

Garden Office Space

2011-06-21T11:13:00.002+01:00

Popped back to Dunfermline yesterday to see a garden cabin we built in 2009.

Looking as good as ever the space is very welcome with two young children and a third on the way the space to escape is much appreciated!

A garden office room gives you that extra space to escape.

South West London garden office installation

2011-06-08T15:38:00.007+01:00

Our latest garden office installation in South west London in Surbiton.

For a change we'll start with the finished product and work back towards the starting point.

The log cabin is our very popular Cheltenham log cabin lowered to 2.5m ridge height for planning purposes.

This cabin is finished in Jacobean walnut produced by Sadolin one of our two recommended paint manufacturers the other being osmo wood stain & protector.

The flooring used in this case is solid oak 18mm real wood flooring produced by Wickes.

The completed floor really adds a touch of quality to the final product.

Supplied with underfloor heating this garden office should be cosy throughout the year.

Both the floor and the ceiling are fitted with 50mm Celotex sheets. Celotex and Kingspan 50mm sheets are high quality insulation materials far superior to rockwool or the thin bubble foil sheets often called "insulation" by our competitors. There is no substitute for the best insulation available.

To be honest we do not get too hung up on the width of the double glazing units as we are dealing with garden buildings and the difference a bigger gap makes is minimal but as you can see the distance between the panes of glass in the Cheltenham log cabin is quite substantial.

44mm logs provide a robust garden office and the quality of the timber is superb.

Its not often you see a brick wall that isnt level but you can be assured the concrete base is level! 100mm thick concrete base completed.

Log cabin Special Offers!

2011-06-07T13:21:00.005+01:00

We are pleased to be able to offer a 10% discount on the Wales 4x3, Liverpool 5x4 and the Nottingham log cabin That is potentially a saving of more than £600 on our current listed price!

Please contact us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as there are only a few log cabins left at the discounted rate.

Garden office in Surbiton

2011-06-02T11:47:00.002+01:00

A tour of our garden office installed in Surbiton.

Complete with insulation, underfloor heating and solid oak flooring it is a quality garden office at and affordable cost.

Thames Ditton Garden Office

2011-06-02T09:52:00.004+01:00

Close to Esher College and Sandown Park for our recent installation in Thames Ditton. A lovely garden where you can forget you are inside the M25 not far from central London.

Day one is concrete base installation.

Concrete base complete and left to set before the cabin installation begins.

70mm pressure treated floor joists in position and damp proof membrane fitted ready for the walls.

Soon up to half wall height and time to fit the windows and door frame.

Mid afternoon and up to roof height ready to fit the tongue and groove roof boards.

Bitumen roofing sheets fitted and ready for the doors and floor to go in.

Trim fitted and the cabin is complete. Local landscapers are in the process of adding decking outside the cabin.

A beautiful garden office log cabin could be yours in just three days!

Garden room ideas - interiors

2011-05-19T08:06:00.002+01:00

An update also from our Thirsk log cabin installation in Leuchars. Now complete with a lovely deck the outside is looking fantastic.

Inside it is now looking very comfortable complete with sofa bed.

A great space to relax, dine or watch the TV.

A holiday home at home!

Thankyou, Jean and John it looks superb!

Garden office interiors

2011-05-19T07:33:00.003+01:00

An update from our recent Plymouth log cabin installation in Heacham, Norfolk gives you a great idea of the possibilities for your log cabin.

First of all a computer room.

Complete with coffee making facilities and a sound system!

And a combination that will keep you fit. The rear of the cabin is devoted to space for a rowing machine and cycle.

Thankyou for the update Tony it looks great!

Aberfeldy log cabin installation

2011-05-16T14:14:00.004+01:00

A trip through the beautiful countryside of Perthshire through Crieff to Aberfeldy for our latest installation. The log cabin in this case is a bespoke budget log cabin with 28mm walls to be used as a tack room, storing saddles and riding gear for the horses and ponies in the adjoining stables.

Insulated to include 50mm Kingspan in the floor and ceiling and double glazing this specification of cabin should reduce condensation and keep all the kit in good condition.

Due to access delivery was taken at a local builders yard off site and transported via the Cabin Living van to the site.

The double doors of the stables allowed good access for unloading.

Up to roof height in a fairly short time and ready to fit the bitumen roof shingles.

The tack room now complete externally and ready for the insulation to be fitted to the interior.

We use 50mm Kingspan, Celotex or Xtrathem depending on availability to insulate the ceiling and floor. All are high quality insulation materials that are not susceptible to damp or moisture.

Water supply in position for a Belfast sink to be fitted in one corner. Floor consists of 19mm tongue and groove, 50mm thick Kingspan insulation followed by 8mm thick laminate.

The cabin complete in three days with roof and floor insulation, plasterboarded ceiling, guttering, laminate flooring and a hydraulic door closer so the door will not blow open in the high winds of the highlands!

Garden building in Heacham, Norfolk

2011-05-03T15:49:00.006+01:00

A Plymouth 4m x 4m log cabin recently installed near King's Lynn, Norfolk.

After taking delivery of the cabin we made a start on the concrete base.

Base complete and left to set overnight before starting the assembly of the garden room.

Sorting timber as we carried the cabin around to the site helps to speed up the assembly process.

Time to make a start on building the cabin.

Drilling and fixing timbers as described in the instructions we are soon up to window height even though we are dealing with, sometimes awkward, 68mm thick timbers.

In this case the canopy was modified on site to reduce the hangover of the canopy. The normal canopy is in excess of 1 metre whereas with this example it was trimmed down to 0.6 metres.

19mm tongue and groove roof boards are fitted next with a few spares following the modifications to the canopy.

Roof shingles fitted before the roof gets too hot to work on!

Exteriior trim added and the cabin is ready for handover.

Installed with 50mm Celtoex insulation to the floor and ceiling, this cabin is notably cooler on the inside during the hot summer months and obviously significantly warmer during the winter months.

Fitted with extra thick 12mm laminate in this case as it is planned to be used as a gym though having seen the end results a change of plan may mean this becomes Tony's new garden office!

Nida Log cabin - Special Offer! - only £2600

2011-04-15T09:44:00.005+01:00

This spring we have a very special offer, buy the 5m x 3m Nida Log cabin for only £2600 including delivery. Features include:

44mm walls

double glazing

standard roofing felt

free delivery in mainland UK

Adddional bitumen roof tiles are avaiable for £230.

Limited stock so order soon to avoid disappointment! Contact Cabin Living today

Cambridge log cabin installation

2011-04-11T10:02:00.007+01:00

A trip down the A1 last week past Grantham and Peterborough to Cambridge last week to install a bespoke 2.8m x 5m garden office log cabin

The base of former garage provides the perfect base to start this installation.

More chickens this week, becoming a bit of a popular theme during our log cabin assemblies, though not as many chickens as Wales the week before.

Cabin was delivered first drop around 7.30a.m. By 10 a.m. we have the timbers in position next the base and assembly can begin.

Soon up to roof height and ready to fit tongue and groove roof boards.

One side complete and roof boards are ready to go on the other side.

Bitumen roof tiles are fitted by the end of day one by working late into the evening.

Day two and painting the cabin is well under way. We recommend oil based paints but in this case cuprinol shades were used. The paint does have quite a waxy finish and peeled from the paint tray in large strips so although not our recommended finish it should provide good protection particularly after the second coat.

Interior complete as we are not fitting the insulation options in this case.

All complete with exterior trim and ready for handover.