Are garden timber cabins waterproofed is a query we got asked all the time here at See range here .
The concise simple answer to your query is a resounding yes!
Why would they not be?
Well, let`s take a look at some of the possible troubles with a timber cabin which would make the timber cabin not waterproofed and quite honestly not fit for purpose.The main thing to appear at quickly is the roof structure, that`s where you would imagine the main issue would commence (this is not always the case but that`s where we will commence today). The main issue with the roof structure would be to have the felt or roof shingles to not be installed successfully. This is quite easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be carried out by an expert most especially if you are spending a lot of your hard earned money on a timber cabin.
• Make sure that the overlies are overlapping in the correct way. You should always commence felting at the bottom of the building and felt upwards. By doing this you guarantee that the felt overlies on top of the piece of felt that is further down the roof structure. This will guarantee there is a natural run off of the water, if you commence felting at the top of the roof structure and you put the overlap from the bottom pieces over the top of the felt higher up when the rain runs off it will run beneath the felt and therefor trigger a water leak. This is exactly the same when doing shingles, make sure you set up from bottom upwards.
• Make sure the overlies of the felt/shingles are quite generous. You don`t want them to be just barely overlapping because this could trigger rain to get between the felt sheets and this will trigger a water leak
• Make sure you use plenty of 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 nails in the middle,possibly two rows but again this depends on the quality of the felt. Failure to put enough felt nails in there could result in the felt blowing off during a bad storm which would then leave your building exposed to leakages.
• It is also important that when you reach the overhang of the building with the felt you attach the felt to side of the roof structure but DO NOT tuck the felt beneath the overhang of the roof structure as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can trigger premature rotting of the building and in some cases trigger the roof structure to leak around the top corners of the building as water could build up.
• Make sure you use the right size fixings. If the roofing system boards on your building are let`s say 10mm, you don`t want felt nails of 16mm. Doing this would trigger the felt nails to come completely through the roof structure. This would not appear cosmetically appealing and would also be a real option of a water leak in the building. 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 water leak.
• The most generally ignored area on a timber cabin building is the felt or shingles on the roof structure. This is typically 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 exactly what you should do and I would encourage at least once a year or if you notice a water leak. Because timber cabins are not built as high as the normal house and the felt and shingles aren`t quite as tough and resilient as a normal house tile they require a little more focus. 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 instance would be a kids`s toys getting thrown up there which would all trigger damage to the felt/shingles. Not to mention lots of bird excrement can rot the felt if it is in an area where natural rain can not permeate it to create a natural run off and cleaning system (for instance if your timber cabin sits under a tree).
garden log cabins set up 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 guarantee this occurs is to take care of the installation and make sure it is installed successfully. We`ve been out to repair timber cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the building is not put together successfully then number one it won`t be safe but also it could trigger a failure in the building to be waterproofed.
A prime instance of this would be that the timbers haven`t been constructed successfully on the walls. This would then trigger the timber cabin to differ from the design as it was intended to be. At this point when the roof structure was installed there might be gaps between the roof structure and the wall. Openings could also 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 View our products set up all of our timber cabins so you don`t have this to worry about. As you can imagine if there is a void in the wall or a void between the roof structure and the wall this would leave the cabin open and it would most definitely leak which is what we want to avoid at all costs.
I also want to bring focus to the flooring a second. Having your timber cabin installed on a proper ground base is a must. That could be a Timberdise ground base,concrete 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 anyplace that is at risk of flooding as just like the house that you live in. If the water level rises and there is no escape for it then the timber cabin will flood,that is regardless of how thick and tight your timbers 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 rain could permeate the inside of the cabin, which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.
Also, in some cases most especially during the winter months, condensation can materialize inside a cabin. This is normal due to the log cabins not having any insulation fitted, it is not a water leak and can be quite normal. We recommend at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electric access in there and leave it operating during the cooler months. This will help take wetness out of the air and further increase the life-span of your cabin.
If you adhere to all the above suggestions you should have a water leak free cabin for the duration of its life-span which can supply endless pleasure and relaxation. Always remember prevention is much better than the treatment. Check out -
