Maximise the life of your log cabin

Treatment
During assembly of your log cabin some of the pre treated floor and foundation beams may need to trimmed to length, if there is ad freshly exposed timber this should be treated with suitable end grain treatment.

Once your log cabin has been fully assembled you should treat the timber with a suitable wood preservative.
We also recommend that you regularly inspect the cabin and maintain it well.  

Internal Storm Battens

Some of our cabins are fitted with internal storm battens (Wooden battens, fixed to the interior of the log cabin with coach bolts)
Sometimes it may be necessary to release the tension from the lower coach bolts to allow the storm battens to move freely and sit flush against the log cabin wall. We recommend that you check these regularly thought-out the life of your cabin to prevent gaps opening up between the logs.

Settlement

Once the log cabin has been put up it will take a few months for it to settle. The walls will compress as the roof and wind loads are applied to all the joints.
Moisture contained within the logs will vary from season to season which will causes expansion and contraction of the walls. This process if a natural occurrence but can be limited by exterior treatment of the wood.
Please do no affix anything to the logs as this will restrict the log movement and settling process.

Integral Storm Rods

Some of our log cabins are fitted with integral storm rods (threaded metal rods, running through the centre of the logs)
When installing the integral storm rods ensure there is 50mm of clearance between the bottom end of the storm rod pushing upwards and damaging the log cabin
You should check this distance regularly thought-out the life of your log cabin whilst also ensuring the fixings are kept tight

Waterproofing your Log Cabin

Your log cabin design is incorporates a Wind block system, this provides a good deal of protection against the outside elements there are a few more things you can do to protect your cabin

Damp Proof Membrane

If you would like to lay a D.P.M strips directly on the top of the floor beams and the foundation beams to stop and moisture being soaked up

Silicone Sealant
To ensure your log cabin is as weather proof as possible the following needs doing once your cabin has been treated

• Silicone around windows and door frames
• Silicone from eaves to foundations at each corner ( 3 joints per corner)
• Silicone any gaps visible on the log ends

These silicone are available from DIY shop and easy to use, they will need to re applied throughout the life of your cabin