Are garden timber cabins waterproof is a query we got asked all the time here at Timberdise Garden Buildings .
The short simple answer to your question is an unquestionable yes!
Why would they not be?
Well, let`s take a look at some of the plausible problems with a timber cabin which would make the timber cabin not waterproof and quite frankly not fit for purpose.The main thing to look at instantly is the roof structure, that`s where you would envision the main trouble would commence (this is not always the situation but that`s where we will commence today). The main trouble with the roof structure would be to have the felt or roof shingles to not be installed properly. This is quite easily done if this is something you have never done before and why it should always be carried out by a specialist most especially if you are putting in a lot of your hard earned money on a timber cabin.
• Make certain that the overlies are overlapping in the right 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 works off it will work underneath the felt and consequently trigger a leak. This is precisely the same when doing shingles, make certain you place from bottom upwards.
• Make certain 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 leak
• Make certain you use enough 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 subjected to leaks.
• It is additionally important that when you reach the overhang of the building with the felt you tack the felt to side of the roof structure but DO NOT tuck the felt underneath the overhang of the roof structure as this limits the natural run off of the water. This can trigger early rotting of the building and in some cases trigger the roof structure to water leak around the top corners of the building as water could build up.
• Make certain you use the correct 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 look cosmetically pleasing and would additionally be a real option of a 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 leak.
• The most regularly overlooked area on a timber cabin building is the felt or shingles on the roof structure. This is generally 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 highly recommend at least once a year or if you notice a 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 typical house tile they require a little more attention. They are subjected to more elements on a daily basis because they are lower, this can result in a number of things from falling debris from trees, or another instance would be a children`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 penetrate it to create a natural run off and cleaning system (for instance if your timber cabin sits under a plant).
Timberdise place 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 happens is to take care of the installation and make certain it is installed properly. We`ve been out to repair timber cabins in the past built by non-skilled people and if the building is not put together properly then number one it won`t be safe but additionally it could trigger a failure in the building to be waterproof.
A prime instance of this would be that the logs haven`t been constructed properly 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 voids between the roof structure and the wall. Voids 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 rebuild it.
This is why garden log cabins place all of our timber cabins so you don`t have this to worry about. As you can envision if there is a space in the wall or a space between the roof structure 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 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 anywhere 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 certain after you have treated your cabin you fit the relevant sealants around the doors and the windows. The 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 penetrate the inside of the cabin, which again is easily fixed by applying sealants.
In addition, sometimes most especially during the winter months, condensation can develop inside a cabin. This is normal due to the cabins not having any insulation fitted, it is not a leak and can be quite normal. We advise at Timberdise to get a dehumidifier if you have electrical access in there and leave it running during the chillier months. This will help take water out of the air and further increase the life of your cabin.
If you adhere to all the above tips you should have a leak free cabin for the duration of its life which can offer unlimited fulfillment and relaxation. Bear in mind prevention is more desirable than the treatment.
