Log cabins

[clive.r.long]

Hi

A friend of mine, the one with the overflowing toilet cistern, wants to buy a 3m x 3m =93log cabin=94 for use as a garden office. The cabin timbers come in various widths (28mm, 24mm, 45mm) of precut timber delivered all in one pack. Now the basic cabin seems reasonably priced and much more robust than a shed. My question is about assembly and materials.

As the whole cabin is made of pre-sawn and drilled timbers, is it easy to assemble rather than pay the company to send their own people? I'm guessing the assemblers will have put up tens if not hundreds of these cabins and will have the experience and the correct tools. My friend is leaning (hopefully not the cabin) towards paying the company to assemble the cabin and I think she is right on that.

However, the cost for insulation at =A3400 seems very high when I guess the whole thing can be lined with fibreglass between battens and tongue and grooved boards nailed to the battens. One loses the lovely appearance of the timbers inside the cabin but at least the cabin won't lost heat as fast. Are there any down sides to insulating the cabin oneself?

Any thoughts or experience appreciated.

Thanks

Clive

[Ray]

£400 for 2 operatives for the day seems reasonable.

A friend of mine, the one with the overflowing toilet cistern, wants to buy a 3m x 3m ?log cabin? for use as a garden office. The cabin timbers come in various widths (28mm, 24mm, 45mm) of precut timber delivered all in one pack. Now the basic cabin seems reasonably priced and much more robust than a shed. My question is about assembly and materials.

As the whole cabin is made of pre-sawn and drilled timbers, is it easy to assemble rather than pay the company to send their own people? I'm guessing the assemblers will have put up tens if not hundreds of these cabins and will have the experience and the correct tools. My friend is leaning (hopefully not the cabin) towards paying the company to assemble the cabin and I think she is right on that.

However, the cost for insulation at £400 seems very high when I guess the whole thing can be lined with fibreglass between battens and tongue and grooved boards nailed to the battens. One loses the lovely appearance of the timbers inside the cabin but at least the cabin won't lost heat as fast. Are there any down sides to insulating the cabin oneself?

Any thoughts or experience appreciated.

Thanks

Clive

[Peter Crosland]

I am not sure if building regulations would apply to this structure but if they do remember that current insulation standards are now very high and what you are proposing is unlikely to meet them. It might not concern the current owner but if and when he comes to sell he will have to certify that all work has been done to the appropriate regulations.

Peter Crosland

[Tim S]

Peter Crosland coughed up some electrons that declared:

Or the OP's friend could take it with him when he moves. Or refer to it as a "shed".

Cheers

Tim

[meow2222]

I dont think we can tell you whether your friend wants to build their own shed or not. But... there's a lot to be said for the confidence and satisfaction one gains from tackling such a thing for the first time. And really, shed building is very simple stuff, so if they're thinking maybe, then go for it.

=C2=A3400 for 2 person days, less the cost of a hammer, cordless drill with

2 quick charge batteries, a few drill bits and a box or 3 of screws. Only they know if thats worthwhile to them, and whether the tools will come in handy later.

Downsides of insulation? Just appearance. Dont forget a sheet of building paper or something similar to stop rain getting in to the insulation.

?title=3DInsulationNT

[John Rumm]

Indeed, its only a temporary building and so has no more need to meet building regs than any other shed. However from the point of view as use as and office, I would suggest a minimum of 50mm of PIR foam on all the walls and the ceiling.

[Clive]

Great info all

I have forwarded on to my friend.

Thanks

Clive

[Anita Palley]

I strongly urge that your friend knuckles down and mends her busted bog before she goes fannying around building sheds here, there and everywhere. Ridiculous.

[DM]

How do you know it isn't fixed?

Making pre-emtive judgments of people without adequate information.

Ridiculous or pathetic ?

[Owain]

Maybe the busted bog has left the house a bit stinky and she wants somewhere to escape to!

Owain

[The Medway Handyman]

So the £400 is for insulation not assembley - how much is that?

£400 seems reasonable for insulation if it includes materials & labour.

[Micky Savage]

A friend of mine, the one with the overflowing toilet cistern, wants to buy a 3m x 3m ?log cabin? for use as a garden office. The cabin timbers come in various widths (28mm, 24mm, 45mm) of precut timber delivered all in one pack. Now the basic cabin seems reasonably priced and much more robust than a shed. My question is about assembly and materials.

As the whole cabin is made of pre-sawn and drilled timbers, is it easy to assemble rather than pay the company to send their own people? I'm guessing the assemblers will have put up tens if not hundreds of these cabins and will have the experience and the correct tools. My friend is leaning (hopefully not the cabin) towards paying the company to assemble the cabin and I think she is right on that.

However, the cost for insulation at £400 seems very high when I guess the whole thing can be lined with fibreglass between battens and tongue and grooved boards nailed to the battens. One loses the lovely appearance of the timbers inside the cabin but at least the cabin won't lost heat as fast. Are there any down sides to insulating the cabin oneself?

Any thoughts or experience appreciated.

Thanks

Clive

Hi , I am not that good with wood but just built the wife a studio 15' x 20' Tok my time and enjoyed it.

Kind Regards.

Micky Leeds UK

[Bruce]

If it is to be used as an office, do the building regulations treat it any differently than if it was a shed, or summerhouse?

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Anita Palley saying something like:

The Voice of Reason. Thank you, Anita.

[John Anderton]

Yes and no (see below)

They don't appear to.

This document

they don't apply

Exempt buildings :

"CLASS VI

Small detached buildings

1. A detached single storey building, having a floor area which does not exceed 30m2, which contains no sleeping accommodation and is a building -

(a) no point of which is less than one metre from the boundary of its curtilage; or

(b) which is constructed substantially of non-combustible material."

*However*, although this says the Log cabin described would be exempt, I think Part P would still apply to any electrical installation(which, presumably an office would have) so, in that sense, it's not "exempt", it's "partially exempt",

Cheers,

John

[Adrian]

John Anderton gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Hmm. I've always found logs to be fairly combustible.

[John Anderton]

I think you missed the "or" following point (a). Just make sure it's more than 1m from the boundary,

Cheers,

John

[Bruce]

Thanks, John. The reason for my interest is that I am considering building a "home office" which would have to be a garden building. It would need to house three people with an occasional fourth to be squeezed in. I guess that 30m2 would be adequate.

[John Rumm]

If you need more space it could be done with a notional two buildings that later get joined... (chances are no one is going to complain unless you plant somewhere that neighbours will find objectionable.

[Bruce]

Good thinking. It's unlikely that I would want to expand as I don't want to lose too much of the garden, but it is worth bearing in mind.

The first thing I did, before any plans had formed in my mind, was talk to the neighbours, and they are very supportive. The work would involve creating a new access which would give them the opportunity to build a garage each, so there's something in it for them too.

Unlike some other people on this newsgroup, I don't believe in letting problems with neighbours fester until they become confrontational. ;-)