Creating an environment that aids moisture control is one of the most important aspects of log cabin maintenance. This can be broken down into four key areas: the roof, surrounding drainage, keeping the cabin warm, and how it settles.
Log cabin roof
Black shingles roof protection Dunster House
Your log cabin is going to get wet when it rains. By positioning it so that wet trees will not drip onto the roof can make all the difference. Regardless of the position, the roof of your cabin must have wide eaves. This will help prevent rain or snow from coming into unrestricted contact with the exterior cabin walls. During periods of heavy snowfall, you should brush off any snow that accumulates on the roof. As well as make sure to clear any snow from the surrounding area.
Log cabin drainage
Water drainage gutter Dunster House moisture control
Ideally, to aid drainage, your log cabin should be placed at the highest point of your garden, or at least with the base of the cabin elevated two inches from the foundations and the surrounding grass or dirt, to reduce rain splashing back onto the logs. Use a gutter to direct water well away from your log cabin, ensuring that it’s kept clean, so the flow of water isn’t disrupted.
You can add a guttering system to your garden building when you’re ordering one through Dunster House. This will help reduce water buildup around the base of your building.
Collecting rainwater in a water butts (not supplied by dunster house) will also help provide an additional water source, especially during hosepipe bans.
Keeping your cabin warm
Keeping your log cabin warm in the winter can be tricky.
Even if yours has thick walls, a thinner roof, and floor can result in lots of heat being lost. Insulating your roof and floor is the best solution for heat retention; as is opting for an underfloor heating system. Opening the windows on dry days, or when they are steamed up, can also help prevent the dampness caused by condensation.
Did you know? We offer insulated log cabins that can be used throughout the entire year! Not only that, but our log cabins are available in a wide range of sizes and designs to suit diverse preferences.
Settlement
Timber is a natural product that will contract and expand according to the weather; you need to ensure that the wood has enough space to do so without warping.
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Most log cabins come with storm braces – wooden battens fixed to the cabin with coach bolts. It may be necessary to release the tension from the top coach bolt to allow the storm brace to move freely. This should be checked regularly throughout the life of your cabin, to prevent gaps forming between the logs. Luckily, the storm braces supplied with our log cabins are adjustable, so they can be adjusted over time as logs settle and move.
Read our full guide on Maintaining Log Cabins.
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