Unlike our competitors, we only use high-quality spruce timber on our wooden products rather than cheap pine or mixed timber. Why do we use slow grown spruce rather than the much cheaper knotty pine alternatives?

Spruce is considered more stable as it expands and contracts less than pine. This stability means that the spruce timbers in our garden buildings minimise splits from appearing as the timber changes along with the weather.  We responsibly source all our timber, where it grows slowly in the cold northern regions. We all know the old adage of counting the rings to see how old a tree is, well our timber grows slower and takes longer to get to size meaning it has more rings in it. This means it has a tighter grain, and each ring helps prevent cracks and shakes from appearing in the densely packed timber.

Our wooden garden buildings and climbing frames really are built to last therefore we use only the highest quality, slow-grown spruce.  Spruce is much more resilient to warps and splits compared to its cheaper alternative pine. Being a whitewood, it doesn’t discolour anywhere near as much as pine so it is also much more aesthetically pleasing for a garden structure. Considered more stable, less knotty and resinous than pine, spruce will also produce a lot less sap. It is also less dense meaning it is not as susceptible to mould and rot.

The bearers of your garden building are pressure treated to help protect your garden building from the ground up. We provide a 10 year guarantee against rot and insect infestation for all pressure treated timbers.

Unlike some competition, we can offer a genuine 10-year guarantee against wood-eating fungal and insect infestation on pressure-treated timber.

All our Pressure Treated timber is for Use Class 3

The reverse apex roof with a small decorative clockhouse style front dormer creates a classic look, evoking the charm of traditional European cottages. The steep pitch of the roof not only adds a touch of architectural elegance but also ensures efficient rainwater drainage.

You can install your cabin with or without the dormer for either a classical or modern style. You choose!

Ventilation is essential for the longevity of the Garden Building. This is to ensure airflow and minimise moisture at all times. We have provided ample vents to ensure that condensation is never a problem. Some competitors charge you extra for these or do not even offer them.

It is the small details that matter…

When choosing a cabin, it is important to think about security. In addition to our industry-leading multi-point locking systems, we also ensure that our window and door hinges are concealed.

Unlike some competitors, you cannot simply use a screwdriver to remove a window or door. We ensure that screws are concealed.

Why? Because your security matters!

OURS:

THEIRS:

We provide full-length floorboards NOT Half cut boards commonly supplied by competitors.

Did you know? Unlike some competitors, our flooring is not charged at an extra cost AND our full-length boards make DIY install easier and look far nicer!

OURS:

THEIRS:

When constructing your log cabin, you do not need to worry about putting our timber windows together, as they come preassembled. So you simply need to slot them in, and fit the finishing touches. After all, we take pride in our DIY-friendly designed products. Many competitor products require you to painstakingly construct the windows and other hardware, such as window trims, and install the glass.

Did you know? You can also add a little character to your timber windows with some stylish Georgian bars, which we supply as standard. However, this is entirely optional and up to you. Not all products offer Georgian bars, so be sure to check the product specification.

OURS:

THEIRS:

Please note: If you upgrade to uPVC Windows and Doors, the glass is not pre-fitted.

Our 34mm and 45mm log cabins come with 24mm double glazing included at no extra cost. Our 24mm double glazed sealed unit comprises of two, 4mm single glazed panes of toughened glass on either side of an aluminium spacer bar, designed to absorb any excess moisture within the sealed unit.

All our sealed units conform to BS EN 1279 standards. This standard covers the requirements for insulating glass units, including thermal and sound insulation. The sealed units are tested to show that they will not suffer from any form of condensation within the unit.

Quite simply we do not believe in compromising on quality!

Be wary of cheaper log cabins provided by some competitors offering less effective 14mm double glazing which provides less sound and thermal insulation.

OURS:

THEIRS:

Your security is of the utmost importance to us.  You have invested your precious time, thought, and money into creating your perfect garden building, therefore we want to ensure your valuables are as safe as they would be inside your own home.

Our doors feature an industry-leading domestic standard 4-point locking system consisting of espagnolettes, which slide in opposite directions as well as a 6-pin Euro cylinder, which has been tested to BSEN 1303:2005 classification. Making it difficult for intruders to break in and steal your precious belongings.

Most companies will use a cheap and simple 2-point locking system. For us it’s a no-brainer – why would you compromise your security when we offer the best on the market!

Our windows use espagnolettes, which pull the window tightly into the draft seals attached to the frame. We also supply a solid handle and key that allows you to lock the window whilst you’re away. Most competitors only supply a multi-purpose stay arm opener for both locking and keeping the window open.

OURS:

THEIRS:

Both our doors and windows are fitted with internal beading used to secure the glazing in place. This beading style is typically found in uPVC windows and is a proven method of security. However, there are still some companies that externally bead their windows. Allowing intruders to remove the glazing from the outside of your garden house and gain access.

Our garden buildings feature key-lockable outward opening windows, so you don’t lose internal space, allowing you to accommodate furniture underneath the window. Our windows have been designed to include draft seals that prevent wind and rain from entering your garden retreat. You may think it’s over the top, we think it’s just standard.

All of our log cabins are supplied with 19mm tongue & groove roof boards as standard. We make our roof from single pieces of slow-grown spruce as this is the perfect material for the job, especially when comparing to alternatives found on the market. Our tongue & groove roof boards are fitted in the same way where each board is slotted into the next, creating a strong surface and attractive ceiling.

Our roof insulation is supplied as panels of 25mm thick polyisocyanurate sheets which are supplied already chemically bonded to MR-P5. These sheets are very easy to fit to the roof of your cabin, they simply need to be screwed down through the sheet into the roof board below. This giving you a very quick, easy and cost-effective way of lowering the U-value of your roof from 3.49 W/m2 K (for just 19mm roof boards) to a far more efficient 0.76 W/m2 K (19mm roof boards and insulation).

Our floors come as standard, but that doesn’t mean we compromise on quality. You may by now have noticed that not all log cabin companies are the same. Beware log cabins with untreated floor bearers, which offer no protection against floor level damp penetration. We could make excuses that you may wish to use the patio as a base, as in some European countries, but we are in the UK and our customers expect to get the floor included, after all its an integral part of the building. This doesn’t mean either that we use low-grade timber bearers, because as the saying goes, out of sight out of mind!

All of our log cabins are supplied with pressure treated floor bearers and 19mm slow-grown spruce tongue & groove floorboards as standard. It is the perfect material for the job, especially when comparing to cheaper pine and OSB board found in the market. Our floorboards create a strong surface with an attractive appearance.

Subject to how you’re going to use your log cabin, and whether it’s for all-year-round use, you should consider adding floor insulation. Heat loss through cold rising up accounts for a lot of discomfort. Our 25mm thick polyisocyanurate insulation can be fitted between the bearers of the cabin prior to putting in the floorboards. This will lower the U-Value of your floor from 2.81 W/m2 K to just 0.77 W/m2 K, saving you money on heating and helping to keep your feet warm in those cold evenings!

We only use full lengths of engineered precision cut and routed tongue and groove timber in our log cabins. These logs go through a process of being planed, leaving you with a smooth finish. We believe that using full lengths of planed timber gives you a more aesthetically pleasing and stronger product.

Other companies are happy to provide you with rough offcuts, glued and finger-jointed together, creating a weakened cabin and off-putting appearance.

Purlins are the large timbers used for structural support in buildings. We use very thick, heavy duty roof purlins to support your garden building.  At 140mm x 45mm they are amongst the thickest purlins available on the UK market. Competitors will often use thinner purlins to keep their costs down which means their roofs will not be as strong as ours. Using thinner purlins risks the roof collapsing or sagging during extreme weather – and that’s the last thing anyone wants!

You’ve probably at some point left the window open and it’s suddenly started to rain. Usually, this would be an issue for log cabins with normal window hinges as they could rust. However, there’s no need to panic as our expertly joined windows come with our 5-star stainless steel friction stays, typically found on the uPVC windows in your home. This eliminates the needs for the typically found stay arm openers, commonly used on log cabins.

Unlike other log cabins on the market ours are supplied as standard, tie the log cabin together and are adjustable. Our adjustable storm braces allow for natural movement of the cabin, which helps prevent gaps appearing between wall logs as the logs settle and move.

We use 4mm thick toughened glass, not Perspex or Styrene which can scratch easily and cloud up over time. This is also thicker and less likely to break when hit with the neighbour’s pesky football compared to the industry standard of 3mm horticultural glass.

Our cabin logs are designed to interlock with a chamfered finish to ensure a snug fit. The chamfered notch system is designed to prevent damp or wind penetration. Our interlocking logs make for speedy installation and minimal need for tools. Our garden buildings have been designed on the basis that any competent DIY customer will have no problem installing a product themselves in a short amount of time.

Unlike some competitors, we provide interlocking precision-engineered chamfered logs. Keeping your log cabin watertight and free from unsightly draft-producing gaps.

OURS:

THEIRS:

All of our garden buildings have pressure-treated floor bearers as standard. This treatment prevents the timber bearers from rotting for up to 10 years and causing your garden building to sink. Pressure treatment forces the wood preservative into the timber rather than simply dip treating (essentially just covering the exterior) like many companies still do. Who wants to have to annually deconstruct and re-treat the bearers each year!

Due to this costly but effective process, we can offer our customers a genuine 10-year guarantee against rot and insect infestation on the bearers.  We do however recommend applying a good quality water repellent to the timber to prolong the longevity of the timber. Shockingly many of our competitors still offer untreated bearers to keep their costs down, so beware!

All our Pressure Treated timber is for Use Class 3

All our garden buildings have been designed on the basis that any competent DIY customer should have no problem installing a product themselves in a short amount of time. You do not have to be an expert at DIY to build a Dunster House garden building, as we do provide you with comprehensive pictorial instructions. We totally understand that DIY is not for everyone therefore, you may want to consider getting in touch with a local carpenter or handyman to install it for you. But before you do, check out our construction video and decide for yourself!

There is nothing more annoying than being in the middle of building something and finding that you don’t have the right fixings to continue. We include all of the screws, nails and fixings that you will need to put your garden building together – not many of our competitors are that thoughtful. This eliminates the need to worry about the type of screws or the length of nails you might need to get started – it’ll all be with your delivery.