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Granny Flat – a log cabin is the perfect solution

Brittas One Bed Granny Flat

Your granny flat needs to be easy to heat, low maintenance and inviting. You’ll get all of these from a Timber Living Log Cabin. Take a look at our range of One Bed Log Cabin Granny Flats here.

cosy log cabin granny flat with verandah
The perfect granny flat

Log Cabin as a Granny Flat – The Benefits

If you’re lucky enough to have a large garden, there are huge and obvious benefits to building a granny flat. Of course there’s the emotional support (which goes both ways, we find, with customers of ours who have built Timber Living Log Cabins for grandparents), but we will steer clear of that discussion.

But there are lots of other benefits worth considering when contemplating building a granny flat:

  • Cost: The cost of building a free-standing log cabin is going to be roughly half the cost of a block-built lodge or extension of similar size. The main reason for the reduced cost is a big reduction in the labour element when building the cabin. Most of our work is done by machine at the factory, and that’s where the main savings arise.
    And of course, the financial side of moving into a granny flat, and selling the home place, or avoiding Care Home bills hardly needs to be stated.
  • Speed of Build: Your cabin can be built in three weeks, from breaking ground to completion. How long will it take a builder to build a block building of the same size? Four to six months maybe. That’s a big difference!
  • Cost of Heating: A timber cabin, with a four inch, insulation-filled cavity – now that’s a great combination when it comes to heating. Lots of insulation, and timber walls that also act as an insulator, and don’t have to be heated up in the way block walls have to be. Just thinking about it makes you feel warm!
  • Space and Comfort: We have a wide range of cabins of all different sizes and configurations, so you can as much space as you can afford, the only restriction being the size of your garden. And since the price per square foot is half that of any alternative, its going to be a lot easier for you to get what you’re looking for.

One Bedroom or Two Granny Flat?

Deciding on the number of bedrooms in your log cabin is an important decision, for a number of reasons. For obvious reasons, if you’re in the position to afford a larger cabin, you need to decide whether or not you should go for a two bed and a reduced living area, or a one bed with a larger living area. At the time of writing, our Limerick Two Bed Log Cabin is coming in at €38,000, and is a real bargain. If you have the space for it, and the budget, its the one to go for.

two bedroom log cabin plan

Of course, there is the initial cost of buying and installing the log cabin. And then there’s the additional costs of furniture, fixtures and fitting, and decoration. (The fewer curtains you need to buy, the better!) Don’t forget that the area available to you for building might be the main restriction on your number of bedrooms – no point in buying a 10 metre by 6 metre log cabin if you only have a garden big enough for a 6 metre by 4 metre cabin!

Log cabin granny flats are easy to heat

Heating is usually a main concern when it comes to Granny Flats, and indeed, any log cabin we produce. “How efficient are log cabins to heat?” is a question we often have to answer. Well, you can put most forms of heating into a log cabin:

  • Oil or Radiators
  • Solid fuel or gas Stove (with or without back-boiler)
  • Electrical storage heaters
  • heat pumps
  • Underfloor heating, even!

From a cost point of view, heating your log cabin is easy. We can supply you with a seven inch wall, which includes a four inch cavity, filled with insulation. We also have four inches of Kingspan insulation in the roof, and Kingspan in the floor too. All of this is included in the price on the website. A well-insulated log cabin means low heat loss, and low heat loss means low heating costs.

Another important factor in heat retention in any building is the air tightness. By default, our log cabins pass the air tightness test. I had the Two Bed Log Cabin Show house in Boyle tested for air tightness, and it was well within regulations – in fact it was about one and a half times as air tight as regulations demanded at the time. This is very good from a heating point of view. If you have a draughty building, those draughts will remove heat from your building, and Granny certainly does not want that!

Can I fit a stove in my log cabin?

You sure can! Have a read of our blog “Can I install a stove in a log cabin?” You’ll get all of the stove answers you’re looking for. We have a log burning stove fitted to our log house showroom in Boyle, with the flue going through the roof, but there’s no reason why you wouldn’t put a gas stove in, with a horizontal flue. Wood pellet stoves are also a good option, with their high efficiency, and timer and thermostat options.

Stove in a log cabin
A stove is the perfect addition to a log cabin

Additional Costs when Building a Log Cabin

You’ll get a price for delivery, build and insulation of your log cabin from our website. (Make sure you give us a call and ask for our BEST PRICE!)

Extra costs which are not included in our price are, among others, the base (5 inch concrete base), electrics, plumbing and heating.

Visit our log cabin showrooms

We have show rooms in Tullow, Co Carlow, Boyle, Co Roscommon and Carrigaline in Cork. Come and visit us soon to see how good our cabins really are. Give us a call 05991 81039 to arrange your visit.

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How efficient are log cabins to heat?

snow on a log cabin

Energy efficiency in your log cabin home is something we are all interested in, whether it’s for environmental reasons, or simply to save money. The better insulated your log cabin is, the less heat you need to keep yourself warm.

Cosy cabin interior

Log Cabin Insulation

log cabin wall with insulation

Timber living log cabins are very easy and cheap to heat. From an energy efficiency point of view they are top notch.  Our standard log cabin insulation levels maintain a nice warmth within our cabins during the winter, and actually help to keep them cool during the summer. It is remarkable how cool your cabin will be in the summer even  with the dark roof cover. That’s because we provide, as standard, 100mm Kingspan Insulation in our roofs. We also, as standard, include 100mm insulation in the walls.

Floor insulation – take note

And it is very, very important to use kingspan Insulation in the floor as well. Some companies offer rock-wool in the floors:  this is always, always a mistake. Do not buy a cabin with rock-wool insulation in the floor.

Putting your rock-wool insulation in the floor, on top of a concrete slab (even though there is a damp proof course in between) is a huge mistake. In the winter months, when the slab is colder than 4 degrees centigrade, the damp winter air condenses on the cold surface of the slab, and on the top of the damp proof membrane. The rock-wool insulation soaks up this dampness like a sponge!

This creates a number of problems:

  1. Your insulation is wet, and doesn’t insulate any more.
  2. The gathering moisture in the insulation can lead to rotting of your floorboards
  3. Your interior floor is going to be very cold, and will draw heat out of your living area.
  4. Unhealthy moulds can start to grow on both the underside AND interior face of your floor!

Log Cabin Airtightness

Of course, insulation is not the only element to be considered when discussing log cabin heat. We also need to consider air tightness. There is no point in insulating to the max and then leaving the window open! I am not suggesting you would leave a window open, but if your cabin is not reasonably airtight, then you might have the equivalent of an open window when you add up all of the draughts in your cabin.

We carried out a blow door test on the log cabin in Boyle and found that the cabin was well within building standards for air tightness, by a factor of 40%, which is very reassuring.

Log Cabin Insulation upgrades

Of course, we can increase your insulation levels if you wish. If you’re going for planning, you will need To increase your insulation to upto 8-in or 200mm in the walls, floors and roof. We also improve the air tightness of the  log cabin building.

There are many different ways to increase insulation. The walls are the obvious place to start. Here is a list of different options for increasing insulation in log cabin walls:

  • Increase the cavity. We can always increase the cavity size to eight inches (two hundred millimetres).
  • Insulation Material. Also, the material you use to insulate within the walls is a factor. We have upgraded our default wall insulation – we are now using Metac which is a high performance quality thermal insulation roll which has a higher better U Value than standard rock-wool insulation.
  • External Insulation: This solution is often insisted upon by planners, who, depending on the area, want buildings to have a rendered exterior finish in place of the horizontal drop log exterior which is our default.
  • Dry lining. Dry lining the interior of your cabin to increase the overall insulating value of the walls is another obvious solution, but of course, you loose the interior timber walls. This is not a problem for everyone, and is down to personal choice.

What about the floor insulation? One alternative for the floor is to use Quinn Lite thermal blocks to insulate the slab. Quinn Lite blocks are Thermal AAC Blocks designed for thermal excellence and ease of construction.

Either way, we can give your new log cabin home an A2 BER without any problem.

Log cabins are cheap to heat

Once your residential log cabin home has been well insulated,  it is going to be as easy to heat (or easier) that any other type of building. (Are Log Cabins Easy to Heat Blog entry) The  function of any buildings envelope (walls floor and roof) is to keep in the heat, keep out the rain, wind and cold. a log cabin envelope is exceptionally good at this, as long as there is sufficient insulating value in the Fabric of the envelope, and that the envelope is relatively airtight. Timberliving  log cabins fulfill all of these requirements. So, whether you’re looking for a one bed log cabin, a 2 bed log house, a 3-bed timber home, or a bespoke design log cabin, you should make your first point of call one of our timber living show houses.

Timber Living Log Cabin show houses

We have show houses in Boyle, County Roscommon (086 817 0429), Carrigaline Co Cork (087 6464 280) and Tullow, Co Carlow.  Please don’t hesitate to call us straightaway to organise a visit.

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Can I get insurance for my Log Cabin?

image 13

Like all good things in life, your log cabin is going to need insurance. Insurance is a bill we pay every year, for house, car, health, even pets, and if we all hope and pray that we never have to use the policy!

Your log cabin, like all good things in life, is going to need insurance.

Log cabin with verandah

What insurance companies cover log homes?

But insurance is not a problem for log cabins Ireland. Most companies will give you insurance for your log cabin, log home or garden chalet, log cabin or granny flat.

We did a quick google search and found the following:

Non-standard home insurance from OBF: https://www.obf.ie/non-standard-homes/

Holiday Home Insurance from Allianz: https://www.allianz.ie/holiday-home-insurance/

Log cabin insurance form Intasure: https://www.intasure.com/logcabin/

Log cabin insurance form Assetsure: https://www.assetsure.com/homes/log-cabin-insurance/

As usual, its important to shop around for insurance. Money is money, as they say, and its beter in your pocket than theirs, so be sure to spend a bit of time on the phone. If you spend an hour calling and save a couple of hundred euro, you won’t earn that hourly rate too often! Why not reward yourself with something special if you make a big saving? A nice botle of wine if you save €75, a meal out if you save €150 – you get the idea :-)

Insuring a Log Cabin Granny Flat

Often, if a log cabin is built in a garden, it is possible to include your log cabin or log cabin granny flat on your existing home insurance policy as an outbuilding. This is a pretty painless process, and, depending on your company and the size of your log cabin, might not cost you a penny!

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Get your log cabin insurance through us

Some insurance companies have not listed the building technology that we use in our log cabins, and so maya refuse you insurance.  But this is not a problem. We have brokers who are quite happy to offer you insurance on your log cabin, and at a rate equivalent to regular house insurance.  Just give us a call at our head office in Tullow (05991 81039) and we will be glad to put you in touch with our broker.

Quality Log Cabin Construction

Our log cabins are built of the highest quality material and methods. We are quite happy to give a 10 year guarantee on all of our log cabin homes,  because of the high quality of the production, the timber materials, the specialists craftsmen, and how our log cabins are built. Most of our craftsmen I have 20 years experience or more in the building of our log cabins, so they are well able to anticipate any potential problem with your build and eliminate the issue at the building stage.

log cabin interior with varnished floor

We have a wealth of experience between our installers and our representatives around Ireland. we have been building log cabins in Ireland for over 20 years, so we have  come across (and solved!) every single problem that might occur with your log cabin home. so if you’re looking for a log cabin that will last and last, talk to us at timber living log cabins. Come and visit us and see the quality of our buildings.  Talk to our representatives and you will understand the death of our knowledge of the business. If you come and see us you will leave our showrooms reassured that a TimberLiving Log cabin is a long-lasting log cabin, which is easy to heat, easy to maintain, is long lasting, stylish and durable.

Call TimberLiving log cabins now

We have show houses in Tullow, Boyle and Carrigaline. Come and visit us at one of our Log Cabin showrooms and see the quality of your new log home. You’ll get all of our details on our Contact Us page.

Log cabin show houses

If you come to our Tullow showrooms, you can see both our Tullow three bed log cabin and a two bed Limerick log cabin. Give Valerie or Fegus a call at 05991 81039 to discuss a visit.

We have a beautiful two bed log cabin show house in Boyle, Co Roscommon. Give Conor a call at 086 817 0429 to arrange an appointment.

And if you’re in Munster, you can also organise a visit to our show house in Carrigaline in Cork. Give the Head Office a call to organise 05991 81039.

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How are Log Cabins constructed?

Building a log cabin

The timber in your log cabin is most important element of your new home, but it is worth nothing if your cabin is not built by experienced log cabin builders.

8d8ae4 8698269c04b14071af1b6e457

Of course, while the materials used in your log cabin are of paramount importance, we must not forget that the method of construction and the intrinsic design of the building envelope are also key features that make timber living log cabins Ireland the best quality and value log cabins available in the country.

The Best Log Cabin Timber

We use only the highest grade Norway Spruce timber in our log cabin homes. This timber is sourced in Siberia, where the trees are 150 years old when they are harvested. They are extremely well suited to timber for construction  of log houses Ireland. Because they have a very short growing season, these trees have extremely tight grain, and and will not twist, warp or buckle overtime. Have a read of our blog post all about log cabin timber here: ,,What timber should a log cabin be built with?

Building a log cabin

The double-glazed, tilt-and-turn windows and five-point locking doors in our log houses are made of extremely high quality, and will endure for a lifetime. We also offer a wide choice of different log cabin windows, including white or coloured PVC windows. Read our blog post here: ,,Which windows for your log cabin?

Log cabin insulation

We use high quality Kingspan log cabin Insulation in our log cabin homes. Our log cabin in Boyle was built for us in the spring of 2018. The summer of 2018 was a great summer – really hot for weeks! (Will we ever forget!) Anyway, we were really amazed at how cool the cabin remained all of that summer, despite the sun beating down on our black roof. The coolness was due to the quality of insulation in our log cabin roof. (And also due to the positioning of our cabin – we get very little sun in through our windows. Come and visit us at the Boyle Log Cabin Showhouse and you’ll see…)

Our  standard log cabin  insulation thickness is 100mm, but this can be increased according to the customers wishes or planning specifications.

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Log Cabin Roofing

We use a quality pressed Steel tile effect roofing panel which is sturdy and enduring. These panels are quick to fit and storm proof. we have a cabin on the Aran Islands for the last number of years, and it is still there! – a very high performing roof on that log cabin.

Our roofs are fitted with a minimum of 100 millimetres (four inches) of Kingspan PIR insulation, which, combined with our 19mm ceiling boards provide a great level of insulation.

Common Mistakes of Log Cabin Construction

It is a common mistake of many log cabin installers to use rockwool insulation under floors. This is a drastic mistake.  In wintertime, at temperatures below 4 degrees, condensation forms on the concrete slab and rockwool insulation soaks this condensation up. Your installation is not insulation when it is wet. You have a cold floor or and damp problems. You must have Kingspan Insulation in your log cabin floor.

Another drastic mistake is to opt for single wall construction, especially if your cabin is being heated during cold winter nights. A cavity construction is vital in these conditions to avoid condensation, damp and mould on interior walls. A single wall, even a 90 millimetre wall, is insufficient insulation for a residential cabin, and will need to be dry-lined. The surface of a single wall cabin will form mould on cold nights in unseen places, such as behind wardrobes. This is because these areas are not heated – the wardrbe does not let the heat in behind. So the wall surface is still cold, and the damp air in the cabin condenses on the cold surface, and lo and behold – mould! Not what you want in your cabin. That’s why you buy from a company sch as Timber Living Log cabins, who have been building cabins for over twnty years, and have seen every conceivable problem in Log Cabin construction, and solved them all.

 

 Installing a stove in your log cabin

There are no restrictions on the heating system that can be installed in a log house. Stoves with or without back boilers are straightforward installations. Of course, oil and gas central heating systems are also an option as our underfloor heating and inverters. Just contact us at TimberLiving and we can fill you in on all of the technical details required.

How long does it take to build a log cabin?

We always tell customers that, at a push, you could move into your log cabin four weeks after breaking ground. Now, that’s at quite a push, and also depends on the size of the cabin. But the speed of construction is one of the great benefits of buying a log cabin.

Lets look at ow the timeline could pan out for one of our Limerick Log cabins.

Week 1: Pour the base.

Week 2: Monday/Tuesday. Build the exterior of the cabin. Wednesday first fit electrics. Thursday First fit plumbing.

Week 3: Monday-Wednesday complete the cabin construction. Thursday/Friday floor coverings

Week 4: Monday Complete electrical. Tuesday/Wednesday complete plumbing and install heating. Thursday Friday install kitchen.

Okay, its a bit of a push, but it does illustrate how quickly your cabin can be built. We always say, if you order today, you COULD be in in three months, if you line up your ducks properly…

Come visit us in our show houses, or give us a call to organise an appointment.

Call Tullow 05991 81039

Call Boyle 0868170429

CAll Carrigaline 087 6464 280

We look forward to hearing from you!

#insulationforlogcabins #logcabininsulation #logcabins #logcabinsforresidentialuse, #residentiallogcabins #weatherproofingtimberbuildings

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Which windows for your log cabin?

Log Cabin Windows

Choice is key when it comes to log cabin windows, because everyone’s taste is different

Windows are a very important element of your log cabin. They let the light in: they’re an architectural feature: they should also keep as much heat inside the cabin as possible. So, which windows do you choose when buying your cabin from Timber Living Log Cabins Ireland?

Full height PVC windows for your log cabin

We have the best log cabin windows

“The eyes are the windows to the soul”. Sounds like a completely irrelevant way to start this article, but bear with me! Of course, you’re going to need windows in your log cabin, but the windows do a lot more than just let the light in. Depending on your window size, they might not let enough light in. Then again, they might let too much heat out! Window choice is important!

Get the right windows for your log cabin

As you can see from the picture gallery above, we have a host of different window sizes and shapes, all of which are available to you.

Take a look at our Sligo log cabin as a great example of how you can light up your cabin interior with the right window choice.

And our Cavan Log cabin is another interesting choice. This cabin would be ideal as a holiday home, if your location has the stunning views.

Window Size and Shape

There is no restriction on the window size and shapes we can produce. Just ask any of our representatives, in Tullow, Boyle or Carrigaline, and we’ll be glad to talk you through all of the options.

Log cabin Window choices

Make sure you get the right shape of window for your log cabin. What factors should you consider?

  • South facing? There’s no doubt but that you should, if at all possible, have your main window wall facing south, or at least between south east and south west. You’re going to get the best light of the day, and also benefit much more from solar gain.
  • Balance Solar Gain with Heat Loss. If you’ve got a beautiful view, you’re going to want big windows to take in the view. There’s lots to consider here. Big windows are great, but they can lead to heat loss at night, so they need to be heavily curtained. And your curtains need to close off at the ends, so that the cold air behind them is trapped. Curtains that are away from the wall are ineffective, especially with large windows. The large window surface area can generate a draught, which will get the warm air in the cabin moving, and make it uncomfortable. So, by all means go for the large windows, but you’ve got to get a bit unconventional with your curtain-hanging. Want o know more about heating a log cabin?
  • Big Bedroom Windows? You don’t need a lot of light in your bedroom window, unless you’re the sort that likes to stay in bed til the sun is high in the sky. So, its probably best to keep your bedroom windows small, and, by reducing heat loss, cosy. This also means that you can put your bedrooms on the north-facing side of the building, and leave the living areas in the south-facing rooms.
  • Traditional Vs Modern Window frames. Wooden frames or pvc? Its a conundrum. Our wooden timber frames are very high wuality, amde from the best quality timber, sourced in Russia, so they are slow growing, and very strong and durable. They will last as long as you maintain them. But that is the key word – maintenance. Whie the beauty of timber cannot be fully replaced by PVC, the issue of maintenance cannot be avoided. So, if you’re going for a larger building, with lots of windows, the best advice is probably to sacrifice a bit of the traditional for th convenience of low maintenace PVC windows.
  • Double glazed, heat retaining. The major factor in double-glazed windows, besides the quality of the build – seal etc – is the gap in the window between the two panes. Always take a look at this gap – the bigger the better, the bigger the more heat is retained.
  • Cabin character. This is a difficult one to be definitive about, because it boils down to people’s tastes. Some people like a traditional looks in a log cabin, while others want something a bit more modern, more individual. But needless to say, your cabin windows really do define the character of your cabin. Usually, the choice is immediately clear to someone who is buying a cabin – as soon as they see what they like, they know it straightaway. The problems start when two people are buying, and they each want something different. But, at Timber Living, we have a wide range of log cabins, and we’re very good at finding you exactly whatyou’re looking for. Contact us now to arrange an appointment and a viewing of our log cabin showhouses.

Quality log cabin windows

At Timberliving, we realise the importance of high quality windows in your log cabin. If you come to any of our showrooms you can experience for yourself the high quality of the hardware in our windows. All of our windows are tilt and turn, double glazed timber frame windows. Notice the gap in the double glazing. This determines how well your in windows insulate you against the cold.

Timber frame or PVC windows in your log cabin?

The standard window in all of our cabins is timber. but if you are interested, we can also offer you PVC windows. PVC windows come in a wide range of colours. Of course, white is the standard colour and is a lot cheaper than a coloured PVC frame. This is because quite PVC windows are very commonplace and and the expected colour in the marketplace.

Coloured PVC Log Cabin Windows

You can see REHAU’s range of PVC windows here: https://www.rehau.com/download/1893282/standarddekore-kaleido-foil.pdf

We offer a beautiful range of natural colours in coloured PVC windows from REHAU. Follow the link above to get a clear idea of the colours that are available. Coloured windows can look great in a log cabin – it all depends on personal taste. we have had come customers who have been adamant that they want the timber frame windows particularly for inside the cabin. timber windows painted white still look like timber windows, rather than PVC windows full stop and when you’re building your own log cabin, you should of course build it the way you want it. PVC has the benefit of low maintenance, but many people feel that you cannot beat the natural beauty of timber windows.

Window colour choice

Come to our log cabin show houses

Whether you’re looking for timber or UPVC windows, one, two or three bed cabins, a garden office or gym, you should come and visit us in our timber living show houses. We have show houses in Tullow, Boyle and Carrigaline. You will get all of our details on our contact page. Look forward to seeing you soon.

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What our log cabin show house visitors think

Cosy cabin interior

We have had a lot of visitors to our log cabin show house in Boyle since it was built back in February 2018. For most people, it is their first visit to a log cabin showroom, and they are generally very pleasantly surprised by what they see.

The way our log cabin is tucked away at the back of the garden means that it looks quite small. So our visitors are generally very surprised when they realise that the showroom is a two-bedroom showhouse, with an area of forty-nine square metres (49 sq.m), or five hundred and thirty-three square feet (533 sq.ft).

Timber Living Log Cabins Ireland has been selling log cabins to Leinster and the east of the country for over twenty years, and was delighted to open a show house in the west of Ireland, to service Galway, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Westmeath.

Cosy cabin interior

What is a log cabin show house interior like?

The reaction of most people has been extremely positive. As soon as you walk into our  log cabin show house, there is something special going on, but it is often hard to put your finger on what exactly that is.  Of course, we in Ireland are not used to a full interior timber surface in our living areas, so seeing all of that timber is both appealing and surprising. Not everybody likes it actually, but most people are really delighted with their first impression.

And of course, if you do not like the wood finish, it is easy to paint all of the walls. In fact, even if you like the timber finish, it would make sense to put some protective varnish coating on your wall, for ease of cleaning, if nothing else.

But actually the real first impression is not as obvious. Because our timber living log cabin show house walls are the highest available in the country, that means that our roofs are also very high. So, when you walk into to any of our cabins, the first sensation, which is usually sub-conscious, is a feeling of openness, because the roof is raised so high.

Painted walls or timber finish?

Unfinished log cabin interior

The biggest debate of all amongst our visitors has been whether or not to leave the full timber finish throughout the cabin. It’s nearly a Brexit debate! A lot of people love the timber finish everywhere, while others really like a painted finish. Of course, there’s always the option to tile, varnish or stain the wood too. It’s always a great debate amongst our visitors, and with couples,  as long as they both see things the same way, there’s usually no problem.

Creaky floors?

Another regular comment from visitors is how solid the floor feels in our log cabin show house.  Some people expect the floor to be creaky because it is a timber cabin. Others are surprised at how solid the floor feels because they have visited other show houses and and a lot of them just don’t feel as solid as a TimberLiving show house.

If you’re cabin is built well, and your foundations are good, there is no reason why you should have a creaky floor. Of course, there will be some movement in the floor due to temperature and moisture changes. If you wish you can put a floor covering down –  carpet, lino or engineered wood.

What is the best log cabin foundation?

A major mistake that some other log cabin companies are making is offering timber frame and block foundations. In our opinion, if you want your log cabin to last a lifetime, you need to have an extremely solid foundation. We always recommend a five-inch concrete slab for our foundations. Any other form of base has the potential for settling, and settling of a foundation is not a good thing or a log cabin.

With the extra-long timbers that are used in log cabins, you can imagine the problems that might arise if one corner of that cabin settles more than the other. This is the sort of thing that happens ith block foundations. You need one complete slab, so that if there is any settlement, it affects all of the cabin equally.

Solid doors and windows

Another good indication of a quality build that how well the windows and doors close. after nearly 2 years as you should expect, windows and doors ( interior and exterior) are performing as well as they did on the first day.

Overnighting in a log cabin

Cosy log cabin bed

We’ve had a few people stay in our show house over the last couple of years: friends from England, Sweden and Germany, family home from the States, Granny and Grandad –  lots of different visitors. And everyone wakes up very well rested. They always remark at how quiet it is – especially those who come from living in cities. And those who stay when its raining love the sound of the the rain on the roof – the cabin really brings people back to mature.

Our cabin is a delightful little haven – quiet, cosy and warm, and well worth a visit.

Where is my nearest log cabin show house?

We have log cabin show houses in Boyle, Co Roscommon, Tullow, Co Carlow and Carrigaline, Co Cork. You can get all the contact information, directions etc from our log cabin show house contact page. Start planning you visit now. And please, ring for an appointment if you’re coming to Boyle – 086 817 0429

See you soon!

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7 reasons to get your log cabin from Timber Living

a room with a tub and chairs

Log Cabins Ireland – Over 20 years in the business

We’ve been in the log cabin business for over twenty years, and we’ve come across AND SOLVED every possible problem that might arise with Log Cabins Ireland. That’s why our cabins are designed specifically for the Irish climate, with weatherboards, separate double-leaf construction, excellent levels of floor, wall and roof insulation, and other details.

Log Cabin Kitchen
Our Log Cabin has everything

Who sells the best log cabin homes in Ireland?

Of course, we’re going to say that we sell the best log cabins in Ireland.  Well, what with being in the log cabin business for over two decades, we have had lots of time to find the best log cabin suppliers in Europe – and by best, we mean the highest quality log cabins, at a fair price. We have looked at over 25 suppliers throughout our time in the business, and we are confident that nobody could find better quality, better value log cabins throughout the continent of Europe.

10-year guarantee on all log cabins

We’re quite happy to offer a ten-year guarantee on our buildings. That’s because we closely monitor the production and installation of every log cabin. We stand over the quality of the product, and the workmanship that goes into the production and construction.

Our log cabins last a lifetime

As long as you treat a log cabin correctly, there is no reason why it will not last a lifetime. The high-quality, kiln-dried Norway Spruce timber from Siberia (many of the trees are 150 years old) that we use is as good as it gets when it comes to timber for construction. You can read all about the timber we use in our blog post here: What timber should a log cabin be built with

How to paint your log cabin

Maintenance of your log cabin is key if you want it to last a lifetime. The final element to maintaining your log cabin is treating the walls correctly. All you have to do is treat the walls with SIKKENS, or some other suitable stain (NOT PAINT!) and your cabin will last a lifetime. A stain allows the timber walls to breathe – in other words, moisture is not trapped beneath the impermeable paint skin. This ensures the longevity of your log cabin walls. Read more about not painting your log cabin here.

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Double wall construction

If you’re going to stay in your log cabin, it needs to be insulated. Some companies offer 75mm solid walls, with no insulation. This is a disaster in the damp Irish climate. Do not buy a cabin with this spec! You’ll have black mould growing behind your wardrobes and presses in no time. Very unhealthy!

The great thing about TimberLiving is that no matter where you are in Ireland, there’s a showhouse two hours away. Whether you come to see us in Cork (Carrigaline), Carlow (Tullow) or Roscommon (Boyle). Well worth the trip! You’ll be able to come into our show houses and experience firsthand the quality, comfort and style of our best-quality log cabin buildings.

High-quality windows and doorsImage 1 1

You won’t find better double-glazed, tilt-and-turn windows or doors from any other Log Cabins Ireland company. And we offer a range of choices when it comes to windows and doors. Have a read of our blog on window choice for your log cabin here: https://timberliving.ie/post/which-windows-for-your-log-cabin

The insulation you choose is very important for your log cabin. You want the cabin to be warm and easy to heat. That’s why we put a minimum of 100mm of insulation in our walls and roofs. And in the floor, we ALWAYS use PIR (Kingspan) insulation. If a company is putting rock wool in the floor, walk away! Read more about log cabin insulation here; https://timberliving.ie/post/how-well-are-log-cabins-insulated

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How warm are log cabins during a winter?

It’s the cosiness, the warmth and comfort, that is the enduring image of a log cabin. But the big question is, how true is the image? Are they really that warm and comfortable? And how much does it cost to keep them warm?

Cozy, comfortable log cabins

Are log cabins warm?

Log cabins can be wonderfully arm and cozy, and reasonably cheap to heat. It is all about how the log cabin is constructed.

Like any building, the insulating value of the walls, roof and floors decide how warm the building will be, and how easy it is to heat. Think about it – if you’re lying in bed on a cold winter’s morning with only a sheet covering you, you’re going to be cold no matter what the sheet is made of.

 

So, in your log cabin, you need a wall thickness of more than 6 inches (150 millimetres) if you want a log cabin that is warm and coy in the winter months.

 

Some companies offer log cabins with only a 3 inch (75 millimetre) thick timber wall, and if you by one of these, you’re going to have a cold, cold log cabin. Brrrrr! (You will also have a damp log cabin, with black spots on the walls and quite possibly water coming through. So don’t buy a cabin with 3 inch thick walls.)

What are the best log cabin walls

Are log cabins easy to heat?

At Timberliving, we  offer double Leaf walls. Our standard build is a 45mm outside wall with 100mm cavity and a 30mm inside wall. This gives you plenty of insulation, as well as a very strong internal wall from which you can hang kitchen presses and anything else of significant weight.

 

Do log cabins need to be insulated?

You could easily argue that you do not need to have insulation in your log cabin walls, but that would be true only if your log cabin walls are solid wood and a minimum of 8 inches (200 millimetres) thickness. But this class of a log home is very expensive to buy and build.

 

If you’re planning on using your log cabin for sleeping in, especially during the winter, you will need to insulate your walls. We build our cabins with a standard four inch (100 millimetre) cavity, and use a product called METAC, which is a high grade, quality thermal insulation, as insulation within the cavity.

And the wall insulation does more than just help keep the heat in. Wall insulation also ensures that there is no mould within the cabin itself. If your cabin is built without wall insulation, and is being regularly heated on very cold winter nights, you can expect mould, in certain situations. Mould is generated when moist, warm air touches cold surfaces and condenses. Take a situation in a single wall, uninsulated cabin, with (say) outside temperatures of 2 degrees, and a stove heating the cabin inside. The surfaces of the walls will be warm, EXCEPT behind wardrobes and presses, because it will be difficult for the warmth to get behind these fittings. So, you will have damp air connecting with these cold surfaces. The dampness in this air condenses on the cold surfaces, encouraging the growth of mould. NOT a pretty picture…

Increasing your log cabin insulation levels

If you are going for planning, you will need greater insulation in the walls and roof of your cabin. Wall insulation thickness can be increased either by increasing the size of the cavity, or using external insulation full stop this has the benefit, from a planning point of view, you of having a cement board finish, which is often a requirement of planning applications.

Log cabin wall thickness and noise proofing

One of the benefits of our double Leaf walls is the noise insulation they provide.  Come to one of our showrooms and here for yourself how quiet it is inside a timber living log cabin. Whether you are looking for a residential log cabin , a granny flat one bedroom log cabin, or if you have your own bespoke design log cabin we can provide you with the insulation levels you require.

Are log cabins easy to heat?

Of course, if you have a well insulated log cabin, there will be a smaller heat requirement. And the smaller the heat requirement, the easier, and CHEAPER! it will be to heat. And that means a number of benefits to you, the user. The ongoing savings made with less fuel buying is great, but it also means that the hardware you buy will be cheaper too. A smaller stove, for instance, is going to cost a lot less than a stove twice its size. You can expect a few hundred euro on your hardware cost if your cabin is well insulated. And then there’s the fuel handling, especially if you’re using a solid fuel stove or boiler. That means carrying is and less ashing out too!

 

What heating system can I use in my log cabin

You can use any form of heating system in your log cabin: solid fuel, wood pellet, back boiler with rads, oil or gas, or even heat pumps and/or underfloor heating. Whatever heating system you use, your heating requirement and bills will be very much reduced as you increase your insulation. We have a blog post about heating your log cabin – take a read here: Heating a Log Cabin

Why not come and visit us at our showrooms in Boyle (086 817 0429), Tullow (05991 81039) or Carrigaline (087 6464 280) and see for yourself the quality of our log cabins.

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The benefits of timber in log cabin construction

Log Cabin Construction - interior showing floor and wall insulation

We build a lot of block houses in Ireland. I would say over 90% of all of the people who read this post have lived over 90% of their ives in block or concrete homes. People in Ireland are not familiar with building in timber; we see log homes as exotic dwellings from Scandanavia or Canada or Wyoming. But log cabins are definitely ideal for Ireland’s temperate climate, and there are many benefits to be gained from log cabin living.

How Long Do Log Cabins Last?

“How long will my log cabin last?” is probably THE most common question we are asked by visitors to our log house showrooms. Because nearly all of us were brought up in block or stone houses, It is only natural that we have doubts about quality log cabin timber. But we know that, when we were growing up, every door in the country was made of timber. And they make boats out of timber too! So as long as timber is minded well and treated properly, your log cabin home will last a lifetime.

People think that, due to damp Irish weather, that a log cabin might not last as long here as it would in other, colder countries. But that s a misconception. The damp weather is not detrimental to timber, as long as it is managed. By that I mean that the external coating of the log cabin – what stain you use – is ultimately the most important element in maintaining the longevitiy of your log cabin. Make sure you use the right stain (we recommend Sikkens, from Dulux – read our blog post here: How to Paint Your Log Cabin) And if you need more reassurance regarding log cabins and Irish weather, well, we live in the windiest country in Europe (did you know that!). And that constant wind is the perfect way to keep your log cabin walls dry in damp weather. Take a trip to the Boyle showhouse in a wet and windy day and you can see for yourself how well our log cabins can withstand the ravages of Irish weather. Its really not a problem to them – I would say that the extremes of Scandanavian or CAnadian winters is a lot more detrimental to log cabins.

Some benefits of Timber in buildings

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Log cabins have a very low carbon footprint

Because we do not use steel or concrete in construction of log cabins, the carbon footprint of the building is very low. An enormous amount of energy goes into creating concrete and steel, and of course in the generation of this energy, huge amounts of carbon are emitted. So, keep it clean and keep it green, and build a log cabin :-)

The timber for all of our log cabins comes from sustainable Russian forests. In fact, Russia has been growing forests sustainably for centuries – replanting trees for every tree that has been felled. It is a law that has been in effect for over a hndred years, and of course, it makes gret sense. Russia is one of the World’s main timber exporters because of its great forestry industry.

A2 BER for log cabins

Your log cabin can have an excellent BER (Building Energy Rating). As long as a building is sufficiently well insulated and air sealed, and with the correct renewable energy system (in line with the new building energy ratings regulations) there is no reason why you cannot get the BER or you want for your log cabin.

Healthy timber home environment

Because there are no chemicals, additives, plastics or formaldahyde used in the timber of our interior walls, and no dust generated through the use of plasterboard, the environment in a Timber Living log cabin home is ideal for anyone looking for the healthiest home environment. And since our buildings are breathable, there is no condensation, giving further benefits and a better home environment.

Environmentally friendly building waste from your log cabin

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When we complete the building of a log cabin, there is very little waste. Normally, there is a lot of timber left over, because we always send more timber than we need to a site in case of problems. As our client, if you are interested in keeping the excess timber, we are glad to leave it with you. This timber can be used to for firewood or to build furniture. (All the beds in the Boyle showhouse are made from excess timber. I also made two cat houses and a hen house, and I still have wood left over!)

Also, with block building, one of the main headaches for planners and builders is where to deposit the environmental waste from block building – leftover steel and concrete, plastics etc. With our log cabins, the only real waste we have to deal with is the plastic wrapping which we use to cover the timber during transport. And that plastic is very recyclable – we have a very straightforward, quality assured method for disposing f all of our environmental waste.

Log cabin wall insulation

By default, all of our log cabin walls have a 100 millimetre (four inch) cavity.

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Overall, our walls are over even inches thick – the 100mm (four inch) cavity is made up of an external wall of 45mm (nearly two inches) and an internal wall of 30 millimetres (about an inch and a half). (This cavity size can be increased if you wish.) But the key point is that your wall is doubly insulated – firstly by the insulation itself, but, as we all know, timber is also a good insulator – so the walls re insulating, unlike plaster walls, which draw heat out of a room.

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Financing your log cabin

A log cabin from Timber Living Log Cabins Ireland is a great investment – half the price of building with block – but its still a lot of money. So, what’s the best loan option out there?

Financing your log cabin

How do you finance a log cabin?

The ways things are nowadays, it seems harder and harder to get loans for anything these days, especially when it comes to your residential needs. Which makes you wonder why banks are so picky about lending for log cabins – surely these people – who are so careful with money – should be a lot more eager about log cabins, since they are such good value!

 

We have many customers coming to us buying log cabins, and there are myriad ways in which they finance their log cabins. If people are lucky enough to have sufficient savings, they may only need a top-up loan, which is usually asy to get. Others manage to borrow from family, with a promise to pay back rent-sized amounts every month for a fixed period of time.

 

But if you have to go through official channels, what are the options for buying a log cabin?

 

A Credit Union Loan for your Log Cabin?

Have you thought about a Credit Union Loan for your log cabin? (Read more about Credit Union loans here.)

There’s a notion going about that you have to be a member of a Credit Union before you can get a loan. This is not the case with every Credit Union. Each Credit Union is different, and is run soley for the benefit of its members, rather than for the benefit of its shareholders.

Because each Credit Union is different, they can decide individually who to give loans to, and what to give loans for. Many of our customers have financed their log cabins with Credit Union loans, without a problem

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Will Your Local C.U. finance your log cabin?

Well, the first thing you need to do is find where your nearest Credit Union is. You can find a full list of Credit Unions here: https://www.creditunion.ie/credit-union-locator/ There are 326 Credit Unions in Ireland, so you’re bound to have one nearby. And there’s nothing to stop you enquiring for a loan from more than one Credit Union.

 

How to Appy for a Log Cabin Loan

There’s a very simple to use Loan Application systema available on the Credit Union website: https://www.creditunion.ie/enquire-about-a-loan/

Just fill out the form and send off your request – it couldn’t be easier :-)

 

Can you get a mortgage for a log cabin?

Normally, banks will not offer mortgages for log cabins. There are a few issues, not least the fact that cabins are often not expensive enough to qualify for a mortgage. Its almost as if the banks don’t want to encourage the Log Cabin market, because they wouldn’t make as much money out of it as they are currently making out of the housing market. Could that be the reason?!

 

How much is it to buy a log cabin?

When purchasing your log cabin from Timber Living Log Cabins Ireland, there are other costs that you will need ot figure in to your financial plan. Let’s consider one of our favourite cabins, the Sutton Two Bed Cabin. There’s the cost of the cabin itself, currently on sale for €28,000, delivered, built and fully insulated, VAT included. On top of that price (assuming you already wn the site) you will need to install a 5 inch concrete base. You will also need to factor in the cost of electrics, plumbing and a heating system. After that there’s all of the fixtures and fittings, sanitary ware, kitchen, and other furnishings. You will need to connect to water and electricity supply, and have somewhere for your grey water and sewerage waste. Finally, I should mention that we don’t supply gutters.

 

Log Cabin Showrooms

Before buying a log cabin, it man=kes emminent sense to actually go aloong to a showroom and see exactly what you’re thinking of buying. Many, many people who visit the Timber Living Log cabin Showrooms here in Boyle are first time visitors to log cabins. It is always quite a revalation to people when they come to a log cabin for the first time.

 

Timber Living Log cabin Showroom, serving Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Donegal

People are initially surprised by the size of the Boyle Log Cabin Showroom interior. They are always very pleased with the soothing atmosphere which the wooden interior walls give – I think there is a bit of sound muffling due to the timber surfaces – one of those things you don’t really notice, but which is different to what people are used to…

I had one visitor, Johnny, who had already visited a couple of log cabin companies. He spent the first five minutes of his visit not saying much, but just walking through the different rooms of the show house, and walking heavily in different spots. Finally he said “I’m trying to find squeaks in your floor. How come your floor doesn’t squeak, when the other showhouses do?”

 

What is the best log cabin near me?

Well, Johnny had found the best log cabin company (us!) but we were not the nearest to him. Anyway, he felt it was worth a trip to us here in Boyle, because he wanted floors that didn’t squeak!

We have showhouses in Boyle, Co Roscommon, Tullow, Co Carlow, and Carrigaline, Co Cork. So I imagine we’re within a couple of hours of you. Come and visit us, and you can see for yourself what I am talking about.