it’s a picture most of us dream of – sitting in a comfortable sofa, by a log burner, in a stylish log cabin home. But are log cabins easy to heat? Like any building, as long as they are well built, well insulated and draught proof, you should have no problem heating your new log cabin.
Is a log cabin easy to heat?
Log cabins, built of quality timber and well insulated, are very very cheap to heat. That is as long as they are well built, with quality windows, doors and insulation.
If you think about it, there is only one key difference between heating a block built house and heating a log cabin. In both cases, you have an interior space that has to be heated. In both cases, you have a floor, walls, windows, doors and a roof that create the building envellope. So really, if the insulation levels and the draught proofing are the same in both buildings, you could imagine that the same amount of heat is required to heat the space within.
Are Log Cabins easier to heat than block buildings?
The main difference between the two types of building – log cabin and block built – is the timber surface on the interior cabin. Think about the amount of heat that a block and plaster wall requires in order to heat it up, and how long those walls will be drawing heat out of the room, while the equivalent timber walls are actually acting as an insulator, and doing nothing to keep the room chilled!
Log Cabin Heating Systems
The picture above shows a very cosy scene – actually, this is the log cabin showhouse in Boyle – the Limerick Log Cabin – with its wood burning stove. But of course you do not have to use a solid fuel stove to heat your log cabin. You can heat a log cabin in the same way as you would heat a conventionally built house. So yes, you can use a log burner or solid fuel stove. You can put a back boiler onto it, no problem. You can use a natural gas stove or boiler. And of course you can use an oil boiler – why not?
There are a lot of options nowadays with electrical heaters – wall panel, radiant, with all sorts of timers and heat sensors built-in. And if you want to be very daring, you can put in underfloor heating. Why not have an air to air heat exchanger built in? All of these options are endlessly possible.
Single or double wall in your log cabin?
This is a very important question, if you’re planning to buy a log cabin. Single walls, which are available on the market from 40mm up to about 90mm, are ALWAYS insufficient if you’re using your log cabin for residentioal purposes. This is because if you are heating your cabin regularly on colder winter nights, the temperature of the cold damp air will be too low, and the wall thickness is not great enough to insulate your cabin. In other words, the interior of your wall will be chilled be the cold exterior. Why is this important, you may ask. Typically what happens with a single wall cabin at night, if you’re heating the interior on those nights, is that you will feel warm in your cabin. BUT, the covered wall areas, behind presses, wardrobes, pictures etc, will not be warmed by the heating in the log cabin, because the warm air won’t readily circulated behind these fittings. So, the air that is behind these fixtures remains cold, and, as the walls cool due to the low exterior temperatures, the moisture in the air will condense, and this is how mould forms. The unfortunate thing is that this only happens on hidden surfaces, and it is usually not noticed for a long time, when so much damage is done that it is too let to remedy the situation.
Double glazed windows and doors
There is no doubt that double glazed windows are an important element in keeping your log cabin warm and easy to heat. Make sure the windows supplied in your log cabin are up to European Union specifications. At Timber Livng, wer offer a number of different window choices. Read the Blog Post here: Which windows for your log cabin?
South facing for solar gain
Remember when siting your log cabin, that there’s lots of free heat available from the sun, as long as you orientate you log cabin correctly, so that the biggest windows are facing south or south west. Solar gain is a major contributor to reducing cabin heating costs, and its very easy to get this right. Sometimes, you might be unlucky enough to have a stunning view to the north of your building, and you plan to have your main windows facing that direction – but generally, where possible, you should face your cabin southwards.
If you’re looking at planning your heating for your log cabin, it would make a lot of sense come to one of our TimberLiving showhouses in Boyle, Tullow or Carrigaline to have a chat with our ever-helpful sales crew. They would be only delighted to help you with your decisions.
Log cabins look cosy and cute and warm. They have so many endearing qualities. They look so inviting: you just want to go in there and sit down by the stove and relax. But do they stay warm for long?
A stove is the perfect addition to a log cabin
Easy and cheap to heat
You want a warm, cosy log cabin.
At timber living, all of our residential log cabins are very well insulated. We are very proud of the high quality of build of our log cabins. We use only the best materials, and that makes our log cabins reliable, durable and warm.
There are two factors that ensure that a building is
As long as a building has sufficient insulation and is well draught-proofed, heating should not be a major issue. The major difference between a log cabin and a block built building is that the blocks used tend to draw heat out of the rooms, and in effect, they need to be heated sufficiently before the room really feels warm. These cold surfaces will make the room feel cold until they are warmed up themselves. You do not have this issue with timber walls, floors and ceilings.
Our log cabin walls are one hundred and seventy five millimetres thick (seven inches). Of that 157mm, you have a 45mm outside timber, a 100 mm cavity and a 30mm inside timber. The outside and inside timber walls also add to the insulating value of the walls. This all means that a log cabin is going to heat up a lot quicker than a block building, its going to feel warmer sooner than a block building, its going to be cheaper to heat and its going to retain its heat longer.
In the showhouse in Boyle, we generally heat the stove until about four in the afternoon on a Saturday. When we go into the showhouse on the following Sunday morning, the temperature is usually a reasonable 12-14 degrees, even though it is 3 degrees outside.
What insulation does my log cabin need?
Our standard insulation levels are 100mm of kingspan insulation in the roof, and 100mm of Metac insulation in the walls, along with 50mm of kingspan insulation in the floor of your log cabin. While building regulations look for higher levels of insulation in all new buildings, we find that our customers have been happy with these standard levels of insulation ever since we started building log cabins in Ireland, over twenty years ago.
That being said, it is not a problem for us at Timber Living to increase the level of insulation in your log cabin, if that is what you require. Increasingly, people are looking for an increase in the wall, floor and roof insulation. This can be done easily, just by increasing the size of the cavity in the walls, and the roof and floor joist sizes too.
Increasing the size of the cavities and joist sizes in your log cabin will put up the overall cost. But there are other ways to increase the insulation – you could put extra insulation either on the interior walls of your cabin, using cosyboard or a combination of plasterboard and insulation, or you could put external insulation , fixed directly to the external log cabin timbers, on the outside of your log cabin.
The simplest way to increase the insulation in your floor is to build an insulated slab, with load-bearing insulating blocks, such as Quinn Lite.
Is Rockwool okay as floor insulation?
There are many new companies selling log cabins in Ireland, and it is natural that they are bound to make mistakes as they learn the intricacies of building log cabins in Ireland. One of the most common errors made by these companies (and one of the most costly to their customers) is the fact that they offer rockwool as a suitable floor insulation. ROCKWOOL IS NOT A SUITABLE FLOOR INSULATION!
I would advise that the first question you ask any log cabin company you are talking to is “what floor insulation do you use?” If they say rockwool or mineral wool, I would suggest that you walk away. The floor insulation is placed on top of a concrete slab, which naturally, gets very cold in Winter. Once the temperature gets below about four degrees, the moisture in the air in Ireland will stat to condense onto cold surfaces (as we all know too well!) So, with a cold slab on a cold winter’s day, you are bound to get dampness. The rock wool will soak up this dampness like a sponge, and loose its insulation qualities. It will also make your rooms cold and introduce dampness to the floor and wall timbers.
We use Polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation in our buildings to avoid this damp ingress occurring. Polyisocyanurate (PIR) is one of the most efficient insulation material used in construction. Read more about it here.
Are log cabins warm in the winter?
Our walls are double leaf, cavity walls. Our standard cavity is 100mm and that can be increased if necessary, for planning purposes. In those cavities we make sure that we have the best available insulation. We use foil-backed PIR insulation, commonly known as kingspan insulation, in the roofs and floor spaces. This is a very durable, high-quality product that will last certainly the duration of your log cabin. Our windows and doors are very durable, double-glazed units, which will easily keep out Winter winds. All windows are tilt-and-turn, our external doors are five-point locking, and our internal doors all have gaskets (believe it or not) to keep the heat in.
Well-insulated log cabins
Whether you are building a single storey or a two storey log cabin, and no matter how many bedrooms is in your log house, we can assure you that your new home will be very cosy, warm and easy and cheap to heat.
You will see from our website that we offer a huge range of log cabins:
If you are interested in a quality log cabin, log house or timber home you should contact us at Timber Living.
Timber Living Log Cabin Showhouses in Tullow, Boyle and Carrigaline
We have show houses in Tullow, Boyle and Carrigaline. Please feel free to contact us now to make an appointment and come visit us.
If you’re thinking of buying a log cabin, there are a number of questions you need to consider and get answers to before you proceed. That’s why we thought it would eb useful for you if we drew up a complete list of all the things to consider whenwhen buying your log cabin.
Location, location, Log Cabin location
Before you build your log cabin, you’re going to need somewhere to put it! So, where are you planning to build your log cabin? Is your site big enough to fit your log cabin? Remember that you will need a reasonable amount of space between the log cabin and any adjoing walls/hedges in order to get in to treat the log cabin walls. This treatment is required every three or four years, and needs to be done well. If you’re unsure about the space you have, take measurements of the site, and PLENTY of photos, and come visit us at one of our showrooms. We can give you a good idea of what is feasible once we hae the information.
Water and Power Connections
What about water and electrical connections? Are there sources nearby? Often, when people are building near an existing house, (like building a granny flat in the back garden) the existing water connection for the house is easily tapped into. It is usually very straightforward to connect up to the electriccal power for the house too. But there are some cases where you might want a seperate electrical meter. obvoiusly, ythere’s the billing issue. Oftentimes, people want their own independence, and are reluctant to share bills, which is very understandable. It is very straightforward to get a second connection and meter from the ESB, and you do not need planning in order to have one installed.
Another reason for a seperate electrical connection is if you pan to use an electrical power shower and undersink water heater in your log cabin. In this case, if there are alreay a number of electric showers in the existing house, there might me the possibility of your power being tripped, since these power showers use a large amount of power while they’re running. This is not an issue in all houses, so its best to ask your electrician to recommend a solution. And also ask the inportant question – “What are the connection fees going to be?”
You also have to think of the septic tank, or the sewerage connection. Make sure that your cabin is at the right height to connect to these services! There are solutions to this – storage tanks and pumps, but you will need to talk to an expert in this area.
Letting the sunshine into your log home
Orientation is a very important factor for any home, because sunshine brings light, but more importantly, free heat. (Did you know that south-facing houses get a better BER than others, purely because of the fact that they gain a lot of free energy as a result of the solar gain of their south-facing aspect?!) So, when you are choosing your log cabin, always keep in mind the south facing orientation, and don’t forget to consider the hadows from any adjoining buildings. Of course, a log cabin interior cabin be brightened up a lot by painting the interior a bright colour, so all is not lost if you are in shadow.
Click for Log Cabin Finance
A Quality Log Cabin will Last a Lifetime
Whatever you do, buy a log cabin that is built to last. Visit our showhouse and you will istantly experience the sturdiness, strength and security of our log cabins. We use the finest of Siberian-grown Norway Spruce (Read aour blog post about log cabin timber here: https://timberliving.ie/post/what-timber-should-a-log-cabin-be-built-with
Unless your log cabin wall is over 6 inches thick (150mm) you will need a double wall construction, with insulation in the cavity. Our walls are at least seven inches (175mm) thick, which includes a four inch cavity. If you wish, you can increase the cavity size, or put more insulation on the interior or exterior walls. Talk to us about all of the options.
Financing your Log Cabin
A log cabin is a great investment! Most people have their log cabin paid for with five years rent or less – it’s a no-brainer. But you might not have five years rent saved up under the matress, so you’ll need finance. Your Credit Union is probaby the cheapest place to get finance for your log home, or you could apply to Flexifi (Just click on the image above to get to the application form.)
Is a Log Cabin Cheaper to Build?
Of course, the answer to this question is a resounding “YES!” Log cabins are a lot cheaper to build than conventional block built structures – up to 50% fifty per cent cheaper, by many accounts. The costs are kept down on log cabins by a couple of major factors – labour costs are lower on a build that takes a matter of weeks rather than months – that’s self explanatory. But what’s not so obvious is the fact that the cost of the raw materials is so much lower. A double wall of cement blocks costs a huge amount to produce, because so much energy goes into making the concrete, and energy is expensive these days. Per square metre, a double timber wall, well insulated, is a lot cheaper than the equivalent block wall.
Log cabins are built very quickly
But that’s not the only good reason to buy and build a log cabin. The next main practical reason to build a log cabin is the speed of building. From the date that you first order ypour log cabin to the completion date is on average three months (faster if we have the model you are looking for in stock). Doesn’t three months sound a lot better than twelve months?
Then there’s the extra site damage that comes hand in hand with block building – all that storing of materials on site for months, causing mayhem in your garden! Who wants that?!!
Buying a Log Cabin
So, if you’re buying a log cabin in Ireland, there are lots of questions you need to answer. But the most important question is who to buy from. And we at Timber Living have been supplying log cabins in Ireland for over twenty years. We have sourced the highest quality cabins available in Europe, and we offer them to you, delivered, built and well insulated.
Cosy, compact and cost-effective log cabin garden offices from Timber Living
Insulated Garden Offices
We have the perfect solution for anyone looking for a workshop or garden office. Our log cabins are ideal buildings for all sorts of practical uses, with their solid log construction, quality double-glazing, high-level of insulation – you can create a very placid atmosphere in a timber Living log cabin garden office. Take a look at our Feakle cabin as an example.
Whatever Log Cabin size you want!
We offer all sorts of variations in our garden offices, so you can get EXACTLY the workspace you want, at the best price.
A huge range of sizes, from 3m x 4m upwards to bespoke log cabins
Choice of single or double doors
Double glazing comes as standard
Single wall or cavity wall construction
A range of insulation levels
Log Home Verandah maybe?
Contemporary Log Cabin designs
Some people like the more modern, “Shomera” style of cube garden room or garden office pod. If that’s to your taste, no problem! Take a look at our Comtemporary page to get ideas of contemporary designs. And remember that we can build whatever size log cabin you want – you don’t need to go along the traditional route, and neither do you have to pick one of the plans on offer in the website. We are quite happy to build the sie and shape of garden office you want – you just have to come along to one of our showrooms and let us kow exactly yhe details for the cabin you’re looking for, and we will get it priced up in a couple of days.
Contemporary Log Cabin Design
Bespoke Log Cabin Designs
For whatever reason, you may not find what you’re looking for in our wide range of log cabins. Perhaps the space you have available for you to build does not suit the cabins we offer, or maybe you have a particular view, and want to re-configure the windows to facilitate that. There may also be a situation where you need a reception room, changing room, treatment room, or seperate indicidual offfices for different workers. Whatever configuration you need in your garden office, we can supply that for you.
Log Cabin Workspaces
We have produced log cabin offices for lots of different workplaces. You’d be very surprised to see the range of businesses which our cabins are suitable for. Perhap the most unexpected building we ever produced was a changing room and canteen for workers at an abbattoir! I supose that just goes to show that our buildings are ideal for nearly eery situation! Some other previous bespoke log cabin offices and workplaces include:
Physiotherapy and other treatment rooms
We have provided treatment and therapy rooms for lots of different medical practitioners, from physiotherapists to accupuncturists, homeopathists, psychotherapists, mindfulness and meditation teachers, masseurs etc. These garden offices often many different rooms, including a reception area, treatment room, shower/changing room and kitchen.
Log Cabin Office space
Our log cabins are ideal for office space because they are so well heated, can be configured with any number of windows and doors, they are built quickly, and are very easily wired for technology.
Log Cabin Creche
We have supplied creche buildings nationwide. Our cabins create a beautiful, soothing atmosphere which is ideal for a creche. The speed of build is also a benefit for creche companies, which may find they need to expand within three months (as with log cabin buildings) rather than in a year or so, which is how long it would take a block building construction.
How long will a log cabin last?
Of course, if you’re spending money on a building in which you intend to make more money (!), you want that building to last. ANd we always tell our customers that a TimberLiving Log Lcabin will last a lifetime, as long as it is properly maintained. But maintainance of a log cabin is not a huge chore. Not at all! You will need to redo the external finishing every three or four years, depending on how exposed your log cabin is to the wind and rain. We always recommend Sikkens exterior wood stain for our cabin exteriors. This excellent product does a great job at keeping the water out, and also letting the wood of the walls breathe. Its a straightforward application, with a short rying time, cso your log cabin can be done and dusted in a couple of days.
Another secret to keeping your log cabin going over the years is hidden in the way we build our cabins, from the ground up. You require a concrete slab which is shorter by ten millimetres all round than the cabin which sits on it. This ensures that water cannot pool under the cabin, which means the wood cannot rot. An additional safety feature ith regard to this is the throated rain sill which runs all around your cabin at the base of the walls. This throated rain sill throws water off the foot of the cabin, and prevents any pooling at the cabin base. A very important detail in our log cabins!
We also include weather boards at the exterior ends of our overlapping walls. These weather boards ensure that the ends of our horizontal wall drop logs are not exposed to driving rain. If they were exposed to driving rain, there is always the possibility that rain would run along the horizontal joint, and lodge at the wall corners. This is now prevented by the weather boards mentioned above.
If you would like to learn more about our log cabin construction and high build quality, you should come along to one of our showrooms. Just give us a call, or come visit us in Tullow, Boyle or Carrigaline. We’d be delighted to show you around.
Whichever way you look at it, a Log Cabin is a great investment – quick to build, long lasting, easy to heat and a whole lot cheaper than the alternatives.
So nice to come home to this log cabin
Beautiful Log Cabin interior
Do I need planning permission for a log cabin in Ireland?
A lot of people as us if planning permission is an issue for their garden log cabin? Did you know that that we have a couple of cabins that are under the 25 square meter planning permission limit? You could take a look at the Brittas Log Cabin, which is the favourite of our customers, or the Down Granny Flat, which is a tad smaller, but still very well laid out. And of course, we have plenty of other sizes, including our very successful two bedroom log cabin range, if you’re looking for something bigger. Just call to any of our showrooms and we’ll be delighted to help.
Cute and Cosy – Brittas One Bed Log Cabin
Log-term Benefits of Log cabins
We have been building log cabins in Ireland for over twenty years, and that is why we’re only too pleased to offer a ten year guarantee with all of our cabins. The quality of the timber used in the cabins (Norway Spruce from Siberia) is so good, that your cabin will last a lifetime, as long as it is well treated. The timber grows very slowly, since there are only three months of real growth per year. This means that the wood-grain is extremely tight, compared to Irish gron timer. Tight wood-grain means no warping, twisting, or bending of the log cabin timbers, keeping your log cabin draught-free and leak-proof for the duration!
Cheap and easy to heat log cabins
Because your log cabin is so well insulated, there will be no problem when it comes to cozyness and heating bills. We use high-quality insulation in the floors, walls and roofs of our cabins, and if you’re interested, we can actually increase the level of insulation. Also, the cabins are relatively air-tight, which means there are no draughts that might take away any heat from inside.
What heating system for your Log Cabin?
You can use any form of heating to warm your log cabin- oil /gas / wood pellet boiler with radiators, stove (with or without back boiler), electric radiators, heat pumps – the list is endless.
Are log cabins built quickly?
Its unbelievable how quickly we can build a log cabin. You could have your cabin built and ready to move in to in four weeks, if you had all your ducks lined up, but it is not unreasonable to expect to be ready to move in to your log cabin after two months.
In week on, we build the outside walls, and in week two we do the insulation and the inside walls. Your electrical and plumbing work is done at the same time, so after two weeks (depending on cabin size, of course) you’re ready to put in your kitchen and get decorating. No bother!
So, why not start the year off properly with a visit you one of our showrooms? Give us a call at 05991 81039, and we’ll organise an appointment straight away!
People often ask “Should we build log cabins or block built homes? What’re the major differences between them?”
Where do we start?
Log cabins are cheaper to build, and if that doesn’t make you look more carefully at the log cabin option, we don’t know what will!
Log cabins are quicker to build. You can have a standard two-bedroom log cabin built in four weeks.
Log cabins are MUCH better for the environment. When you look at the carbon footprint of concrete or the heating inefficiencies of block-built houses, you’d wonder why we build with concrete at all!
Log cabins are healthier to live in. Regulated temperatures, fewer cold spots and damp potential all add up to a much cosier, healthier environment than a standard, block-built house.
Log cabins or block built homes
The legacy of block built homes
If you’re Irish, you were probably brought up in a block built home, or something even colder! Like a stone-walled farmhouse with two-foot thick walls, and single glazed windows which were covered in condensation every winter morning! But there’s no point in building using this thoroughly outdated technology. Block building is really not a very sensible way to build, and the main reason it continues in Ireland is that there’s a lot of expertise in block building, and there is serious infrastructure established for the production and delivery of concrete blocks, cement and all of the ancillary tools required to build with them.
But we often challenge people to give us three good reasons to build in block instead of timber. Once people get past the fact that we’re used to block, and block is very sturdy (so is timber, by the way) they are lost for a third goodreason!
Which is cheaper? Log cabins or block built homes
Log cabins are cheaper to build for a number of reasons: you don’t need a number of people on-site for weeks building a wall block by block. So, the cost of labour is reduced, and that leads to a significant saving on the overall project. The cost of materials is also significantly lower than that of concrete and steel build buildings. The amount of energy that goes into producing concrete obviously leads to an increase in cost for concrete and steel products. it doesn’t take a genius to understand that this extra cost is passed on to you, the consumer.
Log cabins are built quickly, with less mess
“Which are built quicker – log cabins or block built homes?”
Because your log cabin is produced in a high-tech factory and all of the pieces are cut to size to the millimetre: there is no need for on-site adjustment to delivered pieces. They all just slot into place! If you ever see a log cabin being built, you will be stunned at the speed in which they go up. And a building that is built quickly means less damage to the grounds around the building, less repeated movement of heavy machinery, less refuse, litter and rubbish that can gather over time. There are lots and lots of benefits to a quick build.
And of course, a quicker build means reduced labour costs. This is a major advantage. Compare the amount of labour cost of a block-built house – EACH block having to be handled multiple times, concrete to be applied to EACH block, EACH block placed perfectly vertical and horizontal and squared off, NUMEROUS blocks having to be cut for corners, doorways and windows… It’s a ridiculous way to build, when you think about it!
Log cabins are environmentally friendly
If you were asked “which was more environmentally friendly, log cabins or block built homes?”, it would not take you long to decide! The carbon footprint of concrete and steel production is HUGE! Nobody with any concern for the environment would ever build a block built home. In fact, it is the opinion of this writer that block build houses should be banned under the latest building regulations. What is the point in building an A2 rated house to save carbon emissions over time, if that same house has produced years equivalent of carbon emissions in its production? Pure madness!
After water, concrete is the most widely used substance on the planet. But its benefits mask enormous dangers to the planet, to human health. If you’re trying to decide between log cabins or block built homes, here’s an article from the Guardian on the impact of concrete on the environment, if you need any more convincing. Concrete: the most destructive material on Earth It’s really remarkable to read about concrete. And unbelievable to think that concrete production is responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions.
Log cabins create a healthy environment
Log cabins are healthier to live in
Which would you say generates a more healthy interior environment, log cabins or block built homes? Of course its log cabins, once they are well built, well-insulated and draught-proofed, and built with a double wall.
Because of the absence of plasterboard walls, there is very little dust in a log cabin. The natural wood walls resonate with our own natural needs. They exude a warmth that you will not get from plasterboard. They even reflect sound in a very natural way, smoothing off louder, harsher sounds and helping everyone to relax!
Everyone who walks into a Timber Living showhouse automatically feels cosy and at home. In fact, people often stop at the door of our show houses for a minute, just to take in the calm atmosphere, as it is so unfamiliar to them. So many people have said to us when they walk into one of our show houses “it’s just like going back to nature.”
If you’d like to experience this for yourself, you should come to visit us at our show cabins. We have a two and three-bedroom cabin showrooms in Tullow. We have a two-bedroom cabin in Boyle, Co Roscommon, and we have a three bed at our showhouse in Carrigaline, in Cork. You’ll get all of the contact details on our website our the Timber Living Show Houses page.
One of the most common questions we get asked is how long can you live in a log cabin. For some people, a log home is simply a place to get away from it all – a holiday home replacement for a mobile home, a garden office, a playhouse in the garden or a handy annexe in the garden for guests to stay at the weekend.
Residential Log Cabins
But of course, residential log cabins are quite common in Ireland, and you can certainly live very comfortably in a log cabin in Ireland. They are perfect for long-term residential living. When anyone asks us “So is it possible to make a log cabin a permanent home?” of course the answer to this question is a definite “yes”!
So nice to come home to this log cabin
What is the lifespan of a log cabin?
Because we in Ireland are not familiar with log cabins (they are not part of the “vernacular” as the planners would say) it is perfectly understandable for people to be unsure of the longevity of a log cabin. After all, if you’re planning to spend over twenty thousand euros on a building, you are right to ask all of the questions that cross your mind, and you need to be sure and feel secure that, with the amount of money you’re spending, that your investment will last. So, will a log cabin last twenty years, fifty years, sixty years?
Log cabins can last sixty years or longer.
If you treat the timber in your log cabin properly, there is no reason for it not to last a lifetime. After all, boats have been made out of wood for thousands of years, and, once they are treated properly, they last and last. Or think about every front door in the country when we were kids was made of wood too.
The important thing is to keep your timber dry. That is why we build our cabins on bases that are actually smaller than the wood that sits on top of them! It is important that the log cabin overhangs the base on which it sits so that water cannot pool under the wood. That is why you cannot build your log cabin on a concrete or tarmac yard – you must raise yourself up off the ground, and out of the puddles!
Take a look at the video below, which explains how log cabin bases and foundations work.
How long can you live in a log cabin – this video give a few reasons why our log cabins last a lifetime.
How long can you live in a log cabin in your garden?
If you have stumbled across this blog, the chances are you may be considering buying a timber home or log cabin. Although, it is most common amongst our customers to build at the back of an existing property. This often simplifies the planning process and decisions that have to be made about planning.
Many of our customers have identified a site and either don’t have the funds to build a conventional house or they simply love the idea of living in a log house and love all of the benefits that come with that:
the lower cost of building a log cabin
the speed of the build,
the sustainability of any log cabin building,
how easy it is to heat a log cabin
the style and cosiness of a log cabin
that one feels closer to nature
Log Cabin Insulation
Living permanently in a log cabin home is actually perfectly possible as long as the correct level of insulation is installed and you fit double glazing etc.
Because of the new planning regulations NZEB (Near Zero Energy Buildings), if you go for planning you will be required to increase the insulation in your log cabin to a minimum of 6 inches. This thickness will vary depending on the type of insulation that you use.
Draught-proofing a log cabin
There is also the issue of air-stripping or draught-proofing your log cabin. This is a very simple process when it comes to log cabins because the construction of the buildings is so straightforward. Air-stripping of a building gets difficult when it comes to awkward construction details with many superfluous edges, such as bay windows or dormer windows. And all of these extra junctions can lead to a complicated, and ultimately unsuccessful job. But with your log cabin, the straightforward designs mean that air-stripping or draught-proofing is also straightforward and problem-free.
Log Cabin Planning Permission
The important thing to note before making your log cabin a permanent home is to make sure you get planning permission if required. Your engineer will also have to sign off on any building for which you apply for planning, so it is important to talk to us before you go any further in your planning process. But do not be put off. It is still possible to get planning for a log cabin. And we are developing different wall structures that will still be cheaper than conventional builds, but will still provide the insulation required, and will be very durable, environmentally friendly constructions.
If you’re buying a log cabin, you want quality – quality timber and door/windows materials, quality manufacturing , quality insulation,and quality installation. And most importantly of all, you want quality design – in the look of your log cabin, and in the engineering.
What are the problems with log cabins?
When you’re viewing your log house, keep a close eye on the finishing.
Do all the corners match exactly?
Poorly matched corners can be an indication of a number of things, from minor innacuracies in production, to settling faults. If there are any issues with the corners (both vertical corners, and junctions where the walls meet the floor or roof), walk away.
Are there any rough-cut ends?
Rough cut ends mean that the timber sent from the factory was either innacurate or damaged. Damage can happen on a building site, so one rough cut edge is forgiveable, but if there are many, this indicates either that the factory don’t know what tey are doing, or the guys who built the cabin don’t know what piece goes where. Too many roughly cut or hand sawn timber ends should make you very nervous.
How solid are the doors and windows?
All of the windows and doors should, of course, be double-glazed: your windows should be tilt-and-turn, and your exernal doors should have five-point locking. And everything should feel extremely solid. The quality of external doors and windows is extremely important, as they have to remain solid while facing the warmth of the interior while at the same time putting up with the cold extremes of winter. Any sign at all of looseness in new windows and doors should be screaming “let’s get out of here!” to you.
Are there any nice timber log cabin details?
Nie tmber details, generally around the windows and doors, or at the roof beams, demonstrate the manufacturer’s interest and dedicatin to producing a quality living environment, and the value of these should not be underestimated when assessing the log cabins available in the market. Quality touches in your log cabin will be appreciated over the years as you notice them and appreciate them, while a log cabin with a “bare bones” interior is not going to generate much love or pride for the owner.
Get a Double wall log cabin, with insulation
You will need insulation in your log cabin– a three inch thick (75mm) timber wall is not sufficient in the Irish climate. I guarantee you there will be condensation and damp problems if you build in this way. And once that happens, the only way to fix it is with exterior insulation. Also be sure that there is freedom of movement between the interior and exterior walls. During the winter, the exterior will be cold and damp, while the interior will be warm, and in the Summer, you will have a cool interior and a warm exterior – your timber will expand and contract according to temperatre and humidity. Watch the video above, which explains Timber Living’s Log Cabin wall construction detail.
Rockwool or PIR (Kingspan) Insulation?
Always look for at least 100mm insulation in the walls and roof, if you want to keep your heating bills in your log cabin down. And very importantly NEVER ever use rockwool under your floorboards! You’ll get condensation from the cold surface of your slab, which will be soaked up by the rock wool, and your floor will be FREEZING!
Log CabinWall Height
It might not be obvious, but the height of your walls is very significant to the feel of your log cabin. Many log cabins have low walls, to save on materials, time and money. But the problem is that the roof is lower, and the feeling of openness you get in a Timber Living log cabin is not there in our competitors.
When people visit our log cabin show houses, their first impression is always VERY positive, but often times, our visitors cannot put their fingers on WHY the room feels so good. Its because our roofs are high, and there is NO claustrophobia. You won’t get that in any other log cabin in ireland.
How Long Can You Live In A Log Cabin?
This is a question that has been asked over and over again, for obvious reasons, nd the answer is “you can live in a log cabin for a lifetime” as long as you maintain the wood well. And that is not a difficult thing to do. Exterior treatment every three or four years, dependint on the exposure to wind, rain and sunlight, if easy and cheap to do, and will keep your cabin going for decades. There is a sixty year old timber home 500 yards up from the Timber Living Log cabin showhouse in boyle. It used to be the club house of the local golf club (since moved to another location), and the timber on the exterior of the building is still as good as new. it has clearly been well maintained, and it proves that tese building will last a lifetime. (Come and see it for yourself!)
How long do log cabin homes last?
This is pretty much the same question as the one above, but people ask for different reasons, and do different searches in Google, so, in the interest of answering everyone’s questions, and informing the public as to the benefits of log cabin living, we have included the question here again. And, as you may have already read, they last a lifetime. We confidently predict a minimum lifespan of fifty to sixty years, if the log cabin is well-maintained. Boats are built of timber, and last because of the proper treatment, so there is no reason why a log cabin should not last for decades.
What do I need to know before buying a log cabin?
There are a number of things you will have to think about if you are considering buying a log cabin, and we have answers to all of your questions. Most of the asnswers should be available in these blog posts, but we would be delighted if you would call to our show houses in Tullow, Boyle or Cork so we can answer your questions directly.
So, whether you’re wondering about :
What size log cabin should I buy
Can I get planning for a Log Cabin
Can I get Finance For a Log Cabin
How easy is it to maintain a log cabin
What should I look for when buying a log cabin
How long will a log cabin last
What heating system can I put in to my log cabin
Just give us a call, make an appointment, and come and see us and our showhouses. If you’re thinking about buying alog cain, a trip to Timber Living Log cabins makes a shed-load of sense!
If you are thinking of buying a log cabin building for your garden you will be joining thousands of others who are catching on to the growing trend of owning a building that brings you that bit closer to nature.
Scandinavian style comes at no extra cost
Log cabins and log houses have been selling like hot cakes because they allow owners to extend their living spaces and provide an alternative space to relax outside the home.
But besides their natural qualities there are plenty of otherlog home benefits to consider, including the following…
1. Log cabins are quick and easy to build
A log cabin can be erected in a number of weeks, rather than months. They’re also produced in high-precision factories where most of the work is done, which reduces site time and costs. Unlike other buildings you won’t need to by lots of additional building materials and dig deep foundations.
2. Wood is excellent at keeping heat in
What timber should a log cabin be built with? Wood is a naturally breathable material which is great at keeping heat in and allowing air to circulate. While some houses can have damp problems timber buildings allow moisture to escape which prevents damp problems.
3. Scandinavian style comes at no extra cost
Timber buildings come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used for all kinds of activities. From garden rooms, to garden offices, bespoke log cabins and contemporary log cabins, timber buildings are extremely versatile and with heating you can use them all year round.
What wood is used for log cabins?
Log cabins Timber interiors are soothing
Your log cabin should be built with high grade, slow growing timber. At Timberliving, we use Arctic-grown Norway Spruce. These trees are over a century old, and are very slow-growing. Their slow growth means that the wood grain is particularly tight. This means that there will be no warping, bending or twisting of timbers in your cabin walls, floors or roof.
Irish-grown Norway Spruce is not suitable for log cabin construction, because in the Irish climate, these trees grow extremely fast (up to four times the speed of Arctic circle trees, which only get about four months of growth in a calendar year.). With Irish trees, their fast growth means the grain is a lot looser, which will lead to deformation over time if used in construction. Because our cabin production is so precise, we need to use the much harder Arctic timber. Softer woods will have rougher ends and profiles, which might lead to problems with the building in the future.
Are log cabin homes a good investment?
Money is money! And when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of it, there is no doubt that a log cabin is the best value for money you will find if you are planning on building, pound for pound. We have had so many people come to us in our showrooms in Tullow, Boyle and Cork asking “where’s the catch?” when they compare our prices with local builder’s prices for building an equivalent block-built structure.
So, why are log cabins cheaper, you may ask. Well, there the labour cost of having a block layer outside in all waethers, building up block by block, and someone running the mixer, while our walls just fall in to place, since they are precision-cut in the factory. A building that takes us five days to build will take a couple of months, minimum, if it is being built with blocks and mortar. There’s also extra labour costs when the electrician has to go into a block-built building and start chasing out those freshly laid blocks in order to fit his wiring and switches. Crazy!
Material costs are lso a lot lower for log cabins. There is a high energy and production cost in producing cement blocks, never mind the cost of transportation!
So, to answer the question, “YES! log cabins are a GREAT investment!”
The Environmental Benefits of Log Cabins
Its very frustrating for us in the log cabin industry that the environmental and sustaiable benefits of log cabin building and living are not more recognised and appreicated by the powers that be in Ireland. Planners can be quite picky in certain areas when it comes to log cabin building, when, in reality, the government should be widely encouraging the building of timber buildings. The carbon footprint of a timber building is miniscule compared to that of a building built with concrete and steel. A UK report a number of years ago, Toawrds a Low Carbon Economy, stated that the one most effective measure that the UK Government could take to improve their carbin footprint would be to ban block built houses, and build everything with timber.
Log Cabin Timber is an insulator
One of the often-missed benefits of log cabin building is that the walls are made up of an insulating material – wood! (If only the same could be said of concrete, then there would be a lot of VERY warm houses in the country…) Instead of concrete walls that draw heat OUT of a room, timber walls keep heat in the room, reducing the overall heatloss, and also reducing the heat demand. And timber is a carbon sink – as a carbon-based product, the wood in your log cabin contains and holds a lot of carbon, thus keeping it out of the atmosphere.
Log Cabin Walls are Easy to Work
Its yet another great benefit of log cabins that its very strightforward putting up shelves, pictures and anything else you might want to put on the walls. And because of the inherent strength of the tightly-grained wood, there is not muh you can hang on your wlls that is too heavy for the walls to hold.
In the showhouse in Boyle, we have a 60L water tank suspended from the wall in the hallway.
A Log Cabin is a great investment – very cost-effective, quick to build, easy to heat and environmentally friendly (what other building construction type has a lower carbon footprint!). And, at TimberLiving we have such a wide range of cabins, from small one-bedroomed to BIG three-bedroom log cabins, so you can be sure you will get exactly what you’re looking for. And they look SO good once they’re built!
You may be considering the purchase of a log cabin but someone has put you off by highlighting some of the following myths. But don’t be put off – maintenance is a lot easier than you might think.
Beautiful, low-maintenance Log Cabin Exterior
Log cabin maintenance often gets talked about as a potential drawback compared to building a house from other materials. You will be surprised to find however that on balance, a log home will cost you a lot less in the long run. Wood is a remarkable material, and once it is treated well, it will last a lifetime. (They build boats out of wood, after all, and have done so for millennia. As long as the wood is treated properly, it will last and last.) Most of the ill-informed myths you hear about log cabin maintenance stem from stories where cabins have been badly built, badly treated or poorly maintained. Any of the following myths are as much down to people not looking after their wood properly as to anything bad about building a timber house.
Myth 1. Prepare yourself for a lot of maintenance work
If you build your house and follow the recommendations of any of our staff at Timber Living Log Cabins, then you can reduce any maintenance potential issues significantly. The exterior needs to be treated only every three to four years – just like any house!
Myth 2. Log homes attract mould
This myth is actually true in some cases. We have seen cabins with a lot of extensive mould, and you will definitely get mould in your log cabin if it is incorrectly built. Your log cabin needs a cavity wall and some decent insulation. (We offer 100mm cavities, filled with insulation, as standard.)
Do not buy a single wall (75mm or 90mm thickness, as offered by some companies) cabin, unless you intend to insulate either the interior or exterior of the wall. The reason these single-wall cabins get mould is due to the warm moist air inside the cabin coming in contact with the cold surface of the wall. The dampness settles on the wall and mould appears. Oftentimes, the mould only appears behind presses and other unseen spots, because the heating in the room warms the exposed walls, but the walls behind the presses remain cold, leading to mould forming.
Any house type can suffer from mould. The important thing is to keep your log home insulated and double-glazed while allowing air to circulate. Wood also happens to be naturally good at allowing air to circulate.
How do you maintain a log cabin?
The main element of Log cabin maintenance is the exterior “painting”. We talk about painting a log cabin, but actually, you need to use a solvent-based stain rather than paint on your log cabin. Paint is a sealant, and your log cabin timber needs to be able to breathe. Moisture is not good for wood, and painting a log cabin seals the surface and will trap any moisture inside your cabin. There are a number of different wood stain suppliers available.
Best exterior paint for log cabins
We highly recommend SIKKENS wood stains as the best exterior paint for log cabins. This is a Dutch product which is widely used and highly recommended. Their HLS Plus product is a solvent-based, highly translucent wood stain. Its low viscosity makes it ideal for use on bare timber.
Dulux is the distributor, and you should be able to get it in your local hardware store. Normally, they have a basic range available in-store, so ask behind the counter for the colour charts. They will probably have to order directly from the suppliers. They also recommend two coats of standard preservatives before any work is done, especially concentrating on any wood ends, where a lot of preservatives will be soaked in.
Treat your Log Cabin Exterior with Sikkens
A wide range of log cabin wood stain colours are available. The only problem with Sikkens is that they don’t offer cheap trial pots, so you will have to invest in a few of their smallest tins. But be sure that you do trials – the colour charts are not very accurate. Because the stain is translucent, the type/colour of your wood will affect the final colour of the building.
How often should I “paint” my log cabin?
First of all, you don’t paint your log cabin, you stain it. (See above). Depending on the location of the log cabin, and exposure to the elements (sunlight as well as harsher wind and rain) you will need to re-stain your log cabin every three or four years. Sikkens has a specific stain for UV protection, which can be used as one of the three coats required. You should apply this if your cabin is located in a sunny spot. Read their spec sheets carefully!
How Long will a Log cabin Last?
A good question! And the best answer we can give is that a log cabin will last a lifetime, as long as the wood is treated well. The picture below is of a 500-year-old timber-built house we saw in Brittany when on holidays over there.
We build our cabins so that they overhang the concrete base by 10mm all around. We also run a throat-ed rain sill all around the bottom of the cabin. In this way, water will never pool under the cabin. This is a crucial detail, and the most important one in ensuring the longevity of our log cabins.
Log Cabin Maintenance Checklist
What are the main things to check when maintaining your log cabin?
Stain the exterior every 3-4 years
Check that all walls are free from contact with soil/stones etc.
Ensure gutters are free from leaves/blockages and operating well.
Maintain mastic seals around windows.
Best exterior paint for log cabins
We highly recommend SIKKENS wood stains as the best exterior paint for log cabins. This is a Dutch product which is widely used and highly recommended. Their HLS Plus product is a solvent-based, highly translucent wood stain. Its low viscosity makes it ideal for use on bare timber.
Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus is a low-build satin basecoat and wood stain for most exterior woods. It can be used as both a basecoat and a finishing coat depending on the project you are doing.
https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/…
It is resistant to UV, surface mould and algae, peeling and cracking. The wood grain remains visible and it can be over-coated with Sikkens Cetol Filter 7 Plus.
It is an ideal product to use on softwood, hardwood, plywood, block board and particle board, such as cladding, fascias, architraves, timber frames, fences, and sheds.
Preparation
Wood to be treated with Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus should be clean, dry and free from surface dirt, debris and surface coatings such as paint or varnish.
Degrease any exposed bare timber surface by wiping with a cloth dampened in a suitable solvent.
The use of ‘knotting agents’ is not recommended with translucent finishes as they are not always fully effective in sealing in resin, the presence of knots is often highlighted and adhesion of coatings can be impaired.
When filling, be sure to use fillers specifically designed for use with timber. General or all-purpose fillers may not be suitable.
Applying Sikkens HLS Plus
Always do a test area before starting any project to test adhesion and final finish. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the tin at all times.
Ensure that Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus is stirred thoroughly before and periodically during application use to ensure a consistent finish.
Application temperature should not be below or exceed 5 – 30℃ and a relative humidity of 85%.
New timber
Where a superficial application of wood preservative to softwood and hardwood is deemed necessary, ensure that the wood preserver used does not contain any wax and has fully dried before applying Cetol HLS plus.
Note: Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus cannot be used on substrates which have had water-repellent wood preservatives or pre-treatments applied i.e. products that contain wax, oil or silicon.
Where possible, the first coat should be applied all around prior to fixing. Only use non-ferrous screws, nails and fixings. Denib using a fine-grade nylon abrasive pad or a fine-grade (P240 or finer) wet or dry silicon carbide abrasive paper, in the direction of the grain. Do not break through the surface coating. Take care to ensure that all sanding/denibbing dust has been removed from the surface prior to applying additional coats.
Note: Where any damage or deterioration has occurred as a result of exposure to the factory coating for longer than 3 months, affected areas should be thoroughly sanded back to a sound substrate.
Damaged or decayed timber
All damaged or decayed timber must be removed and replaced, cutting at least 25mm into sound timber. When splicing in new sections of timber, consideration should be given to the use of timber species whose natural durability is sufficient. Brush and apply two coats of a suitable wax-free wood preserver. Ensure timbers are thoroughly treated, especially any end grain sections, and are fully dry before splicing in. Secure with non-ferrous fixings and fill all voids surrounding the spliced-in area with a suitable exterior wood filler.
Apply 2 finishing coats of Sikkens HLS Plus. For best results, it is necessary to keep the interval between applications of these coats limited, not exceeding 1 month.
Depending on the condition of the finish, clean, degrease and sand thoroughly. Repair defects with Cetol HLS Plus in the appropriate colour and apply one full coat of Cetol HLS Plus, overall. Transparency Maintain the translucent appearance of Cetol HLS plus over a longer period. It is recommended to use Cetol Clearcoat LB or alternatively use lighter colours, 077 or 006 for maintenance applications.
Product Coverage
Coverage greatly depends on the wood species under treatment, the surface condition, the method of application and conditions during application. Under normal conditions, coverage will be between 10 to 14 square meters, On rough-sawn timber the coverage is significantly lower (e.g. 7 – 10 square meters).
Equipment Cleaning
Application brushes and equipment should be cleaned immediately after use with White Spirit.
Storage
Keep this product tightly sealed at all times and stored/transported in an upright position. Store in a dry place at temperatures between 5 – 30℃. The shelf life for this product is a minimum of 24 months in original and unopened packaging.
Drying Time
Sikkens HLS Plus is touch dry after 4 to 6 hours and recoat between 18 to 24 hours. Air temperature and humidity may affect drying times.
The only problem with Sikkens is that they don’t offer cheap trial pots, so you will have to invest in a few of their smallest tins. But be sure that you do trials – the colour charts are not very accurate. Because the stain is translucent, the type/colour of your wood will affect the final colour of the building.
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