Lost Cabin Costs | Log Cabins Ireland

Posted on November 29, 2024November 29, 2024 by admin — Leave a comment

Log Cabin Airbnb

Sutton Two Bed Log Cabin for Air B&B — Sutton Two Bedroom Log Cabin Air B&B

Why a log cabin Airbnb is such a good idea

A few years ago, a successful BNB business owner came to us looking for a log cabin, a two bed log cabin, to set up a log cabin airbnb. She was planning on semi-retiring from the business of running A bed and breakfast service in her own home, and wanted to continue the income, but with less stress and work. So she decided to remodel her business, and offer longer term lets, weekends during the winter and weeks and longer during the spring and summer.

Log Cabin Showrooms

So she came to visit us at our Timber Living log cabin showrooms in Boyle, Co Roscommon. And she liked what she saw. If you visit any of our showrooms you will see quality built log cabins, which are well insulated, easily maintained, and which look great.

The best log cabin for Airbnb

This client was shown around the Limerick two bedroom log cabin, with its spacious living area and comfortable two bedrooms. The client really liked the Idea of a veranda, and was disappointed that our showroom didn’t have one. We reassured her that any changes she required could be made. In the end, she opted for a Sutton two bed log cabin Airbnb, with a smaller living room but a very decorative veranda with decking.

A good financial deal

The client had worked out a four year financial plan to pay back the Lord Cabin. But we found out on a subsequent phone call a couple of years later that she managed to pay off everything within two years! She said that the key factor was how well the cabin looked. And you can see it in the photographs in this post. As soon as somebody searches for a weekend or week getaway in a log cabin, these photographs do all the selling!

Posted on April 3, 2024April 3, 2024 by admin — Leave a comment

Buying a log cabin

What to look for when buying a log cabin

There are many details to keep an eye out for when buying a log cabin, in order to ensure that your log cabin lasts a lifetime, is cosy and easy to heat. Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up.

Weatherproof base construction

It is really important that your log cabin cannot does not end up sitting in a pool of water and soaking up rain. That is why we at Timber Living log cabins always insist that the base concrete base of a log cabin is 20 millimetres shorter than the log cabin itself. This ensures that the log cabin overhangs the base and that there is no possibility of water pooling under the cabin.

We also include a rain cill all around the cabin to throw any rainwater away from the base.

You can see perfect examples of all of our log cabins at our log cabin showrooms in Tullow, Boyle, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Just click on our Log Cabin Showrooms page for addresses and opening times.

Note: You need to phone ahead to Cork and Boyle to make an appointment.

Log cabin base/foundation details

This video goes through all of the details you should look for when checking out the foundations of a log cabin base.

Quality Log Cabin Timber

Our a log cabin timber is from Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland – not usually from Denmark). While it is Norway Spruce, it is often referred to as Arctic Spruce, since it is grown in or near the Arctic Circle. Timber that is grown in the Arctic Circle grows at a lot slower rate than timber grown in Ireland. That means that has a three month growing season, which makes the grain very very tight. This means there will be no bending, warping or splitting in your log cabin timber. Make sure that your supplier is using Arctic spruce in the construction of your log cabin. It is the most important fundamental element to your cabin and if you get this wrong you will see problems down the line.

Hard Floor Insulation

I have come across a number of cases where amateur log cabin companies have installed Rockwall in the floor of a log cabin. This has been a complete disaster for the owners. You need to use hard Kingspan insulation (or equivalent) in your floors. Rockwool insulation, lying on a cold concrete base with only a thin deep PC barrier will soak up condensation at a massive rate leading to a very very cold floor and also the potential for lots of rot in the floor Timbers. Even a whisper of this bad practice and you should turn on your heels and run from this supplier!

Quality Timber of uPVC Windows

We offer you the choice of timber windows or uPVC windows for your log cabins. If you go for uPVC windows, you can have a wide choice of colours. Timber and white PVC windows are the same cost while a colored PVC set will set you back a little bit more financially. Please ask our reps when discussing your window choice. Interestingly, the timber windows, which come from our supplier in Latvia, open inwards while they weather glaze windows open outwards. Hi I sometimes think we should have an EU law to make all windows open inwards. I have windows in my house upstairs that have never been cleaned on the outside! You would take your life in your hands going up that high to clean them! There’s a lot more detail about the windows available to you in our blog post Which Windows for you log cabin?

Durable Roof Cover

Your roof cover is a hugely important element to the durability of your log cabin, and needs to be looked at closely when buying a log cabin. You need a long lasting, weatherproof roof covering, which will not require replacement after a number of years. We use a pressed aluminium, tile-effect roof cover which looks very very well and lasts a long lifetime. In fact, we have a cabin on the iron islands for 10 years now and the roof is as good as the day we built the cabin. If that is not a stress test, I don’t know what it is!

Because of the inherent construction of a log cabin, it is not possible to put a heavy roof covering on the building. That is why lighter tiles and tiling panels are used. This also means that they are cheaper and installed in a shorter time, saving yet more money. But although they are cheaper, they are just as durable and in fact, more storm proof than smaller individual tiles.

Clear Pricing – no extras!

Last but not least, make sure you know exactly what the full price iswhen buying a log cabin. Oftentimes there are a list of extras and other log cabin supplier websites. Choice of roof cover, quantity of insulation, type of base, window type etcetera. We at timber living only offer one price, and that is the price for the complete timber building including windows, doors and roof cover and insulation, delivered and built. There are no extra costs for further mileage outside a 50km radius, or in accommodation costs if the guys have to stay over.

Guilty as charged, we do not supply gutters. But if you have them on site when we are building and you are nice to the lads, I’m sure they’ll throw them up for you!

Posted on February 2, 2023September 10, 2024 by admin — Leave a comment

Furnishing your log cabin – on a budget

Furnishing your log cabin on a budget

Furnishing your log cabin is definitely the fun part of getting a log cabin. And it can really be done for not a lot of money. See below how we found so many bargains online:

Kitchen: €1200
Sofa: €120
Bathroom suite: €300
Bedrooms: 250
Stove: €650
Total: €2,520

While a log cabin is a great buy – setting yourself up mortgage-free is something a lot of people can only dream of – its still going to cost a lot of money. Cutting corners on the log cabin itself is a mistake – you need a quality cabin that will last, be easy to heat, comfortable and DRY.

So, once your cabin is built, you will need to set about furnishing your log cabin to make the cabin your own. Or converting a log cabin into your dream home!

Adverts.ie and DoneDeal.ie are great sources of quality furnishings at great prices. Once you get browsing, they’re also a source of log cabin interior design ideas. A lot of people, once they get themselves a new couch (say) just want to get rid of their old one as quickly as possible. Sometimes you might even get a couch for free. (The couch in the featured image of this post was free! Worth over €3000 new, from Adverts!)

Lets look for log cabin furniture!

I thought it would be interesting to go through Donedeal and see how much it would cost to furnish a standard two bed limerick log cabin from Donedeal. I’ll spend the next hour browsing and see what’s available in my region now. Once you get going, you’ll get great ideas for decorating your log cabin.

Your cabin kitchen

The secret when looking for a QUALITY kitchen in Donedeal is to search for “granite” in the kitchen section. Anyone who can afford a granite counter-top will have spent money on quality timber for the doors and presses too , appliances, the drawer fillers and handles.

Here’s the best I found after ten minutes looking:

Ivory shaker kitchen for sale included granite tops, double oven and microwave, ceramic hob, sink and taps, extractor fan, dishwasher

Only €1,200!

Lets find a nice sofa!

Of course we’re going to need leather to make our cabin evenings extra special. There are all sorts of styles and conditions available on Donedeal. And everyone has their own taste when it comes to furnishings.

I found this large white sofa for only €120! I think it looks great, but it’s white! So if you have pets or kids it might not be an option. Anyway, when it comes to log cabin furnishing, there’s a lot of choice out there!

Sofa price: €120

Bathroom fittings can run to a tidy sum, depending on what you’re buying, but once bought, bathroom fittings don’t really go out of fashion. So what you buy should be still with you for the duration. What we need for the cabin is a shower enclosure and electric shower, sink and loo. Shouldn’t be too hard to find!

pedestal sink for furnishing a log cabin

After ten minutes I found a fascinating suite, including a loo, very modern circular sink with under-sink unit, and a Jacuzzi bath! And all for only €300!

OK, not everybody’s cup of tea, but it illustrates the point again that you can get some excellent deals online when furnishing your log cabin.

Bathroom suite: €300

Furnishing your bedroom

Wardrobes and beds next. Lets look for a double bed, a single bed, a wardrobe and chest of drawers. .

Wow! The first ad I see is a double bed for €60. I’ll take it! And a single bed for free! There’s a nice large wardrobe for €30. Throw in a lamp or two and a chest of drawers. Shall we say €250 in total?

Bedrooms: €250

Heating your log cabin

There’s a gas stove for €50 on Donedeal! including a necessary flues etc. It’ll cost you €250 to get that fitted if you’re not up to doing it yourself. It’s a Tiger gas stove, which cost about €1,000, and you’re not doing too badly with this one!

You’ll have to get someone to put the flue out through the wall or roof, and make sure it’s fireproofed. You’ll also need tiling on the wall behind in order to protect the wall from the heat. Your plumber should be able to set up the gas connection and ensure its safe. If we add on the €250 for fitting, and let’s say €300 for a hearth and tiling, you’re on fire for a total of €600.

Stove: €600

Keep hunting! There are loads of bargains out there!

Posted on July 16, 2020May 8, 2025 by admin — 6 Comments

Planning Permission for Log Cabins – YES!

Planning Permission for log cabins – it’s a bit of a chore. And you’re going to hear lots of opinions about it, so the best thing to do is to talk to a planning expert in your local area.

YES! You CAN get planning permission for log cabins!

Let’s be clear – YOU CAN GET PLANNING PERMISSION FOR LOG CABINS!

Here is an interesting article from the Irish Times about planning.

Do I need planning permission for a log cabin on my land?

Lots of people come to us at Timber Living to buy log cabins – and one of the main questions we are asked is about planning permission for log cabins. You need planning for anything over 25 square metres that you intend to live in – even a mobile home! But don’t worry – A lot of people have been given planning permission for our log cabins.

How long does planning permission take for a log cabin?
Can I build a log cabin on my land in Ireland?
What size can you build without planning?
Planning permission for a log cabin on agricultural land?

A lot of people have built on their own land without planning. It depends on the area you’re in sometimes. Some people have argued that they’re a flat-pack build, and not fixed to the ground so they’re a temporary structure, although this statement might not be an accurate reflection of the current planning regulations.

Can you get planning permission for log cabins?

Yes, you can get planning permission for log cabins.

If you do go for planning permission for a log cabin, best to apply for a “timber frame” construction rather than a “log cabin”. Anecdotal evidence suggests that planners, in general, are averse to the term “log cabin“. But there’s a strong environmental argument for building log cabins. The fact that the carbon footprint of one of our cabins is minuscule compared to a block-built house is a strong argument.

You will need to contact an engineer to work on your log cabin build if you go for planning. The engineer will need to certify the construction method for the building – how the walls, floors and roof are constructed. This certification is required in order to demonstrate that your building complies with the latest building regulations.

Timber Frame Houses from Timber Living

We have developed a range of timber frame buildings at Timber Living, to cater for people who want to build an affordable, stylish, comfortable home, and who are going for planning permission. The main differences between our log cabins and our timber frame houses are as follows:
higher insulation levels in walls and roof
Cement board finish on the exterior
PVC windows and doors
The steeper slope on the roof

timberframe building will get planning permission

Log Cabins and Building Regulations

With the new NZEB regulations, (that’s Nearly Zero Energy Building Regulations), the insulation levels in our timber frame buildings are a lot higher than in our log cabins. Our timber frame buildings have 300mm of wall insulation:

100mm Ext Insulation (EPS),
150mm Metac Insulation
52.5mm Insulated Board
compared with 100mm of METAC insulation in our log cabins.

Log cabin wall types for planning permission

Because of the required higher level of insulation, the overall cost of your build will be higher than that quoted on our website, unfortunately. That’s due to the requirement for more insulation in the build, improved air tightness and “greener” heating systems.

Can I build without planning permission for log cabins?

Lots of our customers have built their log cabins at the back of an existing house, or in a farmyard, without planning permission. There are some restrictions in relation to maximum log cabin sizes, which are addressed in the next paragraph.

The beauty of building close to an existing structure is that there are generally connections to water, sewerage and electricity, which means your log cabin can be built a lot quicker and cheaper than otherwise.

Many of our customers have told us that getting an ESB connection is not a problem – of course, it is not free, but you do not need to have planning permission to get a new ESB connection for your cabin.

What is the maximum size I can build without planning permission?

There are some restrictions when it comes to building a log cabin without planning permission. You can build a cabin up to twenty-five square meters in area if it is not connected to your house. But a better option might be to build an extension to the house. With an extension, you can build up to forty square metres without planning permission, as long as the house has not been extended previously. Our Roscommon Log Cabin (click here) is a good example of a cabin that fits under the 40-square-metre limit for house extensions. It is also an ideal fit for many extensions. One minor change would be required in order for this cabin to work as an extension – moving the windows from the front to the side of the cabin. As long as the existing building was suitable – wall length, position of door and windows etc. – this might be a perfect fit for your extension!

Of course, if this cabin did not suit, there might be another cabin in our collection that is ideal, or we could build you a bespoke model.

Appealing a Planning Decision

While the planning process in Ireland does seem to be overly cumbersome, at least we have an appeals system through An Bórd Pleanála. (Click here to visit their website.) It is important to appeal a planning decision if you are refused by your local council. We have heard of a few examples where log cabin planning refusals have been overturned.

The environmental argument is always a very strong one with An Bórd Pleanála. Although we cannot say this about all county councils, there seems to be a bias against timber construction, and in particular, timber exteriors on buildings. If you make the argument that the carbon footprint of a timber construction is minuscule compared to a conventionally built block house, this can help your case immensely. As already stated, the sustainability/eco-friendly/environmental argument has won quite a few cases for log cabin owners.

Please remember that planning regulations vary over time and between regions. What we state here is just general information. You need to check the finer details with your local council.

If you are thinking of going for planning permission, we would be glad to chat with you about all of the different options – type and quantity of insulation, internal and external wall coverings, and heating systems. Make sure you bring your plans with you when you come to our showrooms.

Posted on April 30, 2020May 9, 2025 by admin — Leave a comment

Granny Flat – a log cabin is the perfect solution

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.

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.

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.

Posted on March 20, 2020May 8, 2025 by admin — Leave a comment

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

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.

Posted on February 19, 2020July 24, 2025 by admin — Leave a comment

How much does a Log Cabin Cost?

The bottom line with any log cabin is that it will be half the price of a conventional, block built building. And of course, there are many other benefits, from a building project point of view, including time and quality control.

TimberLiving Log Cabins will be built a lot quicker than a block built building, because most of the work is done in our high-tech, precision fabricating facility.

Time is a major factor. From date of order, you can expect to be moving into your new log cabin in about three months, compared to a moving in time for block buildings of a minimum of nine months from start of the project. Because our cabins are produced in a factory, and most of the work is automated, the amount of time taken on site is hugely reduced, and reduced time on site means reduced labour costs, and of course, reduced labour costs means reduced bills for the customer. Good news!

Quality Control in Log Cabin Production

Another major benefit of factory produced housing is much improved quality control. Since most of the production work is automated, all of the cutting and profiling is done in a dry, warm factory, where the weather is not causing workers to rush jobs or carry out shoddy finishing of a building element because the rain is coming! The timber we use comes from sustainable forests, and is graded and kiln dried to EU standards, so you can be sure of a cabin that will last for many, many years. And the tilt and turn, double glased windows are also produced to EU standards, with rigourous quality control procedures maintained throughout the production.

So, how much does a Log Cabin cost?

All of our log cabin prices are available on our website, www.Timberliving.ie. ON the site, we give both a flat pack price and a built price. Our built price includes everything from delivery to building to insulation. (Our prices do not include for the building of the base, the installation of electrics, plumbing or heating. And we don’t do the gutters.)

It is important to choose the double wall option, with insulated walls if you are considering a residential log cabin. From an insulation point of view, it is possible to upgrade your insulation levels in your roof, walls and floor.

The simplest way to increase floor insulation is to use thermal load bearing insulating blocks in the base. Wall insulation can be increased in a number of ways. We can increase the cavity size, which means you won’t lose the timber wall look on the interior or exterior of the cabin. Alternatively, you can put extra insulation on either the interior or external wall of the cabin, and then either use plasterboard on the inside, or cement board on the outside of the cabin. Of course all of these options will cost money, so it would make sense to discuss your options with someone at one of our showhouses before you make any final decisions.

When you’re building a log cabin, you will have to calculate for all of the necessary services, including water, electricity and waste water. Often, with cabins built in garden, electricity is not a probelm, as a line can be taken from the existing dwelling supply. But it is also possible (ans sometimes desireable) to get a new electrical connection from the ESB. While this might be expensive, it does solve some potential problems, such as cut out of supply if power showers and heat pumps go on at the same time. It will also solve any problems in relation to who pays how much of each bill! And no, you o not need a planning nmber in order to get a new connection from the ESB.

Septic tank or sewerage connection can be a problem, so you need to find out the capacity of your septic tank, and also be mindful of the levels inviolved if you are running the waste from your cabin into an existing septic tank. Of course there are solutions for these height issues – holding tanks and pumps can be used to solve a multitude of problems – but it is best to talk to an expert in this area.

You wil also have grey water run off from your sinks and shower, and of course, your rain water from the roof has to be drained away.

Hot Water Solutions in Your Log Cabin

the simplest set up for hot water in your log cabin is to use an electric shower and an under counter instantaneous water heater. Of course, you can put in a water tank if you wish, and will need this if you’re going to put in rads, but generally, the power shower and under sink water heater are a great job, simpler to install, quicker, reliable, and a lot cheaper! You should really consider it!

As we say on our site, prices do fluctuate due to the changes in timber prices. so don’t hesitate to ask for our best price when you come to visit our log house showrooms in Boyle, Tullow and Carrigaline.

High Quality Log Cabins at Low Cost

On top of the cost of the cabin, you have to include the following:

5 inch concrete base
Electrics
Plumbing
Heating

Overall, you’re looking at probably €8,000 to €10,000 of an increase on our smaller, one-bed log cabins, or two bed log cabins. There will, of course be other costs depending on where you are building your own log cabin. You may need an ESB connection, and septic tank, for instance.

If you were going for planning permission for a log cabin, you will have further increases in costs in your log cabin. In order to meet building regulations, you will have to increase the log cabin insulation in the walls and roof of your log house. Wall insulation can be increased by either increasing the size of the cavity in the wall or by using external insulation. Planners may also require you to put an external cladding of cement board.

When dealing with planners never hesitate to remind them that the carbon footprint of a log cabin is much smaller than that of block built.

if you’re looking for more detail about purchasing a log cabin in Ireland, please contact TimberLiving Log Cabins and come and visit us in our showrooms in Tullow, Boyle or Carrigaline.

Posted on February 12, 2020January 3, 2023 by admin — 2 Comments

What do I need to know before buying a log cabin?

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

We also use high-grade double glased, tilt and turn windows and doors. Read more here: https://timberliving.ie/post/which-windows-for-your-log-cabin

Double or single wall log cabin?

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.

Talk to you soon!

Posted on May 23, 2019May 9, 2025 by admin — Leave a comment

Log Cabin Finance available on our log cabins

Once you’ve seen the wisdom and value in buying a log cabin, you’ll be eager to get going and complete your purchase. Of coure, a log cabin is not a cheap purchase, and most people will have to organise finance for their new log cabin. There are lots of different ways to finance your new log cabin. Credit Unions are a very popular option with a lot of our customers. Another way is through a long term loan from Flexifi. Timber Living Log cabins have teamed up with FlexiFi, who offer finance on our log cabins.

You can apply here: FlexiFi Apply Here

Log Cabin Finance Options

Financing a log cabin is a great idea!Think about it – a two bed log cabin will cost you €28,000 upwards. Now, if you’re currently paying (say) €600 a month in rent to your lovely landlord, that means you’re handing over over seven grand a year, and with nothing to show for it at the end of the day. Fice years rent, in this exampple, is €36,000! Thirty six thousand euro! That makes absolutey NO sense. Imagine the cabin you would have after five years and thirty six thousand euro!

So, we can agree that you’ll easily pay back your log cabin with whatever you’re paying for rent at the moment. But before you jump in and make a purchase, you need to think about the BEST place to get your money.

Where can you get finance from?

Getting finance is never easy, but for a log cabin, it never made so much sense. Building a log cabin is going to cost about half of the amount that a block built house costs, so its a no brainer. And, you’ll pay for your cabin with (probably) less than whatever you’re paying for rent at the moment. Payback might be over 5 years or more, but, its all do-able, and all good. But where to get the finance?

Credit Union (Always the best place to start.)
FlexiFi
Family / Friends. (If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. People are often delighted to be able to help…)
Banks. (Unlikely that you’ll have much success here, but, depending on your standing, you might be able to sort something out.)

Credit Union Finance for Log Cabins

A lot of people have a few misconceptions about Credit Unions, and it is no harm to clear these up for you right now. The most important thing you need to know about Crefit Unions is that:

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A CURRENT MEMBER OF A CREDIT UNION TO GET A LOG CABIN LOAN FROM THEM!

Did you know that? I bet you didn’t! Its always a surprise for people to learn this. Now, not all Credit Unions will give loans for log cabins, and there my be difffernt loan levels, depending on the individual credit union, and the prospective customers financial record, employment status, credit rating and level of savings. But there is definitely no harm in going to your credit union and asking them about finance for your log cabin. They’re definitely the most open financial institution when it comes to log cabins, according to our customers experiences over the last coule of decades.

Log Cabin Finance from Flexi Fi

I’m sure you’ve heard of Flexi-Fi? They seems to be everywhere, from Harvey Norman to the Cycle Superstore! Flexi-Fi are a finance company, and we actually pay them a fee to offer their services to our customers, so it means that its difficult forus to offer discounts to cutomers who are using Flexi-Fi. Nevertheless, discount or no, if you can get your loan from Flexi-Fi, you’re still going to be way better off after five years, with the keys of a beautiful TimberLiving log cabin in your hand, than you would have been by paying rent for those sixty months!

Its easy to apply for finance for your log cabin

Flexi-Fi make it as easy as possible for you to apply for a loan for your log cabin. All you have to do is click on this link. You’ll be taken through the brief process once you go through.

If you apply for a loan over 5 years, you will have to pay €775 a month, which, if this amount is something you can fford at the moment, means you’re already a step closer to owning your own cabin already! And you’re also a lot clsoer to living mortgage free, AND rent free! WOW!

Payment Schedule on your Log Cabin

If you make the eminently wise decision to buy your log cabin from Timber Living, we always ask for a deposit on the date of order. This usually amounts to about 15% of the final price for the cabin. SO, for a €28,000 cabin, we would look for a deposit of €4,000. After that, we look for three more payments. The second payment is for €16,000, payable when we arrive on site with the cabin. Another payment of €4,000 is due when we get the cabin to roof level. The final payment of €4,000 is due when we complete the cabin build and are ready to leave the site.

All of these details can be finalised with Fergus or Valerie at Head Office when you order your TimberLiving Log Cabin.

Come and see us at one of our showrooms and we can advise you further.

we have a wide range of designs and plans avialable on our website: = One Bedroom Log Cabins = Two Bedroom Log Cabins = Three Bedroom Log Cabins

We are also delighted to deliver Bespoke Log Cabins, if you have a particular design in mind.

Posted on May 13, 2019May 8, 2025 by admin — Leave a comment

What to look for when buying a Log Cabin

There’s one quick answer – QUALITY!

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!