A guide to Log Cabins in the UK
Log Cabins Guide
Groundworks
There are many different base types suitable for our ranges of garden buildings from compressed hardcore, tarmac, railway sleepers, concrete pad, concrete flag stones etc. However to ensure the long term durability of your new garden building we recommend that the following simple steps should be taken to prepare a good quality base. A solid, level foundation is necessary for the installation of any good quality garden building:
Depending on the soil type and consistency this should be removed to a depth of approx 15 cm (6ins). The next stage is to fill in with a coarse sand or gravel, compact and then lay concrete slabs or put down concrete. It is important to ensure that the top of this base is level and above the surrounding ground level to avoid water collecting. This will prevent any unnecessary problems related to the building settling into the ground (i.e. windows and doors jamming) and assist with the long term durability and appeal of your garden building. It is also recommended that you make your base a little larger than the stated dimensions of the building (Approx. 15cm) simply for strength and allow a margin for error and finally apply a layer of gravel around your garden buildings this permits water to soak away more readily and prevents splash back onto the walls.
Most of our garden buildings are delivered untreated (unless stated otherwise)- it is important to protect your garden building against the effects of wood boring insects (and other insects) sun, water and u.v. light soon after installation. This should be done with the application of a good quality wood preservative as soon as possible, again after about 3 - 6 months, and then annually thereafter.
Legislation
In some cases there may be local authority, drainage and other considerations that relate to base preparation. We do not advise on any of these matter and you must ensure that any base preparation that you undertake complies with any and all legislation and regulations. The above information is advisory, it is not exhaustive and some or all of it may not apply in certain situations.
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Main Log Cabin Brands on our Web Site
Gudrum Log Cabins:
Norland Log Cabins:
Lugarde Log Cabins:
Bertsch Log Cabins:
Outdoor Life and Hillhout Log Cabins:
Tuin Log Cabins:
Useful Links
Log Cabins on Wiki
Log Cabins in America
Construction of Log Cabins through the Ages
Log Cabin Styles and Architecture
Viking Log Cabins in Russia!
Gudrum Log Cabins
Gudrum Log Cabins are our best selling range of Log Cabins. This is a high quality range of cabins with the following features:
- Pressure Treated Base Beams - Every part of the log cabin that is in direct contact with the ground is pressure treated.
- Manufactured from high quality slow grown North Eastern European and Russian Spruce. This is an extremely good quality timber that can be manufactured to fine tolerances and thereby giving very well sealed corner joints that fit together firmly and create a very sturdy finished building.
- Gudrum Log Cabins built in 44mm and 70mm timber (where stated in product description) feature double glazing fitted in laminated wooden frames. The windows are operated by a tilt and turn mechanism, this means that the window can be hinged at the side and open in the same way as a door or in the other setting, hinged at the bottom so that the top of the window leans inwards (except for the Gudrum Swiss Log Cabin which features plexi-glass glazing with windows hinged at the side and opening inwards) the glazing in the 28mm cabins is proper glass again featuring the tilt and turn mechanism
- Roofing material is optional. Either choose the heavy duty mineral felt. This provides an adequate and durable roof covering that will last for many years. Or the other and by far the most popular option is that we are able to offer heavy duty bitumen felt shingles in green and black. Felt shingles give a very attractive and very durable finish to the roof with a styling similar to a slate roof finish. For pricing information – please see the product page. Felt shingles are fitted on top of the shed and because felt shingles effectively overlap each other by 50% this means that the cabin has a triple skin roof finish if this option is chosen.
- Insulated Log Cabin : We are able to offer roof and floor insulation for Gudrum Log Cabins. If your Log Cabin is likely to be used as an extension to the living area i.e. as a garden office, childrens play room or games room etc. then roof and floor insulation does have a clear benefit in terms of creating a more stable and regular temperature inside the cabin and minimising exposure to extremes of weather, both hot and cold, when inside the cabin.
- Floors: Included unless stated otherwise
- Delivery: Many cabins in this range can be delivered within 7 working days
Simply Log Cabins Comment:
Quality: Excellent.
Value For Money : Very Good.
Delivery Service: Excellent
Norland Log Cabins
Norland Log Cabins are a good quality range of log cabins usually stocked in our own warehouse offered at SUPERB VALUE prices and include the following features:
- Manufactured from VERY good quality slowly grown Russian Spruce and Pine
- Norland Log Cabins are produced to following specification: 28mm Log Cabins, 44mm Log Cabins and 70mm Log Cabins - details on each product page
- Pressure Treated Base Beams are Included
- Roofing Material is Optional: For most log cabins in this range we offer both shed felt and felt shingles. As standard the Norland Cabins are delivered without roofing material.
- Roof Insulation: Offered as an optional extra on most 45mm log cabins in this range
- Delivery: On our own vehicles - when in stock delivery is within 7 days
- Corner Jointing: Slowly Grown Russian timber works very well and thereby produces a beautifully machined surface and excellent corner jointing.
- Floors are Included
- Many Cabins in this range are Delivered within 7 Days
Click to View Norland Log Cabins Range
Simply Log Cabins Comment:
Quality: Good.
Value For Money : ***SUPERB***.
Delivery Service: Excellent
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Lugarde Log Cabins
Lugarde: are recognized as a manufacturer of some of the finest quality garden log cabins available on the European market, when considering Lugarde Log Cabins please remember to view the Lugarde Prima Fifth Avenue and Lugarde Summer Houses range that have many similar features. The features include:
- Bespoke Log Cabins: Lugarde are able to offer made-to-measure log cabins. The options include:
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44mm or 68mm wall timbers Windows and doors: double or single glazed from their standard range – positioned as required Separate rooms inside the cabin Mezzanine floor and much more |
- Pressure Treated Base Beams - Every part of the log cabin that is in direct contact with the ground is pressure treated.
- Optional Floor : We recommend that the wooden floor should always be chosen unless there is a good reason to not have it. Good reason would include: fitting ceramic floor tiles or if the building is to be used as a workshop and for what ever reason a timber floor may not be suitable.
- Manufactured from high quality slow grown Scandinavian Spruce . This is an extremely good quality timber that can be manufactured to fine tolerances and thereby giving very well sealed corner joints that fit together firmly and create a very sturdy finished building.
- Windows and doors: Within the standard range Lugarde offer both single glazed and double glazed cabins. The quality of the windows and doors is extremely good, the construction is from a laminated timber and in the case of double glazed windows and doors, sealed units are used. All cabins have the option to fit either single glazing or double glazing.
- Wall Thickness: As standard all Lugarde Cabins are produced in 44mm timber. Every cabin can be upgraded so that it is produced from 68mm timber.
- Lugarde Log Cabins can be purchased with a factory applied timber treatment. This is a dip treatment i.e. every piece of wood is fully immersed in a bath of timber treatment so that every surface is completely soaked in the treatment. There is one colour – it is nut brown (delivery of a treated building will usually take about two weeks longer than the untreated buildings i.e. about 7 – 8 weeks)
- Roofing Material: As standard all Lugarde Log Cabins are supplied with heavy duty bitumen felt shingles. There is a choice of 5 colours:
Black
Green
Red
Brown
Blue
- Insulated Log Cabin : We are able to offer roof and floor insulation for Gudrum Log Cabins. If your Log Cabin is likely to be used as an extension to the living area i.e. as a garden office, childrens play room or games room etc. then roof and floor insulation does have a clear benefit in terms of creating a more stable and regular temperature inside the cabin and minimising exposure to extremes of weather, both hot and cold, when inside the cabin.
- Delivery : Delivery of Lugarde Log Cabins is usually within 4 – 6 weeks.
Simply Log Cabins Comment:
Quality: Good.
Value For Money : Good.
Delivery Service: Reliable
Bertsch Log Cabins
Bertsch Holzbau:Bertsch Holzbau are recognized as a manufacturer of some of the finest quality wooden garden buildings available anywhere in Europe. The factory is designed to be able to produce virtually any cabin to virtually any specification. Bertsch features include:
- Preservative Treated Foundation Beams with an option to choose larch foundation beams. Every part of the log cabin that is in direct contact with the ground is preservative treated for durability or there is an option of choosing a larch foundation beam. Larch is a wood with a high natural oil and resin content as is very resistant to the normal decay associated with untreated wood.
- Bespoke Log Cabins: Bertsch are able to produce entirely bespoke log cabins with windows and doors designed to your own specification and dimensions. The cabins can be constructed from wall timbers of the following thickness:
28mm
45mm
54mm
70mm
94mm
The longest single piece of timber can go up to 13m in length
Bertsch Holzbau Log Cabins can include:
Mezzanine Floor
Internal Walls
Veranda
Canopy
Large glazed areas
The process of ordering a bespoke log cabin is usually as follows:
- Customer finds a basic garden building type that is required or has a type and approximate size in mind.
- Contacts us at Simply Log Cabins. One of our experienced specialists will chat through the various options and perhaps suggest alternatives, alterations and any ideas that he/she may think appropriate.
- The specialist will then prepare a basic hand drawn footprint diagram for the customers approval or to suggest alterations etc.
- On receiving customers approval we forward the footprint plan along with written instructions to the factory.
- The designer then produces full Computer Aided Design drawings of the proposed building.
- These diagrams are forwarded to the customer for approval / alteration
- Once the diagrams are approved by the customer they are returned to the factory and at this stage the manufacturing process commences.
- The cabins will usually be delivered into our warehouse at Lincoln and are then forwarded to the customers address on our 6 wheeler truck and off-loaded by an on-board fork-lift.
- Manufactured from high quality slow grown Scandinavian Spruce . This is an extremely good quality timber that can be manufactured to fine tolerances and thereby giving very well sealed corner joints that fit together firmly and create a very sturdy finished building.
- Roofing material: As standard all Log Cabins are supplied with heavy duty bitumen felt shingles. There is a choice of 5 colours:
Black
Green
Red
Brown
Blue
- Insulated Log Cabin : We are able to offer roof and floor insulation for Log Cabins. If your Log Cabin is likely to be used as an extension to the living area i.e. as a garden office, children's play room or games room etc. then roof and floor insulation does have a clear benefit in terms of creating a more stable and regular temperature inside the cabin and minimizing exposure to extremes of weather, both hot and cold, when inside the cabin.
- Delivery : Delivery of Bertsch Holzbau Log Cabins is usually within 7 - 8 weeks.
Simply Log Cabins Comment:
Quality: Excellent.
Value For Money : Good.
Delivery Service: Reliable
Outdoor Life and Hillhout Log Cabins
Outdoor Life and Hillhout Log Cabins offer a good selection of quality log cabins ideally suited to many purposes. The glazing in Outdoor Life Cabins is always Plexi-Glass unless stated otherwise. We find that Outdoor Life offer a good range of very reasonably priced log cabins.
Features Include:
- Pressure Treated Base Beams
- Manufactured from Good Quality North European Spruce
- Plexi Glass Glazing: This is a plastic material which offers reasonable insulation and is safe where the very young or very old may be concerned in the sense that it doesnt shatter and leave potentially very sharp shards of glass around when broken. Also it is much more able to withstand the impact of, for example footballs etc, where children may be playing
- Includes Floor
Hillhout Log Cabins are manufactured by the same comapny and to a similar specification to the Outdoor Life Log Cabins. The real feature of Hillhout Log Cabins is that they are PRESSURE TREATED CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PRESSURE TREATED LOG CABINS
Click to View Full Outdoor Life and Hillhout Ranges
Simply Log Cabins Comment:
Quality: Good.
Value For Money : Good.
Delivery Service: Reasonable.
Tuin Log Cabins
Tuin Log Cabins offer a wide standard range of Log Cabins, Pavillions and Summer Houses. Quality is good. Delivery is usually with 21 days (although this can occassionally be extended owing to logistical factors). Floors are usually sold as an optional extra as is common with Log Cabins and other garden buildings sourced in Holland and Belgium as these are.
Simply Log Cabins Comment:
Quality: Good.
Value For Money : Good.
Delivery Service: Reasonable.
Useful Links
Log Cabin Assembly Guide Video
Communities and Local Government
Planning a guide for householders
Category E Garden Buildings Planning
Forest Stewardship Council - FSC





