I'm looking to put up a log cabin in the back garden to use as a studio (Yeahhhh!).
I've looked at lots on-line and "in the flesh" (having dragged Krysia to Bedford on Saturday) and I'm trying to decide between a couple of designs/options . . . . I know several folks have these as studios and I wondered
- what thickness walls you went for - options seem to be 28mm or 45mm?
- how much added insulation you had built in?
- how cold they are in winter . . . . . .?
I'm also trying to decide between a big national supplier that make their own (can't get them anywhere else) or a small local guy that buys them in - oh, decisions, decisions . . . .
Any info/help would be much appreciated - it's quite an expense and I'd like to get it right (well, as good as I can anyway)
Thank, Carole
Hi Carole
I just had my summerhouse insulated and the amount of insulation you can have put in depends on the depth of the wooden baton things inside, mine only had around 50mm, so I had to go for the best insulator available for that space, it was expensive, also you have to be careful of the type you get because of the electrics. I haven't had a winter so far, but would imagine that you would need heating in winter. I have to open the door just now after a while and the temps up here so far this summer have been very low, even minus. Good luck. Janet
Quote from: Calico Cat on May 09, 2012, 09:24:13 PM
(having dragged Krysia to Bedford on Saturday)
Kicking and screaming I might add.
You know how it is, kicking the door down to get into the log cabins and screaming "I WANT THAT ONE" ::)
I won't tell you about the trip to Ikea straight after, but I will say that I didn't buy the chair for the garden I don't have.
Having got mine from the big national supplier in Bedford, we went for 45mm walls, I didn't put any insulation on the walls or ceiling, although I did put it in under the floor. It is a little chilly in winter for half an hour or so until the heating kicks in, I have one small halogen heater in there, plus kiln and torch obviously. I love it, and I have to say using that supplier was easy and quick. It was easy to put together, hubby and I did it in a couple of days although we did get an electrician in for the sparky work. Let me know if there is anything specific else you want to know. :)
Quote from: TracyJayne on May 09, 2012, 09:37:12 PM
Having got mine from the big national supplier in Bedford, we went for 45mm walls, I didn't put any insulation on the walls or ceiling, although I did put it in under the floor. It is a little chilly in winter for half an hour or so until the heating kicks in, I have one small halogen heater in there, plus kiln and torch obviously. I love it, and I have to say using that supplier was easy and quick. It was easy to put together, hubby and I did it in a couple of days although we did get an electrician in for the sparky work. Let me know if there is anything specific else you want to know. :)
Funny, that's where we went . . can I ask which cabin style you chose and also what kind of base you had?
Hi Carole,
Good luck with this...I hope you are getting someone else to build it all for you. I built mine in the garden last year and it's quite a job ( I still haven't quite finished).
I did loads of research online and kept coming back to the same company, Dunster House. It worked out the best value by far. The cabin wood is a good quality and they make it theselves in this country. There's loads of extras (e.g. guttering and tiles) that are actually a very good price. I priced things up separately , as I was on a VERY tight budget, but their prices worked out really well. (They'll even build it for you.) I got the 28mm wall which is good and a lot chunkier than your average shed but if I could have afforded the 45mm one, I would have got that.
As far as insulation is concerned, it's the roof and floor that are the most important...it's the 'hat & boots' analogy. I laid 50mm insulation board under mine which seems really good. You can get the roof insulated too. It goes above the ceiling boards and beneath your roofing material. (Incidentally, I tried to save a bit of money and fitted 50mm on the inside but it creates more problems that the savings are worth). You can buy a fully insulated version of the cabin with twin walls but I reckon with 45mm you wouldn't really need it. Saying that, I live in Cornwall, it's relatively mild weather down here. Oh yeah, and double glazed windows are also important, a lot of heat would go out through those.
If you have any more questions, please ask.
Good luck, Liz
All roads seem to lead back to Dunster House in Bedford . . . . . . ;D
Yup, mine is from Dunster House too ;D I have one of the double walled fully insulated jobs that Liz mentioned but then I do live on the North East coast of Scotland so figured I might need it! I'd highly recommend them and it was really easy to build too. It still needs heating in winter but doesn't take long to warm up and retains the heat well once it's warm.
I did quite a lot of research on this and kept coming back to a 45mm wall from Dunster house. Just haven't got round to ordering it yet. ;D
My SIL's next door neighbour got one from them, all delivered fine and went up in a weekend with them doing the work. My brother had one from them too, he had a window unit with a sticker left on the inside (?!) and they sent him a new unit straight away. He was very impressed.
i think that's three votes for them now? :D
Quote from: Calico Cat on May 09, 2012, 09:42:18 PM
Quote from: TracyJayne on May 09, 2012, 09:37:12 PM
Having got mine from the big national supplier in Bedford, we went for 45mm walls, I didn't put any insulation on the walls or ceiling, although I did put it in under the floor. It is a little chilly in winter for half an hour or so until the heating kicks in, I have one small halogen heater in there, plus kiln and torch obviously. I love it, and I have to say using that supplier was easy and quick. It was easy to put together, hubby and I did it in a couple of days although we did get an electrician in for the sparky work. Let me know if there is anything specific else you want to know. :)
Funny, that's where we went . . can I ask which cabin style you chose and also what kind of base you had?
I think it was Carsare, 3.5 x 2.5m, we ordered a dividing wall too, which comes with an extra door and have split the cabin in two, so we had somewhere to keep the bikes and other rubbish that usually goes in a shed, so I have 2.5m square for my shedio. We did think about have the insulated version, but decided that as space was limited, and we couldn't have a bigger cabin, it would impact on the interior space too much. We had a concrete base put down to put it on. Still got a spare window for it, as we put the door from the dividing wall where one of the windows should have been. I'm only 5 minutes away from Bedford, so if you want to see it in action, as it were, I'm sure we can get together!
If it's any use to you my friend builds Eco sheds and straw bale structures (he calls them love shacks!) which are very well insulated and warm with sedum roofs they look really sweet his website is www.ironshirt.co.uk and he's willing to travel about to build stuff ...
Thanks for posting the link Melty. I had great fun looking at all his pictures. Some of the sheds seem reminiscent of hobbit houses.
Mine came from a company called Nordic Wood www.nordicwood.co.uk - 70mm thick walls, with an insulated floor and ceiling (no need for insulation in the walls). Not the cheapest out there but chosen because a friend of mine lived in a Nordic Wood cabin for a couple of years so it (and the company) came with glowing references. They're Surrey-based and seem to exhibit at the big building shows - think they're doing Grand Designs Live at the moment - or if you're passing Farnham, feel free to come round and have a look!
They did the base and installation for us too (mmm, rather nice Norwegian builder ... ;) ) but we provided our own sparky.
Having used it all winter, I can honestly say I love it to bits. It's very easy to heat with a little electric radiator - once it's warm, it retains the heat really well and it's not difficult to overheat in there, even with the window ajar and the ventilation on. We also went for a dividing wall and extra external door, so I have an overflow glass store, oops, sorry, I mean OH has a place to stash his diving kit ;D ;D
This is mine (http://www.summerlogcabins.com/products/log-cabins/log-cabin-246.html) with 45mm logs. Love it. Doesn't need any insulation as it warms up pretty quickly with the kiln on in the winter. I just use a small halogen heater when necessary.
Glad you enjoyed it! He uses a lot of reclaimed materials and you get a custom built to your specs shed at the end of it, he is very comparable and ofeten cheaper price wise as well to the log cabin companies.
Quote from: Pat from Canvey on May 10, 2012, 08:11:17 AM
Thanks for posting the link Melty. I had great fun looking at all his pictures. Some of the sheds seem reminiscent of hobbit houses.
ok i cant help u in the slightest as i have a normal shed tht i insulated myself.... BUT i am having great fun now whilst being off sick and feeling queasy by looking at all of these pretty cabins!
This is my studio, my husband built it and he insulated it, it still gets a bit cold in the winter, if I haven't had the kilns on.
I use a small ceramic heater for a hour to warm it up.
(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4102/4739285681_25ef3b8e84_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51048389@N02/4739285681/)
S6300155 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51048389@N02/4739285681/) by Avalon Beads (http://www.flickr.com/people/51048389@N02/), on Flickr
If possible go with bigger than you need, you will always fill the space ::)
Quote from: chipperpottery on May 10, 2012, 10:23:44 AM
If possible go with bigger than you need, you will always fill the space ::)
i agree wholeheartedly with this!
Thank you for all the info :) Sounds to me as if Dunster House is the way to go (sadly the Nordic folks don't do anything small enough :'( ) The biggest I can fit in the space is 3m by 3.5m and, as it will be near the boundary, it has to be under 2.5m at the highest point.
I want to use an IKEA Expedit unit as a room divider so I have a glass area and a jewellery/beading area. Not sure which side the fusing kiln will go as it stands on the floor!
Got to clear out the old caravan and flatten the area first though . . . . . .
Quote from: Calico Cat on May 10, 2012, 10:57:28 AM
(sadly the Nordic folks don't do anything small enough :'( ) The biggest I can fit in the space is 3m by 3.5m and, as it will be near the boundary, it has to be under 2.5m at the highest point.
Ours isn't one of their standard sizes, Carole - they'll pretty much build to any size you want. We also had the height-constraint to deal with so went with a pent roof.
Here it is - still needs a bit more landscaping ... (am envious of yours Rita!)
(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/sallycatspaw/d1f1357a.jpg) (http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/sallycatspaw/3bb84089.jpg)
I just LOVE the cat flap
Krysia, that's not a cat flap, it's a waiters door, when you need coffee. Also it keeps unwanted visitors out when you are torching :D
when I used to visit my neighbours and sit in their front room and have a natter, they used to have the window open coz the smoked, my cat used to sit out side an call for me to come out.... ::)
Sally what's the measurements of yours?
Oh wow! I would definitely go with Melty's mate if I were building a studio, his buildings are adorable ;D And eco too, how wonderful 8)
Quote from: Krysia on May 10, 2012, 01:10:48 PM
I just LOVE the cat flap
So do the cats ... ;D They're quite keen on the decking step as well as it catches the morning sun.
Quote from: Krysia on May 10, 2012, 01:25:19 PM
Sally what's the measurements of yours?
It's about 5.5m x 2.5m externally - OH's section is about 1.5m wide inside (I was far too generous! ;) ) but the rest is mine, all mine! ;D ;D
Quote from: SallyR on May 10, 2012, 01:48:56 PM
It's about 5.5m x 2.5m externally - OH's section is about 1.5m wide inside (I was far too generous! ;) ) but the rest is mine, all mine! ;D ;D
Seems a good size!
I'd love a log cabin, but had to settle for 2 workshops (heavy duty sheds) which we've insulated. My little shedio, the glassy one heats up really quickly. The other is twice the size and nowhere near as well built (before I started insulating) and probably wasn't any cheaper that a log cabin come the end. Think I need to put more plants round mine now I've sen Rita's, although I have drainiage piping outside so everything has to be in pots. One day it will have figs growing over it, when they get a move on in the pot.
Contacted someone who had asked for a caravan on Freecycle and it was collected this afternoon ;D
Now I can order my log cabin tomorrow - should give us 6 to 8 weeks to clear the area - will post some pics as things develope.
Carole
oooooo So EXCITING :o ;D
Might be worth waiting til next weekend, there was an advert in the local rag today about special offers next weekend ;D
Not buying from Dunster House in the end - seems their post sales support leaves a lot to be desired - no telephone access only email - I've had enough of that trying to sort bookings with Travelodge . . . . Have to say their pre-sales isn't that impressive either - they are very keen to try to persuade to add all the extras but when I asked for a written quote they weren't so keen - I'm still waiting nearly 2 weeks later . . . .
Found a relatively local (Essex) company - very similar design, almost instant response to questions and when I asked for a quote and a floor plan, the itemised quote came through within hours with the architects' blue print attached.
Wow that is good after the other place. It is a shame that Dunster were so bad after the girl had been so nice to us when we visited. What the name of the other company? (So I can have a nosy ;) )
Don't blame you then, hope it all goes smoothly ;D