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Although log cabins are generally environmentally friendly and can retain warmth with sufficient insulation and good positioning, there are other tricks to be implemented which can help maintain a well-heated yet comfortable structure.

The addition of yellow tones to the garden cabin room will give the impression of warmth, while the light emitted by this sort of shade is a way to enhance the natural light of the space. Well-padded furniture such as sofas and armchairs create a comfortable and warm environment, which can be further enhanced by a selection of plump cushions and cosy blankets. Some may choose luxury upholstery fabric to enhance the cabin’s overall appearance, although more budget-friendly options in your chosen colour scheme are just as snug. 

Adding thick rugs to the floor will not only reduce drafts rising through the floorboards, but provide a warm, dry surface to walk on. Other DIY draft excluders fitted beneath doors or around windows can drastically reduce the amount of cold air that can find its way into outdoor huts and gazebos. Thick, plush curtains, for example, can be aesthetically pleasing while retaining insulation. 

Room dividers, bookcases and wall hangings are other nifty ways to block the chill while keeping the cabin looking stylish. You may also find it useful to dedicate an area of your log cabin to set up an area equipped with tea and coffee making facilities.  

We are your experts on bespoke log cabins, so talk to our dedicated team at Logspan today. 

Once the exterior of your log cabin has been completed, its usually time to get started on designing your interiors. 

The living or great areas are often the most important rooms of outdoor huts and gazebos, and consequently a lot of thought should be invested into how these spaces should look. A fireplace is usually one of the main structural features of log cabins, and a large open fire can add cosiness and warmth to the space, as well as providing a rustic atmosphere.

Bedrooms within bespoke log cabins should be located in the most private parts of the structure to guarantee a bit of peace and quiet. A small balcony or large window in these sleeping spaces will offer the chance to connect with the outside world during evenings or early mornings.

Bathrooms, no matter their size, should be tranquil and luxurious. Natural light, additional house plants and a calming colour palette are essential to achieving that ultimate “spa” space.

If there is sufficient room for a separate dining area in your barbeque lodge or open BBQ hut, it is generally considered appropriate to locate it as close to the kitchen as possible. Large windows will allow plenty of light in, and a table at an appropriate height and comfortable chairs will enhance your dining experience.

Our team here at Logspan are your log cabin experts, and will be happy to assist with any queries regarding your bespoke log cabins today. 

Once a log cabin has been constructed, it is important to correctly treat and seal it, to protect and preserve the wood. There are then many options for stains, so it is best to choose one which best suits your needs.

If your school cabin or barbeque hut is located in a damp environment or is in a position to be open to the elements, a stain which offers a waterproof seal is imperative, as these often have mildew inhibitors added.

Water-based stains are ideal for dryer locations. Once added to the planks of log cabins, the structure is easy to keep clean and fresh, and can be used both in and outside the cabin.
Oil-based wood preservatives will help protect wooden planks from rotting or dampness, and also prevent damage from wood termites, as well as other insects.

When log cabins or outdoor huts and gazebos are located in warm, sunny areas, a UV based preservative is vital. These types of finishes prevent sun damage as well as water damage.

Low volatile organic compounds (VOC) finishes are a more environmentally friendly option for those who want to retain the eco credentials of their log cabins. Stain and finishes with a formula that is compliant with environmental standards are just as effective as non-compliant varieties. 

Our staff at Logspan can offer expert advice on all aspects of log cabins, so pick up the phone and give us a call today.

Once your garden cabin room or barbeque lodge has been completed, there are many ways to enhance and improve it. For example, it is possible to add an additional storey to log cabins to create bedrooms or workspaces. A staircase must be added to access this new space before any work is carried out to achieve this, and the foundations must be checked to ensure they can carry the additional weight.

Adding a loft is another way of enhancing a school cabin or garden office cabin. Fewer changes to the cabin's structure is required for this addition, but it is still advisable to ensure any load-bearing walls and posts can tolerate the extra weight. This extra space can be used for storage, or as an additional living space.

Improvements to the exterior roof can often be made if the original log cabins had a felt material cover. Shingles may be added to make the structure more waterproof, and to enhance the overall appearance of the cabin.

Solar panels not only enhance the environmental credentials of log cabins, but they will also save you money. Adding insulation panels will also add to the preservation of heat and save on future costs. Decorative ironmongering such as door handles, letterboxes and hinges will provide a unique and customised appearance to your outdoor huts and gazebos. These items can also contribute to the security and safety of your log cabin.

Contact our team at Logspan for further information on the services we offer today. 

It is important to select the best locations to build your log cabins. Before choosing, it is usually appropriate to have a think about what you want from your bespoke log cabins. 

If the purpose of the build is to create somewhere where you can enjoy peace and quiet, then perhaps a piece of land in a rural area is best. For wildlife lovers, building outdoor huts and gazebos in a forested area is likely to contribute to the sense of well-being and being part of the natural world.

Many people prefer to have their log cabins closer to home and may decide to build a school cabin, for instance in a back garden or yard area. There are plenty of advantages in doing this, such as being close to amenities and, for those wanting to use their log cabins as work or learning spaces, there is not far to travel to get there.

Wherever the chosen location is, it must be accessible and for most, should be on a piece of land which has access to services such as drainage and power. This is especially important for structures like barbeque sheds, which often need an energy supply. 

It is also important to ensure the land does not get waterlogged during heavy rains or has all-year round shade; both of these scenarios will result in damage to the log cabins in the long term.

Please contact us today at Logspan to have a chat with our staff about your log cabins and the best locations for them.

Deciding to purchase a log cabin is a long-term investment. It is, therefore, important to take steps in increasing the longevity of your garden cabin room. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways in which you can do this.

One of the most important things you can do to maintain your bespoke log cabin is to keep it dry. Failing to do so could lead to wood damage, rot or split planks. In order to keep your outdoor huts and gazebos dry, you may find it useful to construct the cabin on a plinth or freeboard, which will help keep the main parts of the structure away from the ground. This will help prevent any subsequent dampness that could seep in through the floor and walls of your cabin.

The decking of log cabins should be adequately flashed to prevent any water seepages. It is common for cabins to have no flashing, however to ensure your cabin's durability, this is not a step to be missed. The flashing process should be completed to the highest standards to increase your cabin’s robustness.

Keeping windows sealed is another crucial step. One option is to have them slightly angled away from the walls, so rainwater does not end up pooling on their surfaces.

Log cabins should have caulking and chinking to seal any gaps in the planks of wood. Areas of the log cabins which have not yet been treated with a waterproof coating must have good quality sealants, which are often made from an acrylic latex.

For more information on purchasing your dream cabin, contact our friendly team at Logspan today.

One of the benefits of owning your own log cabin is that you can create and decorate your home-away-from-home in its own unique style.

Often, the interiors of bespoke log cabins are influenced by where they are located. Many want to give their outdoor huts and gazebos a rustic feel to reflect their rural locations, which could involve adding lots of fabrics, as well as having plenty of exposed wood and brickwork. There are, however, many alternatives for those wanting to choose a different style for their cabin, or for those who want the location of their log cabins to be mirrored in their aesthetic.

If your BBQ huts are set in urban areas, for instance, you may wish to give them a more modern appearance. You could achieve this by adding details such as lighting fixtures and a more open plan living area. Leaving fittings raw and unfinished could also create a sort of industrialised interior.

Bohemian interiors are appropriate for any hot tub garden rooms or log cabins. Simply adding lots of cushions, throws and rugs to add a pop of colour is just one affordable way to achieve this look. These interiors are perfect for any sort of garden cabin room, but would suit a log cabin in any location or setting.

For seaside log cabins, a maritime theme with anchors and jars of sea glass, amongst other oceanic decorations, could be used.

Contact our friendly team at Logspan today for more information on the bespoke log cabins we have to offer.

One of the most commonly asked questions when starting to plan for a bbq hut shed is, will this structure need planning permission? There are several potential answers to this question and many of these depend upon the size, location and use of your hut.
    
It is important to fully understand the implications of this issue and to know if your barbecue hut needs permission or not so you can avoid problems in the future or, at worst, the dismantling of your hut if the appropriate rules have not been followed. Your planning office is usually part of your local authority, and it is accessible and open to all questions you might have before you start the process of developing and building your barbecue hut.

Most of the time, bbq huts do not require formal planning permission. Generally speaking, these barbecue cabins fall under the category of permitted developments which are designed to make building extensions and cabins easier and less bureaucratic. This means that planning permission is unnecessary, though there are still specific rules which must be adhered to. 

For example, to avoid having to apply for planning permission, your barbeque lodge must not be intrusive to your neighbours. It must also not contravene rules about these structures being positioned no further forward than the front elevation of your house; usually, it must also be located no more than two meters away from the boundaries of your land or garden. These structures must be no taller than four meters, including the addition of a pitched roof. However, if you intend for your bbq shed to have a flat roof, then you are not permitted to build it higher than three meters.

If you are planning to have your barbecue hut in your back yard, then it cannot be any bigger than half of your garden space. There are also rules about the total surface area which your hut can take up; it should be no bigger than half of your house's original floor plan size.

It is always advisable to check with your local planning office, even if you think your bbq hut shed falls under these permitted development rules. It is also not uncommon for some paperwork to be needed in order to submit to your planning staff, even if permitted development is granted. These may include certificates such as building regulations compliance and a right to light for your neighbours statement.

Although it is usually avoidable, there are times when formal planning permission is required for these sorts of buildings. If you are intending for your outbuilding to be a permanent residence, for instance, it will need to be approved by your local planning department. You could also need planning permission if you use your barbecue hut as the site of a commercial business and have customers coming into the premises. The addition of a bedroom of any size or a bathroom or toilet would usually warrant a conversation with your local authority planners. Planning permission may also be needed if the bbq hut will be built on designated land or woodland, or if you live in a listed building, which is admittedly unlikely.

If you do need permissions, there is usually a very clear process to follow to secure this and it is usually best to chat to your own local office since there are often variations in rules depending on the geographical area. Often, an application via the Planning Portal, which has been created by the government can be submitted. Decisions will often take up to ten weeks and the total cost of planning permission could be £500 including the planning application and the consents for building regulations, though these are often not required if the bbq hut is a basic building.

Some of the paperwork you may be expected to submit if planning permission is needed include detailed site and location plans and technical drawings of the proposed building. Adding plumbing and an electrical supply will also need additional safety and compliance checks; specialist tradespeople would need to be involved in signing off this work and certificates of conformity issued. This paperwork should be kept in a safe place for future reference, along with proof that these works have been carried out appropriately.

It is also worth bearing in mind, if you are planning on selling the property which contains your barbeque hut sometime in the future, a lawful development certificate may be useful. This shows that all compliances have been met and it would put your buyers mind at rest that the construction of the barbecue shed was of the highest quality and met all safety and legal requirements.

Please contact us today here at Logspan and talk to our experts about the different aspects of possible planning permissions for your bbq shed.

Although log cabins are already an environmentally friendly way to go, there are always ways to improve their green credentials.

If the structure does not lend itself to a garden cabin room, for example, then it is usually best to choose a location on brownfield or abandoned land. Avoiding areas which would be damaged or irreversibly changed with the addition of outdoor huts and gazebos is a kinder choice to make for your placement. Wherever it is located, maximising the natural light that reaches your log cabin is an easy way to reduce energy costs.

Dead timber is often more sustainable than live green wood, and recycled wood is also more sustainable than many other alternatives. These materials are useful for both inside and outside your bespoke log cabins. 

It is important to utilise every piece of wood when building log cabins, including the scraps and leftovers. These pieces of timber can come in handy to create architectural features such as porches and balconies, and helps avoid any wastage.

Internally, adding details such as ceiling fans will reduce the need for air conditioning units, which often have a negative impact on the environment. When selecting whitegoods such as dishwashers and freezers, try to select those of the highest ratings to reduce their energy consumption. Under floor heating provided by a water pump will not only reduce energy costs but will also recycle other products, such as rainwater collected in water barrels.

For more detailed information regarding bespoke log cabins, give our knowledgeable team here at Logspan a call today. 

There are several easy steps to designing your perfect log cabins. Normally, it is usual to consider and finalise your design concept at the earliest stage possible. These bespoke log cabins could range from the traditional to the ultra modern.

Once the look of the cabin has been chosen, the thickness of the garden cabin room walls is the next choice. These can range from the low-cost options of approximately nineteen millimetres to the thickest and most weatherproof which could be up to seventy millimetres; there are several options in between these sizes.

The roof is often the next consideration and there are numerous designs which can be chosen. These could include a pitched or flat roof and issues such as the location of the garden office cabin and the overall appearance you wish to achieve.

Doors and windows must then be selected. Generally, these are matched and have a similar appearance whether this is the material or the finish. Having matching or complimentary windows and doors will achieve a cohesive look for the cabin.

Finishing touches will include the treatment applied to the external wood. You may choose to use a wood stain for the log cabins, or a colourful paint may be a more appropriate coating. Again, much of this will come down to personal preferences.

Contact us now here at Logspan and a member of staff will advise you on all of your options when you decide to build your log cabins.