Building log cabins for your garden is not something that you can do when you suddenly decide to. It takes careful planning and all the necessary resources to begin a DIY garden log cabin. Log structures within the confines of your property are remarkable investments. They offer a wide range of benefits from increasing the market value of your property to giving you another liveable space. You can build your very own garden log cabin as your extended home office or additional space with the help of some practical and useful tips.
What to do before building log cabins for the garden?
Embarking on a DIY log cabin project for your garden is a demanding task. There are things you need to do before you commence your project:
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Plot Your Land
Decide on the best and most practical location for the cabin. A lot of log cabins for the garden are placed in close proximity to the main house for easy access. You can use your vicinity map to have an overview of the available outdoor spaces within your property. Make sure that you know and comply with the regulations regarding additional constructions in your living place.
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Choose a Blueprint/Kit/Plan
Log cabins for the garden come in various shapes and sizes. You need a floor plan in order to serve as your guide for the log home construction. The good news is that you can actually find a wide range of log cabin blueprints and kits online. Some are free plans while others are premium or paid projects. Conduct your research and decide on the log cabin blueprint that suits your needs.
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Decide on the Wood/Log Type
There are numerous types of wood or log species that work well for log cabins for the garden. Logs tend to shrink or expand depending on the temperature or weather. You can check out what log or wood types are susceptible to extensive expanding and contracting. Take into consideration the prevalent weather or temperature in your location as well. The best way to do this is to seek professional advice from log cabin specialists.
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Know your Budget
One of the most important things to initially take into account for a DIY project for log cabins for the garden is to know your realistic budget. How much can you really afford? Make sure you don’t go overboard with your expenses. You can find a lot of log home kits and blueprints that offer simple, practical, and efficient log houses without breaking the bank.
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Get Log Cabin Insurance
Property owners that want to be 100% sure should consider log cabin insurance. The coverage should be for your protection from the start of the log home construction to its completion. Check out available log home insurance before you begin with your log cabins for the garden.
Step by Step Guide to DIY Log Cabin
Building a log cabin by hand is a remarkably promising and lucrative project. You can make your log house from scratch and enjoy the rewards at its completion:
Step 1: Set a Good Foundation
After plotting the land, it is time to prep up the land for the foundation. The secret of high quality log cabins for the garden starts with this important part of the construction. Make sure the foundation and the piers are poured specifically under the frost line.
Step 2: Sill the Logs
Position the logs on the foundation. There are different ways on how you can get the logs for your garden log cabins for the garden. You can buy ones that are already cut or you can do the cutting yourself. Cutting your own logs require you to have all the necessary equipment and machine from the tractor to the chainsaw to every accessory.
Step 3: Install the Subflooring and Joist
Place the joist and install the flooring in a horizontal direction from that of the joists. There are log cabin kits you can find for convenient and easy installation. You can also check other resources about log cabins for the garden, particularly on how to properly install the joist and subflooring.
Step 4: Log Joinery
This is one of the most essential parts of building the log cabins for the garden. Use a nail ramp and face it on the side wall in order to easily raise the log. Pull up the log using a block and tackle. You may need additional help if lifting is a problem. Make sure you have your safety gear on in order to avoid any accidents.
Step 5: Frame the Roof
Once the walls are built, the roof immediately goes on. You have different options for framing the roof of the log cabins for the garden. You can use heavy rafters and choose to have them exposed or a dimensional lumber with a concealed feature. For the decking options, you can decide on wide boards or plywood. Metal roofs are also viable options for the roof framing. Barn tin for instance is grooved in or corrugated in different patterns. You can get more ideas about roof framing from log cabin kits and blueprints online.
Step 6: Assemble the Windows and Door
Put up the windows and doors but make sure you choose the right window and door types. Energy efficient doors and windows are usually double glazed and double sealed. Make sure you also choose products that are made from high quality joinery timber. These features make log cabins for the garden cosier and warmer during winter and cooler in summer. For a more detailed procedure on how to assemble your cabin doors and windows, refer to comprehensive blueprints and floor plans.
The best way to upgrade your property value and market price is through the installation of lucrative liveable spaces. Log cabins for the garden are a beneficial addition to your property. Log structures have the aesthetic value to boost your garden’s curb appeal and they also provide additional space that is usable all year round.
