Contemporary Log Cabins
- Do you need planning permission for a log cabin?
- What are your best contemporary log cabins?
- What is the best wood for a contemporary log cabin?
- Can you put a toilet in a log cabin?
- How thick should a log cabin wall be?
- How to insulate a log cabin
- How do you treat log cabin wood?
- Are log cabins high maintenance?
- How long do log cabins last for?
- How to build a log cabin
If your log cabin doesn’t exceed 50% of your garden size or the front of your house, it should fall under ‘permitted development’, meaning you wouldn’t require planning permission. However, we’d still advise checking with your local planning authority first. Or you can read our guide to log cabin planning permission.
We offer a large range of log cabins with sleek and elegant designs that also offer practicality and endless opportunity. Below are some of our top log cabins if you want to get some ideas:
With a wide range of sizes and a strong Tongue and Groove construction in 2 thicknesses, you are guaranteed to find the perfect Dorset for your garden. The timeless design with a Reverse Apex roof and wide opening double doors and windows make this cabin a must-have.
The Winchester is a traditional Alpine style cabin with opening windows and windowed double doors that gives a bright and airy interior. Customise your building to suit you. Complete with Floor, Roof and Felt as standard.
Designed to complement any garden, The Fraya is a highly versatile and adaptable garden building. The Fraya features a contemporary pent design and modern front overhang, adding style as well as practicality. You can customise certain aspects of this Log Cabin to suit your tastes and needs.
The Tianna Log Cabin Summerhouse has a modern pent design and long windows, which look fantastic in any contemporary garden setting. This stylish summer house has multi-purpose uses, with a spacious main space and a side storage unit attached to the side of the building. It’s great for storing all your gardening items and equipment in one place, safely out of sight.
There are several different types of timber which log cabins are commonly made from, each offering a unique set of features.
- Spruce - Aesthetically pleasing option. Structurally strong. A more expensive option.
- Pine - Cheaper option. Less dense than spruce. Requires less treatment to prevent rotting.
- Cedar - Softwood. Easier to work and offers a long lifespan. Weather resistant. A premium timber.
Douglas Fir - Durable alternative. Fairly resistant to rot. Doesn’t fully accept treatment causing increased maintenance and reduced lifespan.
Yes, you definitely can. With some planning and either know-how or hiring a plumber, you can install a variety of bathroom options in your garden building. Just remember that converting your log cabin into permanent living quarters may require planning permission. So check with your local council. Otherwise, check out our quick guide to installing utilities in your garden building.
The ideal thickness for your log cabin depends on where you live, the weather you experience, and how you plan to use it throughout the year.
Our BillyOh log cabins vary in thickness from 19mm to 44m. Each of these offers a different level of durability and strength. The thicker the log, the stronger and insulated your log cabin will be. This means you’ll be able to use it more often throughout the year, even in harsh and cold weather.
However, thinner log cladding can be better for summer use. Either way, all our log cabins are built from high-quality materials with a strong tongue and groove seal that ensures long-lasting quality.
Insulating a log cabin is by no means an essential. Depending on your chosen log thickness, and what you intend to use it for, your log cabin will be sufficiently insulated for most usage.
However, if you plan to spend a large amount of time in your log cabin i.e. during winter, for work, or even overnight, then it’s worth considering. You can insulate your log cabin by laying Celotex boards underneath flooring and under roof cladding. For more, read our guide on insulating a log cabin.
There are a number of different ways in which log cabin wood can be treated. They include:
- Water-based treatments - This requires no primer and can be applied directly onto wood, after first removing any grease, wax or dirt from your cabin’s exterior. This treatment should be applied every year.
- Solvent/spirit-based treatments - This is an effective form of treatment which involves a gentle application to ensure it is smooth with an even coating. It is recommended to apply this every three or so years.
- Oil-based treatment - The UV-protection ensures that this is a long lasting treatment type, only requiring retouching every five or so years. The treatment soaks into timber, providing strong weather protection.
Pressure treatment - This introduces wood preservatives deep into pre-cut timber in a vacuum, ensuring excellent protection against harsh weather conditions. Pressure-treated wood requires little maintenance and can save you money in the long run. That’s why we offer it as an option on many of our garden buildings.
This is partially dependent on the type of treatment you applied to your log cabin. For example, choosing the add-on of pressure-treated timber means your garden cabin will require far less maintenance in the long run. But no, log cabins aren’t particularly any more high maintenance than any garden building. You get out what you put in. Just make sure to keep your roof clear of debris, maintain a healthy airflow to prevent damp, and sand, prime, and treat your timber as necessary.
For more, read our guide on preventing damp in your garden building.
This is dependent on a number of different factors including wood treatment and thickness, weather conditions, and care. However, the BillyOh guarantee covers log cabins against rot, decay, and insect infestation for up to 10 years (up to 15 for pressure-treated garden buildings). With proper care and maintenance, you could extend your log cabin’s life well beyond that.
Our BillyOh contemporary log cabins are made with high-quality materials and designed to be easy and simple to assemble. Simply follow the digital assembly instructions included in your order confirmation. With a team of at least 2 people, you can fit the interlocking tongue and groove logs together and have your log cabin up in no time!