Garden Log Cabin Advice

Catbells

I'm just having one built in my garden now as an office. I have gone for a Lasita Maja which is an Estonian company. Perfect Cabins supplied it and installed it and so far so good. The shingles (roof tiles) are being put on tomorrow. I have a fairly small cabin due to space restriction in my garden. Was told I needed 1m clearance on all sides but couldn't manage that - instead I've got 60cm, 90cm, 70cm and the front faces the garden. This is for repainting and repairs. I went for 44mm thick logs - the maximum was 70mm though you can get even thicker from some other companies. Since I live in the south of England I reckon it'll be warm enough. It's 2.5m in height and its worth noting that anything bigger requires planning permission. I had a local builder put a base of concrete lintels down. Its made from Estonian slow grown spruce. I think the slow grown bit means that the wood is denser than usual - spruce is not a hard wood which would have been really expensive. I've got roof and floor installation and luckily have an electric socket in the garden which will enable lighting and heating.

I'm now wondering which stain to use and am having varying opinions on this. I've been advised stain NOT paint and water NOT oil based. I would have thought oil based being external but no, it seems water based is better especially since its warm air temperature at the moment. No idea why that is significant. Sikkens Cetol Filter 7 is a name which comes up a lot. Also Sadolin. But I still can't establish whether I also need a base coat of something. That's why I came on this site to find out but can't find anything so far. Be grateful for anyone's expertise on this.

vansboy

Catbells wrote: »

I'm now wondering which stain to use and am having varying opinions on this. I've been advised stain NOT paint and water NOT oil based. I would have thought oil based being external but no, it seems water based is better especially since its warm air temperature at the moment. No idea why that is significant. Sikkens Cetol Filter 7 is a name which comes up a lot. Also Sadolin. But I still can't establish whether I also need a base coat of something. That's why I came on this site to find out but can't find anything so far. Be grateful for anyone's expertise on this.

From talking to another supplier, it seems that most cabins come from Eastern europe, then everyone puts their own name to them.


Probably best to see what the supplier says to use, or you may well find any warranty isn't valid. Mercia were saying Cuprinol shades, colours, I think. You had to re-coat yearly, keeping the reciept for the stain as your proof, should you want to claim it had a defect.


VB

Catbells

Ive chosen to use Sadolin Superdec which the supplier recommended. Water based and two coats. There are hundreds of colours to choose from.
Lasita Maja from Estonia have a few outlets in the UK.