Log Cabin Leaking - Advice Required

Phattee92

Hello
I bought a log cabin for £1300 back in October 2020, this came in individual pieces of untreated wood. It was kept waterproof until built in November 2020 and then treated with Ronseal Fence paint for Rough Sawn and Smooth Wood. The roof felt that was sent with the log cabin was of very poor quality, and half ripped off within a couple of weeks so this needed to be replaced, the felt originally cost me £70 through the company (sheds.co.uk) and I had to pay an additional £90 for the replacement felt through B&Q. 
After the most recent weather, storm Bella, I have noticed that the ceiling in the log cabin has damp spots all over it and there is water dripping down. The corners of the log cabin are damp and have black spots appearing, there is also mould growing on the window frame. I have complained to sheds.co.uk who put me in touch with the supplier, Mercia, they are saying that the warranty is voided because I have used the wrong paint I should have used paint for Smooth Wood but I have used it for Rough Sawn (I have checked this out and the ronseal paint is for Smooth wood also) they are trying to fob me off.
They also said the base it is built on is not level (it is) and that because we have drilled some tanalised wood to the front of the roof to keep the felt a bit more secure (a bit anxious this will rip off again!) that this is a modification and the warranty is voided. Honestly I think if I had put some fairy lights around the blooming front this would have 'voided' the warranty. 
I am in a back and forth with emails from the supplier, whose customer service is shocking. They have said I need to basically replace the roof again and sand the whole log cabin down and repaint it with the 'correct' paint. I do not have the time or money to be able to do this. That is their only 'advice'. I have gone back to the original company who I paid £1300 to, to see what they can do. 

But the questions are - am I fighting a losing battle? Do I have a leg to stand on?

This is really upsetting to me as this was supposed to be my home office, especially through Covid it was supposed to be my getaway to work rather than be in the house all the time. I feel as though they are washing their hands of the issue but I really just need some advice of what to do next. 

Thank you!!

JJ_Egan

Your Consumer Rights are against the vendor not the manufacturer .

A warranty is subject to any terms they want as its not the law .

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Sorry to hear of your problems with the cabin OP. Mould around the windows is likely as it's a cold point for water to condense and the water ingress probably isn't helping.

Regarding the water actually coming in, a tube of sealant to fill any small gaps would solve the worst of the problems. I wouldn't expect water to get in during normal rain but if you have driving winds then water is going to get pushed through any small gaps. 

Regarding the roof felt, really you should have gone back to the retailer to get them to replace the felt. 

The warranty probably isn't worth the paper it's printed on and your consumer rights lie with the retailer. If you raise an issue within the first 6 months then it is deemed to have been present at the point of sale unless the retailer demonstrates otherwise. 

I'd forget the felt as it's done, fill the gaps with sealant, clean the mould away with a sponge and bottle of £1 mould cleaner (don't just use bleach and water as it doesn't always kill the roots) and see what happens.

Can't comment on the spots, do you have any photos of these to post? Are you heating this cabin?  

Just to add for the price paid it's more of a fancy shed than a proper garden room which would set you back a lot more than £1300 so the conditions during cold, damp winters might be par for the course. 

peter_the_piper

Part of the problem is that the Ronseal fence paint is not a very waterproof sealer. I have a log cabin as well and it as got wet along the panel joints. I've used a waterproof paint, Protek, not cheap, and thoroughly painted the wood and along the joints. This was after a waterproof sealer was put on first.

theonlywayisup

You may want to post in the DIY forum, purely for help/advice on how to sort.

I don't wish to belittle your purchase but £1300 for a home office is VERY cheap and without knowing the spec, is likely to be something that you are lucky to still have after a good storm/winter. 

If you need something to work/live in during the day then you really need to be looking at something that will allow for proper insulation on floor, walls and roof. 

How did you pay?  Read the articles on here about S75.  Something that was sold to you as a waterproof building should be just that (certainly only a few months after purchase).  Who erected?  If the same company then your claim may be easier to fight, but you may still have a fight.  You have nothing to lose though and whilst it may appear daunting to tackle this, you have spent not an inconsiderable amount of money on something that doesn't do as promised.