Painting

Now that your beautiful new log cabin has been installed, it is a good idea to protect your investment by protecting your building from the elements. Your building will need to be painted and sealed externally within four weeks of assembly for your warranty.

We would highly recommend getting the first painting service done by our in-house painting team. They do an excellent job and will give your new cabin a sleek, professional finish.

Buildings with wall insulation get a ten-year warranty. Single skin (non-wall insulated) buildings have a two-year warranty.

We recommend and supply Tikkurila paints and Osmo stains. External paint or stain as well as primer and sealant are included with all of our off-the-shelf designs, so you don’t need to find out what products or quantities you need to purchase. These products are not included with custom built cabins, but we can supply these for you at cost-effective prices.

Please see the link below for our in-house paint manager’s blog. It has plenty of valuable tips and advice on how to achieve a fantastic finish. If you are going to do the painting yourself, please take the time to research the blog to make sure it gets done correctly. Water damage caused by incorrect painting is not covered by your warranty.

Most importantly, do not use varnish-based products, as they do not allow the wood to breathe and can lead to difficulties.

https://www.paintlab.ie/blogs/guide/exterior-log-cabin-painting

In relation to the interior finish, there are a wide range of finishes to choose from. Popular finishes include paint, boiled linseed oil and wood wax finish.

How often you need to paint or stain the exterior really depends on how sheltered or exposed the site is, for example, is it in a walled back garden or on a clifftop in Donegal? You will know by looking at your building, if it looks like it needs to be painted, it really should have been done already.

However, in 20 or 30 years down the line, if the exterior is looking tired, the external pressure treated shiplap cladding can be stripped and replaced and your building will be back as new.

Flooring

Industry standard floors are 19mm tongue and groove planks. At MyCabin we use 28mm planks, meaning our floors are 50% thicker than most suppliers, making them harder wearing.

We also supply and fit a wide range of quality laminate flooring in 8mm and contoured 10mm. These are even harder wearing and are easier to keep clean than a tongue and groove floor.

Please see the link below for laminate options on our website –https://mycabin.ie/product-category/laminate

Getting Started in Your New Cabin

Some things to look out for now that you are finally in your new cabin!

As mentioned earlier, your new cabin is made of wood which can expand and contract. It is also likely to settle as gravity gets to work and your building finds its resting position. This may lead to windows or doors getting sticky or not quite opening or closing properly.

This is easily resolved and not an issue to be concerned about. Please refer to the link above in the ‘About Windows and Doors’ section. Please do not forcibly open or close windows and doors if they become misaligned, you can damage the mechanisms or burst the seals, requiring repairs with costs for parts and labour. If in doubt, please call us for advice, we’ll be happy to assist.

Occasionally, mold can develop in a log cabin, particularly if it was assembled in damp weather or if it has not been heated and ventilated properly. Again, this is easily remedied by taking the following steps:

• Run a dehumidifier inside the building with the windows and doors closed, and heating turned on periodically. Running the dehumidifier for a few days, ensuring to empty it regularly, will help your building to dry out quickly.

• Using a bleach solution (water with bleach added) or a fungicide product and a nail brush, give the effected area a scrub to remove the mold. This will kill the parasitic fungi and its spores.

• Occasionally, sanding the affected area down with sandpaper will also be required.

• Once clean and dry, immediately apply paint,wood vax finish or boiled linseed oil, but never a varnish based product.

• If you have used a varnish based product and mold appears, it is because the wood cannot breathe and the mold will be trapped beneath the varnished outer layer. You will need to sand the area right back to the raw wood and treat it as above.

Once the wood has been protected, the mold should not recur, as long as the building is heated and ventilated properly. Remember, your premium windows will have a ventilation lock position to keep the air circulating in your cabin when engaged.

Maintenance

Now that you have spent a significant amount on building and fitting out your cabin, you need to look after it. There are three main areas for maintenance that you should be aware of.

• Protecting your cabin – you should paint/stain and seal the exterior of your building within four weeks of assembly to avail of your warranty. Keeping your cabin treated and sealed regularly, depending on how exposed your site is, will have a big impact on the durability of your building.

• Gutters & Downpipes – it is important to keep your gutters and downpipes clear and in good working order. This will help prevent water damage. We do not recommend locating your cabin under trees or close to foliage, as fallen material gives water a place to lodge on the roof as well as block your gutters. Overgrown foliage can hold water against the walls.

• Window and door adjustments – never force a door or window open or closed, you can easily damage them. As soon as you are aware that they need an adjustment, take the necessary steps shown in the video linked above. This will ensure your windows and doors function properly and will avoid drafts developing.

Your cabin should last for decades and give you many years of pleasure. Like any other expensive piece of equipment, how well you look after it will have a big influence on its longevity. Taking the steps above will greatly extend the lifespan of your building.