A big thank you to Mr B for sending us in this amazing review! He talks about the process that he and his wife took in order to select, purchase, receive and install the Gunda Log Cabin. To find out how it all went!
Initial Decision
I had on old shed (built in 1981 according to a pencil inscription inside one of the panels that I found when demolishing it!) that was starting to fall apart in spite of being nicely looked after. But what to replace it with?
I photograph houses for estate agents and during my travels I had seen a number of really nice, high quality log cabins. People had fitted these out as studios, summer houses and workshops. But I thought that these would be very expensive and did not, at first, consider them as an option. I visited the local shed supply companies and garden centres and was almost ready to order a 22mm loglap shed. However, I wasn’t completely happy with what I was getting. As a result, I decided to have a look online to find the cost of a proper log cabin and what was available. I asked Google for “4m x 4m Log Cabins” and pretty soon I was on the Tuin website and had found the Gunda cabin that was exactly the size I wanted. And the price was less than the 22mm loglap shed I was considering! Result!
But what was the quality like? To cut a long story short I looked at the specifications, customer reviews and all the building tips and hints and other useful information. I was sold!
The technical specification was far in excess of the other one and coupled with the detailed info on the website it was a no brainer which to choose so I placed my order.
After Sales Service
After placing my order I immediately received an e-mail with detailed information on delivery information, construction information etc. So far so good.
I had a number of questions about various things (the colour of the shingles, some construction questions etc) that I sent e-mails to Tuin for clarification. I expected a response within a couple of days as is normal with most companies these days. But Tuin is obviously not a normal company. I received a response within hours to every query! Unbelievable service!
I have to quote this example. At 18:42 on SUNDAY 2 October 2016 I sent an e-mail to the Tuin Out of Hours Construction Support e-mail address with a query. I received a response from Richard at 18:45 the same day! Now, I have dealt with many, many companies that claim to offer (and sometimes provide) good customer service. But I have never experienced such quick responses to my queries EVER.
Delivery
The delivery was as per the information in the acknowledgement of order e-mail. The shipping company contacted me by phone and we agreed a date and time for the delivery. And that is exactly when it arrived. The driver phoned me when he was about half an hour away as promised by the shipping company. The driver was very friendly and put the package on the driveway as requested. Very smooth and professional delivery experience.
Construction
The initial e-mail stressed the importance of reading through all the construction information and tips on the website even if you are having a contractor build the log cabin for you. I read through all the information a couple of times, and also watched the very useful construction video at least four times. If you are considering building the log cabin yourself (which I did) then this would be my absolute recommendation! Watch the construction video as many times as you can!
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- Some construction shots – The outer shell up
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- Ready for the roof boards.
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- Halfway there!
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- Roof boards finished. Time for a well earned beer!
Timber Frame Base
I had a partial concrete slab from the old shed, but also some areas of compacted hardcore which was relatively level. I did not want to go to the trouble and expense of casting a new concrete base. So I decided to use a timber frame base with Tuin’s Timber Frame Base Pads. Tuin offers a timber frame base design service for a nominal fee (which you get back if you order the timber from them) which I decided to use. A proper technical design with detailed dimensions was sent to me detailing how many base pads I needed and what timber was required. I priced it all at my local timber merchant and then decided to order the whole lot directly from Tuin as it was very competitively priced.
The construction of the timber base was a breeze and getting the whole thing perfectly level and square was so simple – the Base Pads are adjustable to allow very precise adjustment of each pad to ensure a perfectly level base.
Building the Cabin
My wife and I started the cabin on a Saturday afternoon (it had been raining in the morning) quite late and by 17:08 we had put up seven rows of logs all the way round when we stopped because it had started to rain again. By 11:59 on Sunday morning we had completed the shell of the cabin. At 16:29 on Sunday afternoon I took a photo of the roof board installation that I had just completed.
The installation was so simple! Everything was well labeled and all the logs just clicked together – I have seen some children’s building blocks that were more difficult to put together!
It took me another afternoon during the week to install and finish off the roof shingle installation and another day to finish off the floorboard installation.
After much deliberation we decided we wanted to keep the wood look of the cabin and opted for an undercoat of Sadolin Light Oak Classic and two coats of Sadolin Light Oak Extra. It turned out beautifully and we are very happy with the result.
All the components needed to construct the cabin had been included and I did not even need to purchase a single screw or nail to complete it. In fact there was enough timber left over from the construction and the packing crate for me to make a substantial shelf rack and a very sturdy workbench (I did have to purchase the bench top).
It was an absolutely trouble free build, there were no hitches at all and I am absolutely delighted with the result!
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- Nice and spacious.
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- Plenty of space for model gliders!
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- Storage racking made entirely from wood and offcuts leftover from the packing crates, roof and floorboards.
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- Workbench frame made from surplus foundation timber, worktop purchased separately.
Conclusion
This whole process was by far the best overall customer experience that I have had from any organisation anywhere – ever.
The ordering was simple, queries were professionally and (unbelievably) quickly answered. Also, the website information was comprehensive, detailed, easy to follow and most importantly, in plain language. Delivery was exactly as arranged and the construction was straight forward, easy and fun.
The quality of all the components was top drawer. From the quality of the timber, the accuracy of the cuts to little things like stainless steel screws, plenty of nails etc. Which all means that my new log cabin is a high quality addition to my home. It has also added value to my property and that I will enjoy for many years to come.
Thanks to the Tuin team for an outstanding product and customer service!
There is absolutely no doubt that I will recommend Tuin with out any hesitation at all!
Thank you Mr B for this review! We are so glad that we was able to give you all of the support you needed- your Gunda Log Cabin looks amazing! We hope that you enjoy your new workshop and your gift from us for many years to come!
For more customer reviews like Mr B’s see: Pictorial Customer Reviews.
