How to start building the walls of your log cabin or summerhouse
Once you’ve installed the base and foundation beams of your log cabin or summerhouse, it’s time to start building up the wall.
This is when your building project comes together and starts to look like a garden building. Tuin log cabins and summerhouses are built using interlocking logs which makes our models simple to build but accuracy is required for the best results and to protect your building over the long term. Making errors now can affect the fit of windows, doors and even the roof at the later stages of the build so it’s essential to get it right as you go along.
In this blog, we’ll explain how to start assembling the walls of your log cabin, the checks to make during installation and ensure your build gets off to the best start.
Building the first five layers of wall logs
By this stage, you should have secured the first logs to your foundation beams and the perimeter of your log cabin or summerhouse should already be established. Rather than constructing one wall to full height at a time, you will work around the building and add each layer evenly.
We recommend adding the first five layers of logs and then stopping to carry out a number of checks to ensure the walls are square and level vertically. Performing these checks now prevents issues later on during the build and helps to provide the best results.
Check your log cabin is square
Log cabins rely on a precise interlocking system so even a small difference or inconsistency can become a larger problem as more layers are added. The easiest method is to measure diagonally from corner to corner to ensure the building is square. Measure from the front left corner to the rear right corner and again from the front right corner to the rear left corner.
If both measurements are identical, the building is square. If they ’re not, you’ll need to make a few adjustments before you continue for the best results.
Check the walls are vertically level
Alongside checking your building is square, we recommend you also check that the walls are vertically level. Use a spirit level against the sections of wall and corner joints to ensure they’re level.
Walls that aren’t level can cause issues with windows, doors, roof fitting and cause long-term problems such as warping, splitting and cracking, all of which can affect the overall performance of your garden building. Catching these issues now makes it much easier to correct them.
Fitting the door and window frames
At this point, the structure will have enough strength to fit the window and door frames.
Read our guide on how to build and install a log cabin or summerhouse door frame and how to fit a window in your log cabin or summerhouse for more details on this stage of your build.
Or, you can watch our full videos on these topics:
Continue building to roof height
Once your doors and windows have been installed, you can keep building up all four walls to roof height. Continue working around the cabin and adding each layer gradually to keep the pressure equal across the structure and ensure everything stays aligned.
You’ll then add the top wall logs which include cut outs for the doors and windows and mean your garden building is ready for the next stage of installation.
Installing the final layer of wall logs
The final logs of your building sit between the wall logs and the roof. These logs have an angle or chamfer at the top rather than a tongue and groove which ensures they sit flush with the pitch of the roof.
At this stage, we recommend checking again that your building is square, level and that everything is positioned correctly. Performing these checks now will help to ensure your roof installation goes smoothly.
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Your log cabin or summerhouse is starting to take shape
At this stage of the installation, your garden building is really starting to come together. Taking the time to ensure you’re building the wall logs evenly and that your building is square will help the rest of the installation process to run smoothly. Small adjustments made as you go along will help to prevent problems later and protect your log cabin over the long-term.
What’s the next stage of installation?
For further advice and guidance on building your log cabin or summerhouse, contact our expert customer service team.