Just stumbled on your channel,it's great and really helpful. Especially when more and more ppl are going down this route in the UK. I've got a log cabin on order and seeing yours fills me with confidence that I made the right choice! Thank you
Thanks for saying that man, it takes a while to make the videos so I'm glad they are valuable to people! If you have questions or things you want to see, please chuck me ideas for more content!
Good to see this after the first video on how you got it built. Did you have to get planing permission to do this in the garden? I'm thinking of such in my back yard in Essex.
Yeah it's been a few years and all still pretty much the same! Would do more videos but out of ideas...I've redecorated a bit is all! These particular cabin are specifically built at the leg height so don't require permission. You can read more on the Dunster House website (your mileage may vary. But I've never had an issue)
Great idea to share stuff like this as so many of us are thinking along the same lines for work space. Could you share a link to the heater you bought which sounds like it really does the trick! (Just to save me (us) trawling Amazon ..? :)
@@BenMilsom this is too cute - have subscribed (and liked and commented now!) enjoyed your first video on log cabin office. thinking of getting one myself (but need to get a v small one)
Thanks for sharing the video. Your cabin looked epic !!! Has helped out with my eases at getting one of the Duntershouse homes. Could I be cheeky and ask you some questions. Did you have the floor and roof insulated? What’s the flooring feel like is it sturdy or would you recommend adding addition flooring. Did the cabin feel damp over winter. What roofing option did you take. So sorry for all the questions, thank you in advance :)
Hey no worries! There's not many videos about life "inside" one of these after it's built! I had all these questions too and am so relieved (6months in) that all my fears are put to rest. Yeah floor and roof insulated, in my other video I go through the Dunster website and show the exact one I chose and the additions. Flooring is fine and sturdy. I stuck a thick rubber underlay (for insulation) and a grey carpet on top of it. Gets muddy with kids and a dog but worth it! I have a humidity and thermometer device. Humidity stayed at 40-50% all the way through the winter. There's never been any condensation inside the windows. It's never felt damp at all. When it was super cold and I wasn't heating it, inside it felt just as cold as outside but never damp. I've got a wide range of electronic devices in here that are all fine.
Hi Ben, Thanks for the upload! Have you had any issues with your electrics such as monitor or PC in the winter? Cautious about condensation breaking something!
Hi! Never seen condensation inside the cabin. I have a humidity monitor, but it's pretty much sat at 45-55% the entire time. So never had any issues with tech thankfully!
Hi mate, Almost finished building a fully insulated log cabin, and intend to use it as a studio (music) Couple of questions if thats ok? Now that its been a couple of years, have you had any structural problems? I inted to leave musical equipment and pc (tower) in there, and you spoke about extreme temperature changes etc. Do you think it is safe (from a temperature/moisture etc type way) to leave electricals in there etc. I will say that ours will be double glazed and UPVC doors and windows etc. Many thanks, Dave
Glad this video still has legs! Nothing major, some moisture encroachment in one of the corners, I managed to hopefully deal with that by digging a soakaway and improving the guttering. It's definitely still seeping between the logs when it rains, but it's not noticeable and this summer after as much sun as possible I'm gonna apply some silicon along the exterior corner. No damp, no smells, occasional spiders and woodlice. There's never been any condensation and all my electronics are totally fine. I work in the "shack" every day and expect it'll be stood there another 10 years easily. Neighbour next door has a similar cabin that's 15 years old! Only regret is not figuring out or buying something better insulated. Winters are cold and require I blast x2 oil filled radiators most of the day. Annoying when the smart plugs don't turn on and I come to work and it's 2 degrees 🥶
What size airflow vents would I need at the too of each end for ventilation on a 10ft square cabin. I have bought mini ones will that be enough thanks.
Hey Sharon, this cabin came with x2 pre-cut ventilation holes at the centre front and back of the building. They are about 10cm in diameter. I've been working in here daily since Nov 2020 and have never felt a breeze or like it was overly stuffy or hot. However, with summer coming in I am definitely feeling the heat! So I will be investigating airflow options and making a video once it gets really consistently hot!
No, I haven't touched the interior walls. I read somewhere to expect the logs to settle and breathe for the first 2 years. So I can already see some unpainted joins on the exterior where the gaps between the logs have opened a few mm's (apparently all part and parcel of the process, and they aren't true gaps, just a bit of space between the tongue and grooves). In a year or 2, I'll probably redecorate once I know the entire thing has settled fully. Another vid here showing the interior more closely - ruclips.net/video/Xz6LzWHSqxA/видео.html
Ben, what sort of insulation do you have in the walls/ roof? Any regrest going for a Dunster House Log Cabin rather than Garden Room? I'm in Edinburgh so overall insulation is definitely more of a concern than in the balmy South!
Hi! Walls aren't insulated. Just 45mm logs. Floor and roof insulation is the additional stuff from the website (see my video "how much did my garden room cost" where I show what I purchased from Dunster). No regrets so far. Structurally the cabin is sound, I survived Oct-Feb coldest temps in comfort although electric bill for radiator shot up. Carpet helps make it feel like a room (and I laid thick rubber underlay) However today no radiator all day and it hit 28 degrees at 6:30pm! So now I need to look at aircon or fans.... How cold does it get in Edinburgh winters?
@@BenMilsom 😳 Shows how good an insulator wood is, though I don't think I could get away with it up here. I was thinking of going overboard, 100mm PIR in the walls. 👍
@@nialstewart8263 yeah better safe than freezing your arse off paying for electricity bills! Today the cabin is 31 degrees inside, so I need to start finding a way to cool off in the summer without running an AC machine!
@@BenMilsom Insulation in the walls? 😳 🤣. Can you install air vents high up that would allow the warmest air out, and draw air in low down somewhere to get some flow? Get vents you can close over winter. ?
@@BenMilsom It's hard to see from the videos what angle the sun hits the garden room, is it the walls or the roof that are ginving off the most heat? If the walls around the side/ back can you paint them with a solar reflecting paint? Same for the roof ? This might sound ridiculous but what about a sail cloth screen over the entire thing? 4 big posts on the corners would do it and you could take it down for the winter. ?
Hey! No condensation issues at all - the windows have never steamed up etc. My humidity sits at 45-50% during my working (heated) hours. If I leave the cabin unheated and unoccupied for a weekend it might be at 75%. However, I've definitely had moisture creep in from the exterior at some of the corners. Leaving small areas in the corners very dark/black and damp. Not fun, and probably due to the way my (inexperienced) builders put the thing up. They didn't place any DPM, so the cabin and bearers are siting straight on the concrete slab. I've dug a soakaway behind the cabin, and drastically improved the guttering system to keep moisture away from the foundation slab as much as possible. But it's still creeping in. Not wet drips, just slow darkening of the wood in the corners. In summer 2023 when it's been really hot and dry for a few weeks I have plans to try and seal it up, but it's confusing figuring out where the moisture is coming in from.
@@BenMilsom Thanks for the reply mate, that sounds a bit of a nightmare. I made sure my builder did exactly that, laying the DPM under each bearer, just hope I don’t get the same problem. The issue I’m having at the moment is when the cabin has stood over night and my oil filled radiator cones on in the morning, anything metal or hard surface becomes wet, due to cold air meeting warm. Just worried about TV, Laptop etc. Hope you get it sorted with remedial works.
@@blade123able strangely I've never had that problem. It warms up without any condensation on my computer, cameras etc. I wonder what the difference is!? DPM sounds sensible, but it wasn't in the instruction booklet so my builders overlooked it 😑 - not the end of the world, still love the space and run my business from it. Maybe I'll do a 3 year update in the summer!
Just stumbled on your channel,it's great and really helpful. Especially when more and more ppl are going down this route in the UK. I've got a log cabin on order and seeing yours fills me with confidence that I made the right choice! Thank you
Thanks for saying that man, it takes a while to make the videos so I'm glad they are valuable to people! If you have questions or things you want to see, please chuck me ideas for more content!
Thanks most helpful. You didn't say how much you paid in electric. I have I stalled a small wood burner. Always warm in the summer house now
It would have been a great investment to have insulated the cabin!
Perhaps! But it was another 50% up front cost. Lots of options on the Dunster website though
Good to see this after the first video on how you got it built. Did you have to get planing permission to do this in the garden? I'm thinking of such in my back yard in Essex.
Yeah it's been a few years and all still pretty much the same! Would do more videos but out of ideas...I've redecorated a bit is all!
These particular cabin are specifically built at the leg height so don't require permission. You can read more on the Dunster House website (your mileage may vary. But I've never had an issue)
Great idea to share stuff like this as so many of us are thinking along the same lines for work space. Could you share a link to the heater you bought which sounds like it really does the trick! (Just to save me (us) trawling Amazon ..? :)
Thanks. Yeah it's totally changed my work lifestyle, can't recommend it enough! There's Amazon links in the descriptions for both types of heaters 👍👍
Can you have sleepovers in the Summer ?
Only if invited
@@BenMilsom this is too cute - have subscribed (and liked and commented now!) enjoyed your first video on log cabin office. thinking of getting one myself (but need to get a v small one)
Thanks for sharing the video. Your cabin looked epic !!!
Has helped out with my eases at getting one of the Duntershouse homes. Could I be cheeky and ask you some questions.
Did you have the floor and roof insulated?
What’s the flooring feel like is it sturdy or would you recommend adding addition flooring.
Did the cabin feel damp over winter.
What roofing option did you take.
So sorry for all the questions, thank you in advance :)
Hey no worries! There's not many videos about life "inside" one of these after it's built!
I had all these questions too and am so relieved (6months in) that all my fears are put to rest.
Yeah floor and roof insulated, in my other video I go through the Dunster website and show the exact one I chose and the additions.
Flooring is fine and sturdy. I stuck a thick rubber underlay (for insulation) and a grey carpet on top of it. Gets muddy with kids and a dog but worth it!
I have a humidity and thermometer device. Humidity stayed at 40-50% all the way through the winter. There's never been any condensation inside the windows. It's never felt damp at all.
When it was super cold and I wasn't heating it, inside it felt just as cold as outside but never damp. I've got a wide range of electronic devices in here that are all fine.
@@BenMilsom thank you so much for replying ! :)
Hi Ben, Thanks for the upload! Have you had any issues with your electrics such as monitor or PC in the winter? Cautious about condensation breaking something!
Hi! Never seen condensation inside the cabin. I have a humidity monitor, but it's pretty much sat at 45-55% the entire time. So never had any issues with tech thankfully!
Hi mate,
Almost finished building a fully insulated log cabin, and intend to use it as a studio (music)
Couple of questions if thats ok?
Now that its been a couple of years, have you had any structural problems?
I inted to leave musical equipment and pc (tower) in there, and you spoke about extreme temperature changes etc. Do you think it is safe (from a temperature/moisture etc type way) to leave electricals in there etc.
I will say that ours will be double glazed and UPVC doors and windows etc.
Many thanks,
Dave
Glad this video still has legs!
Nothing major, some moisture encroachment in one of the corners, I managed to hopefully deal with that by digging a soakaway and improving the guttering.
It's definitely still seeping between the logs when it rains, but it's not noticeable and this summer after as much sun as possible I'm gonna apply some silicon along the exterior corner.
No damp, no smells, occasional spiders and woodlice.
There's never been any condensation and all my electronics are totally fine.
I work in the "shack" every day and expect it'll be stood there another 10 years easily.
Neighbour next door has a similar cabin that's 15 years old!
Only regret is not figuring out or buying something better insulated. Winters are cold and require I blast x2 oil filled radiators most of the day. Annoying when the smart plugs don't turn on and I come to work and it's 2 degrees 🥶
Hi, where did you get your shelves from in the background? Thanks
Hey! They are from the Ikea FJÄLLBO range. I just wanted to line the walls for storage. I'll do an interior design video soon!
What size airflow vents would I need at the too of each end for ventilation on a 10ft square cabin. I have bought mini ones will that be enough thanks.
Hey Sharon, this cabin came with x2 pre-cut ventilation holes at the centre front and back of the building. They are about 10cm in diameter. I've been working in here daily since Nov 2020 and have never felt a breeze or like it was overly stuffy or hot.
However, with summer coming in I am definitely feeling the heat! So I will be investigating airflow options and making a video once it gets really consistently hot!
Hi. Did you treat the inside walls with any wood preserver/stain etc or just the outside
No, I haven't touched the interior walls. I read somewhere to expect the logs to settle and breathe for the first 2 years. So I can already see some unpainted joins on the exterior where the gaps between the logs have opened a few mm's (apparently all part and parcel of the process, and they aren't true gaps, just a bit of space between the tongue and grooves).
In a year or 2, I'll probably redecorate once I know the entire thing has settled fully.
Another vid here showing the interior more closely - ruclips.net/video/Xz6LzWHSqxA/видео.html
Ben, what sort of insulation do you have in the walls/ roof? Any regrest going for a Dunster House Log Cabin rather than Garden Room? I'm in Edinburgh so overall insulation is definitely more of a concern than in the balmy South!
Hi! Walls aren't insulated. Just 45mm logs. Floor and roof insulation is the additional stuff from the website (see my video "how much did my garden room cost" where I show what I purchased from Dunster).
No regrets so far. Structurally the cabin is sound, I survived Oct-Feb coldest temps in comfort although electric bill for radiator shot up. Carpet helps make it feel like a room (and I laid thick rubber underlay)
However today no radiator all day and it hit 28 degrees at 6:30pm! So now I need to look at aircon or fans....
How cold does it get in Edinburgh winters?
@@BenMilsom 😳 Shows how good an insulator wood is, though I don't think I could get away with it up here. I was thinking of going overboard, 100mm PIR in the walls. 👍
@@nialstewart8263 yeah better safe than freezing your arse off paying for electricity bills! Today the cabin is 31 degrees inside, so I need to start finding a way to cool off in the summer without running an AC machine!
@@BenMilsom Insulation in the walls? 😳 🤣. Can you install air vents high up that would allow the warmest air out, and draw air in low down somewhere to get some flow? Get vents you can close over winter. ?
@@BenMilsom It's hard to see from the videos what angle the sun hits the garden room, is it the walls or the roof that are ginving off the most heat? If the walls around the side/ back can you paint them with a solar reflecting paint? Same for the roof ? This might sound ridiculous but what about a sail cloth screen over the entire thing? 4 big posts on the corners would do it and you could take it down for the winter. ?
Hi, great vid mate. Do you have any problems with condensation inside the cabin when the heating kicks in? Any feedback much appreciated
Hey! No condensation issues at all - the windows have never steamed up etc. My humidity sits at 45-50% during my working (heated) hours. If I leave the cabin unheated and unoccupied for a weekend it might be at 75%.
However, I've definitely had moisture creep in from the exterior at some of the corners. Leaving small areas in the corners very dark/black and damp.
Not fun, and probably due to the way my (inexperienced) builders put the thing up. They didn't place any DPM, so the cabin and bearers are siting straight on the concrete slab.
I've dug a soakaway behind the cabin, and drastically improved the guttering system to keep moisture away from the foundation slab as much as possible. But it's still creeping in. Not wet drips, just slow darkening of the wood in the corners.
In summer 2023 when it's been really hot and dry for a few weeks I have plans to try and seal it up, but it's confusing figuring out where the moisture is coming in from.
@@BenMilsom Thanks for the reply mate, that sounds a bit of a nightmare. I made sure my builder did exactly that, laying the DPM under each bearer, just hope I don’t get the same problem.
The issue I’m having at the moment is when the cabin has stood over night and my oil filled radiator cones on in the morning, anything metal or hard surface becomes wet, due to cold air meeting warm. Just worried about TV, Laptop etc. Hope you get it sorted with remedial works.
@@blade123able strangely I've never had that problem. It warms up without any condensation on my computer, cameras etc.
I wonder what the difference is!? DPM sounds sensible, but it wasn't in the instruction booklet so my builders overlooked it 😑 - not the end of the world, still love the space and run my business from it. Maybe I'll do a 3 year update in the summer!
@@BenMilsom looking forward to warmer weather, thanks again and enjoy 👍