Aileen wanted a studio to give her a place to paint since she has now decided to paint full time. A log cabin in the garden seemed the ideal way to create a studio. (Aileen’s website) This was to be a ’self build project’ to minimize costs and we decided on a 3m x 4m Gotland cabin with 44mm thick walls and double glazing throughout. The cabin was supplied by the Barras Shed Company, Glasgow.

Because the garden slopes unevenly we used decking posts driven into the ground to form the foundations for the cabin to stand on and also to provide a firm base. We laid a layer of gravel and landscape fabric to suppress the weeds.

The cabin kit came from Estonia and comes with a detailed parts list, (very necessary given the number of parts) and detailed plans with written instructions on how to build the cabin. Work started by assembling the base frame and setting this on the prepared foundations.

The first four pieces of the walls are then screwed to the base frame and since these pieces are interlocking and fit the base exactly. Each layer of ‘shaped logs’ is built up on the one underneath and because the tongue and grooved ‘logs’ are precisely machined, building up the walls is very quick and easy.

After 5 layers were built up, the door and its frame were slotted into the gap in the front wall. The door and frame comes ready assembled with glass, handles and a lock and keys. At level 6 the windows and frames are slotted in and again these come ready assembled with glass, hinges and all fittings. (All necessary screws, nails, roofing nails and roof tiles etc are included in the kit.)

Once all four walls are assembled to the correct height, the pre-assembled triangular gables are erected at each end and attached to the vertical walls with screws.

Three roof trusses slot into and are fixed to the gables making the whole assembly rigid.

The tongue and groove roof-boards are then nailed in place as are the floorboards and the structure of the cabin is complete. It only remains then to lay the asphalt roof-tiles on the roof and the structure is watertight.

Because the studio is to be used in the (Scottish) winter as well as summer, it was decided to insulate it thoroughly. A 25mm layer of polystyrene sheet  covered with 8mm MDF was used to line the walls and polystyrene and plywood was used to line the ceiling.

The floorboards werecovered with fibreboard insulation and ‘Cushionfloor’ and a qualified electrician installed a power supply for lighting and heating, but because of the very good insulation, the electricity costs should be minimised.

The interior was painted with emulsion and the roof beams, door and window frames stained. The outside wood was treated with wood-stain and a water-proof sealant (free with the kit) and the studio was ready for use.

Altogether for an outlay of about £4500 this was a very Successful do it yourself project and is well with the range of ability for any competent DIY person.

Mike Wrennall

The cabin was built by Mike Wrennall ably helped by Laurie McCulloch who as well as being skilled in DIY also designed Aileen’s website. (Google Weblomania)

Mike Wrennall

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