Summers house and ☔

[snappyfish]

So last year I purchased a log cabin/summerhouse. We had some heavy rain last night and it drives into corners and I can see this never ever bring sorted.

I think it was badly built in first place. The interlocking sections in corners have slight gaps where water is getting in, I'm sick of it. It cost over 6k.

My question is can you clad an existing summerhouse?

UPDATE: Images added, The cabin pic in generic pic, but its same as mine.

Spoiler: The Cabin

Spoiler: The Corners

Spoiler: Leaky peaky :(

 

[KenGMac]

snappyfish, good evening.

Could be that the very, very dry hot summer we have had has allowed the timber to shrink a bit?

Any chance of some images, internal and external? may be that could allow other ideas to pop up?

Ken.

 

[RayCaister]

All genuine log cabins require chinking ...

 

[JohnD]

I've stayed in American log cabins. More modern ones have the timbers grooved so a loose tongue can be used to brace them together and reduce draughts and wildlife penetration. older ones have clay or lime pushed into the joints. It comes loose and falls out depending on the weather, and harbours wildlife.

I wasn't aware of those more modern products.

 

[snappyfish]

snappyfish, good evening.

Could be that the very, very dry hot summer we have had has allowed the timber to shrink a bit?

Any chance of some images, internal and external? may be that could allow other ideas to pop up?

Ken.

Updated posts with cabin pic (standard from the supplier) and pics of inside showing leaks and outside corners.

 

[big-all]

what have you treated it with to repel water ??

 

[snappyfish]

what have you treated it with to repel water ??

One tin of protek preserver clear provided by cabin makers. then 2 coats of Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus, then 3 coats of Sikkens Filter 7 plus.

 

[big-all]

0k my thoughts are the water is finding its way through because the treatment doesnt stop wicking as a waxy treatment might
are the half lap right angle joints a flat surface allowing penetration iff not tight ?

 

[snappyfish]

ok so regardless of why rain comes in, it could be interlocking sections are a poor fit, bad build or whatever.

Can I clad this summerhouse easily around the corners? Can I cut the corners down, so they do not stick out?

 

[big-all]

assuming the timbers are say 70 you could maybe cut flush then use say 5"/112mm coverage shiplap
with the grooves overlapping on the corner so the tapperd narrowed edge faces the wall middle
this stuff but avoid travis as they are expensive
https://www.travisperkins.co.uk/Redwood-Shiplap-Cladding-19mm-x-125mm-(Finished-size-14-5mm-x-119mm)/p/184002

 

[snappyfish]

assuming the timbers are say 70 you could maybe cut flush then use say 5"/112mm coverage shiplap
with the grooves overlapping on the corner so the tapperd narrowed edge faces the wall middle
this stuff but avoid travis as they are expensive
https://www.travisperkins.co.uk/Redwood-Shiplap-Cladding-19mm-x-125mm-(Finished-size-14-5mm-x-119mm)/p/184002

Timbers are 44mm

 

[big-all]

that would give you a decent overlap
you want at least 12mm thick preferably a bit more to allow pining at 90 degrees and you will be restricted in how arrow you can get without having you cut full lengths or rework edges

 

[snappyfish]

that would give you a decent overlap
you want at least 12mm thick preferably a bit more to allow pining at 90 degrees and you will be restricted in how arrow you can get without having you cut full lengths or rework edges

So just a little worried about cutting corner overlaps down. Will my cabin take the weight on extra cladding. hmm?

 

[big-all]

i personally would try some treatment that will repell the water first like ducksback on the outside but it colours like a paint and you dont get any wood through it
dont think you can remove the corner timbers without replacing with nails or screws as the horns will lock the structure together

 

[Notch7]

Log cabins are an inherently flawed design for the UKs damp environment and high rainfall.

Timber structures that trap water are doomed to leak and rot.

The best construction for timber construction is to build a frame, cover with breathable membrane, fit vertical timber battens, fit horizontal cladding.

The reason that works, is because the cladding acts as a weather protection, if it leaks it has a cavity behind so water can run out, also the cavity allows the cladding to breath and avoid water trapping.

I would either covers corners with tyvek housewrap, then use some tile battens, then clad vertically. Or I would cover whole structure with tyvek and clad with featheredge.