Full installation service

Let our experienced team of fitters do the work

We offer a full installation service which will be carried out by our team of experienced in-house fitters, or alternatively we can provide a ‘supply only’ service.

By choosing the ‘self build’ option this does not affect the warranty on the cabin nor the materials used in the process (e.g. roof shingles) however it does mean that the standard offering of the external walls being treated with a suitable wood preservative post installation would not apply.

A cabin will take our installation team approximately 2 days to unload, erect and treat and slightly longer for larger structures or double skin cabins. For a ‘self build’ this could well take longer again and should be factored in to the timings.

We can give you advice on

Important considerations

Before a cabin can be erected there are a few pre-requisites that must be considered first :-

  • Planning Permission
  • Foundations
  • Electricity
  • Drainage

Planning permission

Planning regulations can differ from area to area so our advice would be to contact your local Council Planning Department and speak to them about the rules governing where you live. As well as Planning Permission you will also have to consider whether or not you need a Building Warrant.

We are fully aware the planning process is perhaps the most daunting part of buying a log cabin so if you do have any questions please do not hesitate to ask us.

Most log cabins are designed so planning permission is not required but this will depend on the size of your cabin and the site where it is to be located so this should always be checked just to make 100% sure.

In Scotland planning permission is NOT required if you meet the following criteria :-

  • the cabin is NOT used as a bedroom
  • it is located to the rear of the property
  • it does NOT exceed 4 metres in height (3 metres to eaves)
  • any part of the building within 1 metre of the boundary does NOT exceed 2.5 metres in height
  • the cabin footprint is NOT greater than 50% of the properties outside space

For a more comprehensive guide on planning regulations please click here

FoundationsElectricityDrainageAftercare
There are a variety of different types of foundations that can be laid with the best solution being dependant on the size of the cabin, the ground conditions where it is going to be situated, budget and personal preference.

For large cabins the best solution is a concrete base laid to a thickness of 100mm-150mm with a damp proof membrane beneath on compacted hard core. Alternatively you could lay concrete paving slabs on compacted sand/hard core, build a timber frame supported on posts set in the ground or the cabin could be laid on concrete plinths buried into the ground at regular intervals.

The main thing is though it must be solid, flat, level and square, where square not only means the correct dimensions front and side but more importantly corner to corner.

If you are planning on having power in your cabin then this will have to be considered early doors. It is often a good idea to lay the cable at the same time as the work is being carried out on the foundations to save time and money. This work should be carried out by a fully qualified electrician who will be able to advise on the type of cable required and the specification of the fuse box to be installed in the cabin. A test certificate may well have to be produced as part of the Building Warrant process.

As part of the installation service offered we only carry out the electric works to ‘first fix’, meaning we will run the cables from where the fuse box is going to be situated in the cabin to the sockets/switches but won’t actually connect anything up.

In order to preserve the life expectancy of your cabin it is best to install gutters and drain pipes to take the rain water away, which in turn should be plumbed accordingly ideally in to the main drainage system for your house. Similar to running power to the cabin this work is best undertaken when the foundations and other preparatory work is taking place.
Once your cabin has been erected it is important that you treat it as soon as possible thereafter. If you took our installation package them the cabin will be treated with a preservative upon completion that should protect the exterior for 3-4 months after which time a fresh protective coating will have to be applied. Likewise the internal walls, roof and floor will need treatment too.

It is vital that in order to preserve the life of your cabin you maintain the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance programme for your chosen preservative.

“Having looked for some time at a range of outdoor studios from different suppliers we decided to go with Caledonia. We received great advice to help identify the best design for our space and proposed usage. Once we were happy with the drawings we placed our order. The building arrived on time and was erected in a couple of days. We’re very pleased with the quality especially for the price, real value”