Blog

Our blogs will help you get the most out of your garden. Here you will find more information on various topics such as garden trends, maintaining your decking, fence or log cabin and the difference between certain types of wood. But also about laws and regulations, what you can do in case of storm damage and the affordable design and sustainability of your garden. You can also read the latest news here, for example about the winners of the annual photo competition and developments within Tuin.

Our blogs will help you get the most out of your garden. Here you will find more information on various topics such as garden trends, maintaining your decking, fence or log cabin and the difference between certain types of wood. But also about laws and regulations, what you can do in case of storm damage and the affordable design and sustainability of your garden. You can also read the latest news here, for example about the winners of the annual photo competition and developments within Tuin.

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Shed base ideasA Storage Shed and a Log Cabin may look similar to the untrained eye, but they do differ. One main difference is how they’re built, see our Log Cabin Base Requirements blog for more details. However, before constructing your Storage Shed, much like a Log Cabin, you need to consider what you’re building it on. This blog will go over several shed base ideas to help give your shed the best chance of longevity.

Shed base ideas

Garden Storage IdeasYour garden space is a beautiful and open haven for you to escape your four walls and connect with nature. However, it can be very easy for your garden to become cluttered and tight on space. In this post, we’ll take a look at some Garden Storage Ideas no matter the size of your garden. From our Log Cabins, to Sheltered Structures, to Affordable Sheds, you are sure to find the best solution.

Garden Storage Ideas

Aluminium polycarbonate veranda kit | Install tutorialWhile we do sell a range of Garden Verandas. In this blog we will go through the benefits of our custom polycarbonate verandas and the installation process.

Aluminium polycarbonate veranda kit | Install tutorial

Garden BBQ & Dining ShelterIn Early May I had the wonderful opportunity to visit one of our Florida Garden BBQ Gazebos in Norwich, Norfolk. At the side of Rob & his partners back garden, the Florida Gazebo stands beautifully. With its very appealing tall asymmetrical barn style pitched roof complete with shingles making it a stunning garden shelter for many occasions. Rob and his partner have decided to use their Florida Gazebo as a shelter for their BBQ’s and a sheltered dining area. Whenever my family even mutters the word BBQ, the grey clouds appear out of nowhere! With the UK weather being so unpredictable, a shelter for outdoor cooking and dining is a must have!

Garden BBQ & Dining Shelter

Outdoor Utility Room and ShelterI recently had the opportunity to visit a customer who had purchased 3 of our log cabins for different purposes. One of their purchases was the Truus Log Cabin used as a Garden Games Room & Pub, another the Sadie Log Cabin used as a cosy garden snug and this one, the Freddy Log Cabin, an outdoor utility room with gazebo for outdoor seating.

Outdoor Utility Room and Shelter

Eco - Friendly wood fuel pelletsWood pellets uk, these are an increasingly popular alternative to traditional firewood for stoves and wood burners. Made from compressed sawdust and other wood waste products, wood pellets are a convenient, clean-burning, and sustainable source of heat. Our EN-Plus A1 Wood pellets are made and produced in Germany. These premium quality pellets are made from slow grown white wood, by recycling the offcuts from log cabin production we ensure no part of the tree is ever wasted PEFC certified, these biomass wood pellets are the perfect low in dust and ash heating solution for your pellet stove or boiler

Eco - Friendly wood fuel pellets

Garden shed pub - DIY - Log cabinWith our fantastic range and variety of log cabins our customers find all sorts of purposes for them. From summerhouses and gyms to studios and home offices. However one of our favourite and popular transformations is a garden shed pub / bar! This customer has done just that and created an incredible football themed garden shed pub called ‘The Hornet’s Nest’ after his club, Watford F.C.

Garden shed pub - DIY - Log cabin

The ultimate DIY wooden garage workshop - Log cabinMake the Most of Your Outdoor Space with the ULTIMATE DIY Geir Wooden Garage Workshop. I visited Mr Davison at his home in Meppershall, a hilltop village in Bedfordshire where he is using one of our Geir Garage Log Cabins as a garden workshop. Settled eloquently next to his beautiful house sits the equally stunning Geir Garage Log Cabin. The wooden garage provides an efficient and practical workspace for Mr Davison’s outdoor projects. With dimensions of 3.6 x 5.4 meters, this sturdy structure provides ample space for all of his workshop needs.

The ultimate DIY wooden garage workshop - Log cabin

Covered Outdoor Dining Area - Modern Maaseik Timber GazeboOur Modern Maaseik Spruce Gazebo is a stunning addition to any outdoor space. Measuring 4.0×6.0m, this gazebo is the perfect size for hosting outdoor dining events or simply enjoying the warm summer weather with friends and family. This is exactly what Mr Bewick provided for his daughter and her guests during her wedding reception in his grounds. The Gazebo provided a perfect covered outdoor dining area to take refuge from the hot sun whilst still being part of the celebrations.

Covered Outdoor Dining Area - Modern Maaseik Timber Gazebo

Timber garage carport - everHi, my name is Ben and I have the gratifying task of visiting our happy customers and their log cabins. In mid October my travels took me to Barton on the Beans, Leicestershire, where I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Garratt & his fantastic Ever Carport Log Cabin.

Timber garage carport - ever

Yorick log cabin featureOn the Yorick Log Cabin product page, we like to give you the nitty gritties of the dimensions, technical installation tips and the best features this garden office. But, on this page we let our previous customers voice their opinion on the Yorick Log Cabin and let them show you their thoughts, ideas and pictures! We may also have our team input why they desire that particular product too, so here goes.

Yorick log cabin feature

Log cabin treatment - TuinThis post will explain the Log Cabin Treatments we offer, but in other posts I talk about the importance of a good quality treatment which is correctly applied in regards to Log Cabins and what happens if it is not done well with the best products or not done at all, these posts are here: Log Cabin Treatment Panic Log Cabin Treatment Gone Wrong In these posts I gave general advice on treatment but did not talk about our own treatments and what we recommend if you choose to use them. Following some comments, this post focuses on answers in relation to our own Tuin Timber Treatments and using them alongside your log cabin.

Log cabin treatment - Tuin

Installation tips for log cabin foundation beamsWe offer a five Log Cabin Foundation Beam options. These beams are designed to sit between the first log and the base of your log cabin and act as sacrificial timber to prevent the first log ever sitting in water. Further details on bases can be found here: Log Cabin Base Advise. These are optional and do not have to be used within the build.

Installation tips for log cabin foundation beams

European larch timber and DouglasI love Larch Timber. It has such a wonderful colour and feel to it, a really lovely hue of pinks, oranges and yellows. We’ve recently built a raised decking area on our show site incorporating Larch decking, steps and balustrade, we built it around one of the very popular Tourist Gazebos and it really has worked very well.

European larch timber and Douglas

Decking - The usual methodGarden Decks, we love them and they have been growing in popularity ever since i started working in this industry. We have a range of different options to suit any situation and a great knowledge base on their construction. Decking is an affordable way to transfer a space in your garden into a useable space. We have a very helpful advice section below for those that choose to take on such an endeavor, Please enjoy!

Decking - The usual method

Summer house interior ideaA Summer House is the ideal addition to any garden. Likewise, it’s perfect for having a drink with your friends and family, or for working on your hobbies and interests. In this post, we’ve gathered examples and inspiration to give you some summer house interior ideas, including our own customers’ examples and trends.

Summer house interior idea

Tuin show site - Log cabins & moreWelcome to our Log Cabin and Garden Furniture Show Site. There’s no better place to experience our fantastic range of log cabins, garden furniture, summerhouses, pergolas and everything in between at the Tuin Show Site.

Tuin show site - Log cabins & more

Ongoing log cabin maintenanceHello and welcome to what we hope will be a useful guide towards the ongoing Log Cabin maintenance. Yes it may come as a surprise to some but just like a lot things in this world. Log cabins need attention every now and then, ensuring they operate as intended. As much as we would love to provide you with a completely self contained product that requires zero maintenance it simply isn’t possible with this sort of building. Please expect to have to perform the odd bit of aftercare.

Ongoing log cabin maintenance

Log cabin roof strengthLog Cabin Roof Strength – Sometimes we find ourselves at a bit of a disadvantage selling log cabins in the UK. The main reason being, standards, we have them but don’t really need them here!

Log cabin roof strength

Preparing you log cabin for the winterI’m sure you’ve noticed right now, but winter is coming, which for the UK means plenty of cold mornings, rain and, if we’re lucky, some snow. It’s time to consider some winter care and preparation! I feel like most people would love to just stay at home in a cosy room all day when it comes to winter, almost like hibernation, and one way you can find your area of peace and warmth is within your Log Cabin.

Preparing you log cabin for the winter

Laying EPDM on log cabin roofsFor flat or sloping roofs on our Log Cabins we normally supply roofing felt. However as an option we do have the far more superior roofing material of EPDM.

Laying EPDM on log cabin roofs

Cracking and splitting timberCracking and Splitting of Timber is a complete pain for our industry during the summer. It’s at this point we get customers questioning the ‘quality’ of our timber used in some of our products as some cracks and splits start to appear in items that use posts such as play equipment and gazebos. Thankfully, it’s not just us either, every single supplier of timber products for the garden gets exactly the same thing.

Cracking and splitting timber

Ventilation in log cabinsVentilation is something that is normally overlooked in a Log Cabin. Most of the time though it isn’t necessary. If you’re using it all year round as you’re wandering in and out the air will circulate nicely.

Ventilation in log cabins

Types of timber in your log cabinI have been emailing with a potential customer today and he asked me this: “I am still therefore split in my decision between your cabin and one other competitor. (An improvement on the eight I started with!). To this end, can you tell me the real issue over the timber quality with Companies that are using mixed pine/spruce as opposed to your materials? The other Company do this which seems to be the main difference as neither of you do finger jointing. Hopefully then I can make a better informed decision.” I explained in a very condensed version what the differences of timber are that are currently being used in log cabins across the industry but mainly in the UK. I think it was actually a bit of a ramble. However with a glass of wine in my hand I can write it a little better and more concisely here. If you are researching a log cabin it helps to know what you are getting. Like my customer asked, you can then make a fully informed decision:

Types of timber in your log cabin

Log cabin insulation - Floor and roofIf you were one of my customers and you were buying a lovely new log cabin from me, especially one of our thicker wall log cabins such as 50mm upwards, I would be strongly urging you to insulate at the least the floor of your new log cabin. I would also try to nudge log cabin insulation for the roof as well. You may also be interested in this post on double glazing, R and U values and Log cabin thermal properties: Double Glazing in Log Cabins

Log cabin insulation - Floor and roof

Fitting felt shingles for log cabinsWe use IKO as our supplier for felt shingles. We find them to be the best on the market, they’re also the easiest to use. All our Log Cabins and Gazebos are offered with them as an option. Here we have some helpful guidance and tips on fitting felt shingles.

Fitting felt shingles for log cabins

Planning permission for log cabinsBuying a Log Cabin is a tricky enough thing itself with so many suppliers, makes, models and specifications to choose from, in fact it’s a minefield. But deciding whether you’re going to need planning permission can be equally as arduous as buying the cabin in the first place. There are loads of rules about it and all gets very confusing. So, in this post I’m going to look at planning permission and permitted development. Hopefully give you some handy advice or at least some good pointers. Based on facts and referenced by the correct documents and the orders current at the moment. Let’s take a look…

Planning permission for log cabins

Gazebo installation adviceI love our gazebos, I think you are hard pressed to find a comparable product for the money and in the materials that are offered. They are now in pressure treated, tanalised timber or the cracking Larch timber. This page shows our full range of gazebos. Meanwhile let me take you through some Gazebo Installation Advice. Price of course is always a consideration when looking at products but I highly recommend you look at Larch, yes it’s more expensive but the benefits may just outway the extra outlay. The gazebo I am featuring in this article is the Samos Larch Rectangular Gazebo. This post is about my advice about the installation of Gazebos, please note it is ONLY my personal view, other people fitting these gazebos may have a better way of doing it.

Gazebo installation advice

Log cabin contractionThis post follows on from Mr Currie’s comments on my previous post about Contraction in Log Cabins

Log cabin contraction

How Long Does It Take To Fit A Log Cabin?I was sent some interesting pictures from a kind customer and it reminded me of all the times I’m asked: ‘How Long Does it Take to Fit a Log Cabin?’ This is a bit of a tough question really and I think it all comes down to trust, whether you trust Yourself, the Plans, the Product or the Company you are buying from and the advice and help you receive from them.

How Long Does It Take To Fit A Log Cabin?

Why Choose a Log Cabin?So why choose a Log Cabin? You’ve decided you need a building for your garden. It may be for a number of uses and what you intend to use it for will be based on what type of building you chose. The building options you have other than a purpose built brick construction are:

Why Choose a Log Cabin?

Depth of treatment and moisture content in woodI’ve spoken about the treatment of your log cabin in a previous post and I wanted to explain a little more about the importance of the depth of wood treatment which we recommend as 80 – 120 microns. I personally try to make it very clear to customers the importance of a good treatment. Poor treatment results in splits and cracks, shrunk logs, uneven logs and other horrible things. All of this is entirely down to the treatment you are using, especially the depth and quality of treatment! This post will give the technical aspects why we advise this, honestly I’m not making it up, there’s very good reasons for it:

Depth of treatment and moisture content in wood

Measurements of log cabinsI have known some potential customers to have some confusion when referring to measurements of log cabins and this post will help to make it clearer, also, if you are looking at other suppliers generally they will use the same ones so this may help when looking at other options as well. Please note though I have found a couple of UK companies measure from the roof overhang so it is worth clarifying this point if you are buying elsewhere.

Measurements of log cabins

Log cabin glass removalLog Cabin glass removal. You may have a need to remove the glass from your doors or windows for maintenance or to paint behind. Most log cabins will have removable beading on the frame and it’s pretty straightforward to remove. Below is how I remove the glass without causing any damage. It may help you should you wish to take yours out for whatever reason. It’s straightforward to do and takes a few minutes to accomplish.

Log cabin glass removal

Fitting log cabin doorsWhen fitting Log Cabin Doors – No matter how good a fitter you are, with the most perfect eye you will always need to adjust the door frame during the install, especially if it is a double set of doors. This will need to be done to have a 100% perfect fit. It may also need to be done over the life of a log cabin due to seasonal variations in moisture content, direct sun, direct weather, all of which will affect the cabin. Of course as I talk about in previous posts, treatment makes a huge difference to this and how susceptible the doors or windows are to these changes.

Fitting log cabin doors

Log cabin warping and contractionAt certain times of the year I will get the odd complaint about our Log Cabins regarding warping and contraction from buildings installed in the Autumn and Winter, Early Spring. The height of the complaints will come in around July and August. Some customers will be nice and ask for advice, others will launch into a big complaint and are not very pleasant to deal with on occasions. I then gently walk through the problem with them until we resolve it. 100% of the time it is the customer’s own making. The pleasant guy asking for advice locate the problem and we solve it. The unpleasant guy will demand we go on site and then find the problem for them and all of the time it’s when they paid a ‘Qualified Carpenter’ or a ‘Qualified Joiner’ to install the building as it cannot be their fault. Unpleasant guy then gets very upset when we charge for our attendance. To solve this I thought I would write a quick post about this seasonal complaint. Here’s a few examples of log cabin warping:

Log cabin warping and contraction

Log cuts in log cabinsLog Cuts in Log Cabins, This short article is the second in my timber series which tries to explain the types of timber we can use in log cabins. In this post I will try to explain how we can muck about with the timber to give you a really good price. But is it really good quality? Do you really want it? The first in the series is here: Types of Timber in your Log Cabin

Log cuts in log cabins

Electrics in log cabinsWhen we buy a Log Cabin there are a lot of considerations, not only what it looks like but the size, style, the quality of the log cabin and price. We also have to consider whether it is permitted development or whether it needs planning permission. If we want to have electrics in our log cabins we also have to consider Building Regulations. As well as being a reasonable fitter I do have experience of electrics in log cabins as I’m also a qualified electrician.

Electrics in log cabins

Expansion / Contraction in log cabinsExpansion / Contraction in Log Cabins is very commonon with the first year of life. However this is all to do with how timber naturally acts. We know that Log Cabins move, and certainly within the first year of life they can move a lot. I explain this in an article about moisture content in log cabins. It greatly affects the expansion and contraction of the wall logs.

Expansion / Contraction in log cabins

Log cabin treatment, panicYou’ve got your brand new Log Cabin. It’s up and it’s chucking it down, it’s January with record rainfall, floods everywhere and your poor log cabin is bare wood, soaked… You need treatment don’t you? – PANIC! No need to panic! Wait a little while, relax, stop worrying about her, she’ll be fine for years – sort of!

Log cabin treatment, panic

Garden verandas from TuinWe normally just supply and deliver the Garden Veranda kit ready for self-assembly following our step by step English instructions and videos. But in this instance our own fitting team performed the installation on their behalf. This presented us with a unique opportunity for one our young apprentices. A chance both viewing and helping with one of these things going together. It also allowed us to hear a younger person’s point of view. This also helped us understand some of the key concerns that our potential customers may have before ordering

Garden verandas from Tuin

Install a log cabin - Fitting tipsI’ve written this to give as many tips as I can to help YOU install your log cabin. This will include more information over time, but hopefully what I have done so far will help you and give you some confidence. This post is aimed at customers who would like to install a Log cabins on their own but are a little worried or inexperienced. Before we start – Remember: fitting a log cabin is EASY and very rewarding. It is also for customers who have an installer lined up but want to know how it is done properly. There’s a few hints at the beginning to make sure they are!

Install a log cabin - Fitting tips

Timber deliveriesWe here at Tuin offer a wide range of Garden Timber used for all manners of projects. But with timber, as any merchant will tell you, delivery can sometimes be tricky due to the lengths they’re sold in and the overall weight. If we were lucky enough to have a number of branches scattered all over the UK then it would be easier. We could employ our own local drivers on our own fleet of flatbeds. However we aren’t quite there yet and only have the one depot here in Norfolk.

Timber deliveries

Garden shed insulationA crucial aspect often overlooked for garden buildings. As the temperature drops and winter sets in, ensuring your garden shed is well-insulated becomes essential for both comfort and functionality. Whether your shed serves as a summerhouse or a storage space, the right insulation can make a significant difference.

Garden shed insulation

Garden decking guideWith Summer ending, you may find that you have more time on your hands. So why not use this to your advantage and spruce up your garden ready for next year? With some garden decking you can really spruce up your garden. Why not choose one out our decking options for simplicity and ease? In this article you will be presented with our preferred decking ideas and handy recommendations that will help you have the perfect decking at your house.

Garden decking guide

Log cabin connectionsIf you’re looking to buy a log cabin and are looking for advice, if you take nothing else away from my blogs and ramblings please at least read this one and check with your log cabin supplier they use these log cabin joints. We’ve got something we call Wind and Watertight Connections in the corner where our logs interlock. They’re pretty much the standard these days for any good manufacturer of log cabins as it is really very bad not to joint using this system or a variation of it. It’s not something we shout about and nor do many other companies who use them as it should be a standard feature. Not using a W&W joint leads to lots of problems in the future for the log cabin. It does though save the manufacturer a lot of money in machining costs and machinery. No one in the UK would be that cheap to save on manufacturing costs, would they?

Log cabin connections

Log cabin treatment gone wrongAs I’m writing this it is January 2017 the log cabin treatment is relevant as you read this post. Occasionally we will receive pictures asking for advice on log cabin treatment when something has obviously gone wrong with a log cabin. We can also receive complaints about log cabin treatment that has been applied to our log cabins from customers who have used our own treatment or other log cabin treatment we have recommended, and things can go wrong. Please see this page for our advice on the treatment of log cabins with our recommended treatments, ours and also others.

Log cabin treatment gone wrong

Pent installation roof adviceA little insight to how you can format the parts of our Modern log cabins. If you would like to follow along to a video tutorial, see our Installing a Pent Log Cabin video filled with tips on ensuring the longevity of your Log Cabin. So you have built up your new log cabin up to roof height and you will come across a sight like the one below. Now comes the installation of your Pent Roof.

Pent installation roof advice