Keops Interlock - Design Guide for Keops Log Cabins

If you've seen something that you like, then get in touch for a log cabin quote. You can fill in our form, phone, fax, email or write to us. All the details are below -

01386 861961 (or fax)

best@logcabins.co.uk

Fill in our online form

Placing your order

A deposit of 20% is required at the time of order. You will receive an order confirmation, deposit invoice, plus a "What Happens Next" letter, a timetable of events, insulation fitting instructions (if applicable) & preservative treatment information.

An invoice for the balance of payment will be sent to you approximately 2 weeks prior to your cabin delivery.

Our normal opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. We are able to make arrangements outside of the above mentioned hours and at weekends, however, in ALL cases, visits are by appointment only so that we can allocate a member of staff to be present to devote adequate time to our visiting customers.

Bearing in mind that most of our cabins are being made fresh especially for you to your design requirements, we need a sensible time frame in which to process the order, design, schedule production, source correct high grades of raw materials, manufacture, package and transport.

This is reliably achieved in 6 weeks on average.
more on delivery time

All of our delivery lorries are equipped with Moffat Mounty / Kooi fork lift trucks on board.

These are incredibly versatile machines, that allow the driver to offload the cabin packs from the side of the lorry, travel a short distance and place the pack as close to your build site as is possible.
more on delivery

We do offer an efficient installation service nationwide, although the majority of our customers take enjoyment from self assembly and we are available 24/7 to provide expert advice over the telephone should the need arise.
Installation details

Choose the cabin size width x depth. This is usually based on available space at the site or space required for the intended use of the building or sometimes based on a maximum budget. You can choose a rectangular, square, L shaped or other shaped cabin footprint.

All dimensions are measured to the outside faces of the walls. The building will be slightly larger where the wall logs project from the corner of the cabin approx. 100 mm in each direction. You should also allow space for roof overhangs (see the table for measurements), and space to get around the cabin to maintain and decorate.

For clarity when explaining the cabin, the "Front Wall" is the main focal wall. For a Classic or Cottage style cabin, the gable wall is the pointed gable end wall and the eaves wall is the wall that runs parallel to the ridge of the roof and along which the gutters will run. The standard ridge height depends on the cabin width and can be worked out using the information in our data and calculations table.

Choice of log thickness will depend on the scale of the building and its intended use and sometimes just vanity. We can offer much advice and experience to help. Read about the type of pine we use.

Wall log thickness may be 28 mm, 33mm, 45mm or 56mm. The maximum length of cabin wall for 28 mm log is 3350 mm. The maximum length of cabin wall for 33mm log is 6000 mm.
  

Roof Styles

We offer a number of different roof styles. All have a "roof ridge" which is the highest horizontal length of the roof. The rain falls down from the 'roof ridge' to the 'roof eaves'.

The Classic roof ridge with the standard 19 degree pitch - (other degree pitches are available as an option)

The cottage ridge with a steep 42 degree pitch

The Dutch roof with dual pitches of 42 degrees at the eaves and 24 degrees at the top

 

The Quatra / Penta roof which is hipped to provide four slopes

The Moderna roof looks flat but does have a slight fall hidden behind the fascia

Roof Orientation

The roof can be orientated so that the ROOF RIDGE direction runs between the front wall and the back wall OR the right wall and left wall. In other words the ridge direction runs right angles to the front wall OR parallel to the front wall.

Ridge direction runs between the front wall and the back wall.

 

 

 

 

The ridge direction runs between the right wall and the left wall.

All our cabins (except the "Moderna" range) come with felt shingles included in the price. These are superglass bitumous felt shingles which are available in black, green or brown. Click here for more information on roof shingles. There are also different options available such as Cambridge shingles, Metro tiles, metal profile roofing or cedar shingles.

You may add any amount of door and windows to your cabin, taking into account the available space for the size of units selected. See below the choice of windows and doors and their relative sizes. You also can choose from several glazing options or our UPVC system.

Doors

Windows

If you are considering a highly insulated and/or extra secure cabin you may wish to consider upgrading to UPVC windows and doors. The frames are Golden Oak wood grain effect or white and have built in seals against the cabin. Opening sashes are sealed to the frame and have locking window handles operating escutcheons.

Glazing is 24mm Pilkington “K” Low E toughened safety glass where appropriate. Doors have low profile sealed sills and high quality locks and handles.

For more information read our section on glazing

The standard supply of doors and windows are glazed in 4mm float glass. You may upgrade to one of the following -

4mm toughened safety glass
4/6/4mm double glazed float glass
4/6/4 mm double glazed toughened safety glass

We also offer the option of double glazing. Please see the UPVC Windows & Doors section.

For more information read our section on glazing

The floor price includes 19 mm tongue and groove pine floor boards and the supporting network of 58 mm x 58 mm pressure treated floor bearers.

See our information about floor insulation

You may need extra height in the cabin. Each extra log level increases the height by 130 mm.

It might be necessary to add extra height if your cabin exceeds 4500 mm in depth to provide greater head room under the roof truss or trusses that would be necessary at this depth and at each 4500 mm extra length.

Furthermore you should consider the items of furniture or gym equipment for example.

Perhaps you would like to add a roof overhanging canopy at the front of the cabin.

Generally canopies are supported at the sides with the upper four levels of logs extending by increasing amounts. 1m and 1.5 m canopies are self supporting. Canopies above 1.5m depth require supporting posts which are included in the price. The price for the canopy includes the extra felt shingle roof covering needed.

Perhaps you would like to add a veranda. This includes the balustrade in the same log thickness as the cabin and the 22mm thick pressure treated decking boards and the 58 x 58mm bearers.

Generally the balustrade will have a gateway, of equivalent width to the door opposite the door.

We offer floor insulation to a comfort level U = 0.4 W/m2K. We can provide floor insulation to meet building regulations for a dwelling U = 0.22 W/m2K which is priced on application.

Our method utilises a 50 mm thick high density rigid ureathane insulation panel between the floor bearers under the floor. We include for enclosing the floor perimeter to restrict entry from nesting animals etc.

Read more about floor insulation

Roof insulation is of primary benefit -

to conserve heat energy in the cabin
to minimise thermal gain in the cabin during hot weather
to deaden sound emitting from the building or reduce sound of rain for example
reduces risk of condensation forming on some roof covering systems (metal tiles for example)

In this section we offer an insulation layer for “comfort” U = 0.4 W/m2K. We do offer higher levels of insulation to meet building regulations for a dwelling U = 0.2 W/m2K, but this needs to be priced on application.

We insulate above the roof using a special 56mm composite board of high density rigid ureathane bonded to a 6mm thick wbp ply board. This provides a new wooden “platform” for fixing the felt shingles to. Because the insulation goes above the roof it is necessary to extend the insulation layer over the canopy to prevent their being a step in the roof.

Our prices include for pressure treated timber edging and increased depth fascia board.

Read more about roof insulation

Our wall insulation system involves creating a cavity wall. The inner wall is constructed from 28 mm thick wall logs. The outer wall is either 45mm thick logs or 56mm thick logs. The two walls are connected using sliding bracketry to prevent affecting the significant natural expansion and contraction of the walls. The cavity contains high density rigid ureathane insulation boards.

Our prices here reflect insulation to a comfort level. We can insulate to meet building regulations for a dwelling at price on application.

Read more about wall insulation

You may also like to read about the case against twin skin. The term ‘Twin Skin’ log cabin refers to a design of log cabin wall that is made up of two logs with a gap between them to fill with insulation. The pairs of logs interlock at 90 degrees with other pairs of logs at traditional corner joints.

You can choose internal walls wherever you wish. These will be produced in similar width of log and interlocked with each other and with external walls.

If you are contemplating internal walls to create an inner room you should remember to add in extra doors either interior or exterior doors. We can design any layout you wish for.

We can supply gutter troughs for the two eaves sides of the cabin and two separate down pipes. All connecting elbows brackets and stop ends are included. The price is calculated as the total length of trough needed for both sides and multiplied by the cost per metre.

We ask that you contact us to provide a quote for the specific detail. Items that are available but would need to be specifically costed are -

Cabins greater than 6m wide or 10m depth
Loft Areas
Change to roof slope and symmetry
Square cut log ends instead of rounded
Special gateways on verandas
Alternative roof coverings

You can add a lean-to to your log cabin. These are super for extra storage. Generally 1.5 metres wide, and 1.5m, 2.0m or 2.5m long, but again you have the option of choosing any size you like.

You can build a fully equipped sauna into your cabin. Sizes available - 1.7m, 1.9m or 2.45m. Everything you need is included, from heater and benches down to the bucket and ladle.

Please refer to our information about saunas.