Log cabins are the heavyweight end of garden bars. Interlocking timber logs form the walls themselves, rather than cladding fixed over a frame. That gives a solid, warmer-feeling building, along with a few quirks that shed buyers don't expect.
How a log cabin is different
- Walls are structural. The logs stack and interlock at the corners, so there is no separate wall frame.
- Timber moves. Logs expand and shrink with moisture and settle over time. Windows, doors and fixings must allow for this, and the maker's instructions explain how.
- They are heavier. That puts more demand on the base, which must be level and suitable for the load.
Why it suits a bar
Thicker walls feel more solid, hold fixings better and help a bar feel like a proper room. Many log cabins come with double doors and large windows, which suit a serving opening or views over the garden.
Things to check before buying
- Wall thickness. Usually given in millimetres. Thicker logs give a sturdier building, but compare the whole specification, not only the walls.
- Glazing. Single or double glazed, and whether the glass is toughened.
- Roof and floor. Floor thickness, roof boards and the covering supplied.
- Base requirements. Follow the maker's base guidance closely; see garden bar base options.
- Assembly. Log cabins are large flat-pack kits. Decide whether to assemble yourself or pay for installation; see delivery and assembly.
Fixing things to moving walls
Because logs settle, anything fixed vertically across several logs, such as a tall cupboard or a door frame, can be stressed as the wall drops. Makers often specify slotted fixings or allowances. Ask an electrician who has worked on log cabins before fixing cable runs and fittings.
Planning and building regulations
A log cabin is an outbuilding like any other for planning purposes. Bigger cabins may also bring Building Regulations into play depending on size, use and distance from the boundary. See planning permission and Building Regulations for garden bars.
Who should skip it
If you want a small bar for summer evenings, a log cabin may be more building than you need. If the plot cannot take a heavy building on a suitable base, or access for delivery is poor, a lighter shed or a covered counter may be wiser.
Ask suppliers for the assembly manual before you buy. It shows the base, movement allowances and how much work the build involves.