UKC

Good morning everyone!

I have been thinking about it for years now and am going to build myself a log cabin, two storey very simple.

I have a small piece of land in a forest that was very cheap to buy and I didn't have to chop down any tress, which is a bonus of course.

I have endlessly googled of course, research and all that, but was wonering if anyone has any first hand experience at all. I have seen kits you can buy and to be honest it all looks pretty straight forward.

I am not concerned about utilities at the moment, just want to get "coven cottage" started.

Thanks for any advice you may have.
Love and light
Daisy May xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

I'd suggest you check planning regulations very thoroughtly before you start anything.
You'll need plaiing permission for most kinds of permanent structure. Most woodland comes with clauses so you can't live in them, otherwise developers wouild be buying up forrests left right and centre.

In reply to moomin:
Hello moomin,
thanks for that, I did forget to mention that!

The person I bought it from has already been given permission to build, as there was a small cotage that had been neglected for years, so allpaperwork is in place and the cabin has been deemed as a low impact project.

Thanks again
Daisy May xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

Check that you have outline planning permission. That's the first thing to think of. Then remember that most pre-fab timber houses have a life-expectancy of only 60 years, which really hurts the re-sale possibility. Then (if you're still going to go ahead) get some plans written up, poss. worth getting a architect to do it if you haven't any experience of doing it yourself.

If it's in the middle of a forest, then getting water, electricity, sewage will probably be a problem, so think about septic tanks/composting waste and a grey water system for your sewage, and maybe wind/solar-electric for power, not sure about water unless there is a clean source neary that you can use. I know you said you weren't bothered about it yet, but it is quite important, esp. for planning permission, which you will have to get.

Josh.

In reply to moomin:
I'd second that. Planning consent for any kind of residential development outside of existing residential areas is almost impossible to achieve. In fact it's not easy for any kind of permanent structure. Before you start spennding money, have an informal chat with your local planning authority - might save you a lot of heartache and expense later on.

Unlike AI, this is an area I DO know something about. I've seen several people come spectacularly undone in similar situations - I couldn't even get permission for a temporary visitor facility on an existing industrial footprint in a woodland. The only way you might get a way forward is if you could argue (like that bloke on Grand Designs) that it is absolutely neccessary to your work to live "on site", or if you find an existing residential footprint, but I wouldn't hold your breath

In reply to freelancer_85:
Hi Josh,
ot bothered about the resale, I'll have kicked the bucket in 60 years! The cabin is for me.

As far as plans go, there are detailed building schematics that I have looked at.

Have all the permissions. Septic tank I know about, solar might be an option, local stream is big enough, always compost waste so hopefuly my ick list is going ok then!

Was really wondering if anyone has built one and if there are any lile tricks to make it easier.
Thanks for the advice Josh
Daisy May xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

we have built three over here and I live on 2 of them!!

They are brill and it was like building a giant jigsaw.

We help from 2 guys that post on here and have photo evidence that they did work!!!!

They came from Germany to Spain try here
www.mc-garden.de

Cheers Sam Orange

In reply to Sam M:

sorry about crap grammar and spelling I have cold hands!!


Sam

In reply to Sam M:
Hi Sam,
many thanks for the reply.

I have spoken to a couple of companies in Germany that sound just the ticket. They can deliver to my lttle plot and they did say with their firm, they could do it easily, as you said a big jigsaw!

Thanks again Sam, I'll check out that link
Love and light
Daisy xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

I think it depends if you want a habitable, long term house, or a summer house type structure.

I have always liked these:

http://www.erlund-house.com/

And they work out very cheap, if you already have the land.

In reply to toad: sorry, now seen your latest post. Some of the wierdies at Machynlleth CAT might have some useful publications, plus there are one or two others. Don't know if the Greenwood Trust at Irnbridge are still in existence, but they have experience of this sort of build. Friend of a friend does timber frame build, which might actually be a better way forward than "log cabin"

I'll have a look at what I've got kicking about at work (I teach forestry) and see if any useful stuff is in amongst it.

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):
hello daisy may, so you plan to build and live on your lonesome? in a cottage in the middle of a forest?, it sounds a bit sarah connor, do you get the internet?

In reply to Sam M:
Bless you Sam!
Your place looks really nice, you are lucky to have that and (without sounding derogatory)really good for you to go do something different, thats what I'm trying to do.

I'll let you know what it turns out lie.

Hope your hands get warmer soon
Blessed be
Daisy May xx

In reply to moomin:
Hi again Moomin,
thanks very much for the info. They are pretty good aren't they!

I'll investigate that.

Thanks again
Daisy x

In reply to toad:
Hello Toady!
Didn't know a lot about the timber built frame, might have to have a look at that, and thanks very much for all th info.

I'll try and get onto that at some point.
Love and light
Disy May xx

In reply to johnj:
Good morning johnj!,

are you saying that I am not researching it properly, or that I'm waiting for Arnie to appear?

Is there anything wrong with living by your loneself in the woods in a cottage? It's certainly preferable to living in suburbia.

Thats your chances of a visit diminishing, and you were doing so well supporting my threads ;0)
Love and light
Daisy May x

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

wow i have a chance to visit the log cabin how ever diminishing thanks i'm touched, maybe i should start watching Ray Mears on wednesday night.

No there's nothing wrong with it(many would be envious), it sounds idyllic i'm sure, good luck with your project daisy may, i hope you keep us informed
:+)

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

Hi Daisy

I spent a long time looking on the web for a building for my garden. Eventually went for a Lugarde Daphne. at 4.5 x 4.5 meters, big enough to live in and has an attic. Fantastic cabin, came over from Holland on a massive lorry with it's own built-in forklift truck and deposited a 9 meter presealed pack on my tiny front garden! I got two Lugarde-experienced guys to put it together and it took them 4 days.

Lugarde site
http://www.lugarde.nl/english/index.html
(click on Log cabins, then scroll right to the Daphne (two clicks of the big yellow right arrow).

Construction (elevations) drawing:
http://www.lugarde.nl/bouwtek/daphne.pdf

Instruction sheet:
http://www.lugarde.nl/montage/daphne.pdf

Floorplan:
http://www.lugarde.nl/plattegronden/daphne.html

I had additional insulation for the floor and roof (reccomended) and the cool thing is you can change the configuration of the windows and doors. The quality is excellent and I'm dead chuffed with it. Email me for how much it cost.

In reply to johnj:

johnj,
you have redeemed yourself ;0) x

Yes start watching Ray Mears, all those skills will come in useful and I shall keep you informed of the build of "Coven Cottage"

Thanks again johnj!
Love and light
Daisy May xx

In reply to Rock Kid:
Hello Rock Kid,
very kind of you to send me the links, thank you.

I'll have a scan at those and will email you if needs be.
All looks very nice!
Blessed be
Daisy May x

In reply to daisy may (or may not!): ah to be an independently wealthy wandering hippy......

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/grand-designs/houses/S/sussex_woodman.h...

You might be interested in this,it's a strawbale house built in a forest with wood on the outside and daub (from wattle and daub) on the inside covering the straw bales like plaster,i think it's quite well insulated because of the straw bales. The person building it calculated the average yearly rainfall and made his roof big enough to collect enough water for him not to run out,i suppose he could have to odd dry year,though he might have a way of storing spare water. He only got permission to build it because he promised not to sell it on and to destroy it if he moves out,i think his supplies of water and energy have quite a low impact on his surroundings.

Cheers
Tim

In reply to eppa:
Hello eppa,
not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, just manage to keep myself going and have saved like buggery for my cabin.

Wandering hippy...? Probably have to agree with you there! Independent most definately.

Do you think it's a bad thing then, being a hippy?

Love and light!
Daisy x

In reply to Timmd:

Hi there Tim, good morning :0)
I do remember seeing that on channel 4 at some point, good on him thats what I say!

Would like to try and be minimal impact so I have to think carefully about what I'm going to do when it comes around to building.

Thanks again
Hope you have a good day
Daisy May xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):


I was a hippy first time around, and was saddened at the demise of all that love & peace. Nice to see it making a comeback, and no, definitely not a bad thing Daisy!

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

Not at all, I like hippies (but couldn't eat a whole one etc. etc.). I even own a pair of Birkenstocks and do yoga.


It's just on the whole I find things like that rather contrived

In reply to daisy may (or may not!): Read a book called Call of the Wild by Guy Grieve. Might interest you.

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

Reminded of the wisdom of ex-President Ronald Reagan, who informed the world that Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin he had built with his own hands. Obviously AL was presedential material!

Timmd's advice is good. This sort of technology is also good:

http://www.rammed-earth.info/

Not sure how genuinely eco-friendly a log cabin is.

Y.

In reply to Yrmenlaf:

The Lugarde cabins (see above) are supposed to be made from sustainable resources.

From the Lugarde site:
"Wood
First class northern European pine is the foundation of all Lugarde summerhouses and log cabins. In these countries governmental authorities exercise stringent supervision to ensure that more trees are planted than are cut down, so that the ecological balance perfectly is maintained.

Packaging
The buildings are packed in an environment-friendly packaging which can be re-used.
"

I guess it's down to how hairy-chested you want to be.

In reply to Rock Kid:

I have not checked the website, and I am sure that there are reputable manufacturers.

I am just wary that one might think log cabin=eco-friendly.

It ain't necessarily so!

Y.

In reply to Yrmenlaf:


Absolutely correct, but having searched exhaustively (a while back) I'm heartened at how many (reputable) companies adhere to eco-friendly practices.

One other useful tip for Daisy is rather than using a septic tank, she could look into using a composting toilet. I came across some really swish ones in the States, and they don't smell.

Providing you're diligent about sourcing the timber, it is exceptionally sustainable and eco- friendly.

Too many people thing felling trees is a BAD Thing. Log cabins tend to be softwood, which if it's coming out of the UK is a crop, rather than taking chainsaws to an ancient woodland (which I've done a lot - it's called sustainable woodland management). Hope you're not getting confused with some of the summerhouse type timber buildings, which often have an element of tropical hardwood.

TH is pretty much always bad. Next to impossible to effectively police the chain of custody and there will probably always be an element of illegally logged timber in the product, no matter what the label says.

In reply to Rock Kid:
Hi there Rock Kid,
thanks for the tip about the loo, seems better than than installing a septic tank, will have a wee look!
Daisy xx

In reply to eppa:
Hello again eppa,
Contrived? well, all entitled to our opinions, just brought up differently I suppose, can't all be the same otherwise it would be quite dull!

Birkenstocks and yoga?
There you go then, is that a hippy through and through! I must be missing something then, Yoga yes, B's no!

Each to their own, thankfully!
Daisy May xx

In reply to TimSter:
Hello there TimSter,
thanks for the tip, I shall get onto Amazon. Have you read it yourself then?
Any other useful books out ther?
Thanks again!
Daisy May xx

In reply to Rock Kid:


Hi Rock Kid, again!
it is good it is making a comeback, trouble is a lot of people don't really understand the whole thing and are too synical anyway to want to.

It's all about seeing things differently in my opinion, glad there are more on UKC, it's up to us to spread the word!
Love and light
Daisy May xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

Daisy why do you call it the coven cottage?

In reply to Timmd:



I want that house! But not in sussex?

In reply to johnj:
Hello!
I have called, or will call it, Coven cottage because the house that used to be there was rumoued to have been a witches coven years ago, so I thought the name would fit.

So there you go, I'll be a witch soon enough!

Hope you're having a good day johnj
Daisy xx

In reply to idiotproof:
Looks great doesn't it? wouldn't mind it myself!
Daisy xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

I know someone who used to import log cabins from Scandinavia, if you're interested I can get some more info from him.
Bill
(Might not visit during any pagan festivals then!!!)

In reply to daisy may (or may not!): A quick Yahoo on 'building a log cabin' gave this http://www.alaskaantlerworks.com/Alaska_cabin.htm Love Dave (always does)

In reply to Bill Davidson:
Hi there Bill,
If you can get any info I'd really appreciate it.

As far as pagan festivals go, thats the best time to visit!
Bubble bubble and all that ;0)

Daisy xx

In reply to Dave Stelmach:
Hi Dave,
thanks for the link, great site about the build. Might have to take some of their ideas.

Love and light!
Daisy May xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!): yeah i read it a couple of months ago. Interesting book, especially on the subject of building log cabins from scratch!

In reply to daisy may (or may not!): My pleasure, I hope you may if I visit!

In reply to Dave Stelmach:

Dave,
don't forget the second bit, toil and trouble! thats me!

Beware the witches coven!
Daisy xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!): hello daisy may cheers i had a good day it was beautiful in yorkshire, as you've now declared you're a witch, could you cast a spell on me to do some work, instead of looking at threads about log cabins, getting that far away 1000 yard stare going on, and generally wasting time. I read on this thread that you were a hippy sort, are they compatable with witches?

In reply to johnj:
Hi john,
glad you had a good day :0) and in Yorkshire, lucky you!

Never declared I'm a witch, but know a wee bit about it thats all, and I'm sure that Paganism will be compatible with being a hipmeister!

What sort of work are you supposed to be doing then? Good that you're wasting time, an admirable quality if I've ever seen one! Now get your arse into gear ;0)

Daisy xxx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!): lots of webpages and code to write, really riviting stuff, i think the shop sounds like an option for chocolate biscuits(wastes more time you see)
hipmeister i like the sound of this(whilst sounding like something from an american teen movie) how does one get to be one?

In reply to johnj:

Hello again, not working then?
Hipmeister - An endearment used by my friends to describe me.

Not a complete hippy, but heading that way apparently and "cool funkster" according to my 9 year old niece, which is the best compliment I've had!

Sounds like code and webpages et al is interesting, biscuits a better option, grab some creme eggs for me while you're there, yum!

Daisy xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):
grab some creme eggs for me while you're there, yum!

no worries daisy may, you just need to let me know where to send em to;+)

In reply to johnj:
johnj,
Well at the moment, Farnham, next week who knows...

Looking into working for a charity in Nepal so might get my backside out there soonish depending on funds, doubt I can get creme eggs out there :0(

Daisy xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

i guess so lots of dal baht, but no creme eggs, at least you get to stay slim and healthy, what happens to the log cabin then?

In reply to johnj:

Just need to get out and do more travelling, cabin will be built end of August I hope, assuming that the spec I want is ok, and I have researched it more thanks to the thread.

Charity work is good, just feel I need to go and do a bit more, plus I get to go back to Nepal which is great, more like "minded people" there for me!

Daisy xx

In reply to daisy may (or may not!):

sounds good daisy may, i'd love to be able to join you (was over there in 1994) but have found myself currently entrenched in the matrix, it's been nice speaking to you today, you've brightened up my day.
in a bit jx :+)

In reply to johnj:

Have been there a few times, charity and trekking rolled into one, can't beat it except maybe India...

Glad that I've brightened your day :0)
Nice to chat.

You take it easy and no doubt we'll catch up again
Love and light
Daisy May xx