This weekend we got to work building what many have referred to in error as a “Shed”.  However my log cabin has turned out to be completely fabulous!  The Finnforest Susi is a really good garden building, and ideally suited to the size of my garden.  I was really worried that it would be too big for the space, but as it turned out it was just about perfect. We have space on either side, and we can even get around the back.

The cabin feels exceptionally solid and there is no movement in it at all.  Unlike most sheds you don’t have any gaps for the wind to blow through, and the 44mm logs will keep it nice and toasty warm inside during the winter months.  The green shingles on the roof make it look a bit more sophisticated than your average garden shed too!

To preserve the life of the cabin, we used something called Osmo, which while expensive goes a very long way indeed.  So far we’ve painted about 60% of the outside, and we haven’t even used half a tin yet.  The colouring is called “Red Cedar”, but it is by no means overpowering and you can still see the grain of the wood through it.

The construction itself isn’t too complicated, and it didn’t take very long to get the main structure put up.  I think dad compared it to building a Lego building at one point.  The quality of the materials was evident, as there was barely a problem assembling everything following the detailed instructions.  Dad did most of the complicated bits given his experience in building his own log cabin, however I did get to bang in a few nails.

One thing we did find helpful was the amazing ladder we got from B&Q, which is a generic brand version of one of those little giant ladder things you see on the TV shopping channels.  It turned to to be key to being able to reach some of the more difficult bits of the roof area.

One of the more amazing facts about the job is that we didn’t have any bits left over like you normally get with kit construction.  We had exactly enough roof boards, exactly enough floor boards and exactly enough logs.  The only thing we had spares of was the

shingles on the roof, but I guess it never hurts to have a few spares just in case we ever need to make repairs in the future.

The windows and doors are double glazed and there is an excellent tilt and turn feature on the window which allows you to either open it fully or just let in some fresh air.  The building has a very secure feeling to it all around, and I can’t wait to get it finished off so I can move in and start doing my workouts in there.

The building is quite aesthetically pleasing as well, and fits in quite well with the surroundings in the garden.  I’m planning to use the same wood stain for the deck, so it matches and I have even found carpet tiles which are the same colour green as the roof.

I’m planning to get electricity run to the building so I have light and power, which means I’ll not only be able to see, but power a small heater should that be required in the winter.

I’ve featured a selection of photos which show how far we’ve got with the cabin, and as you can see the dog was helping too!  I’m hoping for another fine weekend this weekend so I can finish applying the wood preserver and finish the job off.  As you can see we still have to fix the doors on and then we can start moving in properly.