Timber Garden Sheds Australia
April 2025
It has been a while since we last posted another one of our beautiful cabin builds. Over the hotter summer months we tend to concentrate on admin work, like website upgrades, designing new cabin models, importing of cabins and the like. Adding to this business owner Detlef (typing this) finally underwent double knee replacement surgery. Whilst they turned out great in the end, they took a little longer to heal properly than anticipated. But as of this month we are "all systems go"! First cabin build was one of our new GRETTEL 10 builds. This is a FULL size 10sqm single room cabin (similar to our best seller SAM 10) but in 28mm timber logs, and using a bitumen felt roof instead of corrugated iron roofing. We were seriously impressed with the overall quality!
Foundation - Steel Base
This install was a typical suburban "I need another room and more space" project,
A height adjustable steel base is still the most sturdy, log lasting and easy-to-install foundation for your cabin - full stop.
Even for this lighter 10sqm cabin model the advantages by far outweigh the additional costs. It keeps the cabin off the ground, saves digging and leveling out the soil, and provides a visual inspection point for termites and other unwanted critters. Grass underneath the cabin will over time, simply die out, being deprived of sunlight and rain.
Alternatively the top layer can be removed, and builder' plastic and gravel can be placed on top.
Securing the logs
The reduced thickness of the logs (28mm instead of 50mm) means that there is only one tongue & groove to vertically join the layers of logs.
This necessitates the use of corner joint screws every 5 to 8 log rows, locking in the individual logs to form a solid wall. In addition to this, we always use batten screws in the corner joints of the first layer in all our constructions, to affix the log walls to the treated pine base frame.
The GRETTEL 10 also comes with solid pine timber t&g floor boards, these are installed leaving a small gap all around the walls to allow for expansion and contraction happening with the changing seasons.
Please check our construction video on the GRETTEL 10 page, showing in detail the step-by-step assembly of the cabin.
Roofboards
Walls are up, roof beams are on - time to install the t&g roof boards. We double-nail the roof boards where they overhang the actual cabin at the rear and at the front, just to make sure they hold properly in strong winds. Gables and roof beams are also securely attached to the wall logs below them using batten screws.
As mentioned in the introduction above, we were very impressed with the overall quality of the timber. Being a sustainable, naturally grown resource the timber quality varies from tree to tree. While this can't be avoided, the cutting, milling, planing and notching of the logs is done by machines. Variations resulting from blunt tools, inaccurate settings and human error are largely eliminated by computer programs, but they still happen occasionally. What we currently have in stock from our supplier is superb and a real pleasure to work with.
Window Operating Mechanisms
We always include top-quality European made door and window hardware with all our cabins. These vary a little depending on the intended end use of each cabin model.
The GRETTEL 10 is in essence a basic one-room cabin, but it still comes with a double window. The "tilt'n'turn" opening mechanisms for the main window half is a 3-step actuation, instead of a 1-step used in our other cabins.
The main handle is turned to either "closed" (pointing sideways) or "open" (pointing down). To activate the tilt function two more steps are needed, quite straight forward and quickly done.
Also note that the window is single glazed (same as used in std. residential windows in Australia).
Oiling with CUTEK "Wood Preservative"
We normally do NOT get involved with painting or oiling of our cabins - that is always up to you, the owner. However, exceptions can be made. Here the room was desperately needed to accommodate a family member in need, so time was of the essence. Also, the owners did not have the time or patience to protect the outer walls of the cabin, so we agreed to give the cabin it's first coat of CUTEK "Wood Preservative" with color tint "Honeycomb", for a small extra charge to cover our time.
The first coat does wonders to the cabin, both in terms of looks and timber protection from the environment. A second coat will be needed in about 8 weeks, which we will also do in this case.
GRETTEL 10 cabins are readily available in stock!
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