The BillyOh Log Cabin Pre-Build Checklist

If you’ve just bought a log cabin or you’re thinking about buying one, here’s what you need to know about getting it set up once it arrives. We’re focused on helping you avoid common user mistakes and being ready for a smooth installation of your log cabin kit.

The first part you need to focus on is the groundwork. Taking the time to plan the location and the base will add years to your cabin’s life.

Locating and positioning the log cabin in your garden

Where exactly you place your cabin is important for both its health and the law.

First of all, you should not put your log cabin in the front garden, unless you can obtain planning permission.

Avoid placing your cabin at the bottom of a gradient where water naturally pools. Constant exposure to standing water creates a ‘wicking’ effect in timber, bypassing standard treatments and leading to premature rot.

Once you’ve chosen an ideal location (factoring in distance from the house, ease of access, sunlight exposure, and everything else that will affect the garden room experience), you need to think about the immediate surroundings.

Wooden buildings require 24 inches of space around all 4 sides. There are a few good reasons for this:

1. The timber needs airflow to stay dry. Being pressed up against a fence, wall or tree will not be healthy in the long run.
2. You need room for maintenance access. Whether that’s applying annual treatment or just cleaning off dirt, you need to be able to physically stand behind the cabin.
3. The roof overhang might extend further than the walls reach.
4. It’s a requirement of the BillyOh Guarantee against rot, decay and insect infestation.

Plan and Build a Base for your Log Cabin

Before any installation begins, your groundwork must be completely finished. An interlocking log cabin relies entirely on a level, solid, and well-drained foundation to ensure the logs slot together perfectly. Even a slight dip in the base can cause gaps in the walls or misaligned doors.

Here are the most reliable base options for your BillyOh cabin:

• Concrete Base: The longest-lasting and most reliable option. Ideal for heavier cabins and permanent installations.
• Paving Slabs: A highly effective, budget-friendly option, provided they are laid completely flat on a properly levelled hardcore and sand sub-base.
• Prefabricated Base Kits: A fantastic, eco-friendly option that provides excellent drainage. These are ideal for lighter cabins and sit perfectly on levelled ground.
• Patio: If you’ve already got a solid and level area of your garden, you can use it, provided that it provides enough space.
• Decking: This generally ticks the boxes for being level, solid, and away from pooling water. However, you might need it to be reinforced underneath to take the weight of a heavy cabin.

When it comes to building these options in a location that previously had soil, you’ll want to compact the ground, place a layer of hardcore, and insert a membrane. This keeps the area still and helps to prevent water from rising up through the base.

Whichever base you choose, it’s important not to raise the cabin too high off the ground, as that could take you over the height limits and bring planning permission into the equation. If you’re building less than 2 metres from a boundary (which most of us will), then no part of the building can exceed 2.5 metres high. If you exceed this, you need planning permission.

A sturdy base for your building is also a requirement of the BillyOh Guarantee.

What to do when your BillyOh log cabin arrives

Here’s what your delivery date will look like:

1. A phone call will tell you when yours is the next stop for the delivery driver.
2. You will need to be at home to receive the parts. These are delivered kerbside only.
3. You should move the parts to your back garden as soon as you are able to.

Installation must be completed within 4 weeks of delivery for the timber to stay in good shape.

Building your BillyOh log cabin

Before you begin building, you should read your digital instructions and parts list carefully. Check that you can identify all of the parts so that nothing is mixed up.

If you need assistance with any of this, our support team is available to help talk you through the parts and the building process. If you are missing any parts or some of them have problems, you should call us as soon as possible.

Once everything is ready to go, the building can commence!

Here are some things you should NOT do with your log cabin:

1. Do not paint any of the parts before installation is complete.
2. Do not leave the parts in storage beyond 4 weeks, or in excessively wet conditions.
3. Do not install fittings that prevent natural shifting of the timber as the log cabin settles. This includes electrical conduits running up the walls — this can lead to splitting and other damage as the cabin strains against itself. Remember, wood is a natural product!

Building a log cabin is a significant and highly rewarding project. By getting the groundwork right, respecting the natural properties of the timber, and following this pre-build checklist, you are actively protecting your investment for decades to come.

Remember, a little preparation goes a long way. If you lay a solid foundation, respect the boundary rules, and give the interlocking logs room to naturally breathe and settle, your cabin will provide a lifetime of use—whether you are building a year-round home office, a garden gym, or a peaceful retreat.

If your garden is prepped and you are ready to find the perfect fit for your space, explore our full range of BillyOh log cabins. And if you have any technical questions about bases, boundaries, or bearers before taking the plunge, our expert team is always on hand to help you plan the perfect build.