The traditional log cabin design is rectangular or square, with only four corners.  Other shapes are more complicated to build, and therefore more expensive.

Although easy to build, log cabins must be designed thoroughly from the start and you should get professional quality plans and expert advice to help you do this.  Also think about getting the essential materials list done by these experts – it will save you much time and money.  Good quality plans are worth their cost many times over, and will include all the necessary design calculations.

A good size for a log cabin home would be about 20 ft by 30 ft.  Look for an elevated site to avoid damp and make a reasonably flat area to accommodate the structure.

The floor of your garden log cabin could be the earth itself or, more likely, wooden planks.  The latter would be preferable and more hygenic.

The plans will show you what size and type of logs to use, and these could be a bit rough and ready.  Don’t be alarmed – all log cabins get their charm from this!  The method for joining logs at each corner is called the lock-joint.  To form this joint a notch is cut at each end of the log and about one foot in.  The notch is cut nearly halfway through the log, joining with a similar notch in the mating log to produce that famous log cabin appearance.

If you have built a proper foundation, such as a concrete base, fix the first course of logs to it using anchor bolts and make sure these logs are levelled properly.  The floor joists should be spaced every two feet along the side logs. Continue to build courses of logs in this way until you reach the planned height of the door (about 6ft 8in).  At this stage cut out openings for the door and windows – tacking wooden battens to the logs to keep them steady in the process – and fasten door and window jambs in place.  Finish the log courses until the final wall height has been reached.

Shorter logs will now be laid at each end, still mated to side logs, to produce the roof pitch found in the plans.  Finish with a ridge pole.  Garden log cabins usually have roofs made from wooden planks or shingles.  The plans will have a number of options and how to build them.  The gaps between the logs should be caulked using a mud and moss mix – the kids will love to help at this point!

Lastly fit the floor planks, door and windows to your log cabin.  You could make your own door from old planks and battens, but these often warp badly over time and it is more sensible to search for an old antique or salvage piece and customize your log cabin to fit it.  You could decide to have unglazed windows since many garden log cabins merely have shutters but, if not, the blueprints should showl you how to make suitable opening windows.

You can use all kinds of ideas when building a log cabin interior. Many have fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, because a fire is part of the log cabin dream for many people.  You should be careful about installing one, however, because of the very real risk of heat damage to the walls of the log cabin.  There are often local regulations about fitting fires in wooden buildings, and you are the one responsible for complying with these.  Good plans should include proper advice and guidance on this subject.

Finally, you might think about fitting a solar panel for making free electricity and a solar heater for your hot water, particularly if your log cabin is off the beaten track.

And remember to plan well ahead when building a log cabin, so that it is ready in time for winter!