Advise from a log house owner

Davara

Hi there,
We are planning to buy a residential log cabin and we would like to know if there is someone who is already living in one of those during all the year.

Is it cold, what kind of thickness you have for the walls, damp, something you maybe would have chosen different, any advice is welcome.

Thanks

Orwellmerchant

Pm sent

thierry14

Wondering this too

See alot of good reviews on below company on facebook

https://www.eco-home.ie

Would love to go and see a residential one

They have 1200sqft builds completed for 40k on facebook

I'm not a builder but that seems alot cheaper than normal block houses

Whats the story with planning though, is it alot harder to get with these cabins?

If it's a small one say 700sqft 2 beds do you need planning? Put it out the back lol

BryanF

thierry14 wrote: »

Wondering this too

See alot of good reviews on below company on facebook

https://www.eco-home.ie

Would love to go and see a residential one

They have 1200sqft builds completed for 40k on facebook

I'm not a builder but that seems alot cheaper than normal block houses

Whats the story with planning though, is it alot harder to get with these cabins?

If it's a small one say 700sqft 2 beds do you need planning? Put it out the back lol

They don’t comply with building regulations and planning depending on location will be difficult

Whispered

Is there any size you can get that doesn't need planning permission? Or do you need pp for anything intended to be used as a dwelling (even temporarily)?

Sleeper12

A friend of mine has one for 10 years now. He's had tenants in it since it was built. It's very warm in the winter heated by a pot belly stove. Each Tennant has loved living there. He's never had a complaint about anything to do with the building from any tenants. He has said many times that he might move into it himself and rent out the house eventually

He doesn't have planning for it nor would he get planning as a dwelling. This is in Dublin. Most people in Dublin get planning for office use but I've never heard of anyone getting planning permission for residential.

BryanF

Whispered wrote: »

Is there any size you can get that doesn't need planning permission? Or do you need pp for anything intended to be used as a dwelling (even temporarily)?

The latter.

BryanF

Sleeper12 wrote: »

I've never heard of anyone getting planning permission for residential.

Concrete advice

CeilingFly

Thinking outside the box and a partial solution to current housing shortage, would it not be an idea for a 10 year "planning licence" to be granted for liveable garden rooms of 40 sqm or less subject to certain conditions including not letting it to an non family member. Other conditions can be built to a specific standard, a ten year structural guarantee by the installers, heavy fines and withdrawal of licence for letting to a non related person and site conditions including independent access, (side gate or similar) and ensuring enough garden space remains.

Or is such an idea too simple?


You could have separated people use them. Adult children. Nieces/nephews and even elderly relatives having an independent space within the comfort of a family space.

thierry14

BryanF wrote: »

They don’t comply with building regulations and planning depending on location will be difficult

Why is that?

How can they sell them if you need planning for anything bigger than 25sqm?

You would have to be mad to build one of these without planning

Davara

thierry14 wrote: »

Why is that?

How can they sell them if you need planning for anything bigger than 25sqm?

You would have to be mad to build one of these without planning

Yes, I wouldn't do it without planning permission, we are talking about a house, no garden house for guess..
So if I want to buy a site and put a lets say 90 Sq m house and live all year, wouldn't I get planning permission?? I am not sure about this.. If they sell them must be coz you can get the license, right?

Davara

Sleeper12 wrote: »

A friend of mine has one for 10 years now. He's had tenants in it since it was built. It's very warm in the winter heated by a pot belly stove. Each Tennant has loved living there. He's never had a complaint about anything to do with the building from any tenants. He has said many times that he might move into it himself and rent out the house eventually

He doesn't have planning for it nor would he get planning as a dwelling. This is in Dublin. Most people in Dublin get planning for office use but I've never heard of anyone getting planning permission for residential.

Thanks for your message.
We want to buy a site in Louth, so you think that it would be different that Dublin? To get the Planning permission for residential, I mean

Sleeper12

Davara wrote:

Thanks for your message. We want to buy a site in Louth, so you think that it would be different that Dublin? To get the Planning permission for residential, I mean

They don't meet planning regulations for residential. I'm not sure why. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will post why

BryanF

Davara wrote: »

Thanks for your message.
We want to buy a site in Louth, so you think that it would be different that Dublin? To get the Planning permission for residential, I mean

Totally depends on site etc etc.

Log homes are not consider vernacular and therefore not in keeping with many off the existing housing stock.

As regards building regs. Simply ask the suppiler to supply an chartered Eng/arch/surveyor compliance cert. and watch them run.

shivermetimber

BryanF wrote: »

Totally depends on site etc etc.

Log homes are not consider vernacular and therefore not in keeping with many off the existing housing stock.

As regards building regs. Simply ask the suppiler to supply an chartered Eng/arch/surveyor compliance cert. and watch them run.

I've com across a few different companies now in Ireland doing the 40-60k timber build offerings and plenty put up info and pics of lots of residential builds around the country online. In that case how are they not complying? Are people simply not getting planning permission for these builds?

Lex Luthor

have owned a log cabin since 2005. Only use it as a holiday home but they are serious high maintenance

If you are not a fan of staining wood consistently, then its not for you
Also don't scrimp on the stain, get the expensive stuff as you might get 3-4 yrs out of a coat

Davara

Well, thanks everyone for your comments.
Still doing the research so I will share here all the info I get asap as finish the planning permission application. So we all will know.

In the meanwhile, does someone know about share well and septic?

We will need for sure a septic. Any process to follow? permissions for this too?
My parents in low own a well, already shared with one more family member.
How can we know if there would be enough water to supply all 3 houses?

Thanks for you comments again, really appreciate