Log Cabin. It’s one of the first things you think of when you think rustic décor. This is because they bring a certain rustic, homey feel to the atmosphere. As a result, building log cabins are growing more popular by the year with venues opting for rustic décor and other DIY décors to bring a certain aesthetic look to make their place unique.

Deciding on the type of Wood (Building Materials) for your log cabin

When setting out on the journey to build your very own log cabin, you need to know a few things about wood.

Firstly, they can become the victim of many natural deteriorating factors. Selecting the appropriate building materials for a log home holds great significance. For instance, a crucial decision to make is whether to opt for CCA treated or untreated wood. CCA treated wood offers protection against weathering elements, whereas untreated wood is susceptible to issues such as fungi, weathering, rot, and insects. It is worth noting that CCA treated wood carries a slightly higher cost compared to untreated wood. Consequently, determining the necessity of using CCA treated wood becomes a pivotal factor in the decision-making process.

Or, you can opt for Hardwoods, that have natural resistant characteristic against elements such ad rot and decay, however, it is a more expensive option. We went into this subject extensively in a previous post:  14 Factors of deterioration affecting wood and how to prevent it.

Secondly, you need to decide which type of wood to use. We briefly talked about the comparison between softwood and hardwood in our previous post: Construction Grade Timber 

Thirdly, you need to decide on which preservative treatment you would prefer to build with. We highly recommend CCA Treated Timber as it is the most logical, cost-effective and long-term solution to all the wood deteriorating factors. If you are still unsure regarding the safety of CCA Treated Timber you can refer to our previous post: Is CCA Treated Timber Still Safe and sold in Southern Africa? 

Cabin Design (Free Log Cabin Designs)

We know not everyone is clued up on log cabin designs, so we’ve compiled a few websites where you can get your hands on some amazing free log cabin designs:

• Log Cabin Hub 
• Knowledge Weighs Nothing
• Morning Chores

These three sites each offer a wide variety of log cabin designs. Therefore we trust that each person will be able to find something in their taste/style.

So, with your materials chosen and your design at your fingertips, there’s only one thing left to do: Look at all the building materials you will need.

Wood Products (Building Materials) for your Log Cabin

For the rest of this post, we will assume that you have chosen CCA Treated Timber. Additionally, we will be referring specifically to Pine and Eucalyptus Timber in the various Wood Products for building a log cabin.

So, when starting the process of looking for timber products to build your cabin, you need to decide on a log cabin design/plan first. Your design will determine which wood products you will need. We supply the following products:

S5 Construction Timber

At Sabie Poles, we supply SABS approved  S5 construction timber that will be perfect for any log cabin’s main roof trusses and/or support beams. We also provide UTP Construction timber in various sizes so you can make use of it in areas where CCA Treated Poles won’t work. 

CCA Treated Poles

For a Log Cabin to have the effect and atmosphere of a log cabin, it usually needs various poles stacked on top of each other. The problem with using untreated timber for this type of construction in Southern Africa is the drastically changing weather conditions.

One day we have sunshine and the next it’s pouring rain. Therefore, your wood is especially vulnerable to weathering. Not to even mention wood borers and other insects that might want to snack on your home.

CCA Treated Timber protects you from all of these dangers while still allowing you to get the desired look/aesthetic of a log cabin by staining and/or varnishing the CCA Treated Poles. 

Sizes and Prices of CCA Poles for a Log Cabin

When investing into a building you want to make sure you have the correct length and thickness of poles before starting the construction.

We supply various sizes and lengths poles.

• 50/74mm diameter in lengths 1.2m to 8.4m
• 75/99mm diameter in lengths 1.2m to 10m
• 100/124mm diameter in lengths 1.2m to 15m
• 125/149mm diameter in lengths 1.2m to 15m
• 150/174mm diameter in length 1.2m to 15m
• 175/199mm diameter in length 1.2m to 15m
• 200/224mm diameter in length 1.2m to 15m

If you have any questions regarding the building of a log cabin and which size and thickness of Poles you will need for your construction. Feel free to contact us for any advice.

Additionally, you can download our full price list by clicking here. 

CCA Treated Timber Decking (Exterior)

Wood decking boards have so many different sizes and types that is impossible to give a basic pricing. Therefore, we would like to supply you with the basic products:

• Pine Treated Decking Boards
• Eucalyptus or other wood decking boards (On request only)

These products can be stained and varnished to your preferred color. Additionally, if you want to adjust your design or add a seperate deck to your yard, you can check out our post: Deck Designs

Our standard size on pine decking boards: 

• Decking Planks (32mmx106mm)

Additionally, you can download our full price list by clicking here. 

Untreated Flooring (Interior)

When building a home or log cabin you always want to use untreated timber for the interior of your home. For this, we recommend wooden pine planks/boards.

The interior untreated planks/boards can also be stained and varnished to your preferred color. 

Our standard size on pine flooring planks: 

• Flooring Planks (32mmx106mm)

Pine Doors