log cabin

[DaveOC]

Hi
I'm having a log cabin erected in my garden 3.5 x 5 metres and will have a concret slab as the base, if I put down a membrane it will only be under the base and not go up the sides ( as once I take the shuttering off there will be nothing to hold the membrane up) and damp will get in through the sides of the base. Is there another way that I've not thought of. Also will 100mm thick be enough.

 

[gday2uk]

and damp will get in through the sides of the base

From where? I would have though if it's an elevated slab then there will be nothing touching the sides to transmit damp.
What you need to think about is water run-off from the cabin onto the slab.
Standing the cabin on 'feet' with dpc between to allow air flow should help.

 

[xerxes]

I agree with what gday2uk says; however, if the area of the slab is greater than that of the cabin, rainwater falling on the edge of the slab will splash up onto the wooden walls. It's better, in my view, to make the slab the same size as the cabin floor. If it's surrounded by grass, it's easier to mow if the turf level is slightly higher.

I use concrete blocks to raise wooden buildings and allow ventilation, with strips of dpc on top to keep the timbers drier. A dab or two of mastic keeps the dpc strips in place while you're erecting the building.

 

[DaveOC]

Thanks for the advice, I see what you mean about nothing touching the sides I thought damp would just get in from the sides. I will go down the standing it on bricks or blocks route.