Shire Montford 3.2m x 3.2m Log Cabin Summerhouse

Our verdict on the Shire Montford 3.2m x 3.2m Log Cabin Summerhouse

The Shire Montford 3.2m x 3.2m Log Cabin Summerhouse comes with an apex style roof, holds a 1 Years guarantee, is fit with lockable single doors that use a lock and key locking system, and is treated using a pressure treated process ^[1]. The windows window used on this particular 10′ x 10′ use a horticultural glass glazing material (Thickness was not specified).

Base material: wood

Our experts say this has 7 stand out features. A stand out feature is something found on over 70% of the top 10% of products in a particular category or is an exceptionally good feature as rated by our panel of experts.

1. When looking at cladding material used on the top 10% of all log cabins, interlocking log is used on 98% of them.

2. The tongue & groove construction used for the roof is the same kind you’ll find used across 100% of the top 10% of log cabins.

3. The tongue & groove floor material is a great choice and is what we find being used by 94% of the top 10% of log cabins.

4. A 16.0mm thick roof construction as thick as this is something our expert rate to be one of the best available on log cabins.

5. The mineral felt roof covering found on this log cabin is rated to be one of the best by our experts.

6. A floor that is 16mm thick is something our experts say is one of the best available for this kind of log cabin.

7. A pressure treated treatment like the one used on this log cabin is one our experts are happy to say is one of the best around.

Below is a brief overview of how some of the key points of this log cabin fairs across the market.

Cladding

The interlocking log cladding(walls) used here is the best form of construction for log cabin walls out of the 2 types ^[2] we’ve identified on same-size log cabins, that you’ll also see getting used on 72% (639 of 893) of all log cabins analysed ^[3], as well as being used on 98% (87 of 89) of the top 10% of log cabins ^[4]. Even though the Expert Score of this particular log cabin is 11 points below that of the average interlocking log clad 10′ x 10’s (they have an average Expert Score of 88), with it being on 98% of the top 10%, its use here is a reassuring sign of a high quality cladding. You’ll also find the interlocking log cladding showing up on 68% of 10′ x 10′ log cabins (77 in total) ^[5].

The walls are 4mm thick and we rate this the worst thickness out of the 5 found on same-size log cabins ^[6]. It is used on 1% of all log cabins ^[7] and after analysing the top 89 products that make up the top 10% of log cabins ^[8], we don’t find this thickness present on any of them. Further analysis shows us that out of all 10′ x 10′ log cabins this is the only one to use 4mm thick walls ^[9].

Read full analysis for cladding.

Roofing

Tongue & groove is the cladding used for the roofing, our experts rate this the best form of roof material and is the only type we’ve found on same-size log cabins ^[10]. This roofing material is used on 64% of all log cabins analysed, and 100% of the top 10% of log cabins. Even though the Expert Score of this particular log cabin is 10 points below the average of 87 for 10′ x 10’s using a tongue & groove roofing, with it being on 100% of the top 10%, you can be assured that this is a quality roof material. 55% of 10′ x 10′ log cabins (63 in total) use tongue & groove construction for the roof.

A 16.0mm thick roof boarding was used on this log cabin which is the best thickness used for a roofing material out of 7 thicknesses identified on same-size log cabins ^[11]. It’s used on 1% of all log cabins and 6% of the top 10% of log cabins. Even though the Expert Score of this particular log cabin is 3 points below that of the average for 10′ x 10’s that use 16.0mm roofing (77 vs the average of 80), you can be sure it’s not due to the roof thickness as this one of the highest scoring thicknesses available on 10′ x 10′ log cabins. 2% of 10′ x 10′ log cabins (2 in total) use a 16.0mm thick roof boarding.

Mineral felt is used as the roof covering, and out of 2 types identified on same-size log cabins ^[12], is said to be one of the best roof covering materials. It comes fitted on 57% of log cabins and used on 58% of the top 10% of 10′ x 10′ log cabins. Even though the Expert Score of this particular log cabin is below the average 10′ x 10’s cover their roofs with mineral felt (77 vs the average of 86), with it being on 58% of the top 10%, this should give you confidence in its quality. 67% of 10′ x 10′ log cabins (76 in total) make use of a mineral felt material as a roof covering.

Read full analysis for roofing.

Flooring

Amazing, our experts say most of the flooring options used are among the best.

The manufactures of this log cabin chose tongue & groove for the floor construction, we rate this the best form of floor construction and is the only type found on this size of log cabin ^[13]. This type of floor construction is used on 74% of all log cabins we analysed, and 94% of the top 10% of those log cabins. Even though the Expert Score of this particular log cabin is 10 points below the average of 87 for 10′ x 10’s using a tongue & groove flooring, with it being on 94% of the top 10%, you can be assured that this is a quality flooring material. 59% of 10′ x 10′ log cabins (67 in total) use tongue & groove construction for the floor.

A 16mm thick floor boarding is used here, this is the best floor board thickness according to our experts out of 7 found on same-size log cabins ^[14]. It’s found on 6% of all log cabins and used on 3% of the top 10% of log cabins. Even though the Expert Score of this log cabin is 8 points lower than that of the average for 10′ x 10’s floored with a 16mm material (77 vs the average of 85), you can be sure it’s not due to the flooring because this one of the highest scoring flooring thicknesses available on 10′ x 10′ log cabins. 4% of 10′ x 10′ log cabins (4 in total) use 16mm thick floor boarding.

Read full analysis for flooring.

Window

Horticultural glass windows come installed on this log cabin. As a glazing option, we rate it an about average out of the 3 glazing types found on 10′ x 10′ log cabins ^[15]. This particular type of glazing is used on 28% of all windowed log cabins and 17% of the top 10% of log cabins with windows we analysed. 39% of 10′ x 10′ log cabins with windows (37 in total) use horticultural glass windows.

Read full analysis for window.

Height

The height of this log cabin is 2000.0mm (7′) which is 4% less than the average 10′ x 10′ log cabin, giving you 79.0mm (0.3′) less headroom.

Read full analysis for height.

Doors

The door height is 1,740.00mm (6′) tall which is 6% or 101.67mm (0.3′) shorter than the average 10′ x 10′.
The door width is 850.00mm (3′) wide which is 12% or 89.08mm (0.3′) wider than the average 10′ x 10′.

Read full analysis for doors.

You Might Also Consider

We found 114 10′ x 10′ log cabins with comparable specifications. The Shire Montford 3.2m x 3.2m Log Cabin Summerhouse has an Expert Score that is 12% lower than average and is £51 less expensive than average. If you are looking for the best value or highest expert scoring log cabins out of the 114 with comparable specifications the following might be of interest.

Best value – If you are looking for something comparable that costs less, then you could save £1,343 with this Optional extra – Add Assembly Service – Camelot 19 mm Log Cabin 10′ x 10′ – Assembly. It is priced at £856, this is 157% less than this and has an Expert Score of 77, 0 points equal than the Shire Montford 3.2m x 3.2m Log Cabin Summerhouse.

Highest Expert Score – With an Expert Score of 97 vs 77 for this product, the 12’x8′ Blake | 44mm Log Cabin is the best 10′ x 10′ log cabin with comparable specifications, and is priced at £3,178, that’s £979 more than the Shire Montford 3.2m x 3.2m Log Cabin Summerhouse.

High Wind Area – If you live in a particularly exposed or high wind area then having a log cabin with a thicker cladding and higher than average frame thickness can be preferable. We found at least 3 log cabins that have a combination of features that can make them more suited to higher wind areas.
10’x10′ Blake | 44mm Log Cabin
12’x8′ Blake | 44mm Log Cabin
Redlands 3.6m x 3m Erin Log Cabin

Coastal Consideration – If you live in a particularly wet or harsher environment such as by the coast then you might want to consider something with a more robust pressure treatment or something made from metal or plastic, both materials that are particularly suited to such harsh environments. We’ve found at least 3 log cabins that have a combination of features that can make them more suited to higher wind areas.
Shire Maulden 2.7m x 3.5m Log Cabin Summerhouse
Shire Montford 3.2m x 3.2m Log Cabin Summerhouse
Marlborough 28 mm Log Cabin 10′ x 10′

Public-Facing – Extra security measures might be more of a concern if you’re placing your building in an area that is more public-facing than a garden. Features such as security windows or even having no windows at all, and the ability to lock all opening doors are usually much more important when you have something that is more public-facing. We found at least 3 log cabins that have options that you might find a better fit if this is a concern you have.
12’x8′ Blake | 44mm Log Cabin
10’x10′ Blake | 44mm Log Cabin
12’x8′ Capetus | 44mm Log Cabin

More Child Friendly – If you have children and you are looking for something that has that little extra in terms of durability then tougher glazing options might be a better option. Here we have at least 3 other options that will fill those needs.
12’x8′ Aura | 44mm Log Cabin
Shire Barnsdale 10 x 10ft Double Door Log Cabin with Assembly
Shire Gisburn 12 x 8ft Double Door Log Cabin