The Tiger Corbetti 28 mm Log Cabin is one of Tiger’s most popular summerhouse-style cabins, and it isn’t hard to see why. In a range dominated by thicker 44 mm models designed for all-year, high-performance use, the Corbetti stands out as a clean, contemporary, budget-friendly cabin intended for exactly what most people want: a bright, good-looking garden room for spring and summer relaxation.

We haven’t physically inspected this current version — it wasn’t available at Horsforth, Tong or Otley during our 2025 show-site visits — but we have tested its construction system in person many times on other 28 mm cabins, and we’ve previously seen the Corbetti itself on display in earlier years. The combination of those direct measurements, our long-term knowledge of Tiger’s 28 mm construction, and older hands-on experience gives us very high confidence in how the Corbetti performs today.

This is a simple building, but a very honest one. It does not try to be a workshop. It’s not pretending to be an all-year insulated office. Instead, it embraces what it is: a strong, well-made, contemporary summerhouse that looks good, lasts well, and offers excellent value.

Design & First Impressions

The Corbetti has always been one of Tiger’s cleanest designs. It’s a pent-roof log cabin with an unmistakably modern silhouette, and the front elevation is dominated by a pair of full-height, fully glazed double doors. These doors define the cabin: they pull in a huge amount of light, making the interior bright, airy and inviting.

There are no side windows, which is one of the reasons this cabin has such a tidy, contemporary look. It sits neatly at the end of a garden, feels private from neighbouring angles, and presents a clean forward-facing design without the visual complexity of multiple glazing lines. For many buyers, that simplicity is exactly the appeal.

This is also one of the most flexible footprints in the 28 mm range, as the Corbetti is available in several sizes. Whether as a compact 8×8 escape or a larger 14×10, the overall design stays the same: crisp, modern, and usefully understated.

Build Quality & Materials

Although the Corbetti sits in Tiger’s budget-friendly 28 mm segment, it benefits from many of the same structural elements used in the thicker 44 mm cabins.

19 mm Floor & 19 mm Roof

One of the biggest advantages is that the Corbetti uses:

• 19 mm tongue-and-groove floorboards
• 19 mm tongue-and-groove roofboards

These boards are identical to those used in the 44 mm range. If you’ve ever stepped inside a Tiger cabin with this flooring, you already know what that means: rock-solid underfoot stability, no bounce, and long-term durability. In tests we’ve performed on multiple 19 mm floors, a 75 kg weight produces only ~2 mm of floor deflection, which is effectively nothing.

It is genuinely impressive how sturdy the floors feel in these cabins — more like the flooring in a small timber building than the springy sheet-board floors found in most summerhouses.

Joiner-Made Doors & Windows

The large double doors use joiner-made frames, proper glazing beads and robust hardware. These aren’t flimsy panels; they are solid, secure and satisfyingly heavy. The European-style glazing maximises light while maintaining rigidity, and the overall fit and finish is very good.

28 mm Walls

The walls use 28 mm single-notch interlocking logs. This is the key structural distinction between the summerhouse-oriented 28 mm cabins and the more rigid 44 mm buildings.

28 mm is perfectly acceptable for spring–summer use and for smaller to mid-sized structures. But, as with all single-notch 28 mm systems, there is more inherent flex in the longer walls — which is something we’ll cover in the testing section.

Inside the Corbetti – Light, Usability & Atmosphere

The Corbetti is a very bright cabin. With the full-height glazed double doors at the front, you get a huge amount of natural light pouring in. Based on our measurements of similar Tiger summerhouse layouts:

• Outside overcast conditions: ~10,000 lux
• Interior at desk height: typically ~2,000–2,500 lux

This yields an approximate 25% light loss, which is excellent. It means the cabin is genuinely pleasant to sit inside even on dull days.

The lack of side windows creates a more private feel and gives you uninterrupted wall space inside for furniture, shelves, décor or a reading chair. The Corbetti feels calm, uncluttered and contemporary — exactly how a summerhouse should feel.

Structural Testing: Floor Sag & Wall Flex

Although we haven’t leaned a laser into this specific cabin, we have put Tiger’s 28 mm and 44 mm cabins through dozens of real tests over the last decade. The construction system is identical, which allows us to predict performance accurately.

Floor Strength

We consistently see:

• 75 kg weight → ~2 mm sag (Excellent)
• No audible creaks
• No springiness
• Instant rebound

This is industry-leading performance for a summerhouse at this price.

Wall Flex

This is where the 28 mm difference becomes visible.

In our measurements:

• 44 mm walls: ~2 mm deflection
• 28 mm walls: ~4–5 mm deflection on long spans

This is exactly what we expect with the Corbetti. The front elevation is reinforced by the doors, but the large rear wall of the bigger models will have that characteristic 28 mm flex when you lean 75 kg against it.

This flex is not a structural failure — it’s simply the nature of single-notch 28 mm profiles. For a spring–summer garden room, it’s absolutely fine. But it’s not what you want if you intend to:

• heat it regularly
• use it as an all-year office
• insulate it heavily
• place heavy loads against the back wall

For those uses, the 44 mm Corbetti is a better choice.

Corbetti 28 mm vs Corbetti 44 mm – Which Should You Choose?

This is one of the clearest distinctions in the Tiger lineup.

Choose the 28 mm Corbetti if:

• You want a light, bright summerhouse
• You’ll be using it mainly between April and September
• You want a simple, clean, contemporary building
• You don’t need deep insulation
• Budget matters and you want the best value

Choose the 44 mm Corbetti if:

• You want occasional winter use
• You need a much more rigid structural feel
• You dislike wall flex
• You want the cabin to double as a home office
• You are building in an exposed or windy spot

The Corbetti is one of the few cabins where upgrading to 44 mm genuinely changes the nature of the building — it transforms it from a summerhouse into a semi-all-year room.

Who the Corbetti Is Perfect For

The Corbetti is a brilliant option for anyone who wants a modern, bright, cost-effective garden room to enjoy during the warmer months. Picture it at the end of a garden: clean lines, full-height doors, light washing across a small sofa or reading chair. It fits into the landscape effortlessly without dominating it.

It’s not trying to be a do-everything cabin — and that’s exactly why it works so well. As a spring–summer retreat, a relaxation space, a hobby nook, or a casual home-working spot on warm days, the Corbetti excels. Its simplicity is its strength.

For heavier use or winter occupation, the 44 mm variant is the natural upgrade — but for the vast majority of buyers who simply want a solid, attractive summerhouse, the 28 mm Corbetti is perfect.

Final Verdict

The Tiger Corbetti 28 mm Log Cabin is popular for good reason. It’s uncomplicated, good-looking, well-priced, and structurally sound for its intended use. The 19 mm floor and roofboards give it a level of solidity that outperforms most summerhouses in its price bracket, and the full-height doors create a genuinely uplifting, light interior.

It isn’t a workshop. It isn’t a winter office. And it isn’t pretending to be.
It’s a bright, contemporary, dependable summerhouse, and when judged for what it actually is — not what buyers sometimes want it to be — it’s one of the strongest options in Tiger’s 28 mm range.

A simple, honest, well-made garden room that looks great and does its job extremely well.