In this log cabin review we’re taking a close look at the very popular Billyoh Montana log cabin available from Garden Buildings Direct.
The Montana , like all the Billyoh log cabin range, comes in a variety of sizes and is available with a range of optional extras and upgrades.
Construction
The Montana Log Cabin is a well-built garden building. Constructed from very sturdy 28mm thick, interlocking, tongue and groove timber boards, it’s designed for rigidity and to keep out wind and water, no matter how wet and windy the weather is.
The timber boards have a smooth finish, preventing penetration from dirt, moss, lichen and other water holding materials that could lead to rotting, making this building ideal for standing the test of time. The interlocking timber also gives the Montana extra structural strength so that it will be highly durable. As a timber building, you will need to treat it annually to maintain the protection from the elements.
As it is less than 2.5metres high, the Billyoh Montana is also built to comply with building regulations and make it less likely you will need planning permission to install.
Design
The Montana is a really well designed log cabin. Externally the pitched roof gives it an air of elegance, especially if you opt for the premium shingle roof covering. There is a good sized front overhang that adds to the attractiveness and will keep you dry in the rain whilst you open the double, outward opening, 6’2″ high doors. The doors and large windows provide lots of light and enhance the feeling of spaciousness inside. The windows come with two options, single styrene glazing or the optional double glazing. In reality, you have to opt for the double glazing as it will provide that extra insulation to let you use the log cabin right throughout the year
One really good feature is that, although the overall height is only 2.5 metres, the pitch of the roof is shallow, making the walls higher and so giving extra headroom throughout. Ideal for making the room more spacious and more comfortable for taller people.
The cabin is available in two different designs – either the traditional or the modern. With the traditional, you opt for Georgian style windows, whilst the modern styling has large clear glazing with a contemporary minimalist look. A range of options is also available for the colour of the roof and you can choose to have timber tinted or painted in various attractive colours or given a high gloss varnish if you wish.
There are also options for the roof and the flooring. With the flooring, you can just buy the supports and install your own floor, or you can buy standard 11mm or premuim 19mm tongue and grooved flooring. For ease, it’s better to buy a floor than install your own as you’re guaranteed to get the right amount of timber which will be cut to the right sizes. As for choosing the thickness of the floor timber, this will depend on how you want to use it. If you intend having heavy furniture or are using the room for heavy use, then the 19mm floor is obviously the stronger and more durable option – it will also provide better insulation.
With the roof, you get options for the covering. Although you can buy the Montana without covering and just use preservative to protect the timber, it won’t look as good or be as protected as it would with felt or shingle covering. The heavy duty shingles look far better, are better quality than the standard felt and are easier to repair. If you have singles, you can replace one of it gets damaged. If you have a full felt roof and it gets ripped, you’ll need to replace the entire covering.
Perhaps one of the best features about the Montana is the flexibility you can have when building the log cabin on site. To get the most of your cabin, you ideally want the windows and doors to get as much south facing, natural light as possible. The Montana is designed for a variety of configurations so you can position the windows and doors to get the best light and make your cabin look its best in your garden.
Possible Uses
The Billyoh Montana log cabin is exceptionally versatile. It can be put to a very wide range of uses: a home office, workout and gym space, an outdoor dining room, a hobby space , even as a man cave or teenagers’ hangout. The choice is yours. The larger models can even be multi-zoned.
Conclusion
Overall the Billyoh Montana Log Cabin is a well built, highly functional and attractive garden building that will add an extra dimension to your garden and give you lots of space at a price which will easily be cheaper than building an extension or a conservatory. Whilst you can buy the models from £1399, realistically, you do need to purchase some of the optional extras. Saying that, the largest model, with the most expensive options all included will still only cost about £2500 – which for a modern, high quality, 20 sq m room is very reasonable.
The Billyoh Montana Log Cabin is available with free delivery in the UK from Garden Buildings Direct