Project: Ray Mill
Project Address: Ray Mill Island, Off Ray Mead Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Size: 36m2 Log Cabin, Multiple Internal Rooms, Roof Overhanging Balcony.
Date to Start: 3 May 2005

The existing public facility burnt down, suspected electrical fire, and Thor Log Cabins were the successful bidders for the replacement work. 

Our contract period is from the 3rd of May 2005 to the 29th of June 1005, but we have our own target date, the 8th of June, for completion, which coincides with the Maidenhead Carnival.

Details are as Follows:

Quick Links:

Announcements: Images: Press Release Pre-Build Up to 06-05-2005 Up to 12-05-2005 Mini Blog: Up to 16-05-2005 :: Day 1 Const. Up to 17-05-2005 :: Day 2 Const. Up to 18-05-2005 :: Day 3 Const.

 

Press Release

Thor Log Cabins are proud to announce that we were the successful company to win the public tender for the replacement of the toilet facility at Ray Mill Island. To date we have built hundreds of log cabins in the UK and our system is the leading system in Europe for quality and integrity. Start of site is estimated to be 3rd of May. Completion of works: around 5 to 8 weeks. Technical High Lights: - Logs: 88mm by 130mm, which makes our timber the largest on the block, so to say. - 103mm Casement timber windows, Vac-Vac treated twice for durability and quality - Our Single Top Hat Log System is unique in the world of log cabins. This system prevents moisture to be trapped between the logs and thus prevents any damage from water ensuring a ‘long life’ log. - Slow growing northern Swedish Redwood that results in tight growth rings, again, for maximum durability and strength. - All our logs are from the centre of a tree, which also prevents cracking of the logs and, again, makes certain that nothing harmful for timber reaches inside. - Swedish replanting and tree cultivation is the envy of the world of tree conservation  - Due to the thickness and design of our logs our cabins also excel at retaining heat. These cabins are sold in North of Sweden as Liveable Houses. We have also made certain that more insulation can be placed within the floor and roof voids than you would normally need for a house! - Due to the thermal capacity we also supply as a matter of fact triple glazing as standard, this to ensure optimal heat retention and lower energy bills. - All doors are equally well insulated as they are made in north of Sweden, this ensures that we have no cold bridges in our completed cabins. - Our Roof system allows for full ventilation as per current building regulation specifications. Our Roof tiles are made by ICOPAL which, contrary to some manufactures, actually last! They are made with reinforcement fibres to ensure no warping or swelling and the ‘on top chippings’ are equally designed to protect and preserve the tile indefinitely. Our Cabins are designed to last for lifetime usage! Decorations: Our cabins are spray painted up to 200microns, but prior to that we make certain that the surface is dried and that the water content of the log does not exceed 18%.  Our logs are naturally dried and then Kiln dried to 13%, this gives our logs a natural ability to resist cracking and makes the logs durably hard.  Design Choices: - Together with Cornerstone Design we have drastically changed some aspects of the cabin. For example the original cabin had a roof that only covered the actual log cabin, but left the balcony unprotected. We have changed this to a full roof that also covers the balcony to give more protection and usage, no need to run from the rain! This further roof cover will also prevent, to a degree, walkway water saturation, which could, otherwise, become very slippery. The internals has also been changed to incorporate a much more efficient use of the area that the cabin takes. The Cabin now comes with a screen in front of the main entrance to the toilet facility, which will give the cabin more privacy than before. This screen also gives us an excellent opportunity to present the community with a specially commissioned artwork, naturally made of wood. Construction Teams: All our construction is performed by our sister company Thor Construction Ltd. This company is a fully registered NHBC builder and has also been vetted by TRUST. We believe that we are the only log cabin company out there with such accreditations. This site will have multiple teams working on it to ensure that all parts are done to perfection.

 

	Images & Drawings  (Click image for Hi-Res): Elevations: Side Artistic Impression: Back Artistic Impression: Construction Images: Up to 06-05-2005 Original Building: Demolishing: Clean Up Complete (2 days): Up to 12-05-2005 Log Cabin Materials: Up to 16 May 2005 :: Day One of Log Cabin Construction. The Base was finished on Friday night, ready for the log cabin erection team... Early morning and we have got to log 5 of the walls, including the internal ones which interlock at all points... Our Specialist tools includes 'Thor's Hammer', This gigantic sledge, made from a polymer plastic, makes certain that the logs are properly seated... Rain cut us short of a full day, we could have gotten all log down and begun the roof (remember this is day One) but we got some heavy showers. Besides, we started at 6:00, its now 16:00, time for closing up shop! Up to 17 May 2005 :: Day Two of Log Cabin Construction. Almost all log cabin walls are now up! The under roof walkway can now be seen as forming, this is in preparation for the roof. The back of the cabin. For a little higher up you can clearly see the rooms that are now shaped. Up to 18 May 2005 :: Day Three of Log Cabin Construction. Roof is now on! <Error> The Fist layer of felt is now attached. <Error> Observe the precision for the roof joists cuts into the log cabin wall, this is precise engineering! The Balcony joists are now also in place, the final walkway planks will be put into place after loc cabin painting is done.
	Up to 18 May 2005 :: Day Four of Log Cabin Construction. We had to make the balcony railing on-site due to time restrictions. But didn't turn out nice... and the main screen on the front to give further privacy. The look of the overhanging balcony looks very good, the feel of standing under it when it rained was very satisfactory. Look at that craftmanship, all hand cut!! Two of us, feeling very pleased with the result.