FAQ's

Q.How long has "Cabin Life" been constructing these types of Cabin Kits?

A. Cabin Life has now been in business since 2011 constructing these types of European style cabins. We first saw these kits Vienna, Austria in 1996 years fell in love with them back then. We were fortunate enough to re-visit Austria at Christmas time 2017 and saw the same timber cabins and houses looking as good as they were 20 years ago. As cost of living and the housing prices got more and more expensive in Australia we knew that these cabin kits would be a great solution for many reasons.

These days "Cabin Life" and "Cabin Kits .com.au" construct at least 2 cabins kits every week through out the country. 

Q.Can I construct the Cabin Myself ?

A. Yes, if you are a bit of handyman/woman then construction is easy. You will need 2 people to put up the main structure and kits under 20m2 should take no more than 2-4 days to complete a basic cabin after the footings are done. Larger cabins ofcourse take longer to construct.

Q. How long does it take to get my Cabin delivered ?

A: We generally have the most popular 20m2 cabins kit and Deluxe cabin kits in stock. These kits can be delivered within the week. Other models can take between 10 to 12 Weeks to deliver and It can take 14 to 16 weeks for custom design cabin orders.

Q. Is my cabin considered and exempt development ?

Click on your state below to see rules on Garden Sheds in your area.

Q. Do I need council approval ?

A. Council rulings vary from state to state : In NSW you are allowed to build a 20m2 Garden Shed , Gazebos  or Cabana's on a residential block of land. Click here for more info. If you intend to use the Cabin as a granny flat or an extra rent then you are best to speak to your local council. Click here for info sheet.

Q. What is the process if I need to go through council ?

The basic order of things would go as follows :

1. Soil Test (approx. $550 depending on locality)
2. Engineering (Approx. $600)
3. Basix (Thermol Rating) 70mm Timber now required to pass basix as class 1A Buidling. ( Approx $440)
4. Site plan ???

Link to owner builders course. (Click Here)

Soil Test ; STA Soil Test Australia 07 55 221 995

Engineering :  Rob Aungle associates https://robaungle.com/

Basix; Partners Engineering ; David Howard Ph 0421 381 005

Q. Are our cabins fire retardent ? BAL ratings.

 A.Our cabin kits can pass the rural fire service rating of BAL 12-19 by raising the kits 400mm above the ground on posts. (0% of our cabin kits are constructed this way. We can also get our cabin kits to BAL29 by using the BCA approved "Fireshell" Bush fire protective coating. Click here to go to Exifire protcetive coating website.

Please go to PDF below. There are several flame retardent sealers on the market. If you are in a bushfire prone area please contact us for more information. Contact Us

For a downloadable pdf file on the safety of solid timber in fires click here :  }{mediatag1}

Q. Do our cabins require Termite   protection ?

A. All "Cabin Life" cabins come with treated base timbers and you should always use treated timber posts with ant protection caps or steel posts for base support as you would on any other type of construction. If using a concrete base it is recommend that you install a termite barrier just like you would on any other type of housing.

We also recommend the use of a good quality timber preservative like "Mabons" Timber protection. After a lot of research into different products on the market we have found "Mabons" Timber protection treatment to be definately one of the best environmentally friendly products on the market. It is easy to apply and dries clear so you can seal or paint the cabin as required.

"Mabons Timber Protect" is a total termite protection treatment, a fire retardent and a mould protecter all in one.

Click here to go to  Mabons web site.

Q. Do our cabin kits need insulation ?

A. Our cabin kits are made from solid timber. The walls on our cabin kits either come in 44mm or 70mm timber and solid timber is a great insulator. The 44mm timber will give you an R value 2.5 when sealed with an exterior finish.

Our solid timber cabin kits all have the best wind tight chalet corner design and the best timber groove profile on the market. Most of our kits also come with Double glazed doors and windows with rubber seals. These features give you a cabin kit that insulates like and esky. If it is warm inside it will stay warm and if it is cool inside it will stay cool.

It is recommended that you use an roofing insulation wool blanket under the roofing iron which goes on top of the 19mm ceiling boards. For colder areas it is a very cost effective idea to use yellow tongue flooring underneath your timber flooring to create yet another layer of insulation.

Q. What does it mean build price if owner build ?

A. The build price is the cost to construct the cabin kit to lock up. We do small cabins and large cabins and some require council permission and some don’t. As we deliver kits all over Australia we are unable to have licenced builders in every state. So if clients need to go through council and need us to construct their cabin kit up to lock up stage then we have set the price that we are willing to construct the kit for if the client is happy to go as owner builder. Otherwise you will have to employ a local licenced builder which will cost a lot more.

There is a link to an “Owner Builder” course under FAQ heading. The course will take you around 3-4 hours to do online and will cost you $240. The course is all multiple choice answers. 

Q. Do our cabin kits come with bathroom, Kitchen and Electrical.

A. No: All Kitchens, plumbing, bathrooms and Electrical are not included in cabin kit price.

Q. Are there any hidden extras ?

A. No: All Cabin costings are written on each of our webpages in full veiw so that our clients  know all costs up front. If your specific job site has to be elevated or your have an unusual soil type then a "Cabin Life" representative will discuss this with you in detail. 

Q. What does construction to lock up mean ?

A. Construction to lock up means the cabin built to lock up on raised posts with bearers and joists as subfloor, the full cabin kit with doors, windows. hinges, locks and including roofing but not guttering. Guttering to be installed by a licenced plumber. Lock up does not include kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing nor electrical.

Q. What colour roofing can I have ?

A. Please click here to see roofing colours.