Check the quality when buying log stores online

There are a lot of log stores and garden stores available to buy online and the price varies, more often than not in line with the quality.  Here at Dorset Log Stores we have a range of designs for a variety of locations but we only make them here in the UK and to help you do a comparison, here are our reasons why we think it’s worth paying that little bit more for one of our high quality Dorset Log Stores or Garden Stores.

We carefully choose the timber for our Dorset Log Stores

All of our timber in our Dorset Log Stores comes from one small Swedish mill in the north of Sweden.  This means that we can control the quality of the timber from the chainsaw right here to Dorset where we can make your log store or garden store.

All our timber is tanalised, that is pressure treated with preservative that’s eco-friendly to make it last a long, long time.  When the timber reaches us in here in Dorset we take it from its packs and stack it in tall stacks to allow air to get between the layers to reduce the humidity of the timber down to an ambient humidity so it’s ready to build your log stores or garden stores.

Each one of our Dorset Log Stores is hand crafted by our skilled craftsmen and women 

The timber is then brought into the workshop and our cutter goes through the timber cutting out the lengths required to build the product, removing sections of the timber that are not up to the standard we approve of. The elimination of that portion of the timber increases the quality of the log store or garden store that you get from us.

All the timber is then taken from our cutters to our carpenters ready to build your product.  All the ends are sanded and then sanded some more, to give a professional finish and then to all the cut ends we apply a product called Ensele^TM which is a treatment to apply a preservative to the open cut ends of the timber. This isn’t normal in our industry but it is something we do because it preserves the timber better.

At Dorset Log Stores we offer a 15 year warranty against fungal attack and rot

All the timber that comes from Sweden to us is slow grown that means that over the cold northern winters it takes a long long time for a tree to get to a size where it can be cut down and made into lumber to build your log store. 

The growth rings are close together. That means that it is dense and  hard timber and will last for years.  Your log store or garden store is built from thick heavy sections of timber.  If you see the timber used on our garden stores, it’s dense, heavy, solid, solid timber, this is joinery timber – it’s not fencing grade timber that other companies use. All the hardware used on your log store or garden store is heavy duty galvanised, dipped in zinc. Again, to last for years and years.  All the screws that hold it together are plated and painted to give double protection.  And any nails that are used or roof fixings, are stainless steel, so the galvanising will not go on them because they are stainless steel, they will last forever.

On this log store we have red cedar shingles. These are Canadian red cedar shingles, certified for use on houses.  On our slate roofed log stores and garden stores, we use a polyester slate, again certified for use on houses, will not fade, will not shatter, will last for years and years.  On our timber roofed log stores we use a heavy duty 25mm tongue and groove ship lap section that prevents moisture getting in and will last for years. 

Dorset Log Stores’ Log Stores and Garden Stores are built for you here in Dorset by British Craftsmen with care and pride, that’s why we think that they’re worth that little bit extra.

Along with our range of Log Stores, Wheelie Bin Stores, Recycling Stores, Garden Stores, Delivery Boxes and Welly Houses we also offer Wicker Log Baskets of Rattan, Willow and Ash, and numerous Fireside Accessories. Visit our website to buy log stores online with FREE STANDARD DELIVERY throughout most of the UK

The To-Do List for Cleaning Your Log Store

It's summer and the sun seems to be shining on Great Britain; or at the very least it's not raining on it. As counter-intuitive as it seems, now is the best time to get ready for winter. The last thing you want to do is get to October and realise that you are not ready for the cold nights.

Below are three ways you can get your Log Store ready for another winter, be it cold or wet.

1. Your log supply should be fairly low at this time of year, before re-stocking, take all of the remaining logs out of your store and give the inside a good brush and sweep out. Remove any detritus and leaves that could be blocking air flow and causing damp areas come wet weather.
2. Take the opportunity of emptying your log store to re-stack any remaining logs properly. Logs properly stacked will air and dry to be fire-ready far quicker. Your winter delivery of logs can then be easily stacked upon arrival. 
3. Give your log store a good going over and clean. A good stiff brush down to remove and green organic matter and keep the timber looking fresh. To further preserve the timber give the log store a coat of Restol Wood Oil. A high quality linseed based oil to provide colourless protection for external wood, it is especially good on pressure treated timbers, providing a weather proof layer to your log store. 

Okeford Log Store with Cedar Shingle Roof

All Dorset Log Stores are made to the highest quality, using only the finest pressure treated timbers. Each log store is designed with a 3/4 inch gap between each board to provide superior air flow, minimising the time it takes for your logs to dry. With rooves designed to effectively shed water and double-plated decking screws used throughout, Dorset Log Stores guarantee their products for up to fifteen years. 

These three simple tasks, performed while the sun is shining or at least it's not raining, will mean come the cold winter nights, and wet winter days, your fire will be ready to keep you warm and dry with properly seasoned logs from your log store. 

If you have any questions about our Log Stores why not leave a comment below, or call us on 01300 345016 to speak to a member of the Dorset Log Stores team. 

Thanks for Reading

James