8
Wood preservation
Good maintenance will extend the lifetime of your log cabin. Just as with your
house, the paint work is also very important for your log cabin. All wood parts
require maintenance. Do not wait too long before doing this. In the long term
you will have more pleasure from your new property by carrying out good
maintenance.
Wood is an organic and working material. Therefore, wood must be protected
by a layer against UV radiation, rain, microbiological infl uences and against
shrinking and expanding. This layer must be moisture regulating, breathe,
elastic and water resistant, just like the human skin. Buy special wood paint and
transparent stain that has all these properties.
We recommend the following treatment for your log cabin:
• First apply a suitable primer to protect the log cabin against wood rot,
mould and insects.
• Apply 2 coats of coloured stain or paint with high UV protection. In contrast
to coloured stains transparent stain provides almost no protection against
UV radiation - the darker the colour of the stain the better.
If you follow our recommendations further maintenance will not be necessary
for a long time. When you see signs of ‘sweating’ repeat the treatment with stain
or paint. It is advisable to apply one coat of interior stain to the inside of your
log cabin.
Renovation/maintenance
Maintenance should be carried out before the old layer of stain has weathered
completely. If the wood has only been lightly weathered it is not necessary to
apply a complete new coat of primer. Apply one or two coats of a transparent
stain or wood paint to the surface depending on the state of the paint. If the
paint is nearly all gone sand down the boards thoroughly and apply primer fol-
lowed by 1 or 2 coats of stain or wood paint.
Weather resistance
Although Universo log cabins have well connecting corner joints these will defi -
nitely not be watertight after a long dry period followed by heavy rain during
a storm. It is, therefore, advisable to apply silicone spray to the corners and to
provide adequate ventilation by opening windows and doors regularly.
Roof: roof shingles / roof felt
Do not walk on the roof shingles / roof felt during sunny, hot periods to prevent
footprints being left.
Useful tips:
• Insure your log cabin.
• Make sure there is adequate ventilation.
• Lubricate the lock once a year.
• Do not clean the acrylic glass with an abrasive but use soap.
• Check your log cabin regularly for stability and whether it is standing level.
• Do not store hot objects such as recently used barbecues, garden fl ares etc.
in your log cabin.
• Do not lean heavy objects against the walls to prevent distortion of the
structure.
• Keep windows and doors closed to prevent wind damage.
• Adjust the wind anchorage regularly to compensate for the working of the
wood.
Roof loading
Keep the roof free of snow and leaves. A large amount of snow on the roof can
be a source of danger to you as there is a risk of collapse.
Universo’s reputation for good products has been gained by the attention paid
to quality, design and innovation. The complete range of log cabins, garden
houses and play equipment is manufactured from high quality materials that
are strictly controlled.
1. The guarantee commences on the day of purchase as shown on the dated
proof of purchase.
2. Universo continuously tests its products for durability and stability and
will replace - after evaluation - any sub-standard product or part of one that is
caused by a production fault or incorrect fi nishing during a period of 5 years
commencing from the date of purchase. The guarantee will continue until the
normal expiry date after a claim has been dealt with.
3. Claims that are submitted too late and any consequent damage ensuing are
excluded from the guarantee. Universo B.V. reserves the right to determine how
claims will be handled. Universo B.V. will not reimburse labour or assembly costs
or any other related costs under any circumstances.
Damage resulting from the following does not fall
under the guarantee:
• A foundation that is not level.
• Not following the erection instructions properly.
• Insuffi
cient or no maintenance, or the use of paint that is not moisture regu-
lating.
• No storm and/or roof anchorage in place.
• Loose roof shingles, or roof leather, that have not been warmed suffi
ciently
while the roof covering was being placed.
• Fixing diff erent profi le sections to each other using screws or nails.
• Wind with force 7 or more on the Beaufort scale.
• Natural disasters or other destructive events, such as storm damage.
Wood guarantee
The log cabin that you have purchased is made from carefully selected pine.
Wood is a natural product, which means that every piece is diff erent. It is normal
for deviations to occur and the following are permissible.
• Knots up to 20 mm becoming loose and falling out of the wood.
• Knots that have grown together in the wood.
• Knots that fall out of the edges of the boards, but are covered during erec-
tion.
• Discoloration without this having any eff ect on the life of the log cabin.
• Straight cracks that do not go all the way through.
• Cracks at the crosscut edges as long as these are not the full width of the
board.
• Shrinkage cracks that do not infl uence the structure.
• Resin spots with a maximum length of 5 cm.
• Distortions and curving as long as this does not aff ect the ease of working.
Occasionally knots fall out during use. Holes should be fi lled with fi ller.
Claim procedure
If there is a problem please contact your Universo dealer by telephone or in
writing. Please make sure that you have the following information available:
• The model of the log cabin.
• The code for the parts in which there is a problem.
• The original proof of purchase of the product.
The step by step plan described below is to help with using the drawings in
Chapter I. The steps are numbered to correspond with the numbering of the
drawings in Chapter I.
STEP 1
Laying a good, level foundation is very important in order to prevent unneces-
sary major problems, such as:
• Windows and doors that cannot be opened and closed properly.
• Walls that cannot expand/contract in damp or dry weather so that cracks
can open up.
See also Chapter A, point 2.
STEP 2
Please check the contents of the package as soon as your receive it and before
F
Step by step plan for the erection (traditional series)
E
Guarantee
D
Maintenance
Weather conditions
Do not erect the log cabin on days when there is a strong wind or it is raining.
Children
Keep children out of the vicinity of where you are working and away from lad-
ders, tools and log cabin parts. Do not allow them to climb on the log cabin.
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