FAQ's

Ordering
When will my order be processed?
Usually same day, or next working day if placed in the evening, weekend or a bank holiday.

Will a confirmation be issued for an online order?
Yes, an email confirmation is sent, followed by a hardcopy which is posted to you.

Will a confirmation be issued for a telephone or mail order?
Yes again, a sales invoice is issued upon processing and sent by mail.

Will VAT be added to an order at the checkout?
No, our prices include VAT. We do not add any further charges to our pricing.

Will my details be kept private?
Gardeningthoughts Ltd. takes your privacy very seriously. We do need to know some details when you place an order with us: Your name, address, contact number, credit or debit card details. You don't have to worry about any third parties getting hold of your details. We keep them safe and secret. We are against any kind of unsolicited emails and see it as an unwanted invasion of privacy.

Payment
Which payment method is accepted for secure online orders?
Visa and MasterCard credit cards, Visa Debit, Solo, Electron and Maestro debit cards and you can also pay by Paypal and cheque.

What payment methods are accepted for telephone orders?
Visa and MasterCard credit cards, Visa Debit, Solo, Electron and Maestro debit cards and you can also pay by Paypal and cheque.

What do I do when I want to pay by cheque?
Print of you order which you have placed and send us a print out and cheque made out to
Gardeningthoughts Ltd.
Address: Rear Barn, Chase Farm Barns, Southburgh, Norfolk, IP25 7SU.

When will a card payment be processed?
The payment will go through after placing the order.

Are there any surcharges for a credit card payment?
No, we do not make or take any surcharges.

Can I track my order?
If you need to check your delivery at any time please contact our customer service team either by email or phone. They will check your order and give you an update of its process.

Delivery

Are there any delivery charges?
There might be a delivery charge if you order a garden building, log cabin or shed. This is made very clear on the page where your item is displayed.

Can you deliver to Ireland, Isle of Wight / Man or the Channel Islands etc?
Yes, we are able to deliver there. Please contact our sales team on 01362 - 822434 for the charges.

How about an export order?
Yes, we are able to deliver the log cabins abroad. Again, please phone us on 01362 - 822434 for more details.

A delivery period might say "3 - 5 weeks", how accurate is this?
We will deliver the product as accurate as possible at time of order.

So how will I know when the delivery will be?
Our manufacturers will advise you by letter of the exact delivery date normally 1 week in advance.

What happens if I cannot accept the date given?
No problem, just advise the manufacturer that a revised date is required.

Can a weekend delivery be accommodated?
Usually not, as our manufacturers deliver weekdays only.

Does someone need to sign for the product on delivery?
Ideally yes, to ensure the product is correct, in good condition and acceptable.

The delivery period has passed and the goods have not been delivered?
Call us straight away. A manufacturing or delivery issue may exist of which we're unaware.

Something is broken or missing?
Call us within 7 days, so that we can arrange replacements with the manufacturer.
Planning Permission for Log Cabins and Garden Offices

Do you need planning permission for these buildings?
It is our understanding that the following are issues concerning planning permission.
- The Cabin should be more than 5 metres from the main dwelling
- 50% of the remaining garden can be utilised with this type of building
- The roof line to be lower than 4 metres, if a pitched roof.

Building regulations
What are the building regulations?
If the building is less than 20 metres square, it can be sited close to a boundary,
If between 20 and 30 metres square there should be at least 1 metre to any boundary,
If over 30 metres square then Building requirements may need to be discussed with your local building Control.

Other restrictions
Covenants may exist to restrict siting of a Cabin.
If you are in a conservation area or a listed property it is best to check with your Local Authority.

Base preparation for Log Cabins en Garden Office

What base is adequate for my building?
A well prepared, level base is required to ensure a long lasting installation.
Buildings should always have a base as large as the floor (base sizes are given in the technical details for each building). The base sizes given will give you a base that will be approximately in line with the outside walls of the Garden Office or Log Cabin. This allows for better drainage.
Final finish of your base level should be 20-50mm above ground level.

How do I lay my base?
We are always on hand to offer as best advice as possible. Please let us know the building you are considering and we can then help you as much as possible with the correct way and best method to use. On every page you can open the base preparation guide.
Is there a help line if I get stuck with the assembly?
Yes, a fully trained team is on hand to assist you with any questions, queries or assistance that you may require. Call our Customer Services on 01362 - 822434 or email them on info@gardeningthoughts.co.uk. We are open 6 days a week Mon - Fri 09.00 - 17.00 and Sat 09.00 - 12.00.

Installation Service

Can you install the building for me?
We offer an installation service for log cabins and garden offices.

Installation and Delivery terms and conditions
You must advise us if there are access difficulties, we generally deliver with a 7.5 Ton HGV flat bed truck.
Depending upon size of cabin and the wall thickness the cabins can weigh between 1.0 Ton and 4.0 Ton.
We need an access route/road capable of taking a vehicle 8 metres long and 2.6 metres wide. If we have to redeliver using different vehicles or if we cannot safely bring a vehicle to your site then any reasonable costs incurred by the Company will be applied.
It is the customer's responsibility to ensure that the Cabin is compliant with local planning authorities.
The customer is responsible for ensuring that reasonable access to a clear working area is available for our installation staff to safely carry any materials and subsequently carry out a satisfactory installation.

We would expect at least 1.0 metre of unobstructed space on the sides and front of the finished cabin and at least 600mm at the rear.
Storage of materials and equipment may be required during the installation process.
On completion of the installation the building will be inspected with our Senior Installer and the customer or customer's representative. A Completion Certificate will be prepared for each building, once this has been signed by the customer or customer's representative it is considered that the job is complete and has been finished to a satisfactory standard.
As timber is a natural product minor adjustments, when the building 'settles', may have to be carried out by the customer, this may include adjustments to the doors and windows as they may drop, expand and contract, warp etc. Alternatively adjustments can be carried out on a chargeable basis by Gardeningthoughts Ltd. Please see our FAQ section on our website for properties of timber. You will need to maintain any exposed timbers with timber preservatives and finishes soon after installation.
Due to the nature of 'Building Works' we are unable to guarantee any specific start or completion dates. Various delays can be caused by such things as road congestion, the impact of weather or even strikes by third party facilitators, transport or shipping.
Please note that we place great emphasis on the Health and Safety of our Employees and our Customers.
All reasonable care will be exercised in carrying out the delivery and installation, should you believe that damage to your property or grounds may be caused as a result of access to the installation site it is your responsibility to risk assess and protect those areas affected. We do not carry out a pre-survey of your installation site and request that you are insured for any potential damage that may be caused as a result of unreasonable difficulties experienced by our staff or vehicles whilst on your premises.

Treatment of your Log Cabin
Log cabins are supplied untreated to allow finish and decoration to your own preferences. The floor bearers are pressure treated to prolong their life and protect the foundations of your cabin.
Timber is a natural product. It will contract and expand with various weather conditions. If left untreated it will deteriorate. You will need to treat your Log Cabin as you assemble it and periodically after that in order to maintain and prolong it's beauty and life.

I have painted my building but wish to return it?
We will not accept returns or cancellations if your order has been altered by applying chemicals or paints to the surfaces or by altering or customizing the item in any way. You must keep any items you intend to return in the same condition as your purchase was delivered in.

Do you have a show site?
No, we do not have a show site.

What is Adobe ® PDF Download?
We have tried to give our customers as much detail and information as possible. For many of our products we have assembly instructions available, this is in PDF format and can easily be downloaded from the product pages by clicking on the PDF icon.
Most systems come are able to download PDF documents, if for any reason you have a computer without this facility, you can easily download the program from Adobe Reader free of charge.
Alternatively please contact our sales team who will be only to happy to send you a copy.