You obviously can’t always have the proverbial red sky at night. Plankbridge huts are weatherproofed, climate controlled and sound insulated for a living space that’s a joy in all seasons. Right as rain, whatever the weather.
From Snowdonia to the South of France…
A storm swept promontory high up in Snowdonia. A windswept archipelago on the west coast of Scotland. A sun parched village in the South of France. We have delivered Plankbridge shepherd’s huts to many areas with unique climate challenges. Time after time, they stand up to whatever the wildest weather can throw at them.
A temperature that’s just right. All the time.
Imagine it. You’ve spent a winter’s night cosying up in your shepherd’s hut – drifting off to the sound of rain tapping on the window. As morning breaks after a restful sleep, you draw back the curtains or fold back the shutters to find your garden covered with fresh snow. It looks beautiful. But you can’t even feel the cold – until you open the door of your hut to behold the snowscape that used to be your back lawn.
Plankbridge shepherd’s huts are built to exacting standards to provide a comfortable indoor environment, regardless of the outdoor temperature. When it’s cold, generous layers of Thermafleece wool from hardy British hill sheep in the Lake District– an underutilised and sustainable resource – keeps the inside warm. And when it’s warm outside, a three inch cavity between the exterior and interior walls keeps the interior nice and cool.
It’s all in the design…
Creating a strong structure that is naturally climate controlled requires forward-thinking design and materials use. From outside to inside, we think carefully about each layer of our hut structures.
- Corrugated iron or timber weatherboard cladding
- Breather membrane lets the walls breathe to the outside.
- OSB structural ply-clad frame
- Timber frame with three inch cavity
- Thermafleece sheep’s wool
- V-grooved MEDITE – a very sustainable brand, made in Ireland.
This design creates a rigid, breathable, sustainably insulated structure that works to keep the entire hut naturally climate controlled.
Beyond this you can choose from a selection of heating and cooling options for your hut – including log burners, cast iron radiators or an air filter heating unit such as the Dyson hot and cold purifier.
Beyond this you can choose from a selection of heating and cooling options for your hut – including log burners, cast iron radiators or an air filter heating unit such as the Dyson hot and cold purifier.
Rain
Rain is an essential part and parcel of UK living, and the winters are more dank and wet that cold and crisp these days. That’s why we make sure Plankbridge huts are fully protected from rust and material degradation caused by wet weather. The incredibly durable cast iron wheels are primed and painted black. Meanwhile every steel chassis is sent to be blasted, etch primed and powder coated. It’s a very reliable durable finish, when done well. Chassis can also be galvanised if required, recommended in coastal locations.
The paint we use for our hut exteriors is made by Tikkurila – a leading Nordic paint company and pioneer of sustainable surface treatment. It’s incredibly resistant. That’s why it’s used for the inside of digger buckets and the outside of lifeboat stations. As for the windows, they are fitted with a lead dressing that includes a lead tray to prevent water ingress. There’s also a breather membrane in the walls, floor and roof to repel moisture.
Not just weatherproof, but soundproof too
Speaking of heavy rain and hail, you may think a tin roof would rattle in the rain. But as well as being weatherproof, Plankbridge huts are reasonably soundproofed too. Our standard sheep’s wool insulation reduces the sound of heavy rain to gentle background noise. But we can also offer more extensive soundproofing. We recently built a hut for a professional sound engineer to use as a recording studio. And, of course, soundproofing works both ways. So your noisy hobby needn’t disrupt the neighbours.
Your refuge from the rigours of modern living
You need your hut to face up to the weather. To provide good noise insulation. But that’s just the start. We challenge ourselves to design huts that provide a peaceful sanctuary for our customers. A place to shelter and seek refuge from the rigours of modern living. To rest, recalibrate and recharge – and indulge in the escapism that you deserve. Yes, Plankbridge huts are weatherproof and soundproof. But the real benefit is having a space that’s a shelter from the vagaries of modern life.
A small piece of Plankbridge in Piccadilly
If you are ever in central London near St James’s Church in Piccadilly you will notice in the grounds, tucked in next to the BAFTA building, a beautiful yet unassuming shepherd’s hut – built by Plankbridge. It’s used by the Centre for Counselling & Psychotherapy Education to provide a free facility for drop-in counselling. Anyone can visit to talk about any issues that are troubling them. Or simply experience a little respite and human warmth. It doesn’t get much more nurturing than that.
Hunker down with a Plankbridge hut
To discuss your requirements and get your project started, please make an enquiry with our friendly sales and design team.
You may also be interested in:
>> Designed for living, built for life: about our shepherd’s hut lifespans
>> How a shepherd’s hut puts more pleasure in your leisure time
>> Shepherd’s delight: the joy of sleeping in a shepherd’s hut bed
>> Working wonders: the joy of a shepherd’s hut office
