Important Information About Your Order

This useful guide contains information and advice about all aspects of your delivery. Please take a few minutes to read it. Also, please print it or save it on your computer for future reference. You should also have received our Important Product Information with comprehensive advice and useful tips to help you enjoy your purchase to the full. Please contact us if you have not received it..

CONTENTS

Scroll down or click on the links below:

• CRANE DELIVERIES - Crane or Forklift
• CRANE DELIVERIES - The Lorry - With a Truck Mounted Crane
• CRANE DELIVERIES - The Lorry - With a Truck Mounted Forklift
• CRANE DELIVERIES - Lorry Access
• CRANE DELIVERIES - Advance Notice of Delivery
• CRANE DELIVERIES - Organizing Your Delivery
• CRANE DELIVERIES - Special Delivery Requirements
• CRANE DELIVERIES - Normal Delivery Timescales
• CRANE DELIVERIES - Taking the Delivery
• CRANE DELIVERIES - Moving the Delivery
• CRANE DELIVERIES - Storage

YOUR DELIVERY - CRANE OR FORK LIFT

Your building will be unloaded quickly and easily using either a truck mounted crane or a truck mounted fork lift.

The picture below shows a truck mounted crane:

The picture below shows a truck mounted fork lift:

• Log cabin packs are up to 6 metres long (20ft) and weigh up to 2 tonnes (2000kg). That is longer and heavier than most cars.
• Even the smallest log cabin packs are around 3 metres long (10ft) and weigh around 750kg.
• The pack is half the width of the truck and fits along one side of the lorry.
• Our crane or fork lift delivery service is the easiest way to have your log cabin delivered.
• Lorries with a truck mounted crane or fork lift can unload large pallets quickly and easily in one piece with no hand unloading required.
• At most addresses the driver can unload the cabin without assistance in about 15 minutes.
• Our crane or fork lift delivery service is especially popular with customers who are paying somebody else for installation.
• Fitters expect to move the individual components from the front of the property. This is normally included in their price.
• At most addresses the unopened pack can be stored somewhere for a few weeks.
• With a crane or fork lift delivery you save the stress and effort of unloading by hand followed by hours of work moving and repacking the components.

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THE LORRY - WITH A TRUCK MOUNTED CRANE

• The delivery vehicle is a flat bed lorry with a truck mounted crane, similar to the lorry pictured above.
• The delivery vehicle is normally a rigid 6 or 8 wheel lorry around 10m (33ft) long, with a 16-20 tonne payload.
• The lorry is the same length as 2 parked cars.
• The back of the lorry is normally around 8 metres long, which is long enough for our largest packs.
• A full load is 6-8 cabins, depending on the size of the cabins.

• It is often possible to lift the pack over a wall, a fence or a hedge, for example at a corner plot.
• It saves a lot of labour if the pack can be placed near the site of the building.
• At most properties the pack is left on the drive, often along one side of the drive so it is out of the way.
• It is sometimes possible to leave the pack on the front lawn if there is a suitable area.
• It is normally possible to swing a pack round by 90 degrees to place it end on in the drive.
• Smaller packs can be moved further away from the lorry. The heaviest packs cannot always be moved very far.
• Stabilizer legs are extended from the lorry to each side, which keeps the vehicle stable while the crane is in use.
• The arm of the crane requires height above it, which may restrict the options regarding where to place the pack.
• It may be difficult to move the pack far below overhanging trees or overhead cables.
• With the combination of trees and overhead cables it may be difficult to unload the pack in your preferred position.

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THE LORRY - WITH A TRUCK MOUNTED FORK LIFT

• The delivery vehicle is an articulated lorry with a fork lift mounted at the rear.
• The lorry is around 16.5m (54ft) long, which is at least 3 car parking spaces.
• Access is often difficult for such large lorries but the fork lift can be used to transport the pack from the lorry to your property.
• If the lorry cannot reach your property we need a suitable parking area within a few hundred yards such as a layby, a pub car park, a large shop car park, a friendy local business or a farm.
• The maximum possible distance between your property and the lorry parking area is around 1000 yards or 1000 metres.
• A full load is around 10-12 cabins, depending on the size of the cabins.

• The 4 way fork lift drives forward, backwards or sideways as required in a confined space.
• Long packs can be carried end on or sideways on at the flick of a switch.
• A long pack can be unloaded sideways on and then driven end on along a narrow lane or drive.
• The fork lift is approximately 8ft (2.4m) wide and 10ft (3m) deep with the forks extended fully forwards.
• Unloading packs sideways on requires a minimum width alongside the lorry of 9ft (2.7m).
• Carrying packs end on requires a minimum width of 8ft (2.4m).
• The tyres are suitable for any drive surface including tarmac, concrete, gravel or chippings.
• If the lorry cannot reach your property the fork lift can be used to carry the components from a short distance away.

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LORRY ACCESS

• Our lorry is bigger than the large bin lorry pictured below. Please advise if a large bin lorry cannot easily park outside your property.
• Reasonable access to your property and parking directly outside is assumed.
• Please advise if lorry access is difficult at your property.
• Please advise if there are any low bridges, narrow bridges, weight limits, width limits, parking restrictions, unloading restrictions or narrow lanes at or near your property.

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ADVANCE NOTICE OF DELIVERY

• We never deliver without giving you advance notice so there is no need to wait in.
• Most our crane and fork lift deliveries are carried out by a small specialist transport company based in the Midlands who specialize in delivering log cabins. They plan their own routes and contact you separately to confirm the delivery day.
• In these cases you will normally receive two phone calls from us before your delivery.
• The first call is from one of our staff to find out your specific requirements and set up the delivery.
• The second call is from the transport company to confirm the actual delivery date.
• Occasionally we use an alternative crane delivery company based near Norwich and we plan their routes for them. In these cases you will receive only one phone call from one our staff who will confirm all details including the delivery date.
• We need payment of any outstanding balance during the first call, before we arrange the delivery, in accordance with our standard terms. This is because the drivers do not collect payments.
• Regarding the second call we will always contact you separately to confirm the actual day, normally a couple of days before.
• We can provide longer notice if specifically requested but please note that this may sometimes delay the delivery by a few days.
• If you want delivery fast and you do not mind short notice, normally the day before, we can pass on this instruction.

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ORGANIZING YOUR DELIVERY

• We assume that we can deliver on any weekday with notice, unless you provided dates to be avoided.
• Our transport companies normally deliver within 14 days of receiving a clear instruction from us to deliver as soon as possible. However, this is not a cast iron guarantee. If possible please allow an extra day or two, especially for bank holidays.
• Occasionally the transport company are overwhelmed by a surge in orders. Normally this occurs no more than once or twice a year and the delay is no more than a week. However, during the covid-19 pandemic several spikes in orders caused delays of up to 6 weeks for a brief period.
• During less busy periods it is sometimes difficult to cover more remote areas within two weeks and delivery may be up to around a week late.
• We often receive little or no advance warning of a delay.

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SPECIAL DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS

• If you want delivery by a specific date, for example if you have a fitter booked or a holiday, please advise us of the date. We will try to fit in with your schedule if we can. Please note the fitter may need to be re-scheduled if it is too soon. We recommend allowing a few extra days for the delivery.
• If you want delivery during a specific week we normally need at least 14 days notice of the start of that week.
• Your delivery will normally be arranged as part of a full load with 6-8 log cabins, all in the same area.
• Most full loads in central England are all delivered on the same day as part of a "one day run".
• In South East England, South West England, the Far North and Scotland deliveries are often part of a 2 or 3 day run. If so it is not always possible to predict the delivery day with certainty unless you are the first delivery in the run.
• The driver will contact you while he is on the road if required, for example if the schedule changes.
• You can postpone the delivery at any time up to 2 days before the scheduled delivery day. However, please provide longer notice if possible.
• You should not cancel or postpone the unloading on the day of delivery or the day before delivery as this will incur expensive re-delivery charges. This is because the lorries are normally loaded the day before delivery.
• If you put off the delivery it may be a week or two before the next delivery in your area.

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NORMAL DELIVERY TIMESCALES

• We normally deliver log cabins which are in stock within around a month of order although this may vary at different times.
• We normally deliver bespoke log cabins within around two or three months of order although this may vary at different times.
• In normal times we stock hundreds of log cabins so a wide range of sizes and designs are available for fast delivery. During the covid-19 pandemic we have far fewer cabins in stock.
• If you need very fast delivery, within a few days, we offer stock log cabins with next day delivery. However this service does not include a lorry with a crane so you will need to unload it by hand at the kerbside.
• Next day delivery is available throughout England, Wales and Southern Scotland (and within 3-5 days in Northern Scotland).
• If you are not in a hurry we can hold on to your cabin until you are ready. Just call off the delivery at any time and we will deliver within a fortnight - although please give us more notice if you can.
• Delivery may be slightly longer in more remote or distant areas such as Scotland, North Wales, Devon and Cornwall.

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DELIVERY

• We recommend that somebody is present during the delivery in case decisions need to be made about where to place the pack. For example, it may be that your preferred storage position is not possible.
• We recommend that somebody is present anyway, even if the delivery is straightforward. If nothing else it ensures that the pack is delivered to the right property.
• If asked we can request a call from the driver around 30 to 60 minutes before delivery. This ensures that even if you are out or at work you can still get home for the delivery.
• You can also request a call from the driver during the second phone call to book in the delivery.

UNLOADING

• The pack is covered on all sides with opaque black or white polythene which protects it from the elements and conceals the contents. It can remain outside for a week or two before installation.
• It saves a lot of labour if the pack can be placed near the site of the building.
• At most properties the pack is left on the drive, often along one side of the drive so it is out of the way.
• It is sometimes possible to leave the pack on the front lawn if there is a suitable area.

ROADSIDE DELIVERY

• The driver will always find somewhere at or near your property to unload the pack.
• Occasionally the best place is in the drive entrance blocking access for cars or on the pavement or verge outside your property.
• Occasionally, if the road is wide enough, the best place is on the road alongside the kerb.
• Unless you live in a no loading area or an urban clearway you are entitled to receive a pavement or roadside delivery.
• You are also entitled to a reasonable time in which to move the individual components from the kerbside after a delivery.
• If your pack is delivered on the road the best place is often directly behind or in front of your car if it is legally parked. If possible you should leave your car there until after the individual components have been moved off the road.
• A roadside delivery may need to be moved before nightfall to avoid blocking the road or pavement.
• Most pavements are wider than our packs.
• Even if our pack fills the width of the pavement, most roads have a pavement on both sides so pedestrian access is not obstructed.
• If the pack is in the way after unloading it may need to be moved quickly. For this we can only apologize. We try to avoid this if possible.

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RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

• We have delivered thousands of buildings with a crane and we have never heard of one being stolen from the front of a property. It would be difficult to steal without making a noise and it would take time. Nevertheless it is best not to store the pack at the front for weeks. If possible store it behind a hedge or wall so it is hidden from view.
• We recommend moving any smaller and more portable accessories or components which were delivered with the main pack to a secure location as a precaution. Often the driver will help with this if you ask.
• Check for any visible signs of damage before signing the delivery note. Add a brief note of any damage to the delivery note.
• Always assemble your cabin at the earliest opportunity, the sooner the better.

MOVING THE INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS

At most sites you should not need to move the individual components until the installation starts. However, at some sites you may need to move the components soon after delivery, perhaps to make space in the drive or due to security concerns at an open fronted property.

• The picture above shows the inside of a log cabin pack with the wrapping removed and the individual logs exposed.
• To open the pack normally requires a sharp knife. A claw hammer may also be required.
• You will need thick and tear resistant gloves. Always wear gloves when handling timber.
• First cut the straps to open the pack.
• Some packs feature timber outer framing which needs to be carefully removed first.
• Any polythene covering should also be completely removed to expose the components.
• Most of the components are individual pieces of wood weighing 5-10kg which can be unpacked one or two pieces at a time.
• We recommend 2 people to move the largest items safely.
• The heaviest components are the windows and doors.
• The glass is often factory fitted, which reduces damage but it means the doors and windows are heavy.
• The windows and single doors are often supplied in one piece, fully assembled in the frame and ready for installation.
• Double doors are often broken down into two separate door leaves with the door frame in separate pieces.
• Other heavy components include triangular front and rear gables supplied with apex roof cabins. Gables are often supplied in one piece for easier installation. Disposable battens which hold the gables together during handling are removed after installation.
• Other heavy components include prefabricated roof panels, which are sometimes supplied with smaller hexagonal, octagonal and pyramid roof buildings.

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STORAGE

• If the pack is likely to remain outside for more than a few days we recommend that you inspect the cover carefully for any signs of a hole and patch it up with adhesive tape if required.
• If the pack is likely to remain outside for more than a few weeks we recommend covering it with a tarpaulin, which can be obtained from most DIY stores.
• In hot or sunny weather long pieces of timber can bow or twist and smaller pieces can shrink significantly, even if covered. This is less likely while the pack is tightly strapped but if possible store the pack in a shady spot.
• If your order includes floor and roof insulation it may be possible to place it on top of the components. Insulation is the ideal material to protect timber components from strong sunlight. We do not advise leaving insulation anywhere which is visible to passers by.
• If you need to move the pack before assembly, you should stack the components neatly on the original pallet and strap the components tightly to the pallet to restrict any possible movement of the timber. Ratchet straps are available from most DIY stores.

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Thank you for shopping with Summer Garden Buildings.