Log Homes Journal

Log cabins make terrific all year round places to live even in the United Kingdom and in fact, they are really small houses but instead of bricks, you have logs! They are built to a very uncomplicated design and can at times be referred to as garden cabins as well as log cabins. Although log houses and log cabins are built from the same materials they do have their differences; log cabins are typically built with round rather than hewn or hand-worked logs where as log houses tend be a one story assembly, with an almost “less finished” appearance (unlike the log cabins) as these were at first built with the intention of being short-term.

Whilst folks think of log cabins, they tend to directly think of rustic and rural North America with their long-established log houses and barns? Anyhow, did you know that log cabins have there roots in Eastern Europe and probably even originated in Scandinavia around the Bronze Age (possibly around about 3500 BC)? They are built by stacking tree trunks one on top of another and then arranging them in such a way as to overlap at the corners and then notch the logs at the ends. Hundreds of years previously the time-honoured design was to incorporate moss and other soft materials into the joints to make them more weather tight and they would even throw over animal skins! However as you would suppose in most parts of the world today especially in the United Kingdom, other, more practical materials other than moss and animal skins are mostly used!

People still like to retain a feel of tradition and surprisingly log cabins are still a common selection of housing in some parts of the UK, Europe and America. They become a fantastic option to the usual style homes that you spot today and are a lot cheaper to build, run and can even seem very good-looking particularly in the colder regions of the north. They can nonetheless be built using logs of varying thickness to add to there attractiveness, plus the thicker logs offer better insulation. You can either purchase ready-constructed cabins or even build your own with a pre-milled log cabin kit if you want, along with the added benefit of being more money efficient.

If you are considering buying a log cabin in the United Kingdom that has been built for you there are a few things that you possibly will want to think about firstly; it may seem clear-cut however you need to make sure that you have sufficient land and measure the whole lot! You will also want to think carefully about its positioning and which direction your log cabin is facing before you build it and you will want to make certain that there is somewhere nearby where you can get hold of services such as a sewer, electricity and water, as you can image these things are awfully important unless you really want to go wild and step back to nature. Once you have found the ideal spot you can very easily purchase log cabin kits on the web, these are becoming more common than purchasing a pre-built log cabin from another owner as you can get it constructed to your own tastes added to that you get the additional pleasure of creating a home all of your own.

Whatever you choose to do you will as a rule have to obtain a building permit of course, which for log cabins ought to be a trouble-free procedure. Still, building permits may differ from county to county.

The log cabin is a versatile piece of kit – it can be used as an office, house a large whirlpool tub, provide a ‘granny’ annexe, a playroom for the children or even be used as a second home. The choice is endless. In America, the log cabin is often used as a primary home and can be bought and sold through estate agents. Most people believe the log cabin is native to America, however, some historians have said log cabins were originally from Sweden, brought to America by Swedish immigrants who settled in the Delaware Bay area, USA in the 17th Century. Other historians have said log cabins originated from Scandinavia and Russia.

Regardless of their origins, the log cabin remains as popular as ever and like most things in today’s world they are filled with modern technology. They are far removed from our colonial predecessors who had log cabins made from a basic design of interlocking logs with the chinks (gaps) filled with stones, moss and dung.

Once the decision has been made to have a log cabin, no matter what size, there are plenty of additional choices to be made. Such as: do you need planning permission? Contact your Local Authority who will inform you what steps to take. Where do you site the log cabin? A local surveyor can give you advice about the cabin’s location and what sort of foundations you will need.

Once you’ve been given the go ahead for your cabin, you need to decide on your budget so you’ll know if you can afford a handcrafted or a manufactured log cabin. The choice is yours as to where you want to purchase your log cabin: local companies who specialise in log cabins, large DIY stores selling log cabin kits and the internet, which provides a wide range of choice and information about log cabins.

If you don’t mind how much money you spend, a handcrafted log cabin may be your choice. Skilled craftsmen build the log cabin to your exact specifications and each log is shaped and custom-fitted for your cabin. For a cheaper version, you could buy a modular or manufactured log cabin – in other words a DIY kit. They start from as little as £1000 for a basic design to over £13,000 for a cabin with rooms inside, double doors and a veranda surrounded by a fence. The modular log cabins are made of uniform milled logs that come numbered and packaged with the doors and windows pre-hung. These kits are classed as ‘easy-to-assemble.’ However if you struggle to put together even a small size flat-pack of furniture, you might consider hiring a carpenter to assemble the cabin! This will save you a lot of time and stress and will still be cheaper than having a handcrafted log cabin.

The traditional choice of wood for a log cabin is pine, spruce, fir or cedar. Cedar is the most expensive option, but unlike pine, cedar has natural preservatives that help make it resistant to rot, decay and insect damage.

A project plan should be kept and include all aspects of your log cabin construction: delivery dates and costs, land survey results and costs, installation of services such as plumbing, electricity, gas, telephone lines and all furnishings. This will help you keep track with your log cabin construction and budget.

Many people enjoy the ‘rustic’ charm of a log cabin and they can make a wonderful addition for your home. Proper siting, construction and maintenance of your log cabin can protect your investment and give you and your family many years of enjoyment.

If you are considering a log home in Jacksonville NC then you are not alone because this style of home has been growing in popularity in recent years. Most of the manufacturers of log homes are located in the south due to the abundant supply of straight southern pines that go into the manufacturing of log homes.

Kit or Build Your Own

Your choices are two. Buy a log home that is already built or build your own. If you have no previous home building experience there are contractors that specialize in the building of log homes. By far the most popular method of constructing a log home is from a kit. Log homes have been built from scratch but it is a very labor intensive process.

Log Home Dealers

Also, kit log homes contain logs that have been previously sized by the manufacturer, which is very important. There are a number of log home kit dealers and it is important that you know that by far, the vast majority don’t have anything to do with the manufacturing of the log homes that they deal in. Rather, they are basically a go between or middleman that deals with manufacturers and the products that they sell.

Getting Your Log Home Built

Most all log home dealers can also help you with the construction of your home as well. They either have contractors that they can put you in touch with or they can build the home themselves depending on their policies that they operate under.

Multiple Kit Options

Log home kits are available in any number of combinations ranging from a basic shell type log home that requires that you the buyer provide all the finish materials, to complete kits that contain virtually everything that you will need, save for the appliances and furniture.

Log home maintenance is a vital part of the overall log home experience. Enjoying the beauty of the rustic setting is very satisfying, but to neglect or postpone regular maintenance could turn rustic into ruin. Too often the homeowner is too busy or maybe just not familiar with what is required to keep a log home protected from the harsh elements. Periodic inspections should be performed on a regular basis and proper action taken when a problem is found. Unlike stick-built homes, logs that are machine milled, hand hewn, flat faced or beams all have one thing in common. Whether kiln dried or air dried, they will expand and contract when temperature and humidity change. Warping and twisting can occur causing joints to pull apart, sealants to fail and caulking to come loose as well as issues with stain adhesion. If not addressed, air and insects can easily enter the home causing not only a nuisance but making the home much less energy efficient. Moreover, water infiltration can cause mold and mildew problems, unsightly staining of the logs and most importantly, wood rot. This can easily be avoided. The following check list can be used as a guide to help you keep your log home in good condition, weather tight and beautiful for years to come.

1. Walk around your log home and actually take notes of problems or potential problems. You may be surprised at the list you compile.

2. If possible, it is a good idea to get up on the roof to check for loose or damaged shingles. Check to see that plumbing vent pipe flashings are tight around the pipe and properly sealed to the shingles. Also, check chimney flashing, rain diverters, gutters and downspouts. Check gutters closely for proper drainage. Clogged and backed up gutters cause fascia boards to rot very quickly and is hard to spot from the ground. These issues apply to all homes.

3. Take the time to examine the logs and siding closely. Look for any mildew growth. Where there is mildew, there is usually a moisture problem. Check to see if there are shrubs or tree limbs that can be trimmed back to allow more sun exposure and air circulation.

4. Check the logs, siding and trim for small holes and or sawdust. This is a sure indication of insect activity. Carpenter ants, wood borers, boring bees and a host of other insects can do thousands of dollars worth of damage in a relatively short period of time. Any holes should be saturated with an insecticide and caulked or plugged depending on the size of the hole. If your home has never had a borate treatment, it is highly recommended when the house is stripped and before a new sealer is applied, borate should be used to preserve the logs from rot and insects. This is not a long or hard process, but does require a knowledgeable applicator and proper drying time.

5. Check corners, log seams, butt joints, window and door trim and other areas such as dryer vents, receptacle covers, HVAC lines and plumbing fixtures for caulking failure. Installed properly, caulking will hold up well. The problem we find is that most of the time backer rod has not been used where needed and the caulking is either over applied or under applied and not “tooled” in the joint or seam properly. When applied incorrectly, even the slightest log movement will cause the caulk to separate. The more the logs separate, the greater the possibility of air, insect and water infiltration. Inspection and caulking of your log home should be a semi-annual project. If preformed on a regular basis, the average home could be kept weather tight in as little as a couple of hours. It will be time and money well spent!

6. Test the log finish. Splash some water onto the logs. Does it bead up and roll off, or does it soak into the wood? If it soaks into the wood, the finish is not doing it’s job. A properly sealed log (or any type of wood) should repel water. If not, it is past time to re-coat. If your home has gotten to this point, it is advisable to call a professional. An inspection and consultation will reveal the condition of your home and determine what is necessary to re-establish a protective coating.

7. What type of stain to apply to your home involves some thought. Depending on what is important to you, your personal preferences and the location of the home will dictate which product will best suit your needs. The best advise is to stay away from the big box store brands. There are a few that in certain circumstances will preform fairly well, but in general, retail products will not hold up on logs.

8. Consult with a professional. We do this everyday. We have seen products and contractors come and go. We have tried many different log home restoration products and found some better than others. We only use products that I know work and use on my own log home. I love my work, but after working on my customer’s log homes, I really don’t want to spend my time off working on mine replacing inferior products. If you have questions, give me a call, I love to help.

You made your decision; you are finally going to build that log home. Not just any log home, but that special creation you’ve held in your mind’s eye for so many years. You have walked on those hardwood floors, gazed out from behind those oversized picture windows, cooked dinner, curled up by the fire, and even slept in that special home – using that vivid imagination of yours. Oh yeah, you’ve been dreaming about your log home for a long time, and you have finally decided to make your dream become your reality.

Got land? Before you spend too much time browsing floor plan possibilities, you need to know where that home will be built. Not all floor plan designs are suited for all building sites. For instance, a walk-out basement typically requires a home being built on a slope or recessed into a hillside. Additionally, some plans are designed to take advantage of the home’s location relative to sunlight so even if you already own your land, you will want to know where and how your home will be positioned on your property. Once you have an idea of where those logs will be stacked it’s time to figure out what that stack needs to look like.

Now the fun begins, and the first order of business is to choose the right floor plan that is consistent with the home you have pictured in your mind’s eye – and the property on which it will be built. Odds are you’ll probably not open a magazine by chance and stumble upon a floor plan that has occupied your dreams all these years. Choosing a plan and refining the design to meet your needs will require some research, self-introspection and creative inspiration.

By and large, almost any residential floor plan can be adapted to a log home, but there are substantial differences and considerations that need to be addressed. One such example is that of room dimensions as they relate to the diameter of the logs you will be utilizing. A custom handcrafted home made from 20″ diameter logs will have a different footprint than one requiring 6″ milled logs. If this is the first time you will be dealing with a log home manufacturer or architect, make sure you are comparing ‘apples to apples’ when discussing interior dimensions. If you want a room to be 14′ wide, make certain that your designer knows that you want the interior of the room to have 14′ of open clearance and not measured from the center of the corresponding logs. Using the example above, your 14′ room could shrink to 12′ if such presumptions are not understood.

A floor plan is about space deployment, or more specifically, the space you want (or need) for family members, guests, pets, entertaining and basic household operations (i.e. cooking, dining, laundry, storage, etc.). Furthermore, it is easy to overlook space requirements for many things we take for granted such as hobbies, displaying collections and other family activities. Try to anticipate as many of your family’s needs as possible and expand your floor plan to accommodate your desires.

Once you have identified this all-encompassing ‘wish list’ you will almost certainly find yourself over budget. If money is no object – no problem, but if that Lotto jackpot has so far eluded you there are things you can do to bring that budget back in line. The most obvious and often least expensive way of doubling your floor space is to make use of the basement. A properly designed and finished basement is the perfect place to have a spare guest bedroom, home theater, hobby or play rooms, additional bathroom(s), laundry facilities or a home office.

One of the best tips about using a basement for additional living space is to raise the ceiling. Adding an extra foot (or more) in the height of your basement ceiling is much less expensive than adding an additional floor or expanding the overall floor plan, and the added height will eliminate that closed-in feeling you get with so many basements.

Adding or enlarging dormers is another way of capturing space from a second story or loft that is framed by a sloping roof line. You will be surprised how a well-positioned dormer can make a small loft appear much larger and provide vertical walls to accept seating, bookcases or tables that usually will not work with a conventional knee wall.

It is also a good idea to keep a list of things that you don’t like; things you may have seen in a magazine or noted when visiting other log homes. Some of the most frequent complaints one hears about log homes, especially older models, is the lack of storage space and small closets or bathrooms. This is most often the result of poor planning or not taking into consideration the diameter of log walls and the lack of attics in most log homes. Refer to your list when discussing details with your designer and remember that in most cases you cannot build a closet or a bathroom that is too large.

These are just a few ideas that can help you choose and refine a floor plan to fit your lifestyle and accommodate your family’s needs. Your log home company or architect will have many ideas that you may not have considered so encourage them to offer suggestions. Explain what you are trying to achieve and let their experience and knowledge guide you, but in the end, this is your floor plan.

Helping people design the log home of their dreams was the inspiration behind the Log Home Directory’s “Floor Plan Showcase”. Visitors now have an opportunity to browse as many as ten floor plans form each featured log home manufacturer without visiting dozens of different websites. These leading manufacturers display their most popular floor plans with descriptions, photos or renderings and links to additional information on their individual websites.