Log Homes Journal

Log cabins used to be known as the poor man’s house because of its simplicity both in terms of the materials used and the building process. The early American settlers and pilgrims built log cabins by availing of the available material in the woodland where they settled. The construction process was so simple then, there was no need for carpentry tools and even nails, except for the ever-useful hatchet.

Several years ago, log cabins were made of trees like oaks and or any other materials that could be gathered for free from the forest. The walls which are made up of logs placed on top of each other are so raw that the barks are not even removed to ensure the longevity of the logs. Because the logs used were not exactly uniform in sizes, there are gasp in between which are then filled with free forest materials like dried leaves, tree barks or even animal hairs. The floors are either made of logs piled and leveled on the ground, or stones.

The log cabins of the olden days were usually one-bedroom homes where the family can stay and interact, in front of the fireplace where they cook their food. Life was so simple then and this simplicity was reflected in the simple construction of the log cabin.

However, modern man has found ways to enhance the log cabin and make the dwelling place a more comfortable home for its dwellers. While the early settlers easily built their log cabins for a day without a plan, the new innovations made by modern man has made log cabins more complicated top build. Today, a builder has to create a feasible plan or design before building log cabins.

The project begins with the design of the log cabin that is appropriate for the size of the land where it will be built. This way, the builder can offer the future dwellers an idea of how the log cabin would look like. Creating an appropriate design for the log cabin will also make sure that the builder can get all the materials that will be needed for the construction. Creating a plan will also result to a cost effective log cabin considering that the materials can b e bought in bulk, or they can even be sourced for free depending on the sites where it will be built.

Log cabin designs and plans are available in various websites that even offer floor plans. Future log cabin owners can choose from a variety of log cabin designs and they can even introduce changes in the plan depending on their preferences and submit the changes they want incorporated to the website. The website sponsors or owners can give suggestions on how they can build their log cabins and how to save and maximize their costs during the construction phase.

It is best to limit the shape of the log cabin to the basic form which is square or rectangle so that there would only be four corners. Introducing additional corners will require additional foundation and will definitely increase the price or the cost of building the log cabin.

The greatest savings will however come from building the log cabin yourself, if you can muster the innovation and the skills needed to do it. Apart from lesser costs, building the log cabin yourself will give you fulfillment. However, not all people who want to build their own log cabins have the time to build it themselves so they may require other people to work on it. The important thing is that you create a plan, or you commission a designer to create a log cabin plan and coordinate the plan with him to make sure that your requirements are followed.

Aside from creating the log cabin plan, you can also generate savings by overseeing the construction yourself. This way, you save on the cost of hiring a foreman as well as make sure that the log cabin is being built according to your specifications. However, this job is a guaranteed challenge for you because you will have to deal with the carpenters and the other workers and suppliers yourself.

If you want to get financing for your log cabin, it is best to prepare the log cabin design and plan so that when you have your financial application approved, the financing company can easily determine the extent of the project you are seeking the money for.

A typical log cabin is a small house built from logs. Today, log cabins are well designed and constructed. There are log cabins that are large, comfortable, and elegant and many more. Here are facts and information about a log cabin.

Log cabin is a basic type of log house. Most log cabins can be seen both in rural areas and in cities in timber-rich regions around the world. Some United States political figures used log cabins as their symbol, to be known as” Man of the people”. There are seven United States Presidents who were born in log cabins. Amongst them are:

•Abraham Lincoln

•Andrew Jackson

•James Buchanan

Since Lincoln was identified with log cabin, the Republicans of United states were inspired and used to call themselves “Log Cabin Republicans”.

It was in the Bronze Age, somewhere in northern Europe that the first log structures were built. The Finnish and Swedish settlers in 1638 first constructed log structures in the United States. Also, knowledgeable Swiss and Germans from Eastern and Central Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries came and introduced their log construction in America. Even the Scotch-Irish with no tradition of building using logs, in a very short time had adopted the method of construction and contributed to spreading it across the marshland.

These days, log cabins are usually spacious, beautiful and stylish. There are also different types of log cabin for your pleasure and taste. One style is A Cabin that is built on high mountain. This log house could provide an unbelievable vantage point and wonderful scenery of the mountains and forest. Aside from this, it could offer a special place for relaxing, a peaceful, lovely place for the whole family. Because of its location, it is also a perfect retreat to rejuvenate your spirit. Depending on your budget and preference, you can have one or just rent a Mountain Cabin.

One great Mountain Log Cabin wherein you could have a great romantic vacation is the Cherokee Mountain Cabins. The cabins are surrounded by forest trees that could give an enjoyable and relaxing feeling. Cherokee Mountain Cabins feature superb outdoor playground also. There are exciting outdoor activities that are just few paces away from the cabin’s doorstep and these are:

•Whitewater rafting

•Hiking

•Biking

•Boating

•Fishing

•Golfing

•Scenic drive

Moreover, Cherokee Mountain Cabin has a lodge in the forest 30 feet above the White Oak Tree. This Appalachian style wood and stone structure would somehow give tribute to the Cherokee Indians who had lived on Nantahala Mountain and fished in its rivers and creeks.

The Hunting Cabins, on the other hand are for the hunters who are serious about their lodging place. They, in many situations take pride in building their hunting cabins themselves. Conestoga has a wide range of hunting cabins that are unique and with durable camp structures that could withstand even the hurricane Katrina. Each log cabin has firm interlocking corners that make the cabin stronger. Their hunting log cabin kit could be easily assembled because all the components are pre-cut and manufactured at the plant. Thus there will be a less work and a shorter assembly time on the job site. The kit also comes with detailed instruction manual and engineering drawings and only basic carpentry tools are needed for the assembly.

Finally, the log cabin kit from Conestoga is best for those with good general knowledge for construction.

If extra space is needed for the home, a log cabin is an attractive and practical way to answer the problem. Log cabins are ideal as a home office, a gym, for housing Jacuzzi’s and saunas or as a playhouse for the children.

The size and style of your log cabin can be dependent on your budget. One way to make your budget go further is to use a log cabin kit and assemble the log cabin yourself. Most log cabin kits come with comprehensive assembly instructions, and with assistance from friends and family armed with tools, such as: a hammer, drill, spirit level, and a screwdriver, it can be a challenging and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

However, for some people, just the thought of assembling a log cabin kit is enough to give them a headache: so the next best option is to hire help though your log cabin kit company or from local trades’ people.

Once you know your budget, the next step will be deciding what type of log cabin kit to purchase. Log cabin kits come in different packages: some are, handcrafted, and made from whole logs, whereas other log cabin kits are made from kiln-dried logs that are factory milled. Consider the quality and quantity of the wood in the log cabin kit: if your log cabin is to be used for twelve months of the year, you will need thicker logs than if your log cabin was for summertime usage. There are different shapes of logs to choose from, and a common choice is the ‘D’ log, which is round on the outside and flat on the inside and gives a horizontal wood-panelling look within. If you are concerned about the environment, check the logs are from substantially managed forests. Deliberate over the floor plans to determine what will work for you, what type of timber you want to use, e.g. pine or cedar, what insulation you need and your utility requirements.

The typical contents of a log cabin kit contain cut logs for a specific log cabin plan. Each log has a predetermined location in the wall of the cabin, with door and window openings already cut into the appropriate logs. Most log cabin kit companies offer a number of log cabin kit options that contain additional components: cladding, insulation, screws, corner panels, window frames and windows, doors frames and doors, steel brackets, anchor bolts, nuts and washes, studding, roofing and flooring. What isn’t included is: foundations, wiring, plumbing, heating, roof tiles, and guttering. Because each log cabin kit company structure their kit differently, it makes it difficult to compare costs between the companies, unless you can do an item-by-item comparison of the contents of the different log cabin kits.

Before log cabin kits can be assembled, a well-prepared level base that is the same size as the log cabin floor will be required to ensure a long lasting installation. A variety of materials can create a solid base, such as: concrete or paving slabs positioned on hardcore, and it should be 20-50mm above the ground level. Building regulations will need to be considered, for example, if your log cabin is to be located next to a boundary line. Some log cabins require planning permission and your log cabin kit company maybe able to provide advice on this matter. However if there are doubts, it is best to contact your local planning authority before work is commenced.

Log cabin kits do take time to assemble, but the finished product will be something you and your family can enjoy and appreciate for many years to come.

When people think of log cabins, they often associate them with Pioneering America and in their popular role in the United Kingdom, as a garden building that can be converted into anything a family may need, such as a guest room, an office, or a gym.

But there is more to the log cabin than you would expect. In Russia, there is the world’s tallest ‘log cabin’ that used to be home to gangsters and their molls. In Canada, there is the world’s largest ‘log cabin’ that is a luxury hotel and has played host to Prime Ministers, General Governors, Royalty, and actors.

The world’s tallest log cabin is in Arkhangelsk, a town in Russia. It looks like it was designed and built by a bunch of toddlers as it stretches higgledy-piggledy towards the sky, but it was in fact designed and built by a rich Russian gangster called Sutyagin. He started to build his log cabin in 1992 and his intention was to build a two-story log cabin. However, after a visit to Japan and Norway, he decided he needed to utilise the roof space as they had done in their house designs. So he added another floor, and another floor, and another…..until he had added a total of 13 floors reaching 144ft! His skyscraper log cabin was initially home to his girlfriends, 18 chief executives of his construction company, their various molls, and himself. But times have changed and Sutyagin is virtually penniless after his third prison sentence. Consequently, his folly of a log cabin has fallen into disrepair and only his wife and he live in four rooms on the ground floor of the log cabin.

The world’s largest log cabin is in Montebello, Quebec, Canada. It is called Château Montebello, and it is a magnificent log cabin built in 1930 by an army of 3000 labourers. It was made from 10,000 logs, 500,000 hand-slit cedar roof shakes, and 166 kilometres of wooden moulding. The log cabin was originally a private club and had 186 guest rooms contained in four wings that fanned from a hexagonal rotunda, with two additional wings for the dining room and the ballroom. The rotunda contained a six-sided fireplace that rose more than 20 metres to the roof! In 1970, Canadian Pacific Hotels bought Château Montebello and converted it from a private club into a luxury resort opened to the public. In 1981, Château Montebello hosted the G7 economic summit meeting and their leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, and Pierre Trudeau. Today it is still a wonderful ‘log cabin’ for guests and visitors.

The world’s tallest and widest log cabins are unique wonders, and you could create your own unique and eye-catching log cabin for your garden, although maybe not on such a grand scale! For example, you could have a double level cabin with a circular staircase up to a loft bedroom, an L-shaped log cabin with a covered porch or a hexagonal shaped log cabin surrounded by a veranda. Your log cabin could have garden decking that links the log cabin to your house, and lined with pots filled with country garden flowers that bring a profusion of colour and perfume to the whole area. Outdoor window boxes would allow flowers to bring colour to every corner of your log cabin. Fitted bay windows would create extra space inside your log cabin and help to give it a unique shape and outside window shutters would add character and privacy to your log cabin.

Let your imagination flow, and take your ideas to a log cabin company that can help you create your own unique and distinctive log cabin.