loghomedirectory.info

loghomedirectory.info

You can’t stand vinyl siding, and brick would just look wrong on your property. No, it’s got to be logs.

Building your home with logs is a big decision. Logs, contrary to what you might think, are relatively expensive, and a log home has some unique maintenance issues. But if you do your homework and source a reputable company, a log home may be your pride and joy for decades to come.

Your first task will be to start thinking about styles and designs you like. It’s easy to find log home sites online, and there are numerous hard copy magazines available on the subject. One of the common features of log homes is the great room – a living room where the ceiling is v ... (more)

You can’t stand vinyl siding, and brick would just look wrong on your property. No, it’s got to be logs.

Building your home with logs is a big decision. Logs, contrary to what you might think, are relatively expensive, and a log home has some unique maintenance issues. But if you do your homework and source a reputable company, a log home may be your pride and joy for decades to come.

Your first task will be to start thinking about styles and designs you like. It’s easy to find log home sites online, and there are numerous hard copy magazines available on the subject. One of the common features of log homes is the great room – a living room where the ceiling is vaulted, extending right up to the roof, often with an overlooking balcony on the second floor. Many designs call for an entire wall of glass to front this kind of design. This style is dramatic but expensive – you’re paying for a lot of windows, and you’re not capitalizing on the amount of square footage you have beneath the roof.

After you’ve begun to get an idea of the layout you like, you should think about log styles. Different trees have different qualities. One of the biggest factors that will influence the look of your home is the thickness of the logs and they way they’re cut. A squared-log home made with small logs will have a radically different look from a round log home with large circumference logs.

Your next task is to find a manufacturer. You want someone who can build a design you love, out of the kind of wood you desire, cut in the style you prefer. And they need to be able to get the building materials to your home site without breaking the bank.

Log homes can be built a number of ways:

Full build: The company cuts the logs, delivers them to the site, assembles the frame, then finishes the interior (generally not including electric and plumbing). This is the most expensive.

Frame assembly: The company cuts the logs, transports them to the site, and then sets them up, but the interior is left completely unfinished. This might be the most common choice.

Kit delivery: The logs are cut for you and delivered, but that’s it. This method requires a lot of DIY gumption to see it though successfully.

DIY: You may decide to cut and shape your own wood, then build a house out of it. This can definitely be done, but it’s a monumental undertaking. At a minimum, first sign up for a log cabin building course and get a feel for whether this is something you want to do for your lifetime home.

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