Your Log Home

Can You Build A Log Home In a Fire Area

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The answer to the question whether one can build a log home in a fire area is a resounding yes. However, before the logs can be purchased and the construction process commenced the surrounding areas should be looked into carefully.

Firstly, if there are bushes around the area they should be cleared so as to discourage external fires from coming into contact with the property.

The second step involves treating the wood that will be used for the construction before the house is put up. This sort of treatment involves the use of fire resistant chemicals that will ensure the home remains safe should a fire break out.

In addition to this, the wood should also be doused with chemicals that will keep the wood safe from termites. Alongside the wood, the land on which the property will stand should also be treated so as to keep these insects and other wood boring varieties at bay.

With regards to maintenance, the log house should be coated with varnish every so often so as to keep its appearance shiny and new.

Even though most consumers tend to shy away from log houses they are some of the easiest structures to construct and maintain year in, year out.

Do Log Homes Require Special Permits

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you have decided to build a log home, one of the things you are probably asking yourself is exactly how different the building process will be from a traditional home in terms of permits and blueprint planning. The answer to those questions will vary from one geographic area to another, since topography, climate and types of natural disasters vary from one site to the next.

The building permit for a log home is no different than a traditional building, but the inspection and blueprint process will require extra time and money, depending on location. For example, a log home in Florida will have different construction and material requirements due to high humidity and intense hurricane winds than a home built in Vermont. A California building code will also be stringent in different ways, requiring more shock-absorbing and flexibility in a log home’s construction in order to absorb earthquake shock.

If you are considering contracting a log home builder for this project, make of list of your permit and building code concerns and make sure to address them at your first meeting to learn more about your regional requirements. Any information should be verified with your city hall before construction.

How Long Does It Take To Build Log Homes

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Deciding on building a log home is a good choice. They are less expensive than stick-built, banks and other lending institutions will finance your project, and you can even be your own general contractor without the burden of a contractor license, ergo, you’ll save money. However, this may not be the wisest choice since the procedure is a bit complicated and some lenders will eschew loaning money unless a professional contractor is used.

In terms of time, you should plan on five to six months from beginning to end when you get the keys and move in.This/tag helps explain it more. Think pre-construction headaches like picking a floor plan, ordering the log home, and the permit process. This could eat up about four months. The site improvements, footings, and final log home erection, could run 45 to 60 days before completion unless you hit bad weather. This is not bad news, just to some degree, frustrating. The good news is once finished, a log home will be safer, and last longer than stick-built. Outside maintenance is vital. Keeping rain or sprinkler water away from the structure, especially around the base is critical. Wet logs rot which can be an expensive killer, so be diligent.

Keeping Your Log Home Safe

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Log Homes aren’t any less vulnerable to break ins or vulnerability than any other type of home, so here are a few homesecurity101 tips to help you keep your log home safe:
Consider an alarm system. This is particularly important if your log home is used primarily for vacations and is often vacant. Security systems help alert police when someone is in the house and can even get in touch with authorities in the event of fire or flood.
Fortify your home. Speaking of fire and flood, get your log home ready to withstand the elements before the unseasonable times of year. Check with roofers about the stability of your overhangs and be sure to fence in your yard to avoid break ins from animals – the most unwanted houseguests of all!
Talk to your neighbors. Neighbors have long been the best defense against break ins, property crimes and even natural disasters so make friends with your neighbors and talk to them often. Alert them when you’re out of town and make sure they know not to let anyone in – they’ll be sure to alert police if they see anything suspicious.

Can Log Homes Be A Poor Investment

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Careful considerations should be noted when deciding upon building or purchasing a log home. These homes present a picturesque ambiance along with a warm and inviting living appeal. However, maintaining a log home can be time consuming. Also, Insurance rates can be higher on a log home.

When considering this type of investment though, careful consideration will likely benefit the purchaser in the long run. Decorating a log home is simply one style. The ability to paint interior walls and update decor is almost a mood point. If one is comfortable with the same decor and ambiance, then a log home may be a consideration.

A log home must be maintained to prevent rapid deterioration. The outside walls should be treated and sealed once a year to prevent bug infestation and wood decomposition. This may take away quality time of the home owner and procrastination of such maintenance will result in costly repairs.

The cost of building a log home is higher per square foot than a regular stick built house. Insurance rates are seemingly higher due to increase risk of fire damage. A regular stick built home may have fire retardant materials such as wall insulation, and sheet rock.

Do Log Homes Conserve Energy Better Than Normal Ones

admin — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Do Log homes are the best homes available to the consumer who wants to save money on their energy bills. In this economy everyone is looking for a way to be self sustaining. It is important and something we all should consider when looking for a home. A log home is a big investment and it needs to be the right investment for you. Searching for just the perfect one is well worth the time and leg work. Log homes are more then just homes, they are a life style. If saving money on energy bills is important to you, then you should consider building a Do Log home. The price is affordable and they have several plans to choose from. Log homes are not for everyone. They are a step above the average house. No one is ever sorry they made the investment. So if you want a home you can be proud of and one that has been proven to be one of the most energy effective homes available, then you should consider a Do log home. You will never be sorry you did and your family and friends will love spending time at your special log home.

Are Log Homes Cheaper To Build

admin — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you have property, and have wondered what to put on it, you may be wondering; are log homes cheaper to build? When you look at the overall picture the log home and the conventional home are in the same category. Depending upon what package you want and how much house your budget will allow you to pay for will dictate the price of the home. A frame house with log siding is less expensive, and saves effort with plumbing, wiring and heating system installment.

Heavy equipment is unnecessary with many kits and these easy to put together units are insulated. Use them for vacation housing or year round living. A cabin is a great way to have housing but it is important to have contractors help if your building experience is limited. Log kits can be purchased for home building purposes; the level of material determines the cost.

Cabin homes are extremely elegant; the woods are polished and put together with great care. Are log homes cheaper to build than conventional homes? No. Are they beautiful, and well worth the investment. Yes. Cabin homes match the beauty and durability of a conventional built home, and they are just as beautiful.

What Are The Costs Of Building Log Homes

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The cost of building a log home has many variables. It depends on which state you live in. The cost factor will change if you hire a contractor or if you build it yourself. Some other factors like how much square footage, will it be built on a slab, and do you want a crawl space, what type of ceiling? The list goes on and on.However to give you a rough idea, let’s compare the same cost of a log home in three different states. With one home on the east coast, one in the Midwest and one on the west coast.In Maryland, the cost for a two thousand square foot home built with cathedral type ceilings, crawl space and standard appliances would cost around one hundred and ninety-two dollars. This estimate includes the fact that you would not hire a contractor. The same log home in Kansas would be about five thousand dollars less. A similar log home in California would be around one hundred and ninety-eight thousand dollars. These are very general estimates. The cost of log homes really does depend on many factors. Once you determine the size and model you want you can expand to thinking about the details.

A Bright, Sunshiny Day to Own a Log Home

www.yourloghome.com — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:38:16 +0000

At least in terms of general appearance, log homes are harmonious with their natural surroundings and unobtrusive visually in even the most striking of scenic views. What those who don’t regularly maintain their own log home may not realize is that historically log homes boast decreased energy use and lower utilities, thanks to the very logs that give them their unique character. As a more thermostatic method of home building than stucco, for example, log homes are naturally more conducive to changes in outside temperature, meaning a less need for air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. A new strategic alliance between the largest log home manufacturer in the United States, Southland Log Homes, and Argon Energy Solutions could help log home owners to even further help the environment by choosing their log-built residence than the traditional home structures so commonly found in cities and suburbs. The partnership will allow for solar energy technology to be utilized effectively and efficiently with log homes in mind, both in the construction and renovation process, with the goal of keeping all materials eco-friendly, sustainable and renewable whenever possible. Solar panels will be utilized in order to not only minimize the taxing costs of energy use on the planet but also further reduce the strain on a homeowner’s wallet, often an equally valuable concern when building a home. Unlike say hybrid cars, new buyers will not pay a premium upfront for the more eco-friendly option to off-set long term savings.Southland homes will first offer the solar-enhanced log homes in North Carolina, though the company plans to continue their alliance with Argon Energy Solutions across the 10 states in which they do business by the end of the year, including Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia, South Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Log-like Homes

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:22:17 +0000

One of the most appealing aspects of owning your own log home is the breathtakingly natural way they blend in seamlessly with their surroundings. From the quaint cabin in the woods to the isolated tinder box gently perched atop a mountain, log homes don’t just give comfortable access to nature’s wonders they accent them. While aesthetically the charm of an authentic log cabin is unparalleled, its highly involved upkeep leaves many would-be builders looking for a suitable compromise.In order to avoid high maintenance costs and more expensive utility bills, some homeowners opt for log siding as an alternative to traditional log homes. Made from only a portion of the full log and cut flat on the unseen side, log siding can be added to almost any base house structure, either during the original construction process or during a subsequent renovation. From the outside, admirers and casual passer-bys will think your home was built just like any other finely constructed log cabin. A wide selection of high quality siding is available giving you similar choice in wood finish to an actual log-based structure, including traditional favorites like pine and cedar. Full-width dovetail corners add to the illusion that your home is in fact a legitimate log home. The noticeable difference between log siding and actual full logs can be seen from the inside. The house’s interior construction will mirror that of a conventional stud-framed home, providing for the same finishing options you might find in the suburbs.For log home builders who want to maintain the charming cabin feel from the inside out, but still want to sidestep the constant extra costs and chores, log paneling is also available for interior walls. The paneling is cut flat, giving the look of well-kempt wooden planks, while adding another refined touch of timber to your log-like home.