How-To Archives – Log Cabin Homes Magazine

Tips for Finding a Great Log Home Builder

by Donna Peak, all photos: Golden Eagle Log Homes | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, How-To, Planning

There are so many decisions involved in building a home. But when you’re building a log home, a few special considerations come into play, too. Of all the aspects you have to consider, hiring the right builder is probably THE most important decision you will make. Keep the following five points in mind as you start shopping for a builder who will transform your log package into a perfect log home. Fact or Fiction? Price should not be the deciding factor in your builder selection . Fact. Although se…

Building “Green” Log Cabin Homes

by Bridget McCrea | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, Energy Efficiency, How-To, Planning

When Barry Ivey and Lany Sherman sit down to design a log home these days, some of their customers’ first concerns fall under the “environmentally conscious” category. Looking to incorporate green elements into their homes, both new owners and those looking to retrofit existing structures are concerned about site sustainability, environmentally friendly materials and construction methods, and water and energy efficiency. “We’re seeing a strong desire for environmentally …

Out of This World

by Laura Cleveland | All photos Heidi Long | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, How-To, Planning

If you want to bring an essence of Europe to your log or timber frame home, inspired by your heritage, travels, or just wishful thinking, Old World style may work perfectly for you. Old World style is influenced by many different places, from England to France to Italy and the Mediterranean. Your Old World style can take its inspiration from the sunny climates of Tuscany or the coast of Spain, or can take a more northern approach influenced by a French farmhouse or chateau, even a Bavarian hunting lodge…

Defining Your Style with Area Rugs

by Laura Cleveland | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, How-To

Area rugs are the magicians of decorating. They have the ability to completely transform a space, adding style, color, texture, and pattern to complement your home. Your choice of area rugs defines your style and announces it to your guests. If you decide you need a change, they are readily available in the marketplace. Area rugs come in just about every decorating style, from Arts & Crafts to Western/Native American to contemporary. You can go a more traditional route with a cla…

The Light Stuff

by Jennifer Donahue | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing

Warm reading light in a cozy den, bright task light over kitchen counters, strategically placed walkway lights along a garden path: lighting is one area of your home where having the right plan in place can make all the difference. One of the things we love about log and timber homes is the way the designs showcase the natural beauty of wood. Properly planned lighting design can help highlight, not hide, that beauty. “Lighting should not dictate …

Exploring Alternative Energy Sources

by By Laura Cleveland | Jul 9, 2021 | Energy Efficiency, How-To, Planning

Going green is easy these days, especially when you are building a new home. With the cost of fossil fuels increasing annually and the damage they cause the environment more evident every day, it’s a good time to reduce your carbon footprint, save some money on utilities, and make your living environment comfortable and healthy. Adding an alternative energy system to a log home is no more difficult than installing a standard HVAC system, but it does require a different set of skills and equipment….

Designing & Decorating Your Great Room

by Log Cabin Homes Magazine | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, Great rooms, living rooms, dens, How-To, Room-By-Room

Reclaimed wood is the star in this home, from the warm floors to the mantel to the vertical siding on the walls. In contrast to the sleek surroundings, the homeowners were not afraid to go bold with the carpet, ottoman, and comfortable wing chairs.

Annual Inspection Checklist

by Mike Haskew | lead photo PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes | Jul 9, 2021 | How-To, Maintaining

The maintenance of a log, timber frame, or hybrid home is a saga of planning and vigilance that begins even before the structure is completed. These homes are regularly conceived, planned, and constructed with maintenance in mind. Further, maintenance involves the exterior and interior of the main structure and any outbuildings, as well as the planned landscaping and any vegetation that is indigenous to the lot or acreage where the home is located. Antic…

Four Good Reasons

by Donna Peak | Jul 9, 2021 | How-To, Maintaining

ACCORDING TO THE EPA, the indoor air quality of a typical home can be three times more polluted than outdoor air and can be incredibly dangerous to our health. Over the past decade, government regulations have been put into effect to combat this, and are likely to get stricter, not more lenient. Sjoerd Bos, vice president of Sansin Corporation, a leading manufacturer of stains, sealants, and coatings, says, “I expect tougher VOC limits and, in certain states like Calif…

You’ll Be Floored!

by Jennifer Donahue | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, Entire Home, How-To

Selecting flooring for your log or timber frame home is a big decision, and not just because it’s a big-budget item. Flooring makes a major impact on the overall look and feel of your home. There are more choices than ever on the flooring market, so it pays to do a little bit of research before making a final selection. It also makes sense to rely on the expertise of your log home builder and interior designer, who have experience with different materials and can steer you in the right dir…

Online Exclusives

by Low-Maintenance Log Finish: A Closer Look By Wyatt Myers / Storing Heat from the Sun By Jennifer Donohue | Jul 9, 2021 | How-To, Maintaining

When it comes to a finish for your log home, you have a choice between a film-building finish that lies on top of the wood and a penetrating finish that soaks into the wood. Although the film-building finish can last longer initially, Sjoerd Bos, vice president of Sansin Corporation in Ontario, Canada, prefers the penetrating finish for a couple of reasons. First, it is much easier to apply and maintain—you just wash, clean, and reapply. Second, a…

Log Home Withstands April Tornado Strike

by Log Cabin Homes Magazine | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, How-To

Kimball I. Maull feared the worst when he learned Deltaville, VA, was struck by a tornado on April 16, 2011. Maull owns a vacation home there, right along the Chesapeake Bay. As he rushed to the typically quiet coastal community the next day, news reports revealed the tornado’s path traveled from Fishing Bay to the Rappahannock River—and directly over his 10-acre estate. “The tornado destroyed three homes directly across the creek from my property, as well as a nearby church,” says Maull, a trauma…