How-To Archives – Log Cabin Homes Magazine

Buying Your Log Cabin Home

by Karen Doss Bowman | Jul 9, 2021 | How-To, Planning

Sam and Gale Easter, self-described “loggies,” are enthusiastic about living in the log home of their dreams. But during the planning stages for the house, the couple took time to carefully research log home companies and builders. They were looking for professionals that would not only turn out a quality product, but who also would deal with them fairly and honestly. “The company we chose answered all our questions right up front,” says Gale, now owner of Roanoke River Valley Log Homes, LLC, an indepen…

Log Home Bedrooms

by Log Cabin Homes Magazine | Jul 9, 2021 | Bedrooms, Designing, How-To, Room-By-Room

Furniture placement can be tricky with a sloped ceiling, even with a dormer on one side. Placing the bed in the middle of the room makes the space look larger and allows plenty of room to move around. Windows on three sides keep the room airy and bright.

Alternative Energy Sources

by By Karen Doss Bowman | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, Energy Efficiency, How-To, Planning

When Doug and Laurie Pooch built their central Iowa log home in 2005, they opted for a geothermal heating and cooling system—a unit similar to the one in their previous house. The Pooches, who are the owners of Cabin Fever Construction and dealers with Expedition Log Homes, say they simply wanted the same energy savings their customers look for. “We had geothermal in our previous log home and were pleased with it,” Doug says. “We wanted to make our home as energy efficient as possible and lower our long…

Are You in Hot Water?

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

Twenty to 40 percent of an average household heating bill is just for hot water. And that’s just for common household hot water usage, such as laundry, baths and showers, and dishwashing. Most of us rely on a conventional storage water heater, whether it is powered by electricity or gas. It provides all the hot water we need, as long as its size is designed for the number of people in the household. It has a fairly long life, maybe 15-20 years, and when it goes we replace it with another standard …

Warm Weather Checkups

by Mike Haskew | Jul 9, 2021 | Exteriors, How-To, Maintaining

While warm temperatures and sunshine are the hallmarks of summer weather, the seasonal care and maintenance of a log or timber home is an ongoing effort. “Your home shelters you and your family,” says Dena Taylor of Great South Log Home Services. “Plus, it was a huge investment. Protect your home and your investment. Don’t neglect it. It will only lead to problems that may be expensive to fix. Be familiar with the exterior of your home. If you notice any changes that appear …

America’s Log Castles

by Mike Haskew | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, Entire Home, How-To, Planning, Room-By-Room

That storybook log home, complete with the storybook look, is attainable—even for those who have to watch every penny. Materials and square footage are two primary drivers of a construction budget, but that unique dream home can become a reality without sacrificing style or comfort. Effectively managing the bottom line requires an evaluation of wants, needs, and personal preference. Consider the investment in living space. Options include scal…

To Chink or Not to Chink

by Mike Haskew | Jul 9, 2021 | How-To, Planning

It may be a simple case of personal preference, or it could be a vital component of structural integrity. In most cases, it is a little bit of both. Log and timber homeowners consistently confront the common question of whether to chink the interior or exterior of their homes, and the answer is as subjective as the style of the home itself. “Log or timber homes with wider gaps between the logs are built with chinking in mind,” explains John Schroeder of northern Minnesota-based…

Blue = The New Green

by Jennifer Donahue | photos by Roger Wade | Jul 9, 2021 | Energy Efficiency, How-To

Go Blue to Go Green Although 70 percent of the earth is covered by water, less than one percent of that is available for human use. On average, Americans use 80 to 100 gallons of water each day—more per capita than people anywhere else in the world. With at least 36 states facing water shortages by 2013, it makes sense to conserve water. Small changes around your house can make a big difference. You’ll save money on your water bill, and you’ll reduce the amo…

Should You Be Your Own General Contractor?

by Wyatt Myers | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, How-To

If you’ve ever looked seriously into building a log home from scratch, then you know it’s usually not a low-cost endeavor. One potential way to keep costs down is with an idea that many potential log home buyers have entertained: Taking on the role of the general contractor themselves. And while this can result in substantial savings if done correctly, it’s a big responsibility, and certainly not a role to be taken lightly. “It’s certainly possible to do it yourself, but you’re going to need guidance, a…

Great Room Design Tips

by Laura Stapleton | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, Great rooms, living rooms, dens, How-To, Room-By-Room

The next several pages feature floorplans from log home companies throughout North America. The floorplans show a mixture of big homes and small, intricate and simple homes … there are myriad styles to choose from. A common room nowadays in a log home is a great room. Here are some ideas to consider when you are designing a great room for your log cabin home. What makes a great room great? “The primary design aspect people typically want to achieve is an open living space between the g…

Setting the Stages

by Mike Haskew | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, How-To, Planning

It’s an undertaking that most folks will complete only once or twice in a lifetime, and building a log or timber home, they find, is a journey, a process that involves several distinct steps. An understanding of those steps and how they come together in the finished product is essential. “There are some things we run into that nobody can control,” acknowledges Brad Mercer, sales manager at Timberhaven Log & Timber Homes. “Unfortunately, the weather can play a part in the process. …

Taking Care of Basics

by Mike Haskew | Jul 9, 2021 | How-To, Maintaining

For log and timber homeowners, the maintenance mantra is simple: Take care of the basics. Taking advantage of some advice from experts Tony Huddleston of Perma-Chink Systems and Scott McCain of Mountain Home Building Products, even maintenance dummies will go to the head of the class. Start with the basics. Take a walk around your home at least twice a year. It will help you get acquainted with your home’s exterior and give you an opportunity to check the …