How-To Archives – Log Cabin Homes Magazine

Avoiding Financial Pitfalls

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

Before the saw connects with the wood, it is always good advice to measure twice and cut once. In other words, avoid those mistakes that cost time and money, and maybe worst of all, turn an otherwise pleasant experience into a frustrating ordeal. Designing and building that dream log home can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. To be sure that the process flows smoothly from start to finish, it pays to listen to the voices of experience. Common miscues can lead to problems, and there…

Design Advice from the Experts

by Jennifer Donahue | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, How-To, Planning

It’s no surprise your log or timber frame home builder seems to know just the right place to put that reading nook you wanted, or the perfect way to orient your home to take advantage of the views. With hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of homes built and many hours working with homeowners, these professionals have seen it all. And they can tell you what works, and what doesn’t, based on that experience. With just a little bit of investigation, we were able …

Exterior Log Finish Primer

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

Low-maintenance, long-lasting good looks, environmental friendliness, and reasonable cost are just some of the elements that factor into choosing the right log home exterior finish. Evaluating the available options may be a challenge, but an understanding of the basics helps ease the process and produce the desired results. Paul Peebles, a commercial sales representative at Perma-Chink Systems, agrees that appearance, longevity, value, and environmental considera…

How to Get Financing in Today’s Market

by Tracy M. Ruff | Jul 9, 2021 | Financing, How-To

You have dreamed about living in a log home for years. You have collected photos and stashed away log company floorplans and magazine clips. You’ve probably done a lot of the fun stuff, but have you thought about how you’re going to pay for this dream? If you are like most Americans, you will have to take out a mortgage to pay for your dream home. And, with a brand-new log home, you will also have to take out a loan to get it built. To be better prepared before yo…

The Great Outdoors

by Mike Haskew | Jul 9, 2021 | How-To, Outdoor Spaces, Planning, Room-By-Room

Living next door to the outdoors holds the greatest appeal for log home owners, and making the most of outdoor living space is steadily rising on the wish lists of those building and buying new homes or enhancing existing outdoor amenities. From wraparound porches and extended decks to patios, pergolas, pools, and full kitchens, creativity and craftsmanship drive spectacular results. “We just started a line of outdoor living spa…

Energy-Saving Techniques

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

Saving energy is often a top concern of homeowners, whether driven by a desire to lower their utility expenses or tread lightly on the earth. Each year we see new technologies that help make saving energy easier than ever, but there are some tried-and-true methods to consider as well. Built-In Efficiency The most important thing you can do to reduce energy consumption is ensure that you are building a home with the least amount of air leakage as possible. That begins with the des…

Log Versus Timber

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

The appeal of a log or timber home is the first indicator that such a dream dwelling is in a homeowner’s future. Both building materials captivate the imagination and conjure up images of days spent in leisure, enjoying beautiful mountain or lakeside vistas, watching wildlife, and generally relaxing. But which is best, log or timber? Most often, the decision to build with log or timber comes down to that age-old bugaboo—pricing. Comparing the cost of log versus timber inevitably s…

Lighten Up!

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

One of the greatest challenges in making interior log home space livable is taking full advantage of light, overcoming the tendency of the home’s primary building material, the wood itself, to create dim, dark areas inside. In addition, preserving and protecting the wood from the ravages of time and the effects of moisture, dust, and dirt keep the log home interior looking beautiful for years. The first line of defense and the best way to lighten up your log home…

Designing for Maximum Energy Efficiency

by Jennifer Donahue | photo True North Log Homes | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, Energy Efficiency, How-To

With smart planning, you can create a home that’s beautiful to look at and does a beautiful job conserving energy. The design phase of building a log home is a perfect time to consider energy efficiency, as you can build in features that will make your home naturally efficient. You’ll end up with a home that will not only save money on power bills but will be comfortable to live in—free from drafts and moisture, with consistent temperatures throughout. Log homes on the whole are efficient buildin…

Up the Wall

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

If you have chosen to build a log or timber frame home, no doubt it is the beauty of the wood that drew you in. All-log walls are fantastic design elements. By selecting a square or D-log profile, it is easier to hang artwork, display shelves, and cabinetry on the flat interior surface. For a timber frame or post-and-beam home, you can opt for wood walls, but with the use of SIPs (structural insulated panels) between the timbers the sky is the limit for wall treatments. Many homeowne…

Preserving Your Log Home

by By Karen Doss Bowman | Jul 9, 2021 | Exteriors, How-To, Maintaining

For many people, becoming a log home owner takes years of planning and saving funds. Once you’ve built your dream log home, you want to do everything possible to protect your investment. Regular maintenance is certainly important, and carefully selecting high-performing stains and finishes will help preserve the beauty and integrity of your home for years to come. Stains and finishes protect the logs from the elements, including sun, wind, and rain—strong forces that can cause severe damage over t…

Construction Time

by Tracy M. Ruff | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, How-To, Planning

The average log home can take anywhere from four to eight months or more to build, depending on its size. A custom log home is well worth the time and effort. Prior to construction, you plan for months, sometimes years, to make this vision become real. Because of the many stages that happen before the home is ready to move in, the construction process can seem daunting. Understanding the steps beforehand makes you a well-prepared consumer. It is your knowledge and passion to build a log home that help g…