Planning Archives – Log Cabin Homes Magazine

Buying & Developing Your Site

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

Building a log or timber home in a rural area and/or on undeveloped land can present a unique set of challenges that most other homeowners don’t have to manage. Even if you’ve already selected the perfect plot of land for your new abode, there are certain considerations that must be factored in before moving forward with the site preparation and the actual home construction. If you haven’t found the right place yet, on the other hand, you’ll want to find a real estate broker who knows the intri…

How To Determine Your Budget

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

Establishing a realistic budget may well be the most critical element in the successful financing of a log home construction project. Determining the overall cost of construction and any necessary financing simplifies the entire experience. A cost estimate and detailed budget include the anticipated expenses for major items such as the logs themselves right down to the types of light fixtures that are to be installed and the nails that hold the structure together. “Work on collecting data,” urges Andy W…

Going Green: Green Building Standards

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

“Green” is everywhere these days—we recycle, we reuse, we try to be mindful of our energy consumption. And as people throughout the country become increasingly aware of their own environmental footprint, the green movement has come to homebuilding as well. Build green and you’ll end up with an efficient home, lower energy bills, a healthier environment, and you may qualify for tax rebates and zoning allowances, depending on where you live. Why Certify? “The…

Smooth Sailing

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

Many log home lovers spend years dreaming about how to build their perfect rustic retreat. While taking on an expensive and long-term construction project may seem daunting, careful research and planning in the beginning can eliminate headaches and lead to a happy ending. Here are eight tips for a smooth building process. 1. Do Your Research The first and most important step to building your log home is to do careful research about everything from home mortgages …

Go Your Own Way

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

When the log or timber home they have always wanted begins to take shape, some homeowners bring their own personal skills to the project, pitching in with certain aspects of the construction process. For these individuals, the satisfaction of saving money is complemented by the hands-on participation in the completion of their long-sought-after home. Many times, owners enjoy that degree of participation, contributing to the finished project, but there are risks i…

Mixing Materials

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

Log or timber? For many homeowners the answer may actually be both. A growing trend in construction across North America involves the inclusion of both log and timber elements in new homes. This combination brings endless possibilities to the look and ambience of a new home, and consultants have steadily warmed to the idea. “In my perspective, there are no rules. It’s wide open to the customer’s imagination,” observes Dave Carter, owner of App…

A Breath of Fresh Air

by Bridget McCrea | Jul 9, 2021 | How-To, Outdoor Spaces, Planning, Room-By-Room

Of a whopping 86 percent of U.S. households having outdoor living space, 79 percent of those spaces are frequented at least once a week, and 27 percent of homeowners use their backyards and front porches almost every day when the weather permits, according to the International Casual Furnishings Association’s (ICFA) latest home furnishings survey. In light of these statistics, it should come as no surprise that more log homes are being built and/or retrofitted with beautiful decks, o…

Label Your Home Green!

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

We are all familiar with the Energy Star labels seen on computers, refrigerators, and other products. But did you know that the program also covers your entire home, from roof to basement? Like Brad and Daryl Thompson (see feature on page 40), you can design and build your log home using Energy Star guidelines to earn a five+ star rating and a home that has lower utility costs, optimum indoor air quality, and helps to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants in …

The Winning Team

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

The essence of a team is putting together the right group of people with complementary knowledge and skill sets to complete a project, and the concept stands up in just about any endeavor. It is true on the athletic field, and it is constant in building a log & timber home. Once the decision to build that dream home has been made and the notions of style and presentation are being considered, the next step involves the homeowner’s selection of a team that will make the theoreti…

Finding the Right Log Home Producer

by Donna Peak | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, How-To, Planning

For many, buying a log cabin home means owning their last home, because log cabins are the stuff of dreams—the place that will be the site of countless visits from the grandkids, summer evenings spent on the porch swing listening to crickets sing, and crisp winter nights sipping hot chocolate in front of a crackling fire. Dreams should never be left to chance. Keep these five essentials in mind as you shop for the log cabin producer who will fulfill yours. 1. Have land in hand b…

Outdoor Spaces That Inspire

by Jennifer Donahue | Jul 9, 2021 | Exteriors, How-To, Outdoor Spaces, Planning, Room-By-Room

Maybe you dream of a tucked-away sanctuary ideal for escaping into the pages of a good book; a cozy outdoor fireplace for gathering on crisp early autumn evenings; or a festive patio that lends itself to endless entertaining. We use our outdoor spaces in so many different ways—to entertain, to celebrate, to retreat—that we should apply the same care and attention to detail to those spaces as we do when planning the home itself. Planning for Perfection The design of outdoor spaces s…

Building with Green Materials

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

T he word “green” has joined the ranks of popular catchwords such as “natural,” “organic,” and “light.” It is used in advertising products and services to make consumers feel good about their purchases. Some companies are guilty of “greenwashing,” meaning they make unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of the product that may be misleading, unverified, or untrue. It is up to the consumer to ask questions like those posed by Brian Milani in “Building Materials for a Green Economy” (www….