KD Log Home Fundamentals
Even as commence to investigation log homes, it swiftly results in being clear that there is a lot more selection than just one would essentially feel. Close to log attributes can be found in almost all sizes and styles, nonetheless the logs on their own come in as various variations understandably. At the time you select the seem you need, you may start eliminating brands which you should not provide your complete human body.
You'll find two forms of log homes: handcrafted and in addition milled indication residences. To begin with, it's possible you'll not acknowledge what you are considering, but you can find a number of basic tips that can explain the distinctions. A hand-crafted log house is just that; your logs are usually peeled by hand, notched by hand, and in lots of circumstances, each and every log will probably be scribed to suit specifically on prime of a different log. In various handcrafted residences, the documents are stacked alternately, therefore the big summary of the indication is loaded on best of the particular tapered conclusion in the log beneath. A machined log residence will attribute logs which might be uniform in type, plus the information might be reduced to suit collectively, these as with a tongue-and-groove or Swedish cope, so they stack quite quickly and evenly. There may be a massive price distinction in between a hand manufactured as well as a device built log residence. This is certainly typically because of intense operate needed to assemble a handcrafted household, and because of the bigger diameter data which have been made use of. The vast bulk of homes developed today are machined log properties.
When you see a KD log residence with rounded logs and chinking, that is a very first indication this is is in fact a handcrafted report property. Chinking may be traditionally any mortar-like material that may filled the particular gaps concerning the logs. Present-day science has established an acrylic ingredient that expands and contracts with all the sound wooden; it is actually utilized for a huge white stripe. If a hand crafted log is just not scribed, then chinking is essential simply because the firewood leave breaks alongside their distinct size. Some people do use chinking as being a design feature even when it isn't essential, while generally milled file properties are unquestionably not chinked.
The aspect corner of one's kd log home will converse volumes in the direction of the person who understands tips on how to study it. The specific profile and joinery procedure from the log will probably be shown about the ends. As an example, through a handcrafted firewood household you can notice the various diameters with the stacked logs. To stack them, these corners will likely be notched in order that every single log is found specifically on the specific log down underneath it (as remaining a Lincoln Records(TM) toy). A milled log that's saddle-notched will stack particularly the exact same way (certainly, just about every simple log are going to be just precisely the same). Simply because saddle-notched logs are usually staggered, class to be able to study course, the actual log ends might be noticeable around the inside of corners of your residence also because outside. This provides an extremely rustic look. A butt-and-pass nook offers you a halt where there can often be a space involving each and every other record. This is because just one log grows up towards the specific intersecting log, which commonly runs before it. These form of logs are popular affreux on a single program, to make sure with the inside corners of your respective residence, the documents will arrive towards your squared edge.
Upon milled firewood, there are a lot of joinery applications from which to choose. Right this moment, quite possibly the most common joinery is called a "Swedish cope". This is wherever every log is actually scooped out to match snugly around the curve using the log underneath. It gives a incredibly easy and usual look and feel. A different joinery procedure is the tongue-and-groove, or double tongue-and-groove depending on the business. The tongues are usually reduce while in the best on the file and correlated grooves from the bottom. These develop a restricted match and stack easily. A, early Usa notch is termed the dove-tail, that's a mortise and tenon notch normally minimize into squared timbers. You will discover several other corner systems offered, these are the usually applied.
The contour, or account of the firewood is a different feature that will aid you select what kind of bundle to purchase. Tons of people favor a "D" log, that's circular to the outside the house and flat with this report. This gives which you horizontal wood-paneling look, and is all to straightforward to hang photos on. Other folks favor a rounded log, that may be a minor far more old-fashioned and presents many issues - like the best way to enroll in the firelogs to your sheetrock. Squared timbers, that give a a great deal more Appalachian search to the house, are usually tall and fairly slim, and therefore are generally grooved for the software of chinking.
The standard milled firewood property use pine logs in 6" coupled with 8" diameters. You can also come across them in 10" and 12" diameters. Anything greater than 15" will possibly move you to a hand crafted property. Planks logs are generally an improve, and will be uncovered in 6", 8" and occasionally 10" diameters. Some manufacturers more hardly ever use oak, cypress, fir, poison, larch, poplar, spruce, as well as walnut. Most of these rarer forest might be a total price update. As a result of superior firewood care solutions available today that shield every one of the logs proficiently, the wooden versions mostly results in being a make a difference of personal style. The most effective guideline when scouting for log types should be to maintain with a wooden that's indigenous to your location. The logs could adapt to environmental environment far more quickly.
Newcomers are generally shocked to uncover which the firelogs are their distinctive insulation. To compare a stick-frame wall to some log wall making use of the "R-value" isn't evaluating "apples to apples". Firelogs have got a cut down "R-value" than secured 2x4 partitions. Even so, they create the principal involving thermal mass. Since of your cell construction involving logs, they've got an inclination to absorb warmth and manage it lengthier than classic walls. The firewood will truly consider in the warmth through the inside of your property (or in the sun, in the event facing southerly), and when the temperature drops at night, the particular walls will definitely make which warmth in the household before the temperatures equalize. That they get lengthier for you to warm up, and keep warm for your extended time. Conversely, which they remain colder with the summertime.
A number of producers consist of a half-log process, the spot the place the logs usually are hooked up outside-and-inside in order to 2x4 or 2x6 stick-frame surfaces. This contributes the additional R-value associated with an insulated wall membrane, along with the beauty of the log, and also tends to make it simpler to setup electrical wiring. While in the stop, these programs absolutely certainly are a little bit extra high-priced than full-log, as a result of supplemental price of the raw wooden. However they carry out give the integrated power to vary the interior of the house, so that a few inside surfaces could be drywall, stone, also as tongue-and-groove. In almost any circumstance, many fashionable suppliers utilize the half-log process on their 2nd floor, to fork out for the massive windows, which might displace a lot of firelogs that the wall's ethics might be jeopardized. Also, because the huge property windows settle that has a diverse fee than firewood, the stick-framed subsequent flooring equalizes the whole settling. Working with the very best corporations, you won't take care of to inform over the exterior of where by the total logs conclusion plus the 50 % logs start.
At the time you have chosen what type of signal you want, you can expect to discover that producers just about every concentrate on their very own distinctive buckling procedure. Essentially all producers make use of double-sided foam mp3 among indicator programs. Some organizations make the most of lag nails, threaded bolts, likewise as spikes to offer integrity into the walls; other consumers use fancy spring-loaded via bolts that compress the logs. Once again, the choice gets a personal choice.
It could help save loads of operate for the buyer to obtain a "turnkey" price tag to the firelogs, the uncooked wooden, the windows and doors, as well as roof - what's commonly known as any "weathered-in shell". On the other hand, this unique total system only is functional should you be in close proximity to the maker; usually, you will be shelling out a large number of pounds to be able to ship widespread lumber round the earth. In any case, there's no difference amongst any roof used to an ordinary dwelling along with a roofing utilized on a kd log home. You choose the degree of roof you want, but it is going to arrive through the identical company. Very well the identical to the floors, the doorways, the cooking area, as well for the reason that heating method. Home windows is often just a little challenging; you can must uncover a company that is willing to produce a extended window-sill (or maybe jamb) to accommodate the thickness from the logs. Many main window corporations can do this.
Keep in mind that log houses are totally customized. No log residence firm will supply a alternative of residing rooms or bath rooms like a development builder. You will need to store for these sort of all by yourself, combined with the alternatives are innumerable. Your builder may possibly make a handful of decisions to suit your requirements, however you will improve served to pick your personal floor coverings, light fixtures, sinks and even door knobs. Several makers must not have practically anything at all to do with the developing blocks; that is certainly not their particular organization. You must use any type of foundation you desire, having said that you will need to communicate with a community contractor to carry out that task, or get your builder achieve this.
Almost all log property brands have an in-house architect who will configure your plan to match their own unique system. If you don't possess a bundle of cash to burn up, never ever retain the services of a 3rd celebration architect to growth your home, with the explanation that maker should really rework the actual options in almost any scenario. If you'd like a ramp up, the manufacturer could have a set of share plans so that you can pick from, and also alter to match your needs. Or design and style your own personal dwelling from scratch, and provide them a tough set of paintings from which they will devise a set of developing options. This service is usually offered at definitely no extra price tag; there might be an up-front cost that's credited towards the final cost of the bundle.
Log homes will not be maintenance-free - nor are they overwhelmingly time intensive. Despite the fact that the merchandise on the marketplace currently do a remarkable career involving safeguarding your logs coming from sunlight, rainwater and pesky insects, they do need to be re-applied ever below six decades with respect into the wall coverage. This "maintenance coat" is much simpler to use as opposed to original layers of stain, and no, you don't have to strip off the old coat first. So it is much less negative since it sounds! Nonetheless, you need to look at the firelogs no less than the moment every year for way too considerably cracking (or maybe checking) : specifically when the actual check out commences upward, producing a drinking water snare. These should really be caulked to the exterior partitions. Also, you will need to do anything inside your electric power to immediate rainwater away from the property; when you've got an overflowing gutter, deal with it immediately. A rainy log appeals to rot and insects.
Expect your machine designed log residence to take everywhere from 4 to 8 months to construct, depending on your climate, the availability with the crew (are they revealing your work with others at the same time?) as well as your preparing. What on earth is essential you may have to prepare for is safeguarding the firewood as well as wooden from your areas. Set aside a considerable room (if by any means achievable coated with stones) completely for the specific logs; you wouldn't want them utilizing the off-road. Cover your gravel having a tarp, and convey additional tarps for the logs. The particular logs will get scattered because the staff picks by way of them, plus they will get set foot on as well as tossed all all around. They'll obtain rained on, and you'll be stunned how rapid the information temperatures. You should straight away do away with the plastic wrapping if the logs are sent, or they'll get coated with mildew. The tarps will do the work. If the windows get delivered with many of the log offer, you'd be best served to hire an enclosed trailer to save lots of them in (FRAGILE may very well be the operative term).
But I am obtaining before myself. As you could have gathered, individuals who create log houses are usually much more hands-on as compared to other sorts of construction. Log home consumers are generally really nicely advised through the time they break ground : and they must be! Value overruns are sometimes induced by unforeseen troubles, and given that your property is a one-of-a-kind, you are in relating to really a challenge. The good news is, the market has grew up very somewhat, and you also are no more absolutely on the have.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Types of log homes
Types of log homes
A log home (or log house) is structurally identical to a log cabin (a house typically made from logs that have not been milled into conventional lumber). The term "log home" is preferred by most contemporary builders; a "log cabin" generally refers to a smaller, more rustic log house such as a hunting cabin in the woods.
There are two types of log homes:
Handcrafted: Typically made of logs that have been peeled, but otherwise essentially unchanged from their original appearance as trees
Milled (also called machine-profiled), made with a log house moulder: Constructed of logs that have run through a manufacturing process which convert them into timbers which are consistent in size and appearance
Handcrafted log homes have been built for centuries in Scandinavia, Russia and Eastern Europe, and were typically built using only an axe and knife. The Scandinavian settlers of New Sweden brought the craft to North America in the early 18th century, where it was quickly adopted by other colonists and Native Americans. Possibly the oldest surviving log house in the United States is the C. A. Nothnagle Log House (circa 1640) in New Jersey.
During the 1920s the first milled log houses appeared on the market, using logs which were pre-cut and shaped rather than hand-hewn. Many log homes today are of the milled variety, mainly because they require less labor-intensive field work than handcrafted homes.
There are about 500 companies in North America which build the handcrafted, scribe-fit type of log home.
There are two types of log homes:
Handcrafted: Typically made of logs that have been peeled, but otherwise essentially unchanged from their original appearance as trees
Milled (also called machine-profiled), made with a log house moulder: Constructed of logs that have run through a manufacturing process which convert them into timbers which are consistent in size and appearance
Handcrafted log homes have been built for centuries in Scandinavia, Russia and Eastern Europe, and were typically built using only an axe and knife. The Scandinavian settlers of New Sweden brought the craft to North America in the early 18th century, where it was quickly adopted by other colonists and Native Americans. Possibly the oldest surviving log house in the United States is the C. A. Nothnagle Log House (circa 1640) in New Jersey.
During the 1920s the first milled log houses appeared on the market, using logs which were pre-cut and shaped rather than hand-hewn. Many log homes today are of the milled variety, mainly because they require less labor-intensive field work than handcrafted homes.
There are about 500 companies in North America which build the handcrafted, scribe-fit type of log home.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Custom Log Home Design Ideas
Custom log home design ideas can be used to help create the dream log home you've always wanted. Perhaps you have some custom log home design ideas on paper as you've been collecting design ideas. That's a great way to plan and organize your ideas, by making a scrapbook of the things you may want in your log home design. Here are some tips for custom designing your log home:
1. Explore and Select Your Log Home Style - select the log home style that you really want and like, a style that excites you. Will you prefer the manufactured or handcrafted log home style? Manufactured log homes are made with logs that are milled into a desired shape, producing uniform logs without taper. The logs used generally range in length from 10 to 18 feet. A custom log home design using manufactured logs can vary considerably in shape and appearance because the logs have different shapes and there are different corner styles. You can obtain kits ranging from just the logs and fasteners to more complete systems that include the roofing materials, doors, windows and even more.
A handcrafted custom log home design means handcrafters will strip the bark off of whole logs. Using special skills and tools, the handcrafter will fit each log into place. Handcrafted custom log home design and construction is labor intensive, and the construction process takes longer and usually costs more since so much work is done manually. This method attempts to preserve the natural shape of the tree, and each log is carefully trimmed and shaped for a specific location in the log shell. The logs may be assembled at the company's yard, the pieces are numbered, taken apart and shipped to the homesite to be reassembled.
2. Visualize Home Traffic Flow - a good way to create a custom log home design is to take floorplans you like and pretend you're coming home, entering and moving around in the home. Come in the front door -- where will you place your coat? What do you see in front of you as you enter? Which way to the kitchen and pantry if you are carrying groceries? Visualize sitting in the living room or family room. Will you be entertaining guests? Is having a fireplace high on your list of priorities? Try to note where the bathroom or bathrooms are located. As you finish your shower, where are the towels hanging?
Another helpful exercise when visualizing custom log home design is to examine the things that you like about where you live now. What things would you like to keep and what are things you'd like to change and have in your new home? For example, perhaps you'll want a much larger kitchen. Pay special attention to the kitchen work triangle -- the distance between the sink, refrigerator and range or cooktop. Each one of these areas becomes a focal point in the kitchen and forms the three points of a triangle with different distances between them. Done correctly, proper custom log home design in the kitchen gives you the most efficient food preparation area layout. Walk through each room of the floorplan and see how the room feels and functions and how its location seems in relation to other rooms.
3. Plan Your Home Orientation and Layout - when creating a custom log home design, pay attention to your site and how the orientation of individual rooms will be done. Locate the bedrooms towards the cooler, nighttime north. Place your kitchen facing the east to catch the early morning sun. The living room and recreational room can have a kind of transitional orientation, facing the warm noon south sun. And the dining area can be oriented towards the late afternoon western sun. Natural light, window placement, orientation and views are powerful positive factors in human health and the comfort of your new home.
A great way to learn custom log home design ideas is to view log home plans that have been successfully built already. Use the speed of the internet to view plans, plans that you enjoy. Every plan that you review can give you custom log home design ideas that you had not thought of. Instead of trying to create brand new plans from scratch, you can save considerable time and money if you can find great plans that have already been built successfully somewhere. This means the plans will work. Just be sure the plans service can make the changes to the plans so they become exactly what you want. That way, you really can create the custom log home design that will provide you many years of enjoyment.
Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing
Learn more about log home design, fireplace design, log cabin rentals and finding a log home plan just right for you. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - a popular log home website.
Article Source
1. Explore and Select Your Log Home Style - select the log home style that you really want and like, a style that excites you. Will you prefer the manufactured or handcrafted log home style? Manufactured log homes are made with logs that are milled into a desired shape, producing uniform logs without taper. The logs used generally range in length from 10 to 18 feet. A custom log home design using manufactured logs can vary considerably in shape and appearance because the logs have different shapes and there are different corner styles. You can obtain kits ranging from just the logs and fasteners to more complete systems that include the roofing materials, doors, windows and even more.
A handcrafted custom log home design means handcrafters will strip the bark off of whole logs. Using special skills and tools, the handcrafter will fit each log into place. Handcrafted custom log home design and construction is labor intensive, and the construction process takes longer and usually costs more since so much work is done manually. This method attempts to preserve the natural shape of the tree, and each log is carefully trimmed and shaped for a specific location in the log shell. The logs may be assembled at the company's yard, the pieces are numbered, taken apart and shipped to the homesite to be reassembled.
2. Visualize Home Traffic Flow - a good way to create a custom log home design is to take floorplans you like and pretend you're coming home, entering and moving around in the home. Come in the front door -- where will you place your coat? What do you see in front of you as you enter? Which way to the kitchen and pantry if you are carrying groceries? Visualize sitting in the living room or family room. Will you be entertaining guests? Is having a fireplace high on your list of priorities? Try to note where the bathroom or bathrooms are located. As you finish your shower, where are the towels hanging?
Another helpful exercise when visualizing custom log home design is to examine the things that you like about where you live now. What things would you like to keep and what are things you'd like to change and have in your new home? For example, perhaps you'll want a much larger kitchen. Pay special attention to the kitchen work triangle -- the distance between the sink, refrigerator and range or cooktop. Each one of these areas becomes a focal point in the kitchen and forms the three points of a triangle with different distances between them. Done correctly, proper custom log home design in the kitchen gives you the most efficient food preparation area layout. Walk through each room of the floorplan and see how the room feels and functions and how its location seems in relation to other rooms.
3. Plan Your Home Orientation and Layout - when creating a custom log home design, pay attention to your site and how the orientation of individual rooms will be done. Locate the bedrooms towards the cooler, nighttime north. Place your kitchen facing the east to catch the early morning sun. The living room and recreational room can have a kind of transitional orientation, facing the warm noon south sun. And the dining area can be oriented towards the late afternoon western sun. Natural light, window placement, orientation and views are powerful positive factors in human health and the comfort of your new home.
A great way to learn custom log home design ideas is to view log home plans that have been successfully built already. Use the speed of the internet to view plans, plans that you enjoy. Every plan that you review can give you custom log home design ideas that you had not thought of. Instead of trying to create brand new plans from scratch, you can save considerable time and money if you can find great plans that have already been built successfully somewhere. This means the plans will work. Just be sure the plans service can make the changes to the plans so they become exactly what you want. That way, you really can create the custom log home design that will provide you many years of enjoyment.
Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing
Learn more about log home design, fireplace design, log cabin rentals and finding a log home plan just right for you. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - a popular log home website.
Article Source
KD Log Home Basics
KD Log Home Basics
As we start to research log homes, it quickly becomes apparent that there is much more variety than one would ever think. Not only do log homes come in all shapes and sizes, but the logs themselves come in as many variations as you can imagine. Once you decide on the look you want, you can start eliminating manufacturers that don't provide your system.
There are two categories of log homes: handcrafted and milled log homes. Initially, you may not realize what you are looking at, but there are some basic guidelines that will clarify the differences. A handcrafted log home is just that; the logs are peeled by hand, notched by hand, and in many cases, each log is scribed to fit exactly on top of another log. In many handcrafted homes, the logs are stacked alternately, so the large end of a log is stacked on top of the tapered end of the log beneath. A milled log home will feature logs that are uniform in shape, and the logs will be cut to fit together, such as with a tongue-and-groove or Swedish cope, so that they stack easily and evenly. There is a big price difference between a handcrafted and a milled log home. This is mostly because of the intense labor required to construct a handcrafted home, and because of the larger diameter logs that are normally used. The vast majority of homes built today are milled log homes.
If you see a KD log home with round logs and chinking, that is a first indication that this is could be a handcrafted log home. Chinking was historically a mortar-like material that filled the gaps between the logs. Modern science has created an acrylic compound that expands and contracts with the wood; it is applied as a wide white stripe. If a handcrafted log is not scribed, then chinking is a must because the logs leave gaps along their length. Some people do use chinking as a design feature even when it's not necessary, though for the most part milled log homes are not chinked.
The characteristic corner of your kd log home will speak volumes to the person who knows how to read it. The profile and joinery system of the log will usually be reflected on the ends. For instance, on a handcrafted log home you'll see the different diameters of the stacked logs. To stack them, these corners will be notched so that each log sits directly on the log below it (like a Lincoln Logs(TM) toy). A milled log that is saddle-notched will stack the same way (of course, every log will look exactly the same). Because saddle-notched logs are staggered, course to course, the log ends will be visible on the interior corners of the house as well as the exterior. This gives a very rustic look. A butt-and-pass corner gives you an end where there is a space between every other log. This is because one log butts up against the intersecting log, which runs past it. These logs are all laid on the same course, so that with the interior corners of your home, the logs will come to a squared edge.
On milled logs, there are many joinery systems to choose from. Today, the most popular joinery is called a "Swedish cope". This is where each log is scooped out to fit snugly on the curve of the log beneath. It gives a very smooth and natural look. Another joinery system is the tongue-and-groove, or double tongue-and-groove depending on the manufacturer. The tongues are cut into the top of the log and corresponding grooves at the bottom. These create a tight fit and stack easily. A more traditional, early American notch is called the dove-tail, which is a mortise and tenon notch usually cut into squared timbers. There are many other corner systems available, but these are the most commonly used.
The shape, or profile of your log is another feature which will help you decide what kind of package to purchase. Many people prefer a "D" log, which is round on the outside and flat on the inside. This gives you a horizontal wood-paneling look, and is easy to hang pictures on. Others prefer a round log, which is a little more rustic and presents many challenges - such as how to join the logs to the sheetrock. Squared timbers, which give a more Appalachian look to the home, tend to be tall and fairly narrow, and are often grooved for the application of chinking.
There are two categories of log homes: handcrafted and milled log homes. Initially, you may not realize what you are looking at, but there are some basic guidelines that will clarify the differences. A handcrafted log home is just that; the logs are peeled by hand, notched by hand, and in many cases, each log is scribed to fit exactly on top of another log. In many handcrafted homes, the logs are stacked alternately, so the large end of a log is stacked on top of the tapered end of the log beneath. A milled log home will feature logs that are uniform in shape, and the logs will be cut to fit together, such as with a tongue-and-groove or Swedish cope, so that they stack easily and evenly. There is a big price difference between a handcrafted and a milled log home. This is mostly because of the intense labor required to construct a handcrafted home, and because of the larger diameter logs that are normally used. The vast majority of homes built today are milled log homes.
If you see a KD log home with round logs and chinking, that is a first indication that this is could be a handcrafted log home. Chinking was historically a mortar-like material that filled the gaps between the logs. Modern science has created an acrylic compound that expands and contracts with the wood; it is applied as a wide white stripe. If a handcrafted log is not scribed, then chinking is a must because the logs leave gaps along their length. Some people do use chinking as a design feature even when it's not necessary, though for the most part milled log homes are not chinked.
The characteristic corner of your kd log home will speak volumes to the person who knows how to read it. The profile and joinery system of the log will usually be reflected on the ends. For instance, on a handcrafted log home you'll see the different diameters of the stacked logs. To stack them, these corners will be notched so that each log sits directly on the log below it (like a Lincoln Logs(TM) toy). A milled log that is saddle-notched will stack the same way (of course, every log will look exactly the same). Because saddle-notched logs are staggered, course to course, the log ends will be visible on the interior corners of the house as well as the exterior. This gives a very rustic look. A butt-and-pass corner gives you an end where there is a space between every other log. This is because one log butts up against the intersecting log, which runs past it. These logs are all laid on the same course, so that with the interior corners of your home, the logs will come to a squared edge.
On milled logs, there are many joinery systems to choose from. Today, the most popular joinery is called a "Swedish cope". This is where each log is scooped out to fit snugly on the curve of the log beneath. It gives a very smooth and natural look. Another joinery system is the tongue-and-groove, or double tongue-and-groove depending on the manufacturer. The tongues are cut into the top of the log and corresponding grooves at the bottom. These create a tight fit and stack easily. A more traditional, early American notch is called the dove-tail, which is a mortise and tenon notch usually cut into squared timbers. There are many other corner systems available, but these are the most commonly used.
The shape, or profile of your log is another feature which will help you decide what kind of package to purchase. Many people prefer a "D" log, which is round on the outside and flat on the inside. This gives you a horizontal wood-paneling look, and is easy to hang pictures on. Others prefer a round log, which is a little more rustic and presents many challenges - such as how to join the logs to the sheetrock. Squared timbers, which give a more Appalachian look to the home, tend to be tall and fairly narrow, and are often grooved for the application of chinking.
The average milled log home will use pine logs in 6" and 8" diameters. You can also find them in 10" and 12" diameters. Anything larger than 15" will probably roll you over to a handcrafted home. Cedar logs are an upgrade, and can be found in 6", 8" and occasionally 10" diameters. Some manufacturers more rarely use oak, cypress, fir, hemlock, larch, poplar, spruce, and walnut. These rarer woods will be a price upgrade. Because of the superior log care products on the market today that protect all the logs effectively, the wood species largely becomes a matter of personal taste. The best rule of thumb when choosing log species is to stay with a wood that is native to your area. The logs will adapt to the environment more comfortably.
Newcomers are continually amazed to discover that the logs are their own insulation. To compare a stick-frame wall to a log wall by using the "R-value" is not comparing "apples to apples". Logs have a lower "R-value" than insulated 2x4 walls. However, they work on the principal of thermal mass. Because of the cellular structure of logs, they tend to absorb the heat and hold it longer than traditional walls. The logs will actually absorb the heat from the interior of the house (or from the sun, if facing south), and when the temperature drops at night, the walls will generate that heat back into the house until the temperatures equalize. They take longer to warm up, and stay warm much longer. Conversely, they stay cooler in the summertime.
Some producers feature a half-log system, where the logs are attached outside-and-inside to 2x4 or 2x6 stick-frame walls. This adds the extra R-value of an insulated wall, along with the beauty of the log, and also makes it easier to install electrical wiring. Ultimately, these systems are a bit more expensive than full-log, because of the additional cost of the lumber. But they do give the added ability to vary the interior of your house, so that some interior walls could be sheetrock, stone, or tongue-and-groove. In any case, many modern manufacturers use the half-log system on their second floor, to compensate for the huge windows, which may displace so many logs that the wall's integrity could be compromised. Also, because the large windows settle at a different rate than logs, the stick-framed second floor equalizes the overall settling. With the best manufacturers, you won't be able to tell on the outside where the full logs end and the half logs begin.
Once you've chosen what kind of log you want, you will discover that manufacturers each specialize in their own unique fastening system. Almost all manufacturers use double-sided foam tape between log courses. Some companies use lag screws, threaded bolts, or spikes to add integrity to the walls; others use fancy spring-loaded through bolts that compress the logs. Once again, the choice becomes a personal preference.
It would save a lot of work for the buyer to get a "turnkey" price on the logs, the lumber, the windows and doors, and the roof - what is commonly known as a "weathered-in shell". However, this complete system only makes sense if you are local to the manufacturer; otherwise, you'll be spending thousands of dollars to ship ordinary lumber across the country. After all, there is no difference between a roof used on an ordinary house and a roof used on a kd log home. You choose the kind of roof you want, but it'll come from the same manufacturer. The same goes for the floors, the doors, the kitchen, and the heating system. Windows can be a little tricky; you'll have to find a manufacturer that is willing to make a extended window-sill (or jamb) to accommodate the thickness of the logs. Most major window companies are able to do this.
Remember that log homes are completely custom. No log home company will offer you a choice of kitchens or bathrooms like a development builder. You will have to shop for these yourself, and the possibilities are limitless. Your builder may make some decisions for you, but you will be better served to pick your own flooring, light fixtures, faucets and even door knobs. Most manufacturers do not want to have anything to do with the foundation; that is not their business. You can use any kind of foundation you want, but you'll need to contact a local contractor to do that job, or have your builder do so.
Newcomers are continually amazed to discover that the logs are their own insulation. To compare a stick-frame wall to a log wall by using the "R-value" is not comparing "apples to apples". Logs have a lower "R-value" than insulated 2x4 walls. However, they work on the principal of thermal mass. Because of the cellular structure of logs, they tend to absorb the heat and hold it longer than traditional walls. The logs will actually absorb the heat from the interior of the house (or from the sun, if facing south), and when the temperature drops at night, the walls will generate that heat back into the house until the temperatures equalize. They take longer to warm up, and stay warm much longer. Conversely, they stay cooler in the summertime.
Some producers feature a half-log system, where the logs are attached outside-and-inside to 2x4 or 2x6 stick-frame walls. This adds the extra R-value of an insulated wall, along with the beauty of the log, and also makes it easier to install electrical wiring. Ultimately, these systems are a bit more expensive than full-log, because of the additional cost of the lumber. But they do give the added ability to vary the interior of your house, so that some interior walls could be sheetrock, stone, or tongue-and-groove. In any case, many modern manufacturers use the half-log system on their second floor, to compensate for the huge windows, which may displace so many logs that the wall's integrity could be compromised. Also, because the large windows settle at a different rate than logs, the stick-framed second floor equalizes the overall settling. With the best manufacturers, you won't be able to tell on the outside where the full logs end and the half logs begin.
Once you've chosen what kind of log you want, you will discover that manufacturers each specialize in their own unique fastening system. Almost all manufacturers use double-sided foam tape between log courses. Some companies use lag screws, threaded bolts, or spikes to add integrity to the walls; others use fancy spring-loaded through bolts that compress the logs. Once again, the choice becomes a personal preference.
It would save a lot of work for the buyer to get a "turnkey" price on the logs, the lumber, the windows and doors, and the roof - what is commonly known as a "weathered-in shell". However, this complete system only makes sense if you are local to the manufacturer; otherwise, you'll be spending thousands of dollars to ship ordinary lumber across the country. After all, there is no difference between a roof used on an ordinary house and a roof used on a kd log home. You choose the kind of roof you want, but it'll come from the same manufacturer. The same goes for the floors, the doors, the kitchen, and the heating system. Windows can be a little tricky; you'll have to find a manufacturer that is willing to make a extended window-sill (or jamb) to accommodate the thickness of the logs. Most major window companies are able to do this.
Remember that log homes are completely custom. No log home company will offer you a choice of kitchens or bathrooms like a development builder. You will have to shop for these yourself, and the possibilities are limitless. Your builder may make some decisions for you, but you will be better served to pick your own flooring, light fixtures, faucets and even door knobs. Most manufacturers do not want to have anything to do with the foundation; that is not their business. You can use any kind of foundation you want, but you'll need to contact a local contractor to do that job, or have your builder do so.
Almost all log home manufacturers have an in-house architect who will configure your plan to fit their own particular system. Unless you have a lot of money to burn, don't hire an outside architect to design your house, because the manufacturer will have to rework the plans anyway. If you want a quick start, the manufacturer will have a set of stock plans for you to choose from, and alter to fit your needs. Or you can design your home from scratch, and give them a rough set of drawings from which they will devise a set of building plans. This service is usually offered at no extra charge; there may be an up-front fee that is credited toward the final cost of the package.
Log homes are not maintenance-free - nor are they overwhelmingly laborious. Although the products on today's market do a fantastic job of protecting the logs from sun, rain and insects, they do need to be re-applied ever three to five years depending on the wall exposure. This "maintenance coat" is much easier to apply than the original coats of stain, and no, you don't have to strip off the old coat first. So it's not as bad as it sounds! However, you must inspect the logs at least once a year for excessive cracking (or checking) - especially when the check opens upward, creating a water trap. These need to be caulked on the exterior walls. Also, do everything in your power to direct rainwater away from the house; if you have an overflowing gutter, deal with it at once. A damp log attracts rot and insects.
Expect your milled log home to take anywhere from 4 to 8 months to construct, depending on your weather, the availability of the crew (are they sharing your job with others at the same time?) and your planning. The most important thing you have to plan for is protecting the logs and the lumber from the elements. Set aside a large space (preferably covered with gravel) exclusively for the logs; you don't want them sitting in the mud. Cover your gravel with a tarp, and bring extra tarps for the logs. The logs are going to get scattered as the crew picks through them, and they're going to get stepped on and tossed around. They're going to get rained on, and you'll be amazed how quickly the logs weather. You'll have to immediately remove the plastic wrapping when the logs are delivered, or they'll get covered with mildew. The tarps will do the job. If your windows get delivered with the log package, you'd be best served to rent an enclosed trailer to store them in (FRAGILE is the operative word).
But I'm getting ahead of myself. As you may have gathered, people who build log homes tend to be more hands-on than with other kinds of construction. Log home customers are usually very well informed by the time they break ground - and they need to be! Cost overruns are often caused by unforeseen difficulties, and since your house is a one-of-a-kind, you're in for quite a challenge. Luckily, the industry has matured quite a bit, and you are no longer completely on your own.
About the author:
Mercedes Hayes is a Hiawatha Log Home dealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She designed her own log home which was featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide of Log Home Living magazine. You can learn more about log homes by visiting http://www.JerseyLogHomes.com.
Log homes are not maintenance-free - nor are they overwhelmingly laborious. Although the products on today's market do a fantastic job of protecting the logs from sun, rain and insects, they do need to be re-applied ever three to five years depending on the wall exposure. This "maintenance coat" is much easier to apply than the original coats of stain, and no, you don't have to strip off the old coat first. So it's not as bad as it sounds! However, you must inspect the logs at least once a year for excessive cracking (or checking) - especially when the check opens upward, creating a water trap. These need to be caulked on the exterior walls. Also, do everything in your power to direct rainwater away from the house; if you have an overflowing gutter, deal with it at once. A damp log attracts rot and insects.
Expect your milled log home to take anywhere from 4 to 8 months to construct, depending on your weather, the availability of the crew (are they sharing your job with others at the same time?) and your planning. The most important thing you have to plan for is protecting the logs and the lumber from the elements. Set aside a large space (preferably covered with gravel) exclusively for the logs; you don't want them sitting in the mud. Cover your gravel with a tarp, and bring extra tarps for the logs. The logs are going to get scattered as the crew picks through them, and they're going to get stepped on and tossed around. They're going to get rained on, and you'll be amazed how quickly the logs weather. You'll have to immediately remove the plastic wrapping when the logs are delivered, or they'll get covered with mildew. The tarps will do the job. If your windows get delivered with the log package, you'd be best served to rent an enclosed trailer to store them in (FRAGILE is the operative word).
But I'm getting ahead of myself. As you may have gathered, people who build log homes tend to be more hands-on than with other kinds of construction. Log home customers are usually very well informed by the time they break ground - and they need to be! Cost overruns are often caused by unforeseen difficulties, and since your house is a one-of-a-kind, you're in for quite a challenge. Luckily, the industry has matured quite a bit, and you are no longer completely on your own.
About the author:
Mercedes Hayes is a Hiawatha Log Home dealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She designed her own log home which was featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide of Log Home Living magazine. You can learn more about log homes by visiting http://www.JerseyLogHomes.com.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Log Cabins for Sale
Log cabins for sale
If you've got some money to put into it, you can find many deals to get your own piece of the Old West. Buy your own log cabin -- either one you can put up on your land, or something that includes your cabin AND the land to put it on.
I never gave a lot of consideration to buying a log cabin, really. I own a 100 year old house in a mid-town location in southwest Missouri, and I've never been able to find the spirit and the cash to make a real change in living.
But if I were to look at log cabins for sale, with or without land, I might actually take a look online. My son, a real fan of Colorado's mountains and small mountain towns, is not so much interested in the Old West. But he's actually done a fair amount of research into land and houses available in the southern Rockies (mostly the San Juan Mountains, I believe). He's a single guy and has a decent income, so he's very interested in log cabins, resort or vacation cabins, and even undeveloped acreage in Colorado.
This whole idea about getting your own piece of the Old West by buying a log cabin and/or your own land in the West, came to me as I remembered my adventuresome son's explorations online. (He also makes a climbing trip to scale some of Colorado's "14ers" most summers.)
Based on some of my son's fascinating findings, let me offer a couple of suggestions for you if you're looking for log cabins for sale or other property so you can own a piece of the Old West:
1. Check a good map and look at Realtors' websites located in the West. That may seem pretty obvious, but just between you and me, I've often overlooked the obvious.
Google Maps can be a wonderful tool for getting everything from line maps to satellite views to actual street level views of many locations. Although less populated areas aren't as detailed, they still let you look at areas in Montana, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, etc., even if you live in New York City and have never visited areas of the West.
Once you've surveyed the territory you're interested in, go online and search for Realtors' and real estate agents with websites in your chosen selection.
2. Check listings on eBay and other online auction sites for log cabins, mining claims, etc., in the areas that interest you.
Not long ago, our son was sharing a series of eBay listings for strips of undeveloped, forested property in the Colorado Rockies that were for sale for just a few thousand dollars. He was interested in buying land, setting up temporary living quarters, then developing the property with his own log cabin as time and finances permitted.
What a great idea whether you want to set up a full-blown residency or simply have your own vacation or adventure home in the West!
Obviously, before you take advantage of any log cabin deals or land deals in the West, you want to make sure you find a way to actually walk the property, to physically examine and investigate the cabin or other house or buildings you are interested in.
I say "obviously," but I have heard of people who've been scammed or cheated out of their hard earned money simply because they were too willing to buy, or at least put down a deposit to buy, based on Internet photos and online conversations.
Don't let your eagerness to own cheap property or homes in the West lead to make a foolish decision. Don't get caught in a modern-day equivalent of an Old West land scheme.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
If you've got some money to put into it, you can find many deals to get your own piece of the Old West. Buy your own log cabin -- either one you can put up on your land, or something that includes your cabin AND the land to put it on.
I never gave a lot of consideration to buying a log cabin, really. I own a 100 year old house in a mid-town location in southwest Missouri, and I've never been able to find the spirit and the cash to make a real change in living.
But if I were to look at log cabins for sale, with or without land, I might actually take a look online. My son, a real fan of Colorado's mountains and small mountain towns, is not so much interested in the Old West. But he's actually done a fair amount of research into land and houses available in the southern Rockies (mostly the San Juan Mountains, I believe). He's a single guy and has a decent income, so he's very interested in log cabins, resort or vacation cabins, and even undeveloped acreage in Colorado.
This whole idea about getting your own piece of the Old West by buying a log cabin and/or your own land in the West, came to me as I remembered my adventuresome son's explorations online. (He also makes a climbing trip to scale some of Colorado's "14ers" most summers.)
Based on some of my son's fascinating findings, let me offer a couple of suggestions for you if you're looking for log cabins for sale or other property so you can own a piece of the Old West:
1. Check a good map and look at Realtors' websites located in the West. That may seem pretty obvious, but just between you and me, I've often overlooked the obvious.
Google Maps can be a wonderful tool for getting everything from line maps to satellite views to actual street level views of many locations. Although less populated areas aren't as detailed, they still let you look at areas in Montana, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, etc., even if you live in New York City and have never visited areas of the West.
Once you've surveyed the territory you're interested in, go online and search for Realtors' and real estate agents with websites in your chosen selection.
2. Check listings on eBay and other online auction sites for log cabins, mining claims, etc., in the areas that interest you.
Not long ago, our son was sharing a series of eBay listings for strips of undeveloped, forested property in the Colorado Rockies that were for sale for just a few thousand dollars. He was interested in buying land, setting up temporary living quarters, then developing the property with his own log cabin as time and finances permitted.
What a great idea whether you want to set up a full-blown residency or simply have your own vacation or adventure home in the West!
Obviously, before you take advantage of any log cabin deals or land deals in the West, you want to make sure you find a way to actually walk the property, to physically examine and investigate the cabin or other house or buildings you are interested in.
I say "obviously," but I have heard of people who've been scammed or cheated out of their hard earned money simply because they were too willing to buy, or at least put down a deposit to buy, based on Internet photos and online conversations.
Don't let your eagerness to own cheap property or homes in the West lead to make a foolish decision. Don't get caught in a modern-day equivalent of an Old West land scheme.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Log Homes for Sale
Looking for log homes for sale?
Did you know that building your own can be far less expensive? The fact is that log cabin homes appreciate in value much more and much faster than do conventional homes. It's far cheaper to build your own, and depending on how you go about that, it can be much less expensive than you are probably imagining right now. There is one way of going about building your own log cabin, and there is the better way. Much less time consuming, far less expensive, much less dangerous, and you could be moving into it within weeks, as opposed to waiting for almost a year or more.
Did you know that building your own can be far less expensive? The fact is that log cabin homes appreciate in value much more and much faster than do conventional homes. It's far cheaper to build your own, and depending on how you go about that, it can be much less expensive than you are probably imagining right now. There is one way of going about building your own log cabin, and there is the better way. Much less time consuming, far less expensive, much less dangerous, and you could be moving into it within weeks, as opposed to waiting for almost a year or more.
Would you like to hear about this method?
You may have already heard about it, in fact, it's often found in the body of many "log homes for sale" ads. They are complete log homes packages, pre-built of pre-milled logs, all pre-cut and pre-shaped in a mill, and disassembled for shipment to the construction site as log homes kits.
Think about that for a moment, and consider the old way of building a log cabin... ordering a truckload of raw logs to arrive at the building site, going through the dangerous procedure of measuring, cutting and shaping each individual heavy log, trying to avoid accidents along the way, one log at a time. This can take several months, during which time many halts of construction and delays have the opportunity to pop up seemingly at the worst times - and bad weather is one that no-one has any control over.
But if you're considering log homes for sale as in a pre-built, pre-shaped, disassembled kit, you'll have the benefit of not needing to do any of the cutting, shaping or notching work whatsoever. You'll have the complete package of all of the logs and parts arrive on site as a set of pieces that are numbered in order of construction so that piecing everything together need only take a matter of a few short weeks or less.
They way that all of the logs are pre-milled in a factory brings the per-log cost down phenomenally... making this the absolutely least expensive means of acquiring a log cabin home of your very own - and quickly. You'll have a home of superior build, strong, sturdy construction that will last for many generations indeed. As most log homes kits are created from woods such as cedar, the anti-insect qualities of these woods simply add further to the longevity of the whole structure, which eliminates any further needed maintenance for your home.
Log homes for sale? Really, take the quicker, less expensive route to a better quality construction of a log cabin home that you and your family and friends can all enjoy.
Article source
You may have already heard about it, in fact, it's often found in the body of many "log homes for sale" ads. They are complete log homes packages, pre-built of pre-milled logs, all pre-cut and pre-shaped in a mill, and disassembled for shipment to the construction site as log homes kits.
Think about that for a moment, and consider the old way of building a log cabin... ordering a truckload of raw logs to arrive at the building site, going through the dangerous procedure of measuring, cutting and shaping each individual heavy log, trying to avoid accidents along the way, one log at a time. This can take several months, during which time many halts of construction and delays have the opportunity to pop up seemingly at the worst times - and bad weather is one that no-one has any control over.
But if you're considering log homes for sale as in a pre-built, pre-shaped, disassembled kit, you'll have the benefit of not needing to do any of the cutting, shaping or notching work whatsoever. You'll have the complete package of all of the logs and parts arrive on site as a set of pieces that are numbered in order of construction so that piecing everything together need only take a matter of a few short weeks or less.
They way that all of the logs are pre-milled in a factory brings the per-log cost down phenomenally... making this the absolutely least expensive means of acquiring a log cabin home of your very own - and quickly. You'll have a home of superior build, strong, sturdy construction that will last for many generations indeed. As most log homes kits are created from woods such as cedar, the anti-insect qualities of these woods simply add further to the longevity of the whole structure, which eliminates any further needed maintenance for your home.
Log homes for sale? Really, take the quicker, less expensive route to a better quality construction of a log cabin home that you and your family and friends can all enjoy.
Article source
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)