Who Here Owns A Log Home?

[BruceHMX]

Well after 3 years of divorce the X and I have the house(monster place in a big snoodie subdivision) on a short sale. We are confident it will go through and already has a buyer. We are not upside down on the home like many are these days.

I live in a very rural area and have the opportunity for 10 acres. It's just me and my son who is 9. We now live in a 2 bedroom, 1 bath ranch with a basement. Very small but we get by. I'm on 10 acres now and rent. We shoot off the deck. As long as we have woods, firepit and range we are happy.

So I figure a log home kit on the 10 acres. How many of you guys have them? What are the up's & down's of a log home? Also if anyone has recommendations as far as to what companies to go with.

Any and all information appreciated.

Many Thanks

 

[Muley Gil]

My house, parts of which date to at least 1850, has split logs supporting the floors. Does that count?

Seriously, I've always wanted a log home, but never got one.

There was a log home manufacturing company in Dandridge TN that had some really nice Appalachian style (squared logs) homes.

Here's a link to the company:

http://www.hearthstonehomes.com/

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Turman Log Homes, here in Floyd, Virginia, has a good reputation locally.

Bud Griffith at Griffith Lumber in Woolwine, Virginia, will cut logs to order for this purpose. I used to live in a square long home for which he prepared the timber. Outstanding fit and quality.

If you have a choice, get hemlock. Extremely durable and resistant to carpenter bees, which over time, can reduce a log home to sawdust.

Hope this helps.


Bullseye

 

[CW Spook]

Well, we've got a log home, but it was built in 1921 so I can't be much help with kits. Ours is built with first-cut northern MN pine. Obviously it's stood up pretty well over the years. It's a summer cabin, not winterized, but the fireplace and electric baseboard heaters will keep it cozy down to the point where we have to worry about the water supply freezing.

 

[BruceHMX]

Thanks guys I love the Appalachian style...lol.. Guess us Virginia boys think the same way.

 

[cassidy]

Log Home

I worked for years in the Ins field.
Some insurance companies have higher rates for log homes because a fire requires much more work to repair. Personally I love them but I wanted you to be aware.

 

[cass]

My neighbor has one and loves it. His only complaint is that he has to "treat" the exterior every year or so. Pretty expensive and time consuming.

 

[moosedog]

I agree with what Cass just said. I looked into building one back in 1992 and decided that the maintenance wasn't for me.
They do look neat though and the insulation rating on the walls is very good.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

I was going to help a friend of mine build one of the kits. At the last minute, I had a conflict and couldn't go. from what I heard later, the kit (don't know the name) went very well. The problem was getting the logs on the building as they got higher. I understand the owner stopped work and rented a crane. After that, all went well

 

[stonehorses]

Camp and Cabin series kit

Here is our Northeastern Camp and Cabin series kit home. My husband built it with minimal help from friends and family. They were an outstanding company!!
Here is their website.
Camp and Cabin Series

 

[2fingers]

The wife and I were going to build a log home from a kit right after we got married in 1980.Looked at kits and it was like 2 1/2 times the cost of the kit to finish out the log home, Too much $$$ for us.

 

[handejector]

An old saying about log homes-

Everyone wants one till they have one.

That said, I always wanted one also. A few members of my extended family have had one.
Air infiltration will always be a problem.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

An old saying about log homes-

Everyone wants one till they have one.

That said, I always wanted one also. A few members of my extended family have had one.
Air infiltration will always be a problem.

I agree when it comes to round logs. But here in the Blue Ridge (especially across the line in western North Carolina) the tradition is square logs fit in such a way (notched) so as to minimize this. In the old days they used mortar to chink in between the logs, but today, there is this rubberized stuff that really makes for a tight seal. Here are some photos:

So, while it appears traditional, there is no air infiltration with this system. I heated this 2,800 sf home with locust using only the Heatilator shown in photo 2 for several winters, and stayed toasty. By the way, there is rebar every 18 inches connecting all of the logs vertically. This puppy ain't goin' anywhere. It's not a kit, but I betcha if you explained what you wanted to a sawyer who does this stuff, he could duplicate the system quite easily. The only thing wrong with this house is that the logs are white pine; hemlock is preferable because it doesn't rot and the carpenter bees don't mess with it.


Bullseye

 

[Pasifikawv]

Here are a few things to consider with log homes:

1. Maintenance: Insects and decay are issues with virtually any natural material. Carpenter bees, termites, wood-peckers, sun-bleaching, water stains, etc. will all cause additional maintenance costs including regular pest treatments and exterior wood treatment.

2. Cost of mechanicals: Plumbing, electric, heating/cooling all will likely cost more to install and/or repair in a log home. With log, one sacrifices the cavity in the walls of frame construction as an area to run wires, pipes, and ducts. With solid log walls, it will be more challenging and costly to install the necessary mechanicals.

3. Thermal envelop: With solid log, the only insulating value in the exterior walls is the wood itself: there is no cavity to install insulation and, depending upon log style, shrinkage, settling, etc., air infiltration is highly possible.

An possible alternative is to use a log siding over standard frame construction: it gives the full look of log from the outside, but without some of the costs and drawbacks of full log. Some log siding can be of a manufactured material that isn't susceptible to insects and decay. Using wood veneers and stain-grade trim/casing can provide the woodsy look on the interior if desired. There are many types of log siding and some types are very competitive with many other common exterior siding. Log siding is a good option for those that want the look, but cannot quite afford a log home. In my area, log homes run $30/sqft or more over standard frame construction. That's a significant increase in costs for many...

If money isn't an issue and the construction and maintenance costs associated with log are not a deterrent, then a log home is a wonderful idea. Full wood log makes for a beautiful home...

 

[Pilgrim]

Real Log Homes® offering log home design, manufacturing and time-honored craftsmanship

 

[windypoint]

My suggestion is to consider cedar logs if carpenter ants or termites are an issue. I used white cedar due to an abundance of carpenter ants near the water shorelone. The company that supplied this kit was Rasmussen log homes in British Columbia.

 

[USSR]

Seems like a lot of guys are discouraging you here. I built my log house from a kit 20 years ago, and am very happy with it. Please note, that with a kit, you simply get enough logs to build the house, and you must cut them to length, notch them, and most importantly, drill them to run wire for electric thru them. I went with cedar logs which I highly recommend, and the company I dealt with was Log Cabin Homes Ltd. in Rocky Mount, NC. Every 3 years I spray it with Thompson's Wood Protector, and that's about all the maintenance that is required. Oh, and although I have central heat, I heat it with a wood stove for about $450 a year.

Don

 

[ridewv]

I agree with what Cass just said. I looked into building one back in 1992 and decided that the maintenance wasn't for me.
They do look neat though and the insulation rating on the walls is very good.

While I like the looks (in the right setting) I'm not drawn to log construction for many of the reasons already pointed out. Just curious how the wall insulation is very good? An inch of wood is about R1. Around here my understanding is the new energy codes are almost impossible for conventional log and square splined log construction to meet.

 

[pat g]

It will take maintainence

I have a 5000 sq. ft. log home.

It takes some work. Last year 35 gallons of stain, some
chinking.

Have to replace a few logs every year.

They are pretty, but work.

Pat