From times past we have inherited a very special form of construction. All over the world log homes can be found. Constructed from timbers harvested from the surrounding countryside, these home blend into the country side. In today’s world of plastic, vinyl, and fiberglass, sometimes it is nice to see natural building products.
Typically log home builders specialize in log home construction. Standard construction contractors many times shy away from signing a contract for a log home. The reason for this is two fold. The first being variables and the second specialized craftsmanship.
Variables- when building a stick frame home every wall goes together the same. Framing, sheeting, insulation, drywall, and siding are pretty much the same process on each home. Also the roofing is standard. Flat trusses are ordered, delivered and lifted into place. Gable ends are framed in and sided. The ceilings of the home are a standard 8 feet high.
With a log home each log is different. Each log has to be fitted into place, cut, drilled and put into place. Other variables are found when building homes from different companies. Each has its own way of milling, cutting, and stacking the logs. When finishing the inside of the home the interior walls intersecting with the log walls have to be scored with a chain saw and the drywall slid into the channel. This is all time consuming, but the electric is another challenge. Most log homes have to have the wire holes and outlet boxes drilled and cut into the logs. Wires have to be pulled up through the door frames. This adds more time and cost to the whole project.
The second reason: Craftsmanship- unless a package is fully pre-cut and pre-numbered, there is lots of cutting that must be done on site. Each log has to be measured, cut, and set in place. If the chain saw cuts crooked, then the logs end up with a gap from one log to the next. Timber roof systems can be very challenging. When we have built timber roof systems on the job site, each log has to be cut, lifted into place, taken down, re notched, and then lifted again. Some timbers are actually set three times before they fit properly. Craftsmanship also comes into play with the notching of interior walls and the electric, as described above.
But in defense of log homes, they do usually appraise for more than standard construction homes. Also there are log homes 150 years old and still standing. In Hurricane Katrina one log cabin was pictured standing in a row of houses. The log home was the only one still standing. All of the others were broken to match sticks. A third advantage of the logs is they are anywhere from 15% to 20% more energy efficient than a standard construction home, if they are constructed tightly with good joinery and craftsmanship.
So if the log home love bug has bitten you, don’t worry. The best thing you can do is lots of research. Talk to several log home builders and log companies before you make your selection. As log home builders in Montana, I have spoken with people from all over the country. The desire and love for these homes shows in just the way they talk about them. Log home dreams are worth the time and effort to turn into reality.
