House & Garden

Beginner’s Guide To Building A Log Home

log cabinTiffa Day

The idea of living in a log cabin is attractive to many people. But very few of them ever get to do it. But, it might be easier than you think to achieve. In this guide, I’m going to talk to you about the basics of making your dreams of a life in a log cabin come true. So, if you have ever fancied the idea of living in a remote place, surrounded by beautiful scenery, read on. Let’s see if we can make it happen.

 

Getting started

First of all, it’s probably a good idea to have a location in mind. After all, it’s the scenery and the area that are the main reasons for building or buying a log home. The cabin itself is just your way of having somewhere to live. If you are going to build your own, it’s also a good idea to learn some of the basics. Even if you aren’t doing the work yourself, you’ll need to be au fait with how everything works. At the very least, you’ll be able to care for your new home in the right way.

 

Planning your budget

Next, you will need to decide on your budget. Although log homes are cheaper to build than typical homes, they are still expensive. The bigger it is, the more wood you will use – and the longer it will take to make. All of those factors will add to your costs before you even get started on the fixtures and fittings.

 

Finding a building firm

A good way to get started here is to go around to your local log-home trade show to see the kind of thing that is on offer. It should give you some inspiration, and you will get to meet plenty of building firms that could do a job. However, don’t dive into bed with the first company you come across. It’s always wise to check up on their record and see if they left their previous customers happy.

 

Hiring an inspector

One thing that is vital to the success of your project is hiring a log home inspector. Although you might have a rudimentary knowledge of log homes, you have to have a professional eye on things. Your inspector will be able to check for safety issues, and make sure that you comply with the law. It’s an essential hire – so don’t skip it!

 

Maintenance

There are two things that have the potential to ruin your log home. They are, of course, the sun and the rain. You will need to apply log home staining products on a regular basis to protect it from the sun. This will protect the shell of the cabin from cracks and gaps – which you should fill if they appear. Water damage is also an obvious issue, so ensuring your drainage is working well is vital. And, of course, that any damp proof stainer is always working.

 

Filling her up

Now you have a completed log home on your hands; it’s time to fill her up. You don’t have to go down the boy scout cabin route, of course. However, you should try and take your surroundings into account. Head over here for some great inspiration.

 

Good luck if you decide to go for it – and why not send us some snaps when you are done?

 

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