If you’ve chosen to make your wood cabin fantasy a reality by building your own log home, you’ll want to do as much research as possible ahead of time. The best log cabin building advice generally comes from individuals who have been there, done that, and developed from their building experiences, so you may learn from both their successes and their failures. Cabin building businesses and log home contractors can also teach you a lot because they’ve been doing what they do for a long time and have created a variety of wood cabins. Studying floor plans and log cabin designs to discover what would work best for you and your family is another thing you should do.
Before you begin construction on your cabin, you should have a very clear idea of how you want to proceed. If you want to build an eco-friendly log cabin, you’ll need to set your mind on it from the start so you don’t get sidetracked by cheaper or easier alternatives. How will you obtain the resources for your cabin’s construction? Will you utilize logs that are sourced in a sustainable manner? How about repurposing logs from demolished structures? Repurposed logs are frequently substantially less expensive to purchase, if not completely free. You’ll want to think about energy efficiency when you’re building your home. Most people want an energy-efficient home that is inexpensive to heat and cool in the winter and summer. Your log cabin’s overall design will determine how energy efficient it is; the more surface area it covers, the more expensive it will be to heat; the smaller and more compact it is, the less expensive it will be to heat. When it comes to building a log home, starting from the ground up is always the best option, as extending outwards on one level would always be more expensive. This is due to the fact that heat rises, and if your home has a second story, the top chambers will be warmed by lower heat sources. This is something to keep in mind as you choose your log house design.
You’ll want to keep your logs as dry as possible for the construction process. Source logs that have had plenty of time to dry out; this is why reused wood is always a wonderful choice because it has had years to fully dry out. Logs with a high moisture content take longer to dry. The logs shrink and change shape when water evaporates from green or damp wood. If you use green logs to construct a home, it will reset and inflict structural damage, forcing you to start over. When it comes to choosing the correct logs for your log cabin, the kiln drying process dries wood to around 19 percent moisture content, but you’ll want them to be even dryer, with a moisture level of 12 to 15 percent being ideal. Another key piece of advise is to construct your log home with a roof with lengthy overhangs and covered porches. After your home is finished, these measures will help maintain it weather-proof by protecting your logs from excess moisture. To keep the outer walls dry, pay particular attention to landscaping elements and keep water sprinklers away from your finished log home. These are just a few pointers to get you started on building a log cabin.
Building a log cabin is a fantastic adventure, and if you go about it the correct way, by taking your time, conserving money, and gathering as much knowledge as possible before you begin, you’ll get the finest results imaginable.
