More than logs

MORE THAN LOGS TURN TO OTHER INGREDIENTS TO COMPLETE THE LOOK OF YOUR HOME.

SPONSORED BY

L

ogs may be the first things you think of when you think of a log home, but they shouldn’t be the only things. Whether you’re designing and buying your home from a company or building it yourself, consider the non-log ingredients before getting started.

In fact, you’ll need to account for them in your budget and incorporate them into your planning, and like the logs, they’ll affect the structure and appearance of your finished home.

Here are some additional features to keep in mind.

1.

ROOF Roofs often dominate a log home’s presentation. You can put any type of roof on a log home that you please, but the dominant

favorites are architectural asphalt shingles and metal roofs. With each option, there is a broad range of styles and quality, and a little overlap in price between types. But it is safe to say that the cost for a highend metal roof will cost you quite a bit more than conventional asphalt shingles.

2.

STONE Log homes that incorporate stone have become very popular in recent years. There are many types of natural rock to choose from, and many regions have signature materials that can be an important touch when included in your design.

Because of the tremendous weight, designs incorporating rockwork will need extra foundation considerations. Natural stone is important for

many purists, and can be important to the integrity of a home made from all natural materials. But manufactured options, called Cultured Stone or veneer, can be a visually convincing budget alternative.

3.

FIREPLACE Fireplaces are frequently the first amenity log home buyers choose. In fact, most people can’t imagine a log home without a fireplace. On a typical log home, the rockwork and masonry for the fireplace is a significant component of the budget, and adds considerably to the overall cost per square foot.

There are a wide range of materials and methods for building fireplaces and chimneys, not only in materials but also in overall cost. Natural stone is extremely heavy and

requires special footings for support.

As a less expensive alternative to natural rock, many people opt for Cultured Stone. Another budget alternative is to forgo masonry on the home’s exterior, and instead sheath the chimney in red cedar, a wood that stands up well against the elements. It all comes down to aesthetics, placement of the fireplace in the home’s interior or on an exterior wall, and budget.

4.

GLASS Windows are frequently included in materials packages from log home companies. Be sure to review the specific products included in quotes. There is a spectrum of manufactured windows with different energy efficiency capabilities, and local building codes may determine your final selection. In addition, there can be regional preferences between wood-sash construction and aluminum-framed windows.

In addition to standard manufactured windows, custom glass is a big part of today’s log look, most notably in soaring great rooms with cathedral ceilings. Unlike standard windows, which are preassembled products made in the factory, custom-cut glass is required for oversized windows and to accommodate non-standard shapes like triangular vaulted roof gables. Also, custom glass requires local expertise to measure, cut and install, and is frequently not included in log home materials package prices. It is good advice to have the local glass company measure the finished openings in completed log walls instead of working off plan dimensions. This ensures the best possible fit.

5.

DOORS Doors enhance the look and security of log homes. The front door will create a welcoming first impres-

sion, whether it features sidelights or is embellished by a porch or a more elaborate porte-cochere. Exterior doors of acceptable quality may be offered with your log package, but many buyers prefer an upgrade to custom doors, or even design enhancements like double French doors opening up to outside living spaces on porches and decks. This can be especially important to some since log homes are often a family gathering place, or used to entertain larger groups.

6.

FOUNDATION Log homes can be built on virtually any foundation. In fact, there are many types of foundations and many adaptations to local conditions such as climate zone, frost line and soil type, with tremendous variation in drainage and expansion. A log home should be built on a type of foundation that is prevalent locally, though some degree of adaptation is usually required. Adjustment for log construction can be minor or extensive depending on the log building system selected. In addition, the

characteristics of the building site often dictate what type of foundation is the best match. Given the exact same floor plan, foundation costs can vary widely depending on the building site. It is extremely important to select a floor plan that fits the property not just the footprint dimensions, but in the interaction with lot elevation and water drainage.

7.

DECKS & PORCHES As much character as logs have, a big part of the appeal of the log home look is porches and decks.

Practically speaking, these features increase living space, especially in milder climates. Not only that, but porches and roof overhangs are a critical consideration to decrease long-term maintenance and to ensure the longevity of your log walls.

8.

GABLE In most of today’s log homes, only the main level is made from full logs, although some designs call for full-log gables, particularly when there is an interior exposure inside a great room with cathedral ceil-

ing. Otherwise, there are alternative materials and construction options, such as log siding or cedar boardand-batten. These weather-resistant material choices will significantly reduce ongoing maintenance since gable ends tend to be more exposed to the elements. This exposure can be counteracted in a careful design that considers how the house is sited, exposure of the gable to the south or southwest sun, and compensating factors like extending the roof for more protection.

9.

DORMERS Dormers are windows set into the roof structure of your home. They punctuate the exterior presentation and break up the roof mass, and they can add functional benefits, including additional headroom inside lofted second-floor spaces. Dormers can also bring more light into the main living space when positioned above a great room with vaulted ceiling.

Because dormers are exposed to the elements, it is best to avoid log or log-siding construction unless design aesthetics outweigh maintenance

considerations. Depending on the design, many people incorporate a symmetrical row of dormers, or sometimes smaller dormers surrounding a larger central dormer.

10.

INTERIOR FEATURES On first impression, some people feel a log home limits design options. But when it comes to finishing a log home interior, you will find the same options available from any other type of home — and then some.

It is true that a log home can be finished inside with conventional materials such as sheetrock walls and ceilings. But log homes almost always feature interior wood in some way, using different species of woods

on walls and ceilings, and even from room to room. Conventional drywall is a good choice to blend into the decorating mix to add a variety of color and texture to the home interior.

Once the imagination takes hold, log homes are a joy for creative decoration. While wood is the most trusted material for home construction in the history of humanity, it is also a fashion basic of decorating. You can mix wood with almost anything — any material, texture, color, style, period or motif.

Log home companies vary widely in package components and what is included in pricing. When you step back and consider the possibilities,

different approaches and available options will make more sense. For instance, companies that operate in specific geographical regions can incorporate local conditions into practical assumptions about types of foundation. Experienced national companies can quickly sort out details and options given the particulars of your building site. Regardless of who you chose for your log home, you should expect that building a log home will be a great experience and adventure unlike building any conventional home in the city or suburbs. After all, building a log home is both the birthplace and the destiny of the American Dream.

Copyright Š 2015 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., El Segundo, CA. This publication may not be reproduced, either in whole or part, in any form without written permission from the publisher.

www.satterwhiteloghomes.com NIV 40 YE A R A N

ERSARY