Log cabin construction

[NewToy]

I briefly entertained the notion of a log home before we built our current place. All the previous posts bring up the issues that scared me off. I personally know three people that went with the log homes and the one thing in common was they took much longer to complete than originally anticipated. They all love their homes and wouldn't have anything else so ultimately it was a good fit for them. As outlined previously the maintenance is extensive and time consuming. They all heat with wood furnaces of some type and burn lots of wood. I love looking at them and enjoy the rustic "feel"
but I guess all the work and subsequent maintenance issues tipped the scales to go with a more conventional home. We ended up building a relatively maintenance free all electric home concentrating on energy efficiency. Add a big front porch, a bigger gin & tonic and a piece of nicorette gum(4mg) and I'm in heaven when I get home.
Whatever you do I wish you the best.

John

 

[N80]

As outlined previously the maintenance is extensive and time consuming. John

I kinda disagree with this and with others who mention extensive maintenance. The maintenance on my cabin is less than on my Hardiplank house which needs power washing at least yearly. Trim has to be painted every 4-5 years. The cabin, on the other hand, has needed next to nothing. We've touched up the window trim once in five years. And believe me, I know every inch of this structure and there is nothing about the logs that is time consuming or extensive compared to anything except maybe brick.

There are lots of reasons to prefer one type of house verses another, and I personally think brick is the best, but for me, logs are a close second. And I've lived in brick, vinyl, wood, masonite and Hardi-plank. I seriously considered stick built for my cabin. It probably would have been easier and maybe cost less. But I'm thrilled with my logs and so far they have required less care than anything else I've ever lived in.

And there is no rot. No mildew. And, my logs have not settled appreciably. They do check, which is normal. And I'm sure they change a bit with the humidity. But no measurable settling. I chalk that up to kiln dried logs fastened with Oly-logs. (I'm sure the whole house settled some, but I can't see any evidence of it.)

 

[scesnick]

Once again i agree with you N80. And I also do next to no maintenance on my log home. I stained it 3yrs ago for only the second time.
I also have very little, if any settling. But like N80 I spent the extra bucks for kiln dried logs and they are fastened together with Olylag screws.

I have a family friend that bought the "Air dried" logs and he has had substantial settling issues and even had his cabinets fall off the wall because of the logs shrinking. He has also had doors that are very hard to open etc...

 

[Tom_H]

Some friends of ours who live about 3/4 mile away built their own log house. The guy and his brother-in-law did all the work on weekends and sometimes a little in the evenings. The couple lived in an 18' travel trailer on the property for the almost 6 years it took to build the 6000 ft2 house (3000 ft2 main floor, 2000 ft2 basement, 1000 ft2 upper story). Their logs were 12" milled cedar with check groove and Swedish cope on bottom.

N80 mentions that his maintenance is less than others of us have mentioned. The maintenance on log homes can vary greatly depending on orientation to the sun, overhang, the amount of rain, the relative humidity, the species of wood, and a lot of other things, including how these all play into each other. The logs on our southern exposure developed a ton of small checks. Many of our winter storms have 60+ mph winds that come out of the SW and drive rain sideways straight into the logs. Humidity stays high all winter and the logs absorb a fair amount of moisture. Our summers are dry and we sometimes hit 115 degrees. This cooks all that moisture out and they shrink again. All this makes them expand and contract over and over, opening more checks, which then contributes to the ability for more water to get in. The contrast between people who say they have little maintenance and those saying they don't simply shows how conditions differ from place to place. Nobody is being untruthful; it's just that we all have unique and different circumstances.

I forgot to mention that on my own house, we broke ground in May 1993, moved in just before Christmas, and the last items like outdoor decks, etc. were finished in Jan. '94.

When my aunt retired in 1984, she moved to the Green Mountains in VT and acted as the G.C. on her log home which is about 1800 ft2.

One last thing to the original poster, are you absolutely certain that permits and inspecctions are not required? Usually, when you don't live in a city with city building inspectors, there are county building permits and inspectors. One thing you absolutely don't want to happen is to put a couple of years work in, then have some guy show up who says, "I am from the county building department. We buy new satelite images every two years and the computer contrast analysis of the last two recon. pics shows that you have non-permit construction going on." He then proceeds to point out all kinds of code violations that cost you tens of thousands to go back and correct. Definitely not what you want to happen. Much better to go to the county courthouse and make absolutely sure, and pay the fees up front, than to start construction hoping you won't have a problem then getting your teeth (figuratively) knocked out.

 

[scesnick]

I think the key to a long lasting log home is kiln dried logs, big overhangs and a quality stain.
Luckily I didn't read this post before I built or I would have ran for the hills.
If log homes are so prone to decay are so labor intensive to own, then why are there 200yr.old abandoned log homes still standing? I haven't seen any 200 yr.old abandoned stick built homes still standing....

 

[MotorSeven]

Tom, we don't have any codes here either, which is why i moved here. (2) permits-elec & septic.......that's it. I hope it never changes. For me, it's a freedom thing.........

RD

 

[gcp]

Tom h what Motor seven said! All permits I'll ever to build need already exists at my property.

I have mixed emotions about going through this deal but I'm investigating and evaluating....

 

[MotorSeven]

G, go see the logs & talk to the guy. The logs for my first home came from a guy (Aaron Zedlitz/Tyler Tx) who built his own hydraulic mill from scratch. he also cut & skidded his own logs getting free beetle killed trees from the local timber companies. The guy was a wellspring of information & gave me the confidence to build my own house. If you don't like what you see or hear...walk away.
800 mile trip? What a great excuse get away!

RD

 

[Fiero guy]

I had a lengthy reply to this typed out, but found myself logged out, I guess due to my slow typing. Check a website called Log Home builder's Association for info about logs and what causes rot and settling. Some eye opening info there, but take it with a grain of salt. They do not like kit homes there at all. They claim that milled logs remove a natural protective layer from the logs that allows rot and insects easy access.

I have seen a similar ad as the one you talk about--for 3 years now. Same ad-word for word each month. Supposedly, a buyer backed out, and the kit is discounted and says "$38,000 log home kit. Assmble walls in 2 days with 2 people-dried in one week later. Delivery to Houston for $3600 transportation costs."
Area code shows the seller somewhere in Arkansas.

 

[NewToy]

I think the key to a long lasting log home is kiln dried logs, big overhangs and a quality stain.
Luckily I didn't read this post before I built or I would have ran for the hills.
If log homes are so prone to decay are so labor intensive to own, then why are there 200yr.old abandoned log homes still standing? I haven't seen any 200 yr.old abandoned stick built homes still standing....

Depends how you define "still standing". There may be a few remnants left but that's about it. There will be some major issues on those 200 year old abandoned homes, hence the abandonment.

John