Log Cabins, Good or Bad ???

popeye · Mar 12, 2003

We are about to have a Log Cabin constructed and I am still not sure about it. I need some feedback from those who have them.
Mike

beenthere · Mar 12, 2003

Are you building a log cabin of 'real logs' (species?) or with 'log siding'. Any details on the type of log cabin - ranch, overhang, chinking, preservative treatments, finishing, etc. would be helpful.

Log cabins used to be a temporary building that would use the materials at hand in the forest or near a wooded lot. They were not something built for long term housing or where better materials were available. Log cabins were logs stacked and set in a way that when some of the lower logs decayed, the cabin was jacked up, and a new log set in to replace the old. Nowadays, some log cabins are built with the logs bolted and held in place with rods and the like, with electricals in the walls that make replacing a log a near impossibility.

I witnessed a log cabin ($300,000 to build in the middle 80's) assembled out of logs that were likely over-mature trees that possibly had already begun to decay. Within 10 years, half of the logs were in advanced stages of decay and the verdict was it was a total loss as there was no way to make repairs.

There are 'stories' of log cabins lasting for years and years. But not much documentation that new logs were not added to replace the decayed logs. Most wood decays unless kept quite dry.

Taz · Mar 13, 2003

I love mine. It's ability to retain then radiate heat from it's thermal mass can't be touched by standard construction.
I'll take log over 2 by's any day. 23 year old cedar and still looks new.

BTW
The seller corrected me when I asked to see it... "It's not a log cabin, it's a log home."

BB_TX · Mar 13, 2003

Here is a recent thread on log homes for more info.

rancar · Mar 13, 2003

"...about to have a Log Cabin constructed and I am still not sure about it..."

Be real careful here Mike. Not sure why you would want to proceed with construction if you're still having second doubts. Those doubts....you have them for a reason and must be dealt with before proceeding any further.

I've heard good testimonials from people who have log homes, but I've also heard real horror stories. The horror stories are primarily associated with the homeowner who selects the a) wrong log home manufacturer or b) builder to erect their log home.

Caveat emptor....my friend.

....Bob

dmccarty · Mar 13, 2003

popeye,

Search through TBN for some previous discussions. I know
we have had more besides the link that was already provided.

Also get on google and search for log homes. I spent an hour
or so one day doing this and found enough information to
really scare me. I think one can get a good log home but
one can easily get ripped off....

Questions to ask...
How to keep bugs out of the wood?
Is the wood kiln dried.
How many knot holes does it have? Knot holes can leak if
rain is blown on them....
Is it a kit home or just the logs?

My builder I'm planning to use for our nonlog home has built
quite a few log homes. One thing he does not like to do is use
a kit. Its just easier, faster and cheaper to put up the logs
and cut them as needed.

Thats just a few things off the top of my head.

I know we have had talks about this on TBN in the past. You
might also check CBN as well.

Later,
Dan

PitbullMidwest · Mar 13, 2003

My inlaws built their own log home in the '70's. They cut, peeled, notched and chinked the whole thing. They were committed to that structure and were willing to do all necesary upkeep.

After it was lost in a fire, they had another home hand crafted. They used lodgepole pine and used swedish cope notches to eliminate the need for chinking. It is a beautiful home but it has more maintenance than a stick frame home.

Are you prepared to "paint" the UV pretection every other year? How about re-hanging your kitchen cabinets after the house has settled, the in laws house settled 8" the first year. Does your builder have plans in place to account for the settling like sliding cap interior walls?

I'm sure you already know all of these things but I can tell you that after helping to maintain both of their homes for 15 years I know that personnally I'm not committed enough to own one.

If you have doubts, NOW is the time to resolve them. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

PS My father in law loved his log home dearly and wouldn't have had any other kind of house. When his cancer was at its worst, his only request was that he be allowed to live out his last days in his log cabin in the woods, which he did.

Tedman · Mar 13, 2003

As far as longevity of a log cabin house I can attest that some last for a very long time. My father owns a log cabin that he bought back in the sixties that is well over 100 years old. It is a two story log cabin, constructed with 14"-16" square logs at the base. The logs have weathered the years very well, little to no insect or rot damage. They are pretty much petrified by now, almost impossible to drive a nail to hang a picture inside. Its amazing all of the work that they accomplished before the used any power tools. You can plainly see all of the broad axe marks on the logs when they were squaring them up. I will try to borrow my brothers digital camera and snap a few pics.

mikim · Mar 14, 2003

One thing that has sorta been brought up is the weight involved - if it settles that much in country with probably halfway stable soil -- what's it gonna do on your black gumbo? If you want a traditional look - go with pier & beam and a dog-run look - with wrap around porch and metal roof -- there was a reason they built those around here (gulf basin -> central tx) and the climate hasn't changed that much in the last 100 years. Personally I wouldn't touch a log home in this area. A pier & beam should get you out of the flood plain too and save you on flood insurance. With all the concrete that's going in around there - the flooding is only going to get worse.

beenthere · Mar 14, 2003

I think the "settling" comments were due to the wood logs drying out and shrinking in size, thus the height of the walls decrease, and this has to be figured into the construction. If not, the doors and windows try to hold up the house. The settling (depending on the heat added and the relative humidities encountered year around) usually is done in 5 - 8 years.

PitbullMidwest · Mar 14, 2003

if it settles that much in country with probably halfway stable soil -- what's it gonna do on your black gumbo? 

"Settling" is probably a bad term, although it is the term used by the crafters. It's not the foundation that settles, its the logs compressing and shrinking as they dry down. "Kit homes" minimize this by kiln drying the logs prior to use in production but even then, they still settle to some degree. The shrinking is actually what makes swedish cope weather tight and why chinking isn't used.

My wife never shared my dream of a log home, she already knew what I would learn from helping her parents, i.e. log homes are a long term commitment and a whole 'lota work to maintain.

Jeff396 · Mar 14, 2003

Hometime had a series of shows dedicated to building a log cabin from the ground up. I watched it and was amazed by what had to be done due to the movement of the materials used. It's available on tape and may be worth a look even before hiring someone else to build it for you. Here's the link;

http://www.hometime.com/store2/v_4044.htm

Hope this helps!

Jeff /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · Mar 14, 2003

As mentioned before, Popeye, check everything out ahead of time. My business leads me to ask if you priced home insurance. It's not readily available for log homes, and ANY home insurance in Texas is getting EXPENSIVE!

PitbullMidwest · Mar 14, 2003

you priced home insurance. It's not readily available for log homes 

Excellent point. It took 8 months of lawyers to get the insurance company to payout following my in-laws fire. The adjuster honestly believed that they could simply scrape the char off of the logs and reuse the basic structure. Once they agreed it was a total loss they only wanted to pay the "replacement" cost that they believed was about $50,000. They didn't understand the home that they agreed to insure (which is why it's difficult to find an insurer).

That $50,000 price was a kit home which was for the exterior log walls only, it did not include the roof, finished interior, electrical, windows, etc, etc. or the labor to put it up. Before building their new home they found a new insurer who had experience with log homes. And as Jazzdad mentioned, insurance on a log home is more expensive than on a conventional structure.

Lots of things to consider, no wonder Popeye is unsure about building his cabin.

lschultz · Mar 14, 2003

popeye we had a log home built by Satterwhite about 11 yrs ag

urs is more efficent in the winter,it does hold the heat.All we heat with in the winter is the Country Flame wood stove.As far as the hot summer I think it costs about as much to cool as a regular house.There is a little more maintenance on them compared to a conventional house.I just have porches on the front and rear.Wish I would of had a wrap around porch made.I have since built a porch on our southside,maybe the north side later on.We had trouble with our fireplace settling on the northside.Perma Jack came in and did there thing and have not had any more problems.When we use to go to Colorado I fell in love with log homes so I had one built.They put up the shell and we finished out the inside.But if I had it to do over I think I would build a conventional house.

popeye · Mar 20, 2003

They are real logs from trees that have already died out of Colorado. Moisture content on them after drying for 2 years is 10-12%. My agent that insures my home here will insure it.
I have been doing some research into log cabin siding. Pine is $19.00 for a 16 footer. Haven't been able to get a price for cedar yet. Satterwhite is the log cabin builder I am leaning towards, but the more details I find out about a log home the scarier it gets. Bad part about it is I've got three women who are dead set on a log cabin. "They are so cute!" and they don't want a city house in the country.
Mike

BB_TX · Mar 20, 2003

Popeye - As much as I like the looks of a log home, our plans for building our house in the country are to build a "traditional" farm style home with wrap around porch that we sit out on and rock away our twilight years. Except when I am on the tractor of course. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

beenthere · Mar 20, 2003

Three? Wow, you had better build 'em what they want then, just to keep all your basses covered! I wouldn't gather any more information, if I was you, as it may just confound the issue when the decision is already made at a "higher" level. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just kidding, but good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

jdeerestl · Mar 20, 2003

My 9" swedish cope log home has been up for almost two years now. The manufacturer also claimed a 10-15% moisture content. I haven't noticed much shrinkage and have been quite pleased with them so far. It is a lot of work to maintain this kind of house, but it is a lifestyle and I wouldn't change a thing. The only problem I've had is carpenter bees. Just keep plenty of wasp spray on hand. A log home is a big committment to upkeep, but when people pull around my driveway and their jaws drop at the sight of my house, I can smile and say yep, thats the way I live.

mikim · Mar 24, 2003

"settling" comments were due to the wood logs drying out and shrinking 
makes sense - but never thought about it - all I've ever heard is that log homes are constant maintenance - and that's not what I'm looking for in a retirement home! Metal roof and stone exterior is my idea - 100 year roof and no painting. hopefully retirement will mean -- gimme a big porch, a little breeze, and a Shiner bock and I'm in heaven -- /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif