Log Cabin Rustics Blog: Building Log Homes: Factory Kits or Do-It-Yourself Log Cabin Rustics

Scott R., Washington

Thank you for personalizing this experience and following up with me. That means a lot. We're looking forward to receiving the chairs and other items. I'll stay in touch concerning follow up orders to furnish our cabin.

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Monday, June 30, 2008

Building Log Homes: Factory Kits or Do-It-Yourself

When you start to think about building a log home, a question presents itself; whether to build from ground up or to use a factory-made log home kit. There are many reasons to use the factory kit, even if you have been looking forward to whipping out the chainsaw.

The factory-made log home kit is the right choice for three reasons. First off, most people don't own the right type and size of trees on their property to build a log cabin. It takes a lot of wooded acreage to complete a log home, which requires at least 100 logs just to build a regular-sized cabin. It can also be hard to find disease-free specimens that are required, and the preferable type of tree for
building log homes may be simply not available in your area, such as cedar, Douglas Fir, Yellow Pine, popular, or spruce. If these woods are not native to your area, you will most likely have to have quality timbers shipped in.

The second reason to avoid using trees on your property to build your log home is that before the logs can be used, they have to be dried, and few log home owners have this capability. When a living tree is first chopped down, it is still swollen with sap and other fluids. In order to ensure that the logs won't shrink over time, the logs must be stripped of their bark to expose the sapwood beneath, and dry out for several months before the construction process takes place. The job of completing the "aging" process successfully is not easy, and few novice home builders have the time or patience required.

The final reason is that most people lack the knowledge to prepare the logs properly. Each log needs to be checked for cracks, then planed flat on two opposing surfaces to insure a tight seal between the timbers. Even more difficult, the corner joints must be individually cut to provide a perfect fit.

Even if they had plenty of cured logs available, some people lack the physical ability and/or the knowledge Jo prepare the timbers properly. Each log must, for example, be inspected for "checks" or cracks, and then planed flat on two opposing surfaces to insure a tight seal between the timbers. In addition (and this is especially difficult), the corner joints must be individually cut to provide a perfect fit.

So, unless you've been building log homes for many years, its best to leave the lumber preparation to the more experienced. There are many good log home builders that have been in the business for a long time, and satisfaction is guaranteed. These companies are already equipped to prepare construction-grade logs, cure green timber, and will go a long ways to accommodate their customers. Some builders will even pre-assemble the log home before they ship it, just to make sure all the parts fit properly! Even though a log home factory kit doesn't sound very rustic or outdoorsy, it is the right choice for new log home builders.

by: Log Cabin Rustics