Outdoor Rooms for Log Homes

If you are thinking of building a log home you may want to try to incorporate a porch or patio into the plan, so that you may enjoy its beauty. Try to find an area that is ideal for watching nature. Of course, the sun and shade also play an important part in where you might situate your outdoor living space. When you build structures outside just make sure they don't block the views from inside your home. It would also be a good idea to have good lighting for after hours. For instance, you might put lights on your steps, walkways, etc,. Installing a light near the grill certainly makes a night much more enjoyable. When you are deciding on building your outdoor space, think about how you plan on using it, will it be for outside parties, or just for quiet times, make sure you have the space for all these different things you may want to accomplish. For your barbeque you may want a roof overhang so you don't have to barbeque in the weather. To keep mosquitoes at bay you may want to build a screened in room.

All About Kitchens for Log Homes

When you are ready to build your kitchen in your log home there are some important considerations before you make your final decision. The kitchen will be a big part of the character and budget of your home. You should think about how you plan on using your kitchen, whether it is for social gatherings or family life. You need to think about how everything will be arranged, and how it will compliment the rest of your home. Some ideas might be; open or traditional floorplan, how much space is available, etc,. You may also want to consider which style you prefer; u-shape, L-shape, galley, or a kitchen with an island. If you decide for instance, on a u-shaped kitchen just remember that its a very inflexible design that wouldn't be easy to modify. An island would require a bigger floor space and a galley kitchen would become a traffic path. Arrangement of appliances are also very important factors in designing your kitchen, if they are too far apart it would definitely make cooking a chore. The stove, fridge and sink should be arranged for maximum efficiency. A good distance between the sink and fridge is 4 to 7 feet. Distance between sink and stove is 4 to 7 feet, and distance between stove and fridge is 4 to 9 feet. Ventilation should be vented to the outside, to remove moisture, gases, smoke and odors. For more blogs regarding log homes, check out our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets.

Fireplaces For Log Homes

Just about everyone that builds a log home will include a fireplace or two. There are many kinds and styles of fireplaces available today. There are stoves that sit on the floor, factory fireplaces, fireplace inserts, etc,. Today fireplaces are more affordable and energy efficient, plus, more environmentally friendly. A fireplace in a log home is usually a focal point of the home. Many factors play into deciding what heating system you require, the aesthetics and the cost involved, all are deciding factors. Factory built fireplaces; A firebox in a steel cabinet that can burn wood, gas, propane, or even run on electricity because of the cool space on the outer walls of the stove they are known as zero clearance. Freestanding; A free standing stove can be placed in any room, can be less cost to heat your home because it can be vented into other rooms. Some of the cleanest burning woodstoves give off more than half of their heat from burning the smoke that would otherwise build up as creosote in the chimney and cause pollution in the air.

Protecting Your Seasonal Log Home Against Intruders

If you are a seasonal log home owner you may want to consider ways to protect your home when you are away. Here are some good tips to get you started. Pests; make sure you don't leave any food including dog food outside, or secure it in an airtight metal container. Security; If you have neighbours that are ususally there have them check on your home. Make sure that your security alarms are working and replace burned out light bulbs. You may even want to place a security sign on your front lawn, which helps discourage intruders. Lock up all your outbuildings, and always keep ladders and any tools out of arms way. These are some items burgulars may use to enter your home. Instead of placing spare keys under rocks or elsewhere outside have a good neighbour hold a spare key. Insurance; Always make sure you know exactly what your insurance covers, and let your agent know whether you have an alarm system or any other protection devices in or for your home, insurance companies usually discount homeowners for home protection devices.

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Finishing a Basement in a Log Home

You may need an extra entertaining space or a place where you can have some down time. By finishing your basement you are also adding to the resale value of your home. Since the walls and structure of the home are already there, its definitely a less expensive way to add more living space to your home. Before you start working on your basement you need to consider a few practical things, like conversation areas, workstations, games area, etc,. You would need to think about how you could incorporate all of those ideas into the basement plans. Remember too, that the more walls you put in your basement the smaller it will become. If you are considering a home theatre system you need to think about where your t.v. would go. Even if you have a small basement you should try to find space for a small kitchenette, that way it saves guests having to go up and down stairs for beverages, etc., You also need to decide if you want to finish your basement, and the time frame to do it, or, hire a contractor to finish the basement taking into consideration the costs incurred.

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Cleaning Tips for your Log Home

If you are thinking of cleaning your log home it doesn't have to be anymore than a light mixture of a wood cleaning solution that you would rinse of with water. Cleaning your log home is a very important step before you apply your stain. It wouldn't be wise to apply stain over dirty log walls if you want your home to maintain its new appearance. To clean your log home all you need to do is apply a mild cleaning solution with a garden pump sprayer and after about 15 minutes just rinse lightly with water. Try not to leave any cleaning solution on the wood to dry. The higher up on the log the faster it darkens with more sun exposure, also it is easier for dirt and pollen to settle there making it an ideal area for fungal growth. Apply the cleaner from the bottom and move up the wall then rinse in the opposite direction. More on cleaning your log home in another blog.

Cabin in the Woods

All you may require is a simple log cabin to get the feel of living with logs. If you just build a small retangular log chalet, the cost will be considerably less than a multi-sided log home. Because of the rectangular shape it will appear and feel that the cabin is larger. If your plan is to build a cabin, think about how you are planning on using it, will it be for hunting, fishing, weekend getaways, seasonal or for year round usage. If you want to keep your interior space at a maximum, any interior partition walls should be minimized. For extra space you might add a sofa bed and bunk beds in your cabin for additional guests. Be sure to check with us or the local building inspector before considering to build a log cabin, since cabins require somewhat different standards and requirements regarding obtaining a building permit.

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Log Homes are Energy Efficient

For many, many years now thermal mass has been tested in log homes, so that people would better understand the warmth and comfort that log home owners feel. For those who don't know what thermal mass is , it is the logs ability to absorb, store and let the heat out at a later time. In the tests that were done, it showed that thermal mass does have an effect on the temperature in the enclosed air space, the logs retain the interior temperature and do not allow the exterior temperatures to penetrate and create change very easily. The tests showed that an 8-inch log wall did better at insulating and retaining heat better than a 2" x 6", R-20 insulated, conventionally constructed home . So for those reasons, logs homes are naturally more energy efficient than homes that are built using fibreglass as a barrier for heat loss. Therefore, the heat that the logs retain, radiate back into the home providing comfort and warmth from the thermal mass generated by the logs, which in turn lowers energy usage.

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Realistic Timeframes for a Custom Log Home Build

About six months from the time the groundbreaking begins to the completion of most custom log homes, is the minimum amount of time required to complete your log home. A construction schedule should have a start time and a finish time of each activity, you should also allow for delays due to weather, conflicts with subcontractors or supplier delays. Bad weather can have an impact on your project and budget. Progress payments are usually due at certain stages of the construction. Long delays could leave the builder short of cash, so it wouldn't be unusual for him to ask for a partial payment. It's important that you work with your builder and know ahead of time what to expect of each other. Delays that are unexpected aren't part of a construction contract. Many people have issues with these extra charges, and feel they should be included in the contract. If this is the case make sure you have discussed this with your builder ahead of time.

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Finding a Lender for a Log Home

When you're looking to finance your new home, you need to choose your lender carefully. While you'll have to pay for the package before it's assembled some lenders will not release money for materials until they have been used in the construction project. Get pre-approval of your loan. To obtain financing you'll need to submit a loan application and construction documents, blueprints, a site plan, property survey and copies of contracts, etc. Check terms of your construction loan, if your house isn't finished when time expires, you'll have to request an extension which may entail extra fees or penalties. When your home is complete, your construction loan will be paid off with a mortgage. Interest rates for mortgages are lower than those for construction loans, since financing an existing home carries less risk than financing a home that isn't yet complete. Before converting a construction loan to a permanent mortgage, some lenders require home owners to obtain a "Use and Occupancy" permit, proving the home is complete before you move into it.

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Windows supplied for Muskoka Log Homes

The windows that are included in our standard material package kits are wood casements with wood trim mould. The glass is low e and argon filled, in todays day and age settling for anything less would not be very beneficial. Basically the low e represents a thin layer of plastic that is adhered to both of the inside panes of glass and since there is a space between the two layers of glass the air is extracted and argon gas is inserted to fill the void. This procedure is created by providing an airtight seal around the two panes of glass. This method of manufacturing windows greatly decreases the amount of ultra violet rays that enter the home and also increases the overall R - value of the thermo window. A couple of the options that we provide with windows are, exterior aluminum cladding which decreases maintenance and internal window mullions (trim that visually makes the window panels smaller).

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Adjustment for Shrinkage in Log Homes

The most common question that is frequently asked is whether or not log homes shrink. The answer is yes. With engineered milled logs such as the ones we use at Muskoka Log Homes, you can expect the home to shrink from 1/2" to 5/8" of an inch. Not to panic, all of the hardware used in the construction of the home is designed to adjust with the shrinkage. From the threaded thru bolt and spring system located inside the logs, the slotted sub-jamb system for the windows and doors plus the screw jack system used on all columns, the home will self adjust. Actually the only adjustment is at the columns after the first winter of heating the home. We return to adjust the screw jacks a few eighths of an inch. There are no other adjustments or hardware to be concerned about. The reason the logs hardly shrink is because we have air dried the logs for over a year before the final milling has taken place.

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Design Deposit for a Muskoka Log Home

The following is the policy that we have in place regarding getting design drawings finalized and ready for blueprint. The models that we have on our website are already priced, therefore modifications to the drawings can be made without any charges. On a custom designed home, the client submits rough sketch drawings and receives an estimate on what the cost would be for the material package kit. To get the custom designed computerized drawings complete, we require a $1,000.00 deposit. Once the drawings are completed, the client can make as many changes, as required, to finalize the design and layout. A written quotation is than submitted to the client for review. If the client decides to proceed to blueprint and sign a material package kit contract, the deposit goes towards the cost of the package. If the client decides not to proceed, half of the deposit is returned and they get to keep the computerized designed drawings.

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