Glass in Your Log Home

It might be interesting to know that a good way to introduce light into your log home would be to use glass block. Glass block helps to break up the long horizontal lines of logs in your home. It's also great for efficiency, as well, it gives the feeling of 'green' home design, and it is 100% recyclable. You can also incorporate stained and leaded glass in your log home. For example, you can insert stained glass into your door to add a splash of colour. Maybe a stained glass window over your whirlpool bath. It will provide light, colour and privacy. In the kitchen you can install glass in your cabinetry. Shower and tub enclosures could be of glass block. But using glass you don't have to be restricted. Another way to bring glass into your home would be to add it to your front entry. You can add sidelights and other glass windows to open up spaces and welcome quests. Different glass designs can work well in any room in your house. Don't forget to add skylights , when well placed they can add an abundance of natural light to your log home.

For more information, visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes.

Log Home Space For Kids

If you have kids you may want to consider space for them when building your log home. Allowing your kids to take part in the design process is both educational and also makes family bonding stronger. A place or places in your home that may be used for family time together are kitchens and living rooms, and the kids private space would be their bedrooms and possibly a playroom. When it comes to designing the bedroom (where they will probably spend most of their time) think about where it should go, having kids bedrooms close to the master bedroom doesn't allow for much privacy for mom and dad or the kids. When it comes to bathrooms, kids should have one adjacent to their rooms, you could also incorporate separate sinks so that two will be able to use it at the same time. Once you decide where the bedrooms will go you can determine the designing of that room. For example, storage space, window seats, shelves, desks and bunk beds. You could even ask your children to write down things that they do in there everyday, such as; sleeping, studying, painting and reading.

For more information on log homes, please visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes.

Your Log Home Floor Plan

When you are looking at log home floor plans, don't overlook comfort and price. When designing your home look at ways to not include unnecessary space like multiple dining areas and inefficient plumbing and other wasted space. You will also want to look at your property and assess how your home will best fit on to that property. Here are some suggestions that will help you with your decision on what floor plan suits your needs. Don't settle on a floor plan that doesn't fit your needs. Make sure you know your property, before you create a design, spend time on the property and get a feel for where your house will best fit in.

Additional information can be found on our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets Inc.

Cleaning Your Log Home

Log homes are a lot easier to maintain than a conventional home, and they also have better air quality than a conventional home. This is partly because of the natural construction. There really isn't any man-made materials built into a log home that people are sometimes allergic to. Log homes typically have a better seal than stick-frame homes. If you want to make cleaning your log home easier use a clear coat on the logs, that way all you have to do once a year is go over them with a duster such as a swiffer. Make sure you have a filtration system in your home because as with any home (according to the EPA) the air inside your home is more polluted than the outside air. You should also have your well water tested by someone in that field and if a problem with your water is determined you should look at a good filtration system to correct the problem. Investing in central vacuuming allows you to vacuum less frequently because of its deep-cleaning ability. In log homes inlets can be installed in the floor. Keeping your home clean will help keep a clean bill of health.

Good Air Ventilation In Your Log Home

One of the reasons for installing a ventilation system in your log home is to control the buildup of heat, moisture and harmful air pollutants. Examples are everywhere in your home, including too much heat in your attic, basement moisture and furnace and water heater exhaust. Since moisture is the main cause of wood decay having ventilation is critical in your log home. You need adequate ventilation in your roof to prevent the accumulation of excessive heat and moisture. You should have exhaust fans in your bathroom and laundry to prevent mildew and mould. Kitchen fans get rid of moisture, smoke and cooking odors. Make sure they are all vented to the outside. Basements and crawlspaces should never be overlooked when it comes to ventilation, they are notorious for gathering moisture. For crawlspaces all you need to do is install grilles in the walls. Whenever possible always try to put more windows in the basement since daylight allows for natural ventilation.

Keeping Your Log Home Casual

Keeping your log home casual can be easily incorporated into your floorplan. Your home can be informal, meaning that you shouldn't get hung up on rules or traditions. Try to eliminate formal dining rooms and entry ways, maybe a better idea with your dining room is to make it a part of your kitchen and make your entry way really welcoming by hanging coats and hats on a tree hanger. Another idea of keeping your home casual would be to incorporate a sleeping porch, even if it is only for part of the year, it makes you feel like you are out of doors. Other ideas of informality is lack of clutter and simplicity, having too much stuff like knick-knacks and too much furniture doesn't make for a relaxing atmosphere. Having room to breathe is the atmosphere you want to create. Open floorplans lets us want to live in our homes because it feels more casual. Remember that open spaces does not allow for you to escape for quiet times. More successful houses have open areas as well as a room just for relaxing, reading, watching TV or exercising.

For more information on log homes, please visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets Inc.

Cutting Costs On The Exterior When Building Your Log Home

Stonework can add significantly to the costs of finishing the exterior of your log home. Look for other less expensive means to finish the outside of your home. Custom windows can add extra costs to your log home, any windows other than square or rectangular can mean a doubling of its price. Instead of log gable ends why not use log siding , full logs on gable ends could mean a lot more maintenance, so log siding can save you money in the long run. Avoid fancy doors, they add cost. Keep the fancy door for your entry only, and use standard doors for other areas. Use wood for decks instead of composite decking or other non wood material. It may save you money in the long run, but it is very costly up front. Go for an elevated foundation, if log work is too close to the ground, moisture can damage the logs. The rule of thumb is, "The simpler the house the less expensive it will be."

For additional information on log homes, please visit our website at Muskoka Log Homes & Chalets Inc.