Modern Materials For A Log Home

In your future log home consider incorporating a beautiful mix of building materials and wall materials as well so to add usual interest without taking away from the logs beauty. When you are planning your log home walls you will be deciding whether you want half logs, tongue-and-groove panelling etc,. If this is the case you will need to focus on keeping the walls light. High ceilings, a lot of windows and lighting will help. Another way to open up your log home is to use drywall. These materials give the eye a rest from the wood. In log homes drywall increases ways of designing. No matter what materials you use for your log home think of ways to pair colours, textiles and finishes. As a side thought over 60 percent of your walls are covered with furniture, windows, artwork and so on. You can also colour just one wall with a deep red or deep blue. No matter which colours you choose note how the natural and artificial light can change the colours intensity throughout the day.

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

Going Green When Building Your Log Home

Whether your building a permanent home or a vacation home there is no reason to not go green. You should invest extra money upfront to achieve an energy efficient design. In the end it will pay off through lower energy bills and will continue to pay off over your home's lifetime. A well insulated home will provide even temperatures throughout the different rooms, improve air quality and reduce allergens. More people are turning to energy efficiency because of higher energy crisis. There are many options to building an energy efficient home like solar panels, high performance windows, high-tech insulation and house wrap, geothermal heat pumps, digital thermostats and fireplace inserts. When designing your energy efficient home there are two distinct parts: the exterior shell and the interior systems. Log homes have a thermal mass which is their natural characteristic which means that the log walls have the ability to absorb heat and keep a house cooler in summer and store heat in the winter and gradually release it at night to warm the house. A study done by the National Bureau of Standards showed that it reduces the overall energy needs and expenses by 30% over walls that use wood, brick, or siding. What's important is how tight the logs fit together,and how tightly the home is built. A five inch log that is constructed properly and designed tightly is going to perform much better than a 12-inch log that is poorly placed together.

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

Figure Out The Costs Of Your Log Home

People are always trying to figure out how much their log home is going to cost by looking for shortcuts instead of answers. The long and short of it is list everything that goes into making a log home, you should then call the people who will be providing the material and or labour and find out exactly what they charge. Then once you have those answers you would add them up then you would arrive at the actual costs. The truth of the matter is the only true cost that you will get in writing is the price of the log package. Even then the price will probably still fluctuate. Don't include the land you purchased in the price of your log home. If you asked to multiply the costs by the square footage that doesn't give you an exact price because first of all you would need to ask if that includes the basement or not. Does that include finished or unfunished basement. You also have to look at the different amenities people put in the same size houses. Cabinets, countertops, fireplaces, roofing and so on, and find out if all of these amenities are stock or custom items.

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

One-Story Log Home Living

If you are thinking of building a single story log home you should consider a few things that you don't want to do, like putting the master bedroom too close to the family room because of T.V. and other electronics. The best plan is to keep the master bedroom away from activity rooms. Making room for the master bedroom on the main floor is common in new home design, its based on designing a home that's just easier to use. Everything on the main floor is key to the majority of baby boomers who are approaching retirement. Most baby boomers are not interested in trudging up and down stairs two or three times a day. Everything designed on the main floor still leaves challenges that mean less privacy and limited areas to go for quiet times when you need.

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

Designing Your Log Home

As you start designing your log home, the layout you choose will surely reflect the way you intend to use the home. You will undoubtedly think of more closets, office space, a bigger living room, spacier kitchen, a large master bedroom with full ensuite, all these are part of why you want to build your new home. When you are designing your log home, plan on years ahead and how that may affect your design now. The majority of the population has reached the 50's mark and now are in a financial position where they are able to build their dream home. You have to think about many more things for the home now then you did 30 years ago, like two-car garages, home offices, more electrical appliances and outlets,etc,. Think, as well, that nowadays there is much more glass in our homes. We constantly change what we like, carpet for instance may not be as popular as before, now its wood floors and tiles. Front porches are also returning. Formal dining and living rooms are disappearing, now its open kitchens fewer hallways and more master bedrooms on the main floor. The last thing you want to happen is to live in a home that hasn't met your expections.

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

Avoiding Problems When Building A Log Home

You should be aware of the risks and problems that can happen during your construction project. Knowledge is your best defense against achieving a successful outcome. Building a log home can be a dangerous business if you are not safety minded. Safety must always be your first priority. If you don't plan on paper, your log home will appear to grow in size. Blueprints can be deceiving if you don't know how to read them. Don't let your small log home plan grow much larger than you want. Don't mistake quantity for quality. Bigger doesn't necessarily mean better, it is the structure of the home that counts. It is the well engineered home that will stand the test of time. Thinking that unfinished logs are cheaper than milled logs is a misnomer. Unfinished logs have hidden costs of constructing . Also, don't be lead into believing that all plumbers, carpenters, and so on are of the same caliber because there is a wide range of workmanship in all sub-trades.

Buying Property In The Country

If your considering buying property in the country and building a log home, you will have to learn to expect the laid-back behavour that country areas tend to be and things get done when people get around to it. If you are a new- comer you might as well get used to the relaxed pace. The property you are considering must meet certain applications, building permits and so-on. Access problems are another concern, for example; easements which may provide access to the property no matter how limited the use or enjoyment, and if that is the case, you have little say in how they use it. If you are planning on building off a beaten path realize how costly it is to maintain. You may have trees that are not safe over the driveway that needs to be cut down, or a driveway that needs plowing in the winter just don't hold your breath waiting for your neighbour to come and plow you out after a heavy snowfall. Also, other items you may need to think about are: hydro, satellite t.v., telephone and the costs involved in getting them to your property.