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To Refer to Log Cabins as Sheds, Would be Like Calling Mercedes a Rover

February 11, 2008 – 12:30 am

The log cabin is a versatile piece of kit – it can be used as an office, house a large whirlpool tub, provide a ‘granny’ annexe, a playroom for the children or even be used as a second home. The choice is endless. In America, the log cabin is often used as a primary home and can be bought and sold through estate agents. Most people believe the log cabin is native to America, however, some historians have said log cabins were originally from Sweden, brought to America by Swedish immigrants who settled in the Delaware Bay area, USA in the 17th Century. Other historians have said log cabins originated from Scandinavia and Russia.

Regardless of their origins, the log cabin remains as popular as ever and like most things in today’s world they are filled with modern technology. They are far removed from our colonial predecessors who had log cabins made from a basic design of interlocking logs with the chinks (gaps) filled with stones, moss and dung.

Once the decision has been made to have a log cabin, no matter what size, there are plenty of additional choices to be made. Such as: do you need planning permission? Contact your Local Authority who will inform you what steps to take. Where do you site the log cabin? A local surveyor can give you advice about the cabin’s location and what sort of foundations you will need.

Once you’ve been given the go ahead for your cabin, you need to decide on your budget so you’ll know if you can afford a handcrafted or a manufactured log cabin. The choice is yours as to where you want to purchase your log cabin: local companies who specialise in log cabins, large DIY stores selling log cabin kits and the internet, which provides a wide range of choice and information about log cabins.

If you don’t mind how much money you spend, a handcrafted log cabin may be your choice. Skilled craftsmen build the log cabin to your exact specifications and each log is shaped and custom-fitted for your cabin. For a cheaper version, you could buy a modular or manufactured log cabin – in other words a DIY kit. They start from as little as £1000 for a basic design to over £13,000 for a cabin with rooms inside, double doors and a veranda surrounded by a fence. The modular log cabins are made of uniform milled logs that come numbered and packaged with the doors and windows pre-hung. These kits are classed as ‘easy-to-assemble.’ However if you struggle to put together even a small size flat-pack of furniture, you might consider hiring a carpenter to assemble the cabin! This will save you a lot of time and stress and will still be cheaper than having a handcrafted log cabin.

The traditional choice of wood for a log cabin is pine, spruce, fir or cedar. Cedar is the most expensive option, but unlike pine, cedar has natural preservatives that help make it resistant to rot, decay and insect damage.

A project plan should be kept and include all aspects of your log cabin construction: delivery dates and costs, land survey results and costs, installation of services such as plumbing, electricity, gas, telephone lines and all furnishings. This will help you keep track with your log cabin construction and budget.

Many people enjoy the ‘rustic’ charm of a log cabin and they can make a wonderful addition for your home. Proper siting, construction and maintenance of your log cabin can protect your investment and give you and your family many years of enjoyment.

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Log Cabins as a Second Home

February 11, 2008 – 12:19 am

Do you want a second home but you think you can’t afford it? Think again, because a log cabin could be the answer.

Gone are the days when log cabins had dirt floors and no utilities. Today’s log cabins can be as comfortable as your own home; with insulated walls, tiled roof, full central heating, and double glazed windows.

A Log cabin as a second home can enable you to have a holiday in a favourite location at any time. They are becoming a popular choice because a log cabin tends to have a lower asking price than a traditional brick building of the same size, and low mortgage rates are still on the market. A log cabin as a second home can be bought used, brand new, or built as a DIY project, and there are companies that specialise in each of these areas.

If you’ve never experienced life in a log cabin, you could ‘test the water’ before buying, by renting a holiday log cabin. There are holiday log cabins within the United Kingdom or as far a field as Lapland.

When buying a new log cabin for a second home, you have the option of working with a design team to alter the floor plans to suit your individual requirements, and you can chose your own décor. They are often located in parks with other log cabins and they have the convenience of local amenities nearby such as: shops, a swimming pool, and a golf course. On top of your monthly mortgage, (if you need one) there is the monthly park fee to consider before you buy.

Building your own log cabin as a second home gives you the option to erect your log cabin wherever you want (subject to planning permission). However, suitable building sites in isolated parts of the country may be cheaper to buy, but they can be filled with added or hidden costs such as: sand, clay or rocky soils that may need additional engineering. There may be steep hills and mountains that can affect the transportation of necessary equipment, and extra utilities may need to be fitted, such as a septic tank, etc.
Before you take the plunge into buying a plot of land to build your own log cabin as a second home, do some research into your costs, so you know exactly what you can or cannot afford. There are also some questions you should ask: do you intend to retire to your log cabin one day? How often will you visit your log cabin? Will you rent it out to other people when you aren’t using it? Will you need to build guestrooms for visitors, or will you avoid having visitors stay overnight? Will you build the log cabin yourself or hire builders? How big do you want your log cabin? The bigger the log cabin the more maintenance work will be needed. Will you do your own maintenance work or hire somebody? What about security? Building your own log cabin as a second home can be rewarding, but do plan ahead.

If you want to escape the dreary British weather, there are plenty of log cabins as second homes in the sun to choose from. Using a solicitor is not a legal requirement in order to buy a property aboard in some countries, but it would give you peace of mind knowing that an expert has covered the legal side of your purchase.

A log cabin as a second home, whether in the United Kingdom or overseas, can be a wonderful addition to a family’s life and create many happy family memories for everyone to treasure.

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Log Cabin Fever

February 11, 2008 – 12:19 am

Homesteaders settling in the territories of the American West traditionally built log cabins; durable, rainproof, and inexpensive. Today, eco-friendly and rustically charming, log cabins with their distinctive handcrafted appearance seem to be making a comeback, with luxurious features such as whirlpools, skylight windows and heated patios.

Swedish colonists built the first log cabins in North America at the beginning of the 18th century. The design of the log cabins was influenced by typical North European farm-houses until the introduction of the Homestead Act. According to which, new colonists had to build their homes of a specific size with at least one window. These old log cabins had just one room, a spacious porch, and an elevated area for sleeping.

Building the frontier style log cabin was quite easy and required only a few days. First of all, the builder settled a solid foundation to keep logs above the damp soil. Most often, rock or stone were used for the log cabin foundation. Then the builder would square off each log and make round cuts on the top and bottom of each end. Then he assembled the logs so that round cuts would fit together. The logs were secured together with wood sticks. The remaining spaces were filled with insulation materials such as clay or mud. The windows and doors were simply cut out, and a fireplace was built afterwards.

Thanks to new construction technologies and an increased attention to all things eco-wise and natural, log cabins are gaining in their popularity. Well-constructed, weather-proof log cabins today can be built and styled similar to conventional houses. Among the advantages of log cabins and homes, experts list remarkable weather-proofing qualities with little insulation and low building costs. In addition to that log cabins require little maintenance.

A hundred years ago a log builder lived in almost all rural neighborhoods, so learning to build a log cabin was easy - people simply followed the way he built. Today, log cabin enthusiasts have access to hundreds of log cabin building manuals and resources from all over the world.

Log cabin factory kits are a practical solution for the log cabin devotee. Log packages with complete instructions can be found online from as low as $5,000, but the complete cost of the building can go twice as high. To the price of the log cabin kit you should add the costs of the assembly and the installation of plumbing, electricity, heating and other “luxuries”. The happy owner of the log cabin can actually decrease the costs by participating in the construction, even though most log building companies can provide a team of contractors to raise the log cabin. In any case, the modern log cabin can be built from scratch in less than two weeks.

Once a popular vacation dwelling located in the scenic outback, log cabins are becoming popular residence choices for many families. More than 90 per cent of all log homes are currently used as a primary residence, and many of these log homes are built in metropolitan areas. Often, when people build the log cabin for vacation getaways places, they eventually move into their log homes because of their casual rugged charm and convenience.

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Log Cabin Kits for the Garden

February 11, 2008 – 12:18 am

If extra space is needed for the home, a log cabin is an attractive and practical way to answer the problem. Log cabins are ideal as a home office, a gym, for housing Jacuzzi’s and saunas or as a playhouse for the children.

The size and style of your log cabin can be dependent on your budget. One way to make your budget go further is to use a log cabin kit and assemble the log cabin yourself. Most log cabin kits come with comprehensive assembly instructions, and with assistance from friends and family armed with tools, such as: a hammer, drill, spirit level, and a screwdriver, it can be a challenging and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

However, for some people, just the thought of assembling a log cabin kit is enough to give them a headache: so the next best option is to hire help though your log cabin kit company or from local trades’ people.

Once you know your budget, the next step will be deciding what type of log cabin kit to purchase. Log cabin kits come in different packages: some are, handcrafted, and made from whole logs, whereas other log cabin kits are made from kiln-dried logs that are factory milled. Consider the quality and quantity of the wood in the log cabin kit: if your log cabin is to be used for twelve months of the year, you will need thicker logs than if your log cabin was for summertime usage. There are different shapes of logs to choose from, and a common choice is the ‘D’ log, which is round on the outside and flat on the inside and gives a horizontal wood-panelling look within. If you are concerned about the environment, check the logs are from substantially managed forests. Deliberate over the floor plans to determine what will work for you, what type of timber you want to use, e.g. pine or cedar, what insulation you need and your utility requirements.

The typical contents of a log cabin kit contain cut logs for a specific log cabin plan. Each log has a predetermined location in the wall of the cabin, with door and window openings already cut into the appropriate logs. Most log cabin kit companies offer a number of log cabin kit options that contain additional components: cladding, insulation, screws, corner panels, window frames and windows, doors frames and doors, steel brackets, anchor bolts, nuts and washes, studding, roofing and flooring. What isn’t included is: foundations, wiring, plumbing, heating, roof tiles, and guttering. Because each log cabin kit company structure their kit differently, it makes it difficult to compare costs between the companies, unless you can do an item-by-item comparison of the contents of the different log cabin kits.

Before log cabin kits can be assembled, a well-prepared level base that is the same size as the log cabin floor will be required to ensure a long lasting installation. A variety of materials can create a solid base, such as: concrete or paving slabs positioned on hardcore, and it should be 20-50mm above the ground level. Building regulations will need to be considered, for example, if your log cabin is to be located next to a boundary line. Some log cabins require planning permission and your log cabin kit company maybe able to provide advice on this matter. However if there are doubts, it is best to contact your local planning authority before work is commenced.

Log cabin kits do take time to assemble, but the finished product will be something you and your family can enjoy and appreciate for many years to come.

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Log Cabins for Christmas and Extra Income

February 11, 2008 – 12:18 am

Log cabins may not be the first item you would think of putting on your Christmas wish list, but if you have your parents, in-laws, aunts, uncles and numerous children descending on you over the Christmas period, a log cabin used as a guest room could give you the extra space you need for your guests.

To determine what sort of log cabin will suit you, there are a few questions that need to be answered:

How much space do you have for a log cabin?

Unless you have a garden the size of a postage stamp, there should be a log cabin to suit you. Many log cabins are designed for smaller gardens where space is limited, and if space is not an issue, you could have a log cabin the size of a small house with two storeys.

Who will use your log cabin?

If young and old alike are to use your log cabin, it would be best to have a log cabin with a double door entrance so prams and wheelchairs can be easily accommodated.

What is your budget?

Small log cabins start at about £600 and can run into thousands for very large log cabins with all the extras – such as a veranda, double-glazing, window shutters, window boxes, etc. A good log cabin company will stock log cabins to suit all budgets.

Which type of log cabin should you choose?

Log cabins usually come in a high-quality DIY kit form. The log cabin kits come in a variety of wall thickness, ranging from 28mm to 45mm and are normally made from pre-cut, pre-notched, tongue and grooved kiln dried timbers for quick assembly. Shopping online is a good place to look for log cabins as they display a range of designs, provide details about each log cabin, and are often cheaper than garden centres or DIY stores.

Who is going to build your log cabin?

For some people, the idea of erecting their own log cabin is met with delight and enthusiasm, and it can be a rewarding and satisfying experience. Most log cabins only require quality basic tools, for example: a drill, hammer, screwdrivers, and a level and good log cabins come with detailed building instructions to guide you all the way. For other people, the idea of erecting their own log cabin is, well, abhorrent! The best option would be to find a local builder, or the log cabin company could recommend one for you.

Once your log cabin is built, the only problem you’ll have are your relatives fighting over who is going to stay in it!

When Christmas has been and gone, instead of leaving your log cabin empty, collecting spider webs and dust, it could earn you money as bed and breakfast accommodation. Who could resist staying overnight in a rustic yet modern accommodation? And tax-wise, a B&B can prove to be very beneficial as a home based business. However, before you start, you should check with your local planning authority, as you’ll be changing your home from residential to business. If you think a B&B would be too much work, you could rent it out to a lodger, so you would have a steady income every week/month. If you own freehold property, you will need to inform your insurers about a lodger, and if you have a mortgage, you may need permission from your mortgage lender.

Log cabins may not be what most people would choose as a Christmas present, but there aren’t many gifts that provide additional space for the home, and a way to earn extra income.

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Log Cabin House Plans - 5 Tips for Creating Your Log Cabin Floor Plans

February 11, 2008 – 12:17 am

Log cabin house plans will be used to build a rustic cabin made of wood logs or log-like materials. Log cabin house plans can be simple four-corner structures that remind us of the old shelters of long ago or the log cabin floor plans can be used to build a modern sophisticated structure.

When one thinks of living in a cabin, images of the crackling fireplace combined with your favorite beverage and great conversation with family or friends come to mind. Today, log cabin floor plans can be well-built, economical plans that allow you to build your own small home from the plan that you have purchased. Log cabins come in a variety of designs, sizes and intended uses. Often used as small vacation homes, they can be comfortable rustic cottages that blend harmoniously with the woods, mountains, near a stream or anywhere that peace and tranquility are the rule.

Here are five tips for having those log cabin house plans that will provide you that dream:

1 - Create Your List of Needs and Wants - your needs are items that you must have to function every day while wants are the items that are not required every day but would be considered luxury items. When you add in the extra costs of the various wants to your log cabin floor plans, you may discover that having less provides you more enjoyment for your home.

2 - Consider a 4-Corner Cabin House - if your budget is tight, a structure with four corners and simple roof system will be the least expensive one to build from your log cabin house plans. Each additional corner adds to the finished cost as do hips and valleys in the roof. The trade-off for simplicity in the design of your log cabin floor plans may provide you a larger home for the same price.

3 - Use a Pier System Foundation - check your local building code or with a local builder to see if your site allows the use of a pier foundation. This foundation will cost significantly less than a more expensive crawl space, slab or stone foundation. The finish of the foundation is not a major visual element once the landscaping has been completed.

4 - Be Careful Choosing Your Design Based on the Cheapest Price - the cheapest bid may not be your best option. When you are evaluating overall bids, if you decide based only on the amount of the bid, you may be in for a surprise later. You will want to be sure that if you are going to have a contractor build your log cabin house plans for you, that he or she has sufficient experience in the kind of work they will be doing for you. A professional contract can be somewhat lengthy if it covers the important obligations of you and the builder. You will want your attorney to review the contract to be sure it is fair to both parties. Do not sign a contract that has too much left out or if it is too one-sided, favoring the builder.

5 - Use In-Stock Plans - custom log cabin house plans created from the beginning cost considerably more than stock plans. Find stock plans that you like. If you need to make changes to stock plans, it is much more cost-effective to modify existing log cabin floor plans to fit your needs and design. Also, be aware of the materials to be used in your construction. Choosing standard in-stock building materials like window and door sizes, trims, fireplace and cabinets in the kitchen and baths will save considerably over the costs of custom sizes.

If possible, visit local log home builder shows. You can talk with log builders, see their floor plan designs, talk with other persons interested in building and learn more about the building process. Go online and purchase log cabin house plans books and magazines. Search for plans on the online plan services websites using the criteria needed for your project. As you search online for great plans, keep a notebook of your ideas when you see features in plans that you would like to have in your home.

And finally, relax and have fun! Make the planning stage an enjoyable educational experience as you organize your ideas. No matter whether you are just starting to organize your thoughts or are well along in your log cabin house plans design, learn as much as you can about creating your own log cabin floor plans design that will give you, your family and friends much enjoyment and pleasure for many years to come.

Copyright 2007 InfoSearch Publishing

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Log Cabin Homes - Internalize The Outdoors Beauty

February 11, 2008 – 12:14 am

Those of us who work in large cities often wish to get away from the maddening crowd and spend some time in a peaceful location (those of you who have never felt like this…should stop reading this article and get back to work!) where you can feel the arms of nature. This wish has been converted to log cabin home weekends for many city dwellers. These weekends spent at log cabins can really help rejuvenate people and give them space and peace of mind as well as energy to face few more hectic weeks in their regular lives.

You can spend the weekend at log cabin homes, either on your own or take down a group with you who are also looking for a relaxed weekend. Most log cabins are in secluded hilly area and you can be sure of excellent weather except when it is snowing. A bit of preparedness when going to the log cabins goes a long way in letting you have fun. Be sure to carry all necessities and lots of food and drink when heading towards the log cabin. Since you are going to be a long way from any convenience store it is always advisable to be well prepared.

Some log cabin homes are built near small water bodies which are quite clean and preserved naturally. These small lakes (and sometimes there are big lakes as well) are good for fishing and even having a dip. Usually you can find some or the other type of activity to entertain you while you are on your relaxing weekend stay at the log cabin.

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Log Cabin Kits - Becoming One With Nature

February 11, 2008 – 12:14 am

Did you know that you could put together a log cabin from a log cabin kits? A quick search on the internet will provide you with a range of companies which specialize in this particular product feature. Apart from buying a log cabin kit, you can also purchase tempered lumber from lumber companies and put together the plan of a log cabin. Some of the typical log cabins have a very simple layout. However, if your family decides to live in a log cabin, you would need to plan it out a bit more in detail.

Log cabins came into America from various parts of Europe way back in the 17th century and the method of log construction was also bought in by the immigrants who came looking for work in the mines etc. Today log cabins have gone through a metamorphosis and some of the typical log cabins are the Swedish Cope, The round log based chink style or the broad axe hewn log style. These three are the methods of building the log cabins and it is obvious the final look of the log cabin will vary from each other.

Log cabin kits have some typical interiors as well as the dark woody colors, earthy and slight rough on the edge finishes and simple furniture. Screened in porches is a very common feature of a log cabin. Apart from the décor, the bric-a-brats inside the log cabin will be simple day to day life items which would have a place of importance. Last but not the least, the lighting in the log cabin would be usually from a classical bulb oriented fitting which would bring with it an old world charm which is very difficult to replicate in the modern steel and glass world.

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Log Cabin Plans - Bringing Out The Bear In You

February 11, 2008 – 12:13 am

Log cabins are generally low-maintenance houses since they are located in far out places and it is obviously not easy to get maintenance staff or equipment there. Log cabin plans tell the whole story. Most of the building material including the floor textures used in a log cabin requires very basic maintenance and it looks as good as new. The exterior of a log cabin has to face the nature’s wrath and thus is very simple to maintain.

However, some people might like to keep the interiors of the log cabin in a very good condition and might use professional maintenance and restoration services. These services provide detailed maintenance services for the log cabin and do not come cheap. Some of the steps of maintenance for a log cabin include staining of the interior and exterior wood, chinking repair and replacement, borate treatment to safeguard against pests, stay dry, chemical strip and cob blasting. Deck cleaning and sealing are also important since that is where most of the time of the log cabin residents is spent.

Log cabin plans should include inspection of the entire log cabin along with finishing of rough edges is part of the maintenance procedure. If you are a log cabin owner and rent it out on frequent occasions to holiday-makers then good maintenance will go a long way to fetch you an attractive rental income. Apart from that, the overall value of log cabins tends to be higher if they are well maintained and clean. A quick search online will provide you with details of a number of agencies who deal in maintenance services for log cabins. It is advisable that you narrow down your selection to a few companies in the region where your log cabin is situated and take comparative quotes for them for the maintenance requirement and then make a decision.

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Log Cabin Houses - A Dream In The Woods

February 11, 2008 – 12:12 am

Once upon a time, log cabin houses were meant to be a home for people who worked near mines, or went hunting or stayed at the edge of the forest for similar activities. Today log cabins have become more of a holiday spot especially for those who love nature. Since most log cabins are situated near forests or near large green tracts of land, they afford a very good natural surrounding. Log cabin Houses are also made of natural material and exude a rustic air which itself is mostly appreciated by people who are very close to nature.

Staying at the log cabin house can make you feel very close to nature not only because of the wood finish of the house but because of the chirping of the birds, the cool wind which blows outside as well as the smell of the earth. You are definitely not going to find these things anywhere in the center of Manhattan. Many of us may not even know it, but we have a strong bond with nature. If you like, you can choose from a log cabin house situated either at the edge of the mountains or close to a water body.

The log cabin houses situated in the mountains are specially a perfect place for the nature lover. Not only is the view perfect and soothing to the eye it also provides an instant recharge to the body and soul. It has been scientifically proven that the color green is a perfect recharge to stressed eyes and mountain air can clear up the dust and grime which you might come across in the daily city life. So if you are a nature lover and need to get a really excellent weekend holiday, just head to the log cabin houses and let mother nature take over the rest.

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