Are you considering owning a log cabin home? If yes, then you should know that you may be making the right decision for several reasons including the fact that such structures are:
- Energy efficient
- Simple, natural, and beautiful
- Durable
- Healthier
- Customizable
- Sustainable
- Easier to construct quickly
- Affordable
- Very harsh weather-resistant
There are several other advantages besides the ones mentioned above. For more on this subject, you can visit: https://www.theoutdoorhacker.com/.
In the spirit of being thorough, it is worth mentioning that these structures also have their downsides. Knowing essential features and design tips for erecting them ensures that the benefits are enjoyed and downsides avoided, as much as possible. For this purpose, read on as some crucial log cabin home features and design tips will be discussed here.
Things to Consider During the Construction of Log Cabin Homes
For the record, these structures are supposed to be constructed to suit clients’ preferences. However, there are still basics that have to be taken into consideration and they include the following:
Choose the Right Location
These structures are better suited for certain locations. However, adequate sunlight is high on the list of major considerations when choosing the right location. This is especially important for the sake of:
- Providing natural light
- Energy efficiency – Through natural heating and reduction in the need for artificial lighting
- Ventilation and improved air quality
The aforementioned is what sunlight would be mostly required for. That being said, sunlight can also prove crucial in power generation through solar power generation for such structures.
People who intend to have a garden or vegetative landscape would also need it. This is for the sake of photosynthesis – which is at the core of creating oxygen and energy, alongside carbon dioxide and water.
Besides choosing the right location, orientation is equally important. In simpler terms, this is about strategically positioning the structure to benefit optimally from sunlight. For example, the windows have to be positioned in directions where natural air and sunlight would get in.
Log Selection
Choosing quality eggs is central to making any egg recipe/dish. Similarly, the quality of a log cabin home largely depends on the quality of logs used during construction.
As a result, no stone should be left unturned in identifying and choosing the perfect fit(s). Choosing the right log(s) requires that you consider:
- Aesthetic appeal
- Structural integrity
- Pest-resistant features
- Durability
These are some of the most important considerations. So, make the right choice(s), especially by bearing them in mind.
Choose the Right Foundation
By and large, erecting an ideal log cabin home is about making the right choices. To this end, you also need to make the right choices regarding your foundation, which would require:
- Considering soil conditions
- Being aware of local building codes and adhering to them
- Being aware of your options
On the whole, options include full basement, concrete slab, Masonry/concrete block, pier & beam, post & pier, and helical piers/screw piles. You can click here for information on some of these and other options.
Insulation
You should sort out all things insulation right from the construction stages. Doing a good job at this saves you a lot of discomfort and unnecessary spending.
Speaking of unnecessary spending, operating costs are usually higher in homes that are not properly insulated. This is especially true as more needs to be done in heating such homes during the cold seasons.
For this reason, gaps between the logs used during construction have to be properly sealed. Doing a good job at this helps prevent moisture intrusion, as well as air leakage.
Furthermore, this also calls for the use of the right materials. For example, foam and fiberglass have been proven to be very useful for this reason. Frankly, this is one of the areas where the competence, experience, and commitment of log cabin home builders are put to the test.
So, the services of the right log cabin builder are also required. You can check https://www.mrhandcrafted.com/ for more information on this. This is not to say that the ability to properly handle insulation demands should be your only yardstick for choosing a builder as there are several other considerations. However, it is one of the most important considerations.
Off-Grid Installations
It makes a lot of sense to have a highly functional log cabin home. Having off-grid installations can go a very long way in ensuring this. In light of this, you can make plans for:
- Solar power
- Rainwater harvesting
- Greywater recycling
- Composting toilets
By the way, several other off-grid installations besides the above-listed may be considered. However, the aforementioned are some of the most common and highly functional ones.
Floor Plan
Of course, there are usually individual preferences in this area. Be that as it may, space optimization and seamless flow between rooms should be one of the major considerations. To this end, opting for an open floor concept usually makes a lot of sense for these structures.
This is especially because of how it ticks the right boxes in terms of space optimization and ensuring a seamless connection between rooms within the building. So, you may want to opt for the open floor plan, particularly for these reasons.
However, it is understandable that some people have issues with the open floor plan concept. More often than not, this is mainly because of privacy concerns. Such people can still make do with alternatives such as the use of:
- Multi-Functional Furniture
- Sliding/Pocket Doors
- Partial/Half Walls
- Transitional Spaces
- Architectural Features – Such as beams, arched openings, or columns
- Floors with varying elevation levels
All of the aforementioned are capable of offering some measure of privacy while still helping to optimize space and ensuring that rooms are functionally interconnected.
Conclusion
The decision to own a log cabin home makes a lot of sense because of the numerous advantages. However, certain features and essential design tips should guide the construction of these structures.
Fortunately, some of these design tips and essential features have been disclosed and discussed here. So, make sure to take notice of them going forward. Furthermore, it is also important that very qualified, experienced, and committed builders are trusted with the task of building these structures.
