Factors to Consider When Building a Log Home
By Richard Wilkinson
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Building a new home is like buying new clothes - the style and design must fit our particular tastes and be tailored to fit appropriately. As with any other purchase you will undoubtedly shop around several other log home manufacturers. When comparing other companies, you should consider several important items: the species of wood and the method it is dried, the size of log, the structural integrity, blueprint capabilities, how the material is delivered and the method of the construction.
Of utmost importance is what items are included in the manufacturers materials package. Such things as doors (exterior & interior), windows, finishing and flooring materials may or may not be part of the manufacturers standard package. Do they offer labor to dry-in the package and is this labor performed by licensed professionals who are trained in log home construction? What actual labor is included in the dry-in? In addition to the package, what other materials are needed for the dry-in? Does the manufacturer provide a detailed listing of the materials in the package? These are just a few questions you will want to be sure of when purchasing a new log home.
Another important decision is the size and design of your home. Can the manufacturer provide you with a custom design service enabling you to design the home that best suits your needs? The best way to do this is to make an appointment and visit a display model and go over the details with a qualified company representative.
Quality in workmanship is also very important. One of the best ways to determine quality is to see the actual product under construction or in the completed stage. Attend tours and open houses and talk with the actual homeowners about their log home experience.
We invite you to stop by and discuss any and all of these questions and let us show you why we feel an Honest Abe Log Home is by far the "Best" value in the industry. For 19 years we have taken pride in the material quality and sound construction of our homes and we are certain we can build the home you've always dreamed of. Please feel free to stop by our display models conveniently located off I-40, Exit 320 in Crossville, TN. Your questions and concerns are also welcome at our e-mail address:
honestabecross@multipro.com
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How Much Does A Log Home Cost?
By Rob Clutter,
Manager, Murfreesboro Division
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The question I am most frequently asked is, "How much does a log home cost?" This is a very good question as most people have a budget in their minds as they begin to plan their new homes. However, answering this question is not quite that easy.
There are many, many variables involved in building a home...site, style, size, and most important, amenities. All are factors in arriving at a total cost for your home. Your building site can have a great impact of total costs. If the chosen site is difficult to access or very steep, some house styles to fit this site choice will be more expensive to build than others. Also, the list of items available to complete your home are innumerable.
For example, I have seen cabinets that cost $2,500 and I have seen cabinets that cost up to $30,000...and everything in between. This is quite a big difference and this is not only for cabinets, but for each and every item that goes into your home.
Another factor to consider when building is how much of the construction could the homeowner finish themselves. Many customers who purchase an Honest Abe Log Home choose to do some or a lot of the finish work themselves. This choice, obviously, can greatly affect the final cost of the home.
So, this still leaves us with the original question, "How much do log homes cost?" In my many years of working with individuals, contractors and, having built my own log home, I have found that the cost is about the same as a conventional brick home, assuming that all amenities are identical.
Log homes, by their nature, tend to have certain items that their conventional brick and siding counterparts do not necessarily have. For example, a log home will typically have some hardwood flooring, porches, fireplaces and wood ceilings, among other things. These items are normally options for conventional housing, but things that we, as log home owners, expect. Sometimes these features are the main reason we wanted a home to begin with.
We, as log home owners, do not want to be "conventional" and just like everyone else, each home we build is different, a reflection of the owner and their lifestyle.
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Custom Design Services Provided by
Honest Abe Log Homes
By Fred Kendall
Design, Department Supervisor
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One of the many services offered by Honest Abe is our custom design service. With our experienced staff of design personnel, you can be assured of a plan that will incorporate your own personal needs and preferences.
With our catalog of 40 standard models, you have a wide variety of sizes and styles from which to choose. We can build our models as shown in the catalog or they can be modified to suit your needs. We can assist you in designing the best possible plan for you and your family.
All plans are drawn using some of the best and most advanced computer equipment and software on the market today. Constant updates are made to increase speed and efficiency in providing an informative and accurate set of custom plans.
Our new Construction Guide, along with custom blueprints designed especially for your home, are provided to make you or your contractor's building experience a much more pleasurable one. Many customers choose to build their own homes and ultimately fulfill a life long dream. That's why Honest Abe has designed our Construction Guide to be as user friendly as possible.
In the first part of the Guide you will find a glossary of terms to familiarize yourself with the parts and terms used in constructing a log home. Various types of foundations and how they should be constructed for a log home are covered.
Step by step instructions are provided on how to erect the log walls. Information such as where to begin your first log course, where to caulk and how to fasten the logs together. Second floor construction details are also included along with several details on the roof system. Framed dormers, gable end framing and interior walls are shown in various details. There is a whole section on doors and windows explaining how to install and trim. Care and maintenance tips are also covered so that you can keep your home looking as good as the day it was built.
Blueprints should be utilized in conjunction with this guide, however, any details shown on your custom blueprints supersede details contained in the Construction Guide.
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Designing Your Dream Home
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Most of us have dreamed about owning that special place. A log home in just the right place. You know this place, the one that has that special feeling of warmth, peace, joy, and comfort. A place where family and friends gather and memories are made that last a lifetime.
One of the most important steps in making this special place come true is to take the time to design. There are several things that you should consider in designing your dream home. What type home will meet your needs? How many of your wants will your budget allow? Start by making a list.
- What do you like or dislike about your present home?
- Study your high use areas and plan for convenience.
- Will a one story or two story home be best for you?
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
- Design your home around a budget.
Creating your house plans can be fun but it can also be very challenging. There are a number of ways that can be used to develop your plans. Some start with a standard plan and modify it to meet their needs, while others are very creative and draw there own plans. Homes are some times designed around a look of the exterior of the home. Others are designed from the interior, with less attention to the out side appearance. Any of these approaches will work and regardless of which direction you choose these tips will help organize your effort.
- Look at different magazines and cut out pictures that show what you like.
- Get copies of standard plans from log home companies and keep the ones that fit your requirements.
- Visit with log home companies and ask for suggestions from their representative.
- Visit log home models and with people that own log homes.
Keep all your pictures, plans, suggestions, and ideals organized in a folder or note book. Take this with you when visiting builders and contractors and you will be able to show them exactly what you want.
Each Room Needs Consideration
Kitchen
- A triangle work space saves you steps
- Islands work well with L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens and provide multiple purpose areas
- Plan storage area to accommodate your cooking style
- Will you need a pantry?
Bedrooms
- Do you want large bedrooms with sitting areas or smaller ones to save room for the living areas?
- Will your bedrooms be grouped together or will the master bedroom be away from the others?
- Will your bedrooms need individual bathrooms?
- Closets make good sound barriers when used between bedrooms
- Plan flexibility into children rooms to allow for changes as they grow
Bathrooms
- Do you prefer a large bath or will a smaller one fit your needs?
- Put baths back to back to save money
- In two story homes, stack baths to make it easier to plumb
- Will your linen closets be located in the bathroom or in common location?
- Plan adequate space for tubs, showers, or whirlpools
Closets, Storage, Laundry and Utility Areas
- For closets evaluate the need for each person. A minimum space is 6' per person.
- Plan storage space for lawn and garden equipment
- Plan storage space for recreational equipment
- Will you need garage area?
Porches and Decks
- Does your family enjoy being outdoors?
- Would a porch or deck be needed for an entertainment area?
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Great Care Equals High Quality
By Jackie Cherry
Vice President, Manufacturing Operations
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Our manufacturing plant is located in Moss, Tennessee. We take a lot of pride in our plant to produce high quality log home packages. We have some of the newest machinery available to obtain accurate and precise timbers. Our most recent purchase became operational the first of June. Our state-of-the-art P45 Weinig planer is computerized allowing us more flexibility and has minimized set-up time improving plant production. With this new planer, we also have the capabilities to make blades and sharpen older blades giving us more control over maintenance.
We use eastern white pine logs because we have found this to be the best material for log walls. It is not as likely to twist and check as other species. Honest Abe purchases logs from East Tennessee, North Georgia, North Carolina, New York Maine, Virginia and Kentucky. We buy a large amount of these logs and inventory them on our yard on concrete pads for maximum protection. We have enough logs for 50 to 100 homes at any given time on our yard, drying and ready to be run through the manufacturing plant. We also have a large dry kiln to maximize the drying process. These timbers are stored under sheds until they are chosen for the manufacturing process.
Care is taken with each log and timber as it passes through our system. Each piece is graded to national standards, and monitored by an independent company to make sure we do not make mistakes.
Once a log package is manufactured, we bundle the logs, beams and timbers on skids. The bundle is wrapped for protection during shipment and afterwards at your job site. It is very important to keep the materials off the ground at the job site.
You can see that a lot of thought and effort goes into the manufacturing process and we are always looking for ways to improve. We strive to maintain the highest standards through each step.
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Honest Abe Log Homes - Services
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Design Service
Whether you choose one of our more than forty standard models or a picture in your imagination, our experienced design staff can transform your dreams into reality. With state-of-the-art electronic tools, our in-house engineering and architectural capabilities allow us to provide you with blueprints for any home design you select.
We can provide you with a standard set of blueprints, a full working set of blueprints or, if you desire, a full set of custom plans.
Construction Services
Complete Dry-in Service
For those with little time or who prefer the expertise of an experienced team, our professional crew, using materials provided by Honest Abe, is available to build your weather-tight shell on your prepared foundation.
For locations within our zone, we provide labor for:
- Subfloor
- Log or Timber Frame walls
- Complete roof system through felt paper
- Gable ends
- Door and window installation
- Complete porch system
- Interior stud walls
Many of our dealer/builders provide labor services in their locations.
Package Erection Service
For those who want help in erecting their package, yet do not want to take advantage of complete dry-in, this service provides complete flexibility. A professional crew will erect the whole package or only portions of it, giving you complete control in working with contractors or doing some of it yourself. Our prices are competitive, and our quality is assured.
Do it Yourself
"Doing It Yourself" is the tradition from which Honest Abe Log Homes grew. With detailed blueprints, our pre-cut packages are numbered for door and window openings according to your plan. If needed, a technical representative will work with you on-site for a minimum of five hours to help you get started.
Delivery
We will ship your package directly to your home site on trucks over 60' long. Within certain distances of our Moss, TN plant, our piggy back forklift is available to offload your materials at no extra charge. (Beyond that, you'll need to arrange for a forklift).
Depending upon our production schedule, your home will usually be delivered within four to six weeks from the time you order. However, to ensure timely delivery, we urge you to order as soon in advance as possible.
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Maintenance of Honest Abe Log Homes
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Introduction
The following guidelines and suggestions for maintenance of an Honest Abe Log Home are important because of the large investment in each new home. We realize this is in most cases the largest single investment made by most families. We want your log home to increase in value with each passing year. A proper maintenance program is therefore necessary. Contrary to popular belief a log home is not entirely maintenance free. No home is, if you want it to last and increase in value year after year. By following these suggested general guidelines and the specific or individual requirements your building site dictates, your log home will maintain its performance and beauty year after year.
Site Preparation
Proper site preparation is just as important to maintaining your log home as log preservation. Water must drain away from the structure. Backfill must be kept low enough to prevent rain splashing onto the logs (splash zone requirements). When landscaping your site do not place shrubs in contact with the logs nor should mulch, bark, etc. be in contact with the wood timbers. Termite treatment of the soil should be done by professionals and a termite shield should be used atop the foundation. Properly seal the outside of basement walls before backfilling to prevent moisture seepage inside.
Log Preservation
One should never leave the logs unprotected. Good wood preservation is necessary for protecting and maintaining the beauty of your home. Use a high quality wood preservative that will give you the look you are after.
Choose a wood preservative that will leave the logs their natural color if you want a natural look, or choose a wood stain preservative to color the logs the shade you desire. Regional climate conditions vary so much that you should check with code officials or local stain companies and follow their recommendations. Follow the recommendations and instructions given by each company in applying the preservation. Retreat the logs as recommended or more often depending upon the degree of weathering. South facing walls may require retreating sooner than the other walls.
Window and Door Treatment
Proper installation and maintenance of the door and window units will guarantee you long lasting and good performance from your doors and windows. The units must be installed square and plumb in order to operate properly. They must be painted if wood units are used. A drip cap must be installed atop the exterior frame casing to seal out rain water. Caulking should be applied around each door and window unit to properly seal air and moisture infiltration. The space around the rough frame and the finished units must be insulated before attaching the finish trim. This will seal out air infiltration around the unit.
Chinking
Chinking refers to the mixture applied between the logs. Today's chinking material is flexible and bonds to the logs. It remains pliable and moves with the logs as they expand, contract and shrink. It looks like the traditional mortar, but does not require the maintenance that mortar chinking requires. However, a proper maintenance program should include regular visual inspection of the chinking joints. If the chinking to log bond is broken anywhere, it should be repaired. Simply apply new chinking and texture the finish similar to the existing chinking finish.
Caulk
Use a high quality caulk that will bond to wood and withstand the log movement. Certain high quality acrylic and urethane caulks are acceptable. Butyl caulks and oil base caulks are not recommended because they will not stretch to accommodate movement. Silicone caulks will not bond sufficiently to wood and are not recommended. Certain places should be caulked and are covered in more detail in other sections of these guidelines. These places are as follows: (1) All log butt joints, (2) Around all door and window units, (3) Splits and checks that slope upward and trap water, (4) And around the log corner intersections. Include in the maintenance program a regular visual inspection of the home checking for places that require caulk.
Checks and Splits
The logs will check and split as they dry. These generally do not affect the home in any way. One should periodically inspect the log walls to insure that no cracks are retaining water. Those that are should be treated with wood preservatives and carefully filled with caulking. Watch for any upward facing crack or crevice that could trap water.
Moisture Control
The use of good construction principles and proper site preparation combined with a maintenance program protects your home. A well constructed and maintained home is far less susceptible to moisture and water damage. Following are some suggestions to include in a good construction and maintenance program to protect your home. Use wide roof overhangs, flashing, gutter and downspouts to keep the logs dry. As the home weathers, watch for water streaks or tracks that would indicate water is being diverted from the roof or other sources. Check corners, roof intersections, windows, deck intersections, dormers and other areas for improperly installed flashing. Check around the exterior of chimneys to see that the caulking and chinking is secure. Check each chinking joint for breaks in the bond to the logs. Watch for mud splash on the lower logs. Lower the backfill elevation if this is detected. Never allow shrubbery or vines to touch the home and keep moisture in contact with the logs.
Weathering
Occasionally logs on certain sides of the home weather or change color faster than the logs on other sides. This is usually dependent upon the severity of exposure to sun and rain. Usually this means that a mold or mildew has formed on the logs. To remove the surface mold and mildew and restore the logs to their original beauty wash the logs with a solution of household bleach and water. This will not protect against future attacks. The logs must be properly treated with wood preservatives that guard against this.
Log Movement
A visual inspection of the home should be made regularly to check for areas where log movement occurs. During the first couple of years log movement is greater because the logs are drying. The use of kiln dried logs helps in this area. The logs will continue to expand and contract with the change in seasons. Include in the maintenance program a visual inspection to watch for separations caused by log movement. Reseal with caulking and chinking if necessary.
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Factors to Consider When Building a Log Home