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When Should You Finish The Wood For Your Log Home?... Before Or After It's Built?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:52:52 -0600

Some people prefer to stain the logs (or finish or the wood) before the log home is actually constructed. Others prefer to wait until after the entire building process has been done.

Why wait? Why not?

Is there a good reason to not finish the wood of a log home before all the pieces go together?

In general, it is faster, easier, and even less expensive to stain your log home before all the pieces are assembled.

Why? Because staining is far easier when you're working with easy-to-handle pieces on the ground.

Once your log home is finished, that 4x12 accent beam flying from just below your 12-foot ceiling is quite a bit harder to get to (even with a ladder!) than if it was simply a piece of lumber sitting safely on the ground.

Advantages to waiting until after your log home is constructed include:

You're giving the wood time to dry out and settle.

You're reducing the chance of "streaking" that some stains take on when the wood is finished before construction (and before the wood had a chance to eliminate its moisture content).

At any rate, staining or finishing the wood in your new log home will make logs look better, repel stains better, and withhold their color better.

Revealed: Log Homes Survive Fires Better Than Stick Frame Homes

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:52:40 -0600

Log homes are beautiful, rustic, and warm places to call home.

However, by nature of the fact they are constructed almost entirely out of wood, you may be wondering, are log homes fire hazards, too? Are they even more of a fire hazard than a traditional stick frame home?

Believe it or not, log homes are said to be even safer than a more-conventional stick frame home when it comes to withstanding natural disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes... and yes, even fires!

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Green Log Awards Recognize Green Products For Log Homes

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:02:33 -0600

And the award goes to... green buildings, green home products, and green builders!

The Green Log Awards go to companies which produce building products that do not harm or negatively impact Mother Nature.

The Green Log Awards are certainly a wonderful incentive for -- and great way to recognize -- companies which help people live safely and comfortably without destroying the Earth.

It may surprise you to learn just how destructive some aspects of building can be; chemicals and overuse of natural resources (lumber, for example) are 2 of the most harmful elements of home construction. In fact, the construction project itself can cause damage when stormwater and debris escape the construction site and invade virgin territory and endangered or sensitive environments.

Green Log products are definitely the way to go if you want to live comfortably in a log home and do your little bit toward preserving our one-and-only Planet Earth.

How To Build A Cheap Log Home

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:06:30 -0600

Did you know that you can actually build a log home without having to spend a lot of money?

One man built a log home for under $11,000! Yes, you read that correctly -- he built a log home for his family for under $11,000.

Of course, he had to take his time with the project, and it took quite a bit of work. His story is amazing, and it just may inspire you to try building a log home of your own the same way he did.

Building a log home is a wonderful project, but just be sure that before you build you plan carefully! You don't want to make any mistakes while building your log home!

Measure twice and cut once, and along the way be sure that you did not forget to include something in your log home that you will definitely want to have later on -- like a bedroom that is big enough for the king-size bed you might want to buy down the road or that second bathroom you just don't think you will be able to live without!

Is It Really This Easy To Build A Log Cabin?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:53:33 -0600

It may or may not be this simple, but there is a website that has broken down the process of building a log cabin vacation home to just 11 steps!

I don't know if you will find building a log cabin quite that easy, but it is true that many people build log cabins themselves all the time.

An important step in building a log cabin comes in knowing:

what you can afford
where you want to build

Once you decide on those 2 points, you can break out your logs, hammer, nails, doors, and windows, and start pounding away!

How To Finance Your Log Home

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:30:41 -0600

Financing a log home is not the same thing as financing a tract house in the suburbs. Log homes are a novel concept when placed in a neighborhood setting, thus making it hard for a lender to determine relative value.

Thankfully for those looking to finance a log home, there are an increasing number of lenders who specialize in log home mortgages, making the process of buying a log home easier than ever.

And as if financing a log home was not hard enough, many people find it even more difficult when the economy is sour. Still, despite the mortgage crisis, there are banks willing to lend money for log homes.

3 tips to consider when trying to finance your log home:

Have enough money for a down payment (20% or more)
Establishing a relationship with a log home-friendly bank
Have a list of banks willing to lend for log home construction

How Draw Schedules Affect The Financing Of Your Log Home

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:41:21 -0600

One of the biggest hang-ups in the process of finding a bank to finance our log home was the "draw schedule".

The draw schedule is that unique timeline that spells out exactly when the logs themselves will be paid for, when the next installment of payments will be doled out by the bank, etc.

For us, it sometimes became difficult getting the bank and the log home company to agree on when the actual money would exchange hands.

At one point, it became apparent that we were going to have to do some fancy footwork at the last minute in order to satisfy all parties involved (the log home company, the bank, and us).

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Are Skylight Windows A Good Investment? Don't They All Leak At Some Point?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:47:48 -0600

Everyone enjoys walking into (or working in) a kitchen that has good natural lighting.

The same is true when sitting in a cozy family room. The light of the sun seems to bring the outside in for a nice warm feeling.

Likewise, the drama of a morning sunbeam shining down into a grand foyer through a skylight placed high up to emphasize the curved stairway ascending to the next level also makes a great impression when guests enter your home.

Just the same, a couple of skylights strategically placed in bathrooms and master bedrooms seems to be all the rage these days -- both for added effect, and natural lighting.

Skylights provide up to 30% more natural light than vertical windows, and they can make a small space seem larger. Source

Ok, we've established that allowing extra light into your home is an aesthetically pleasing thing. But at what cost? Is there a downside to installing skylights on your roof?

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How To Feng Shui Your Home... Room By Room

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:43:43 -0600

Feng shui is a 3000 year old discipline that suggests ways to arrange various spaces so that the people living inside those spaces will prosper -- both healthwise and financially.

The great thing about feng shui is that it really works! How? It teaches you how to arrange everything in your home in such a way as to have a lovely energy flow that is positive rather than negative. The effects of that are priceless.

I've been using the principles of feng shui for years in my own home, and have seen drastic changes in the feel of my home when I stick to those principles.

Here's how to incorporate feng shui in the rooms of your home...

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Travertine Tile: The Pros & Cons Of Travertine Flooring, Countertops, And Backsplashes

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:40:13 -0600

Travertine is a type of limestone. It is also called calcium carbonate.

Travertine is created when minerals have dissolved in the ground water and then get moved by natural springs and rivers above ground. It is taken from quarries in large blocks and then cut down into smaller blocks.

It has been used for thousands of years in Italy and Turkey, and today Travertine used all over the world for flooring, countertops, backsplashes, and other surfaces where tile is preferred.

photo credit: mikeandanna

Travertine Colors & Styles

Travertine comes in a variety of colors from ivory, to beige, to reddish brown, and even gold -- depending on how much iron is present. It also comes in different finishes such as polished, matte, brushed, or tumbled.

Polished Travertine resembles marble, and brushed or tumbled Travertine has a more antiqued look.

Travertine is easier to cut and shape than many other stones, and because of this, it has become a favorite for many people, including home builders.

Following are some of the pro's and con's of using Travertine tile in your home...

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Lessons Learned: How To Buy Furniture At Retail Stores AND Get The Best Deal

Wed, 13 May 2009 11:46:42 -0600

There will come a time when you have to purchase new furniture.

Over time, sofas wear out beyond repair. And slipcovers cannot hold together a failing frame. Chairs will give way. And tables will be damaged beyond repair.

Sure, you could always buy used furniture on consignment, or find free furniture on sites such as freecycle. But sometimes, you just want new.

As difficult as it is to part with your money (especially in this economy), there are some ways that you can buy new furniture without breaking the bank.

Here are 7 furniture buying tips that I learned firsthand recently when I went furniture shopping...

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Reasons To Consider Log Siding On Your Home's Walls And For Other Projects Around The House

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:50:36 -0600

Log siding homes have been around for a long time, it's just that most people want the solid log wall system if they really like log homes.

Typically, log siding is a 1-inch material that is the same species of wood as your logs. That way, wherever you use the log siding, it matches perfectly with the logs.

The best part: log siding is not very expensive, especially when you consider that you can install it yourself!

Following are some tips for working with log siding, plus lots of fun ways to use log siding in other projects around the house...

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How To Clean & Care For A Copper Sink

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:20:38 -0600

Copper has been around since... well the Copper Ages. Around 4,000 BC, during the Eneolithic period, man first began making metal tools. Since those early times, uses for copper has continued to grow.

In the realm of household plumbing, copper pipe is highly desirable. For one, it doesn't react to water. Also, rust and corrosion are not an issue.

At room temperatures, exposure to oxygen creates a very slow chemical reaction leaving a brown/black deposit of copper oxide over the surface. Outdoor exposure will slowly allow a layer of copper carbonate to build up giving copper that nice mellow green layer.

In both cases, this isn't corrosion but rather a protective layer called patina. When it comes to antiques and other copper products like sinks and plumbing fixtures, patina is something that we try hard not to disturb or diminish.

In fact, here are formulas for adding patina to copper surfaces.

One thing's for sure, copper sinks have become very popular in households these days.

Here's what to look for and how to care for a copper sink...

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Color Options: Tips For Painting Or Staining Interior Log Walls Or The Exterior Of Your Log Home

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:41:56 -0600

I love idea of painting log walls. I really like color and am not afraid of putting it anywhere.

I have seen several log home companies displaying homes that have a painted exterior color.

For example, the pale green home with white trim that is pictured here is from Heritage Log Homes. Beautiful, don't you think? (Here are the plans.)

If you're thinking about painting interior log walls or the exterior of your log home, there are a few things to consider first...

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Bathroom Door Dilemmas... Pocket Doors To The Rescue!

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:08:56 -0600

The number and placement of bathroom doors is one thing that many people tend to overlook -- until it's too late.

Of course, it's also important to consider the actual style of doors used in a bathroom, for instance... pocket doors.

I've learned a few things about the style and placement of bathroom doors that might save you some headaches later on -- especially if you're able to address these things before you build.

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