Hi all! I came across an article on the internet about log homes and somehow found my way to the LHBA website about a week ago. I've just been enjoying reading nearly every article and forum post that I can (on page 17 of the forums currently!). I proposed the idea of building our own log cabin to my fiancee after we get married (wedding is May 2016) and she loved the idea instantly which was just great. Her reaction couldn't have been better. We plan on taking the first class that is available to us after we are married (she's finishing school and we live apart so the February 2016 class just isn't feasible).
My question is about constructing one of these log cabins in the Phoenix, AZ area, more specifically it would be in the east valley near Mesa, Apache Junction, Gilbert, etc. for anyone who is familiar with the area. If you don't know, this area of Arizona typically sees temps of 100+ (sometimes 110+ in the Summer) from about mid May to mid September. The start and end date of the heat varies but June through August you are pretty much guaranteed 100 degrees. I wanted to find the opinions of the many experts on this forum.
Just a few of my questions:
Would the heat affect the logs in any way?
What about cooling the house in the Summer? Do you think it'd be more difficult or easier than a traditional stick built home? I recently came across a topic in my reading of the forums that suggested this website's method http://www.mb-soft.com/solar/intake.html Thoughts on this?
Have you heard of anyone else building in the Phoenix area or a hot desert climate before? I had found only one other topic about building on the west side of Phoenix in Tonopah but no resolution was ever posted in that topic and I figure it doesn't hurt to get another topic about building in the desert for other prospective builders.
Just as a quick background, but we want to build here as this is where my parents and 6 of my 8 siblings live, and another of them wants to move out here. The fiancee's family lives about 4.5 hours away in Southern California. I've been driving out to see here every 2-3 weeks for about a year now and so the drive to see her family isn't too bad and we've agreed for the time being to settle in this area after we're married.
Thank so much in advance for all your help! From my reading over the past week, I can tell that this is a great community with a wealth of knowledge and my fiancee and I can't wait to get married, take the class, buy our own land, and begin this process together!
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