Floor plans?

[rickwaldo]

So, my wife is on board with the log home idea and wants and open floor plan, I agree.
Though she wants a spiral stair case and I'm not so sure I want a second story.
Any way, I was wondering if you guys who built log homes could post some floor plan ideas?
And maybe some pros. And cons. Of single and two level homes.
Thanks.

[Plumb Level]

Welcome Rick. And where is Waldo, by the way? Where you building?

First - you can't have a stairway to nowhere.....she is going to win this, so start planning your 2nd story. :p

Most of us build exactly square. Our roofs are rectangular, extending further out over the front and back than on the sides....so that really works to temper that "square box" look. The reason we build square is that you get the most sf for the lf of the logs. All of the logs needed are the same size and length (except for a few specialty logs). This helps you deal with the taper of the logs because they should all be relatively close to each other. I said most are square but there are many that are not. Several rectangles, and then there are a few with square or nearly square boxes attached to each other. You can do whatever you want.

The beauty of a log home open plan is that the load bearing walls are all on the perimeter, and most plans require only 1 vertical log near the middle of the structure. Some would require 2 verticals going up to support the roof's ridge pole. For the loft, there are usually a couple of girders running across at anywhere from 7.5 - 9 feet high. You build your 2nd floor on top of those. From there, you can do about anything you want.

You've found a great place to learn about building your own log home. If you take the class, there are plans available for purchase (not just floor plans, but detailed construction plans).

I'm building a 25x25 weekend getaway/hunting cabin. With my plan, I'm stacking all of the bathrooms on top of each other in the back corner. One full in basement, another on the main floor, then a future 1/2 bath in the loft. On the main floor, my kitchen and it's plumbing is right on the other side of the partition wall for the bath. So I'll have one wet wall making the plumbing a lot easier. Quite a bit of my electrical needs are going to run up thru that wall as well.

There are a lot of great threads on this site for you to read on the public side of the forums. If you take the class, the amount of information available on the members side is amazing.

[rickwaldo]

Well, I plan to retire in northern ca (Mt Shasta vicinity), but that's about 10 years off.
I don't yet Have a piece of land, just trying to get some ideas.
Hopefully, next year I'll be able to take the class

[loghousenut]

RW, If you build in Shasta or Siskiyou county you will need a permit. That means engineered plans. I did it and it has worked out fine for me. Don't put too much into it til after class as your thoughts and notions will all change after class.

You'll like building square and your second floor will most likely cove 1/2 of your footprint, unless you have a bunch of kids to house. That open floor plan idea will fit right in if you build LHBA style. You could have no interior walls at all if that's what you want.

I'm not good at posting drawings and if you draw my place it'll mean more to you. Get out a pencil. Draw a 36'x36' square. Put a line down the center.

Everything to the left of that line is living/dining room and open to the roof.

Everything to the right of the line has a second story loft.

Lower-right corner (bottom story) is 12'x17' kitchen with a pantry and a 1/2 bath.

Upper-right is a 17'x13' master bedroom.

Between the kitchen and the master bedroom is a big ole master bathroom and a modest laundry room.

The upstairs loft will be open for us but the plans were set up for a bedroom over the kitchen, and a bedroom over the master bedroom, and a bathroom over the master bathroom.

There is a number of ways to do stairs for this plan, including spiral, but ours start at the entrance to the kitchen and go up to a landing over the master bedroom.

If you google "house plans" you'll be inundated by multi-cornered monsters that are a nightmare for simple folks like you and me. Some of the "cabin plan" sites have a few good ideas, but you'll never look at them after you go to class. A good test of a simple square log home plan is to look at where the plumbing is. If all the plumbing for the kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms is on one wall (or two adjoining walls), you are on the right track for a plan that will save you a ton of headaches and a few extra dollars in the next few years. Don't think too much about doors and windows. If you build LHBA style you will be changing your minds about them once the roof is on and you are able to stand inside and really see what you want. LHBA has a very flexible nature to it if you follow 4 or 5 simple rules. After class you will want to do it this way and you'll know why. Let the process happen. You'll fit right in.

[rickwaldo]

Oh, does this mean I'll be hiring an architect to draw up some plans that I'll have to submit to the county (for a small fee) for approval?
I can just feel the money flying out of my wallet :eek:

[loghousenut]

The money will fling out as fast as you can afford it and it'll all be worthwhile in the end. We hired an architect to draw up plans that were very similar to LHBA plans. We was NUTS! Woulda been so much cheaper and easier to buy the LHBA 35x35 and just fudge a wall or three as we were framing the bottom floor.

You know, this whole notion of building your own log home with your own hands can get kinda complicated. It is so complicated that most folks wait til they are they think they can afford it and then they take out a mortgage so they can pay someone else to build a place that will start falling apart long before they are 10 years into the note.


OR



You could really build your own place with your own hands, out of real trees, without a 30 year bank loan, and leave a legacy for your grandkids that will still be stout and solid when Ellsworth and Steve are simply the remembered stuff of legends (inside joke).

You will be able to afford it. It'll take longer than you thought it would, it'll cost more than you expected, and you'll be ssoooooooooo glad you did it... At least that's how it's working out for me and mine.

[Sasquatch]

Hi Rick,

I am trying to get started on a build in Shasta County. My plans are currently being worked on by a local engineer. As it turns out, my biggest challenge seems to be finding an engineer that didn't want to totally re-invent how these homes are built and didn't cost a fortune. Oddly enough, he now lives and works in Oregon, but is still licensed in CA and has an office in Red Bluff.

As for the counties, there is nothing "small" about the fees here in Shasta. My research suggests that Siskiyou is a bit more reasonable. But, to validate your fears, I suggest you plan on parting with some real money. Aside from my roof, I am certain that permits & engineering will be my biggest expense.

You may find it more economical to buy the stock plans and make mods from there. That seems to be saving me ~$2K, give or take.

[rickwaldo]

Am I to understand LHBA already has plans that are suitable to submit to county building departments?
I was being sarcastic when I said "small fee"
And I know it'll all be worth it in the end.

[StressMan79]

Yeah, LHBA has plans, engineered by Richard Rock, but he's not licensed in CA. You might buy the stock plans (that come with the auto-cad files) have your architect look them over, make any changes you want and he recommends, print out and give em (and a pile of money) to the county.

[StressMan79]

Yeah, LHBA has plans, engineered by Richard Rock, but he's not licensed in CA. You might buy the stock plans (that come with the auto-cad files) have your architect look them over, make any changes you want and he recommends, print out and give em (and a pile of money) to the county.

[Ken Guzman]

I'm from cali, and I would never build there. Yes, the mountains are beautiful, but it is a bastion of over regulated communism. Why deal with all that, when you can come to Oklahoma and build what you want just about anywhere you want. I'm building a small hunting cabin, and you know how much I paid in permits, licenses, fees, and inspections? $0.00
Mmmmm, freedom and sawdust smells so good.

[BoFuller]

Ken, I agree with your assessment of CA, and so we moved to AZ. Unfortunately too many other people did to, including building dept. people. My fees totaled around $6K, plus the a Engineer fees to stamp plans. It's spreading. Glad you can build before it gets to your State.

[rickwaldo]

I might consider Wyoming, Utah, Montanna, Idaho, Colorado. Northern New Mexico or northern Arizona Oklahoma just sounds too flat for my liking.
But you are right, we are way over regulated here, having our rights stolen from us and sold back to us in the form of permits and fees.
Maybe Jefferson will win statehood by the time I get in gear ;)

[Plumb Level]

If you are rural, Missouri is great for staying out of your hair. But I wouldn't know since I don't have any hair.

[JSmith]

Another that agrees that Cali. over regulates EVERYTHING. If looking elsewhere, Northern Idaho has mountains that will match or rival northern Cali. Building permits are fair to non-existant in most counties as well.

[Ken Guzman]

Rick, I would strongly urge you to research Oklahoma. Most of the state is far from flat.

[Septemberwheat]

I'd stay away from California, too.

[edkemper]

I'd stay away from California, too.

60 years experience and history in CA. Have held two professional licenses in CA. Ditto the above.

[gkingfisher]

We bought land in Humboldt County for our build. Our land in an "Alernative Owner-Builder" permit area. Seems to be pretty minimal BS. Need 50gals water storage, 2000gals for fire fighting, solar or wood heat, composting toilet, sketch for building plan, there are requirements for bedroom egress.

[LowKey]

Has anyone suggested that you move your idea a hundred miles or so north? ;)

[rocklock]

So, my wife is on board with the log home idea and wants and open floor plan.
Though she wants a spiral stair case and I'm not so sure I want a second story.
Any way, I was wondering if you guys who built log homes could post some floor plan ideas?
And maybe some pros. And cons. Of single and two level homes.


Single floor log homes are unusual and one with a spiral stair case would REALLY unusual!

I built a two story with a walk out basement... ie, three stories, 31 by 31 by 35 high. A cube.

We wanted an open floor plan. my two top stories only have walls around the bathrooms. Next to the kitchen there is also a thin pantry. The basement, 1/2 is my shop, 1/4 the utility and store room and a guest bedroom. I have a great room where you can walk in the front door and see up to the very top of my ridge pole, about 25 feet, you can see 3/4 of the first floor (about 700 sq-ft) - kitchen - living room and my office-guest bedroom. The second floor is 1/3 my wife's sewing - quilting room, 1/3 bath room and 1/3 bedroom.

I built an open plan because I hate doors and walls... We have no children at home...

If your land is sloped, a walk out basement is almost required.

About spiral stair cases, I built a second floor about 18 inches higher than usual. This requires 17 steps which makes the spiral stair case almost impossible... also, my county requires approval of the location of the spiral stair case before construction...