Have questions on a log home purchase

[yorkies307]

There is a log home we have been in negotiations to purchase. But we ended in a stand still. Price was way over what that lake property would be. But we are back looking at it again but I have some questions my realtor can't answer. Its in Minnesota...how energy efficient is a log homes? Its 2400 sq feet with the walk out basement. Also there is one very main log in the center of the house with a deep crack running all the way down the side. Log is the beam running from one side of the house to the other side. Would that crack further? It was built by Pioneer log homes that does Timber Kings on HGTV. The logs are 24-36" around so huge...is that good or bad? What upkeep should I expect if we get this house? Thanks for any help. I want this one, my husband doesn't.

[loghousenut]

Please clarify. Are they 24"-36" around?, or diameter?

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[donjuedo]

Checks ("cracks" running with the grain) are generally not a problem, even long ones. A true crack going across the grain can be a structural failure waiting to happen. If you're seeing a check unusually long, it's probably good to have a pro look at it before committing to a purchase.

Large logs are good. Instead of insulation, they provide thermal mass, and log homes can be surprisingly easy to heat. I'd recommend visiting one or two more during the hot summer, too.


Peter

[rckclmbr428]

Energy efficiency and maintenance can vary widely based on design and construction. Each home is different. I'd suggest having a professional look at it and answer any questions you have before purchasing

[yorkies307]

Please clarify. Are they 24"-36" around?, or diameter?

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Isn't that the same thing? I guess diameter is the correct answer.

[yorkies307]

It has central air too so won't be a issue in the summer. In our area I'm guessing a "pro" would be hard to find. When the realtor was doing the comparisons she found 4 log homes in the area. Thats why I'm trying to research this before we go down the log house path again. Might call the builder and see what they say about that one with the long crack.

[donjuedo]

Isn't that the same thing? I guess diameter is the correct answer.

"Around" could normally mean like a belt around my waist (circumference).
A diameter would be measured at the end of the log, edge to edge, like a slash changing "O" to "CD". I hope my example makes sense.

[loghousenut]

The reason I asked if it was diameter or circumference was to get an idea how thick your walls are. Measuring 36" around the circumference of a log would mean that the diameter would be around 11".

An 11" diameter log will behave differently in the heat and cold that a 36" diameter log. For example, my logs average 20" diameter. Yesterday, the temperature in sunny southern Oregon was over 110 degrees outside but only 78 degrees inside. No AC, no heat pump, no ice delivery to cook it down. Simply thermal mass that tries to keep a constant temperature.

That's why we ask the size of your logs.



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[yorkies307]

The reason I asked if it was diameter or circumference was to get an idea how thick your walls are. Measuring 36" around the circumference of a log would mean that the diameter would be around 11".

An 11" diameter log will behave differently in the heat and cold that a 36" diameter log. For example, my logs average 20" diameter. Yesterday, the temperature in sunny southern Oregon was over 110 degrees outside but only 78 degrees inside. No AC, no heat pump, no ice delivery to cook it down. Simply thermal mass that tries to keep a constant temperature.

That's why we ask the size of your logs.

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I get it now! I'm a seamstress so we go by length and width. Its all the way around the logs. They are massive. I couldn't put my arms around most of them. The house is in Minnesota so the furnace will be on for 6 months of the year for sure. The owner never lived in the house during the winter months so there is no track record of cost to heat it. Our current house which is 2600 sq ft traditional house cost $75 a month to heat in the winter. I'm expecting more but wouldn't want to it to go in the $500 a month range to heat the house.

[Shark]

I want this one, my husband doesn't.

Might want to ensure both of you are on the same page....

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[Mosseyme]

I'm still not clear on the size. You say massive and you guess all the way around and you can barely reach around and 36" all those things don't go together. If yo are a seamstress I'm sure you have an eye for approximate measurements. In your head, look at the end of the log and tell us if it is about the width of a yard of fabric.

[rreidnauer]

Better still, pics please.

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[mudflap]

I get it now! I'm a seamstress so we go by length and width. Its all the way around the logs. They are massive. I couldn't put my arms around most of them. The house is in Minnesota so the furnace will be on for 6 months of the year for sure. The owner never lived in the house during the winter months so there is no track record of cost to heat it. Our current house which is 2600 sq ft traditional house cost $75 a month to heat in the winter. I'm expecting more but wouldn't want to it to go in the $500 a month range to heat the house.

I think I get it. my wife is a seamstress as well. She supervised the pick and placement of each log in our home. I had a neat spreadsheet with the diameters of the logs listed, but when she pointed to the first log she wanted to stack, she said, "It's 60 inches". I was like, "Wha??? I don't have any that big - 5' across - are you sure?" I went and took a look. We had a little argument, and she won when she pulled out her seamstress tape and measured the log for me, and we used her seamstress tape to measure the circumference of all our logs. Listening to her expert picks turned out great.

Anyway, I'll try to settle this:

a log with a circumference of 36" would actually *not* be difficult for most women to get their arms around:
https://i.postimg.cc/c4H0kndb/Capture.png

in LHBA terms, that's just an average - and probably on the smaller side of logs. Mine have a lot of taper (skinny at the top and fat at the bottom), so they vary from 28" diameter (88" circumference) to 12" diameter (37" circumference) . They average 17" diameter (53" circumference):

https://loghomejourney.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/20200407_183346.jpg

[mudflap]

also, figure an r-value of about 1.5 "r's" per inch. But r-values won't give you an idea on how much you'll pay in utilities - but it will almost always be cheaper in a log home, especially one where the logs are larger than 8" across (25" around) - which is considered "big" for most kit builders - your 36" logs will do just fine, I'd say.

[Mosseyme]

Ok I'll go along with all your numbers and that pi stuff. I'm about 5' 5 1/2" tall. When I do a rough measurement of fabric I stretch it between my fingers and my nose. If I turn my nose away from the fingers it is right at 36" for 1 yard. Fingers to fingers is about 55-56". Just thought she might have a picture in her head of a yard and not likely to have a picture of all those numbers even though they are much more accurate. 36" circumference seems like it would be hard to call huge or monstrous but 24-36" diameter should seem huge by any standard except Bo's or LHN's.

[mudflap]

yeah, we'll need to see pics. use an image host like

https://postimages.org/

upload the pics, then copy the url:

https://i.postimg.cc/FF8XBTGk/Capture.png


then wrap it in IMG brackets:


picture_url.png

[yorkies307]

Might want to ensure both of you are on the same page....

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He loves the house too just not the one stall garage. No room to build a bigger one and we have 2 cars.

[mudflap]

I see I left out the word "not". I will edit to clarify... :)

[DoubleJRanch]

Isn't that the same thing? I guess diameter is the correct answer.

No, radius, diamter and circumference are all different.
https://i.postimg.cc/43g3Z4pj/external-content-duckduckgo-com.gif