Down side to log homes?

[PurpleEgg]

Hi everyone, I've always wanted to own a home with privacy and where I could keep horses and other livestock; I used to live on a farm and really miss it! Anyway, my husband is a "city boy" but said that if we could find the kind of place I'm looking for and it was in town, then he would consider moving. Boy is he in for a surprise, because there is a log home on 40 acres five minutes from town that's up for sale! In spite of my "house fever", I do want this to be a well thought-out decision--gotta grow up sometime I suppose. Right now we have a beautiful older, aluminum sided stick home but you can hear traffic when you're in our back yard and we have (really nice) neighbors on top of us on three sides, which is really the only downside to it. Other than that, it's been a piece of cake to maintain, we have it fully customized with central air, a new deck we just added last spring, stereo indoors and out, landscaping, fenced in yard for the dogs, etc. The utilities are very inexpensive and mortgage and taxes are about $800.00/month. We could have it paid off in about 2 1/2 years. So, this is no small decision. The log home on the property I'm looking at was built in 1982, and has a crawl space, not a cellar. I'm going out to see it on Thursday, but the realtor has led me to believe it's at the foot of a hill. If you were trying to talk me out of buying a log home, what would you truthfully say are the negative aspects? Thanks in advance for your help! And for helping me to avoid stressing my husband unnecessarily (or maybe necessarily!). Tracy

[Blondie]

Purplegg,
I was first exposed to log homes many years ago in Alaska. I fell madly in love with the strength and simplicity of design. I enjoy the feeling of warmth inside a log home. I relate more positively to the stability of a heavy log vs the stick built feeling of an alumium clad home. (I live in one.) I have tried and tried to find another type of home design/material to work with but have always returned to logs. I have argued that they do not lend themselves to creative design, but that is simply not true. If you look at the student houses displayed here you will find all the creativity you will need. I have heard arguements that they cost more to build, but if you read anything here you find that is not true either. The agruement that the logs are hard to deal with isn't true either...just read more here and find that it is do-able. The problem as I see it is whether your husband is secure enough to look at something out side his comfort zone. Perhaps show him some student houses and the one the teenage built. The only down side that I have found is dusting the logs and I am sure someone has fond a way to do that too.

Blondie

[PurpleEgg]

Thanks Blondie! That's not very many "down sides" :) Do you find that there is an excessive problem with bugs or flies? We have a problem with lady bugs in our present house, but it's not anything we can't deal with. Also, how energy efficient are they? I keep hearing about breezes/water coming in between the logs.

Thanks again, PE

[Blondie]

PurpleEgg,
I have never seen or heard of any insect problems. You can spray for them. They are the most energy efficient way to build in my humble opinion. The bigger the log the higher the R rating, up to a point of course. R ratings of about R 38 or greater in a log of 14 inches in diameter overall. You don't want to build with logs that are 3 ft in diameter, they are just way too heavy. The way to keep breezes and water out is to spray expandable foam in between the logs and then cover that is the cement chinking with nails driven in the logs to hold it inplace. Nothing will get in past that. Another way to make sure that the roof overhang is at least 3 ft all the way around, ot protect the logs. As part of the building process that logs are sprayed with a Borate solution that preserves the logs from rot and insects. Breeze and water are the results of lesser means of building log homes. I have not yet been able to take the class but I recommend that you and your husband sign up for it answers all the questions you have.

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Blondie

[StressMan79]

PE,

I have heard bugs are an issue in log homes. However, every one I have heard that from is talking about kits. I have never heard a member complain about bugs.

Energy/draftiness could be a major issue in this kind of construction, as we basically allow large gaps to form between the logs. there are many ways to deal with this, these are covered in class. messing up the insulation in these areas will be death to your home, since you will basically have a "heat hole" for heat to escape. If done correctly, they homes are amazingly efficient. I have been to Skip's ranch in november. chilly outside and nice and toasty inside heated by a single direct vent propane heater. It didn't run much either. If you live in nome, alaska, you may see different results, but my furnace runs much more in my 1800sf stick frame home than skips smaller unit did in his 7000 sf home.

Bigger logs are better, for at least two reasons:

If you double the wood thickness, you MORE than double the insulation thickness between the logs. This will be the weak link, so a 1" increase in diameter will more than pay for itself (say 13 in over 12 in).
increasing the logs' size gives increased "thermal mass" that effectively makes you heat to the average daytime/night time temp. if you have a night low of 20 below, and a day high of 30 above, you effectively average them and you heat against a 5 degree temp. basically the logs act like a thermal battery storing up heat during the day and releasing it at night. With smart passive solar, you can increase this effect. the course tells how, and the members (certain ones-- especially, rick and rod) are very into this and freely offer advice and help to members.

welcome to the website that takes most of my day! enjoy and learn.

-Peter

[PurpleEgg]

I don't know if this makes a difference, but I'm looking at purchasing a log home that was built about 20 years ago--but, you are giving me ideas of what to look for. Should I look for some specialized in log homes if/when I have an inspection done?

Thanks again!

[Blondie]

PurpleEgg,
I am way out of my depth on that one. (I am an ICU nurse) Maybe one of the other guys can help you................

Sorry,
Blondie

[chadfortman]

Look, listen and learn
A man who works with his hands is a laborer,
A man who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman,
A man who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist.
St Francis of Assisi.

If you buy a kit log home get ready for the biggest head ack of your life.
Run and dont look back.

[PurpleEgg]

Chad, do you mean don't buy a kit house that's already been put together? I don't know yet if the log home I"m looking to buy was a kit or not. Please tell me more?!

[StressMan79]

PE, look at this http://www.loghomebuilders.org/why-you-shouldnt-buy-log-cabin-kits.

That is why we are leary of kits. Like anything, it might be OK, or it could be a huge disaster. Even "hand crafted" homes are often "canadian chinkless" not full coped "scandanavian chinkless." and the difference is very large, potentially impossible to detect, and potentially catastrophic.

if you know the builder, and/or have it built yourself, then you can be fairly certain of the type of logs used, and joints in there.

you'd be very far ahead to take the class even if you want to buy, so you can know what to look for.

-Peter

[chadfortman]

Look, listen and learn
A man who works with his hands is a laborer,
A man who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman,
A man who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist.
St Francis of Assisi.

Unless its hand crafted from a master craftman Its dowl pins stacked ore like 6 by 6 stacked on top each other.
A real log is something pulled out the woods and cleaned and used. Not put on a lath to make it a dowl pin.
Spiral sands needs tell you about her sisters kit and the rotting walls.
If you want log cabin you take a class here ore some where else.
It all depends on the style of log home you want.
Today while on my visit i took 5 pictures of log cabins it was hand hewn built in the early 1900 or 1800s.
And down the road was a kit i bet the older one will stand longer and the test the sands of time.
Please read about real log homes even if its a kit they call it a real log home i bet.
Take some pictures post them will tell you. Look for the 3 inch gaps cuts above the doors and window in the kits.
learn before you leap in to a money pit.

[PurpleEgg]

Here you go and thanks everyone!

http://www.binghamtonmls.com/brm/maildoc/sd_AAAa002EC20090110220147.html

[ChainsawGrandpa]

Log homes can be almost maintenance free (re: mt parents & grandparents log home)
or a real headache (re: the "log" home built right next to them). I don't want to set you
up for a lot of work, but do consider building your own. You are then guaranteed to get
what you want and have a home that is almost headache free.

Too old or too busy to build it yourself? Google; Dorothy Ainsworth.
She had two kids to take care of on a waitress' salary, but that didn't stop her from building
two log homes.

-Rick

[StressMan79]

they want 240k. round here (seattle) that's right cheap, especially witn 40 acres. I don't know what you do, but if you make 200k/yr, maybe jump on it, offer them 180, and see if they bite.

If you want help looking at this house, you'll have to take some CLOSEUP pics of the joints, foundation, roof, etc. Any joint or mechanical member. Measure the logs. The overdangles looked encased in siding by the first pic. That is not a good sign! Also see if you can find the builder. is he local? is he still in business (if he is, 27 years is pretty long, he must do OK work).

Anyway, most members would think that the hot tub is a bit extravagant... kola takes a bath with 5 gallons of water heated all night over a woodstove for crissake!

Peter

[loghousenut]

Walk up to the house and pick a spot about two feet from the chimney. Insert the blade of your pocket knife between the second and third logs (counting from the bottom) at a 45 degree angle either up or down. You want to see whether the logs that have been hit by rain are spongy or firm. If they are soft and spongy, they are no fun to replace. If they are firm, they don't need replacement. If I am guessing right, they'll be spongy and this house won't pass the blade test. If it does pass the blade test you can go on to step two. Step two is summed up at the following link...

http://www.loghomebuilders.org/warnings-about-kit-log-homes

PS. Most of the folks on this site would rather not talk you out of a particular log home, but would be more inclined to talk you into taking the course.

[Timber]

Ask to see the heating bill receipts. Those logs look mighty skinny! The price dont see bad at all with 40 acres, but only you know if its a bargin. Also ask what problems if any they have had to repair!

[StressMan79]

I have learned lately that people aren't good as their word. ask in writing and get a response in writing. Oral contracts are VERY hard to pursue, especially important when you are thinking of dropping 1/4 M on a property.

-Peter

[Kola]

I recommend you spend some time and read all the material here on the forum.

Thank God I took the class.

Kola

[Shark]

The last couple pics, those logs look in rough shape.

[tgb3]

It looks to me like a kit log home with a log sided stick built addition. Not very well taken care of, not built very well, or both. The so called log sideing looks like it is falling off.
Tom

[PurpleEgg]

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=tjligouri&target=ALBUM&id=5291896691339951617&authkey=2zLeULmQ26M&feat=email

[PurpleEgg]

Hi everyone--went out to see that log home yesterday. It's way too small so I've written it off, but thought I'd let you have a look at some pics so you could assess it anyway.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=tjligouri&target=ALBUM&id=5291896691339951617&authkey=2zLeULmQ26M&feat=email

Thanks!
PE

[Timberwolf]

That's firewood stacked to look like a house. And I could go on and on.

This is a good example of why people are turned off by log homes.

[PurpleEgg]

It was a pretty dissapointing dump of logs on top of a hill. Plus, they didn't want to sell the mineral rights to the property. Thanks for your help and advice everyone!

[edkemper]

> If you were trying to talk me out of buying a log home, what would you truthfully say are the negative aspects?

I'm not the expert here but I think I've been here long enough to answer this question. Keep in mind I already bought my land, I have not taken the class yet (am scheduled and paid for) or started building my log home yet but here's the four major downsides to a log home that I have identified:

Too cheap to build,
Too cheap to maintain,
Far too insulated for both seasons,
And usually found in quiet locations with nature at your feet.

I would have to say those are probably the four biggest problems with a real log home. I hope this helps.

[spiralsands]

I also read that the acoustics of a log home are superlative so if you hate beautiful piano music, a log home may not be for you.

Frances

[rreidnauer]

Hands down, the biggest down side to building your own log home, is all the people that stop by to see what you're up to. Sheesh, how is anyone suppose to get anything done? ;-)

[mlr1968]

Attended Class March 25th/26th of 2006.
I am just clearing my property and a neighbor came over and me being a nice guy keep talking with him and in the process not getting much accomplished. Of course he is a nice guy also, I just did not have the heart to say, dude i gotta get some trees droped and toped so I apreciate it if you get to your side of the road. he even offered to let me park my pickup in his drive so I would not have to park on the side of the road, very nice of him. As you can see my next project is a driveway LOL. Oh, and those pictures of that kit home whew gald you did not get that money pit PurpleEgg. Looks like the logs if you can call them that are too close to the ground and the roof does not have enough overhang.

[Kola]

The best way to deal with "Looky- Lou's" (thats what we call them here) is to put em to work.

Hi Buddy..hey, grab that log over there would ya?

Ever work a spud before?

or hand them somethig greasey and ask them to hold it for ya. Tell em they have to "hold it nice and tight" and that you are going to pound on it.

or just act crazy (easy for me to do)..start talking about the gooberment, Alex Jones and NWO stuff. It helps if you smell really bad, have tattoos , missing teeth and have a Colt 45 tucked in your pants.

Kola

[StressMan79]

have a Colt 45 tucked in your pants.


I thought you were just happy to see me!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Kola]

LOL!

In your case Peter, it would be a snub nose revolver (an inch and a half barrell)

ROFL

jk
KOla

[Klapton]

Zinnnnngggg!!!

[Timber]

Dont know if any of your schools participated in egg toss contest and a grease pole contest at the end of 6th grade-When Kola mentioned grease i thought of that special day <img border="0" src="/sites/all/modules/tinymce/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cool.gif" alt="Cool" title="Cool" />?3 people?to a team--I was the monkey to climb the grease pole. I of course wore my sunday best <img border="0" src="/sites/all/modules/tinymce/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif" alt="Foot in mouth" title="Foot in mouth" />? I won--It was not easy either-that is why it takes 3

[edkemper]

> have a Colt 45 tucked in your pants.

You must be one of 'dem rich folk. Around our parts, all we can get is shine from our neighbor Clem. Zing! (Oh wait, maybe he meant a gun? smile)

edkemper