A log cabin kit comes with premeasured and cut construction components to create a basic cabin structure. These provide a budget-friendly, convenient, and relatively straightforward to construct either a fully assembled cabin or the bare unfinished shell.
The homeowner has the capacity to DIY the build, or for those not versed in construction, the guidelines can be passed on to a trusted, credentialed, and experienced local contractor like Mountain Ridge Log Homes. Because the kit comes with the design, plans, and everything necessary to start building, there’s no need to start from scratch using an engineer or architect.
Many out-of-pocket expenses are outstanding, however, including the land, preparing the site, home finishing, utility set up, labor costs, and on. The build is labor-intensive with extensive heavy lifting.
Nowadays, clients will find innovative cabin kits with exclusive designs from varied companies offering quality and modern concepts.
While the cabin kits trace back to the “American Dream” of the 1950s into the 60s, the trend is resurfacing with people again striving for a simple way of living, a charming aesthetic, and an affordability. Go here for the difference between log vs. timber framed structures.
What should you know before constructing a log cabin? Consider these suggestions.
What Should You Know Before Building A Log Cabin
Cabin kits allow a prospective homeowner to DIY the log home or turn the plans over to a qualified contractor with adequate tools and experience to prepare the land and construct the structure according to the kit’s guidelines.
Once the structure is standing, it can either be a fully assembled log cabin or an unfinished shell, according to your preference. Before purchasing a log cabin kit, it’s essential to consider what’s involved in owning a log home.
While all homes have specific care and upkeep that comes with homeownership, the log cabin is unique from a traditional house with its maintenance requirements.
Consider these suggestions before committing.
The maintenance that goes into being a log cabin owner
People often don’t consider the maintenance that goes into owning a log home. With any house, you will have many maintenance requirements differing for each property type. Log homes are no different in their need for care and upkeep, except it is unique compared to other houses.
As time passes, logs have the potential for expanding and shifting. It’s suggested that the problems caused by this issue are addressed in the construction phase with an experienced, reputable builder being aware.
Pests, particularly termites and carpenter bees, are another concern with logs, as is decay. Insurance won’t cover these sorts of damages. Recognizing signs early is vital and learning methods for protecting the wood to avoid damage.
Pay attention to the kit you choose
Work with a reputable company when purchasing a log cabin kit paying close attention to the designs to ensure it’s precisely what you want or if you prefer to customize the kit to be what you desire. A standard kit is convenient, affordable, and relatively straightforward with the plans and construction.
Often the included materials are made to fit to construct a pre-designed blueprint leaving a minimal opportunity for creative latitude. Some kits have interior walls and other components for the structure, while others provide just timbers and logs.
The insurance is different for a log cabin
Conventional homes are insured differently from log cabins. You’ll want to ensure the company you have is familiar with providing log home policies. The prominent insurance carriers on the market do offer coverage for log cabins making it relatively easy to find a trusted agent.
The build can be done in a few different ways
You can purchase a custom log home kit, one of the most straightforward and convenient processes for building the structure.
For those uncomfortable with the process due to lack of experience, you can hire a qualified, reputable contractor to follow the kit’s guidelines. The build will be relatively simple for the builder, with all the pieces premeasured and cut and step-by-step instructions.
If you don’t purchase a kit, you can hire a team to design the home and proceed with construction, but this will involve a team of professionals and subcontractors with likely much more expense than if you were to use a customized kit. You can also build the structure from scratch on your own.
This will require a lot of skill, knowledge, and the right equipment. If this is your chosen method, it would still be beneficial to speak with someone who builds log homes for guidance. There’s little room for error when constructing a log home. You don’t want to waste materials.
That means working slowly with the project taking considerable time to complete as you follow tutorials to get it done correctly with each stage.
Final Thought
A customized log cabin kit is ideal for anyone who wants to construct a new log home to their own specifications. It comes with premeasured and cut pieces to create the desired layout, with plans for building the structure.
Anyone not versed in construction can work with a contractor to handle the build and prepare the site. The instructions are straightforward, making the project pretty simple for builders.
A log home is a charming, unique property much different than a conventional house. It requires careful consideration before committing to what would be a varied set of maintenance tasks compared to other property types. Research is key before moving forward.
