A Busy Fall

Log homes, cooler weather, fall colors and the rush is on. It has been busy here and finally taking some time to get caught up here. The last few weeks have seen us tear down an existing cabin in northern Minnesota to make way for a new log home that will be ready to be enjoyed next summer. I'm also trying to wrap up some plan modifications so we can get another log home plan finalized and underway before freeze up. It is nice to be busy with emails, phone calls and model visits as well. Fall starts are not that unusual here in this climate. It is nice to get the excavating and foundation work done while the weather is still warm and get the building shelled up before the snow flies and the weather turns cold. Once the roof is on, mechanicals are done and insulation is in then the furnace can be ran to keep things a bit easier on the builders. A later in the fall or winter start is not out of the question with some proper planning. I had my basement dug for my log home dug on a morning that was -20. We didn't have to break frost being I spread hay over the site the previous fall. I went with a poured wall foundation and got lucky that we only had a few inches of snow from excavating to getting the roof on and windows in. If you aren't underway now or soon to start your log home construction project now is the time to keep researching, going over plans, checking out log home builders and getting ready to get bids. The winter season here is also show season. I suggest attending some open houses, log home shows and seminars over the winter to help your research process. If you want to start in May, you really need to have the log home company selected, the log home package figured out and plan finalized a couple of months ahead of that. The log home builders need time to get final bids, permits need to be pulled and the log home company has to take that preliminary plan and turn it into the construction plans.

Foundations for your log home

Every log home needs a foundation under it. The question always comes up is... what type of foundation to go with? In my earlier blog I talked about slabs and crawl spaces. Today I'm going to be talking about full basement foundations. Not counting pre-fab panelized concrete walls, there are three types of foundations. They are concrete block, poured concrete and insulated concrete forms (ICF). Here in my area the most popular style of basement is concrete block. They are found everywhere and most of the contractors bid the jobs with them so it keeps the price competitive. A block wall will take a little longer to build so weather such as rain and cold can be a slight factor. Properly waterproofed and insulated, concrete block walls offer a great result for the right cost. Thermax rigid insulation is one of the better ways to go for insulating. It is both the insulation and vapor barrier. Code in your area may or may not allow fiberglass insulation against the foundation walls. The next type of foundation is poured concrete wall. Poured concrete walls are formed up with concrete forms with solid concrete poured in the forms. After the walls are cured the contractors strips the forms and you have a finished basement wall. Waterproofing and insulating on a poured wall is the same as on a block wall. Poured walls can be constructed in weather that may not be as suitable for block wall construction. Next on the list is insulated concrete forms that are also known as ICF. ICF are foam blocks that are installed on site and used as a form with the concrete poured in the opening. The foam plays double duty as both form and foundation insulation. An ICF foundation will run you a bit more for costs but keep in mind it is already an insulated foundation as soon as it is completed. Waterproofing is critical on ICF and exposed foam on the exterior needs to be covered. A scratch coat serves the purpose fine but some will opt to cover those areas with cultured stone. There are plastic strips on the interior to make fastening your wall finish easier to the foam. Some builders have found it is just as easy to tip a 2x4 wall up against it though. Keep in mind that the foam needs to be covered on the interior of the home as well. This will result in added cost during construction if you weren't planning on finishing off the basement right away. I have built many homes over the years on ICF foundations and every homeowner has been happy with the results. There is alot of time and research that goes into the planning of your log home that is well beyond the log home package. Your local log home builder and dealers are there to help you through the phases.

Underneath Your Log Home

Most of my posts have been referring to log home packages, selecting a log home company and log home builder. One item of log home construction that is very important is the foundation. Does a person build on a slab, crawl space or foundation? Your lot will dictate some of that. If your lot is low and susceptible to water/high water table then a slab may be best to eliminate any wet basement issues. Here in Minnesota where I'm at full basements are the most popular option. So many people think slab construction is alot less than a full basement. As far as finished product goes, it is only slightly less. Excavating is still needed for the footings and frost wall. Here that will be either 48" or 60" depending on northern or southern Minnesota. At that point you are already half way to a full basement. Concrete slab will be the same. By the time you insulate under that slab the finished product isn't that much different. Crawl spaces are nice being they can still be waterproofed, will have a concrete floor and can be insulated. They make a great location for some of the utilities so you don't have to sacrifice first floor space for those. A crawl space makes for a good storage area as well. On to full basements now. The options there are full basement all the way in the ground, a "look out' basement that windows will be at grade, maybe 4' feet of the basement exposed and a walkout where you have enough grade to have a patio door going outside from the basement. Grade and lot conditions will dictate which one will make the most sense. Walkouts can be pulled off on a rather flat lot but be aware of the fact that you will have to bring in alot of fill at added expense to make it work right and have frost protection. What is best for you? That is for you to decide. Your log home dealer or log home builder will do a site visit during the planning process to help you decide before you get too far into your home design and planning. My next post is going to be on foundation types between ICF, block or poured concrete.

Log Home Packages

It happened again about a half hour ago. The phone rang with a log home call. Not a call wondering about the log homes that I sell but a call looking for help. This particular call was from someone that purchased a log home package already and construction is under way right now. They are at the point of the log tie beams being installed as well as support posts. All that is fine, its great to hear that they have their dream log home underway. The part that isn't fine is their log home package didn't come with any brackets or fasteners for the log beams and posts. Their project has now stopped while they are trying to figure out what to do. They resorted to google this morning trying to find someone here in this area that can help them out. It was the homeowner calling and gauging by the sound of his voice, his patience were soon to run out and his frustration level was on the rise. Brackets, plates and fasteners for those components are a very important part of the log home. They have structural importance and need to be the right shape and size to be able to support the load that is bearing on them. They may be small in size but are very important. Once again, make sure you research the log home package you are considering thoroughly. Job site delays like this homeowner is going through right now are not any fun.

Local Log Home Companies

It happened again the other day. And what was that? A local appraiser called wondering about log homes, log home packages and values. Ends up someone here in my areas stumbled into an out of state log home company with no local support for builders or lenders. That is just one example of why it is so important to start local. Log home dealers are all over the country. Some are log home builders and the rest have builders they use to offer local support. Beyond the builder aspect, there is the log home lending part of the equation. Speaking for myself as a log home dealer, I have a relationship with a couple of local lending sources. They know my product, my builders and our building system. The relationship I have with them has been developed over a decade. As we all know, the current lending situation isn't the easiest to work in. The bigger the lender the harder it is to get anything done so the local sources are becoming more important. Beyond the log home package and prices there is the service being provided from start to finish. That includes site visits, help in planning, builder support and lending contacts. Does the log home company or companies you are working with offer all of that for where you are going to build? Make sure you ask, it'll make the process alot easier on you.