Build your dream wood house


Choosing the log home plan

With all the choices available, choosing theSearch  for  standard  plans
right floor plan for your log home or log
cabin is not as easy as it seems. Here areIt's possible that there is already a home
some tips to help you narrow your planplan out there that closely meets your needs.
search.Finding it may not be easy, however. The
Internet is one of best search locations and
Use your old home to help you plan your newoffers a treasure trove of plans. The web
homesites, CoolHousePlans.com and HousePlans.com
are good examples. Other than the "log cabin"
One of the ways to help you decide on a planor log home" categories, plans in the
for your new home is to take a look at your"country home" or "cottage" categories also
present home and use it as a reference pointwork  well  for  log  homes.
for your new plans. Treat your new home plan
as  an  "adjustment"  of  your old home plan.Of course, log home companies have their own
plans, many of which are variations of
Make a list of the features you like andstandard designs that have proven popular
dislike in your current home. Add featuresover the years. Log home magazines (and their
you don't have now, but would want in yourassociated web sites) also have plans,
new home. List things you consider to beusually in advertisements by log home
problems in your home now (not enough storagecompanies. A few books containing nothing but
space, hallways too narrow, family room toolog  home  plans  are  also  available.
small). List the types of rooms you want, and
the  individual  features  of  those  rooms.Plans  can  be  customized
Organize  your  initial  plansAny log home floor plan can be modified to
suit your needs. You don't have to choose one
Start a scrapbook that includes pictures andof the standard plans offered by log home
illustrations of the styles of log home andcompanies. You can use the plan from one
specific features that appeal to you. Ancompany as the basis for creating a plan to
organized scrapbook can save you time andbe used by another company. In fact, your
provide a means of clearly communicating withbase plan doesn't even have to be a plan for
log home company representatives anda  log-style  home.
builders. As you study the photos in your
scrapbook, certain features will stand out.Keep in mind, however, that log homes are
Identifying these features will help yousomewhat more constrained than conventional
narrow your search for a log home provider.homes, from a flexibility of construction
For example, if your scrapbook photos showperspective. The fewer corners you have, the
mostly handcrafted log homes, you canless complicated the design, the easier the
concentrate your search on those log homeconstruction and the lower the cost. Building
companies  that  offer  this  style.walls of horizontally stacked logs offers
fewer design options than building with
Start  with  a  simple  "box"  planframes  of  2x4  lumber.
Make a scaled floorplan drawing of yourLet  your  log  home  company  help
current residence, with room and building
measurements. Then draw a rough layout ofLog home companies have in-house designers to
rooms for your new home, with the roomshelp you create or modify a plan. They use
represented only by boxes. Use the dimensionssophisticated professional Computer Aided
of your old rooms as a reference to upsize orDesign and Drafting (CADD) software for this
downsize the dimensions for your new rooms.purpose. You should have done as much work as
Arrange the boxes in the general pattern thatpossible on your own before you go to the log
you would want. Account for hallways,home company. Don't expect them to create
closets, and storage spaces. This will giveyour  dream  plan  out  of  thin  air.
you a good idea of not only your general
floor plan, but also your overall homeRealize that some parts of your desired plan
dimensions.may not be feasible because of excessive
cost, structural problems, or building code
Use  your  computerrestrictions. For example, simply removing a
window or changing the type of door in a plan
You can also use your computer to help youmay violate a code that requires a minimum
design your home. There are a variety of homenumber of windows or a certain type of door.
design software products available that canThis is why it is very important to consult
make your planning easy and fun. See here forwith a professional architect or designer
more  details.early in your planning process to make sure
your dream plan is actually buildable.



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