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