| With all the choices available, choosing the | | | | Search for standard plans |
| right floor plan for your log home or log | | | | |
| cabin is not as easy as it seems. Here are | | | | It's possible that there is already a home |
| some tips to help you narrow your plan | | | | plan 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 new | | | | offers a treasure trove of plans. The web |
| home | | | | sites, CoolHousePlans.com and HousePlans.com |
| | | | are good examples. Other than the "log cabin" |
| One of the ways to help you decide on a plan | | | | or 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 point | | | | work 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 and | | | | standard designs that have proven popular |
| dislike in your current home. Add features | | | | over the years. Log home magazines (and their |
| you don't have now, but would want in your | | | | associated web sites) also have plans, |
| new home. List things you consider to be | | | | usually in advertisements by log home |
| problems in your home now (not enough storage | | | | companies. A few books containing nothing but |
| space, hallways too narrow, family room too | | | | log 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 plans | | | | Any log home floor plan can be modified to |
| | | | suit your needs. You don't have to choose one |
| Start a scrapbook that includes pictures and | | | | of the standard plans offered by log home |
| illustrations of the styles of log home and | | | | companies. You can use the plan from one |
| specific features that appeal to you. An | | | | company as the basis for creating a plan to |
| organized scrapbook can save you time and | | | | be used by another company. In fact, your |
| provide a means of clearly communicating with | | | | base plan doesn't even have to be a plan for |
| log home company representatives and | | | | a 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 you | | | | somewhat more constrained than conventional |
| narrow your search for a log home provider. | | | | homes, from a flexibility of construction |
| For example, if your scrapbook photos show | | | | perspective. The fewer corners you have, the |
| mostly handcrafted log homes, you can | | | | less complicated the design, the easier the |
| concentrate your search on those log home | | | | construction 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" plan | | | | frames of 2x4 lumber. |
| | | | |
| Make a scaled floorplan drawing of your | | | | Let your log home company help |
| current residence, with room and building | | | | |
| measurements. Then draw a rough layout of | | | | Log home companies have in-house designers to |
| rooms for your new home, with the rooms | | | | help you create or modify a plan. They use |
| represented only by boxes. Use the dimensions | | | | sophisticated professional Computer Aided |
| of your old rooms as a reference to upsize or | | | | Design 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 that | | | | possible 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 give | | | | your dream plan out of thin air. |
| you a good idea of not only your general | | | | |
| floor plan, but also your overall home | | | | Realize that some parts of your desired plan |
| dimensions. | | | | may not be feasible because of excessive |
| | | | cost, structural problems, or building code |
| Use your computer | | | | restrictions. For example, simply removing a |
| | | | window or changing the type of door in a plan |
| You can also use your computer to help you | | | | may violate a code that requires a minimum |
| design your home. There are a variety of home | | | | number of windows or a certain type of door. |
| design software products available that can | | | | This is why it is very important to consult |
| make your planning easy and fun. See here for | | | | with a professional architect or designer |
| more details. | | | | early in your planning process to make sure |
| | | | your dream plan is actually buildable. |