| Maybe your dream log cabin is a simple, one or two | | | | that a proper structure needs a proper base. |
| room wooden building planted cosily in a remote | | | | Begin the foundations below the frostline – if you |
| wilderness. Surrounded by spectacular views for | | | | live in such an area – and take them to a foot or |
| every season, there would be fishing in the nearby | | | | two above ground. They used to be made from |
| lake or stream, the trees in the backyard would | | | | stone, but these days are more usually of concrete |
| provide all the shade or shelter you could want, the | | | | or cement blocks. This does make building a log cabin |
| wildlife would be around but not intrusive, the sunsets | | | | a bit more costly but it is well worth it in the long run. |
| would be breathtaking, the log fire would be crackling | | | | There is a huge number of log cabin designs on the |
| as you trudged in from the snow. | | | | market for you to consider. Perhaps you already |
| Most of all, it would be a little remote, a little off the | | | | have a design of your own. But, in spite of the huge |
| beaten track, a little private. | | | | number of kits on the market, often with expensive |
| Some people have already achieved this dream. They | | | | price tags, in our opinion the most enjoyable and |
| have found the perfect location, found the fifty | | | | satisfying option is to plan and build your own log |
| thousand dollars to pay for the kit and another | | | | cabin. There is no doubt that it is also the cheapest |
| fifteen to twenty thousand to get it built. | | | | way. Be sure to draw up good plans, work out the |
| The cheapest option is to build a log cabin in your | | | | full list of materials for your chosen design, collect all |
| backyard provided it is large enough and provided | | | | needed components before starting to put them |
| that your local planning laws permit such things (most | | | | together, and find a good team of willing labor to |
| do if it can be classed as a temporary building). | | | | help you. |
| We must face one or two home truths about log | | | | Easily the best and safest way to build a log cabin, |
| cabins, however. The first is that they are simple to | | | | and one we strongly recommend for anyone who is |
| put together. This is true for most designs, in the | | | | not a seasoned builder, is to invest in a set of good |
| sense that there are no complicated construction or | | | | quality blueprints and step-by-step instructions |
| woodworking techniques required, but building a log | | | | produced by professional log house designers. |
| cabin still requires lots of hard work, patience and | | | | These are not that expensive in any case – |
| manual labor. Just think about all those logs, some | | | | usually no more than $50 will get you all the plans and |
| of which will be over 16 feet long and maybe 10 | | | | instructions needed – and usually are |
| inches diameter – they weigh a lot. You will be | | | | accompanied by really useful bonuses such as sizing |
| hoisting some logs 8, maybe 10 feet in the air during | | | | charts, where to find the best materials, how to sort |
| construction. Yes, it is simple but not easy unless you | | | | out local planning requirements, the sort of things |
| are properly organized. | | | | that often take up a disproportionate amount of |
| Another myth is that they do not need foundations. | | | | your time when doing your own research. |
| It is true that some early log cabins were erected on | | | | Start planning right now to make that log cabin |
| hard ground. Some of these survive to this day. | | | | dream a reality for yourself and your loved ones, to |
| But these structures were intended to be temporary | | | | enjoy for years and years. |
| rather than permanent houses and, of course, most | | | | Good luck and have lots of fun! |
| did not survive for very long. You have to accept | | | | |