| Log cabin kit homes -- what are they? Log cabin | | | | the log wood, shapes of logs available and how the |
| building kits are logs that have been cut, milled, dried | | | | corner treatment looks to you. As you find cabin kits |
| and shaped into 'packages' called log cabin kit homes. | | | | you like, see how long the company has been in |
| These cabin kits can be as simple as the logs and | | | | business. You'll want to know they have been around |
| fasteners only, or the kits can include nearly all of the | | | | a number of years which is one important factor to |
| exterior components of the cabin. The other main | | | | consider. Review the kit choices and see what is |
| kind of log cabin home would be a 'handcrafted | | | | included, what is not included. See if you can narrow |
| home', one where the logs are shaped by hand using | | | | your choices down to 3-4 companies that you may |
| special tools. | | | | be most interested in. |
| The major advantages of log cabin building kits is | | | | At this point, you would be ready to visit the |
| generally lower costs, simplified estimating and | | | | companies and talk with their staff. How do you find |
| construction methods and faster construction of the | | | | them -- are they pleasant, courteous, really |
| cabin home. Created in the controlled environment of | | | | interested in answering your questions and even |
| the manufacturer, the logs will be more uniform in | | | | offer suggestions for your situation? Or are they |
| shape than handcrafted logs. The logs can be trucked | | | | high-pressure and inflexible? If they cannot provide |
| in and assembled on your building site relatively | | | | something you want, are they truthful and up-front |
| quickly by knowledgable builders. Log cabin kit homes | | | | that they cannot do it that way? You'll want to pay |
| can be purchased in nearly complete exterior | | | | attention to your intuition and gut feel. Maybe you'll |
| systems that include the logs, fasteners, roof | | | | further narrow the list to, say, two manufacturers. |
| system, windows and doors, porches and more. | | | | Then you can contact 2-3 log cabin home builders |
| The logs are available in a variety of shapes such as | | | | with experience in building with these manufacturer's |
| round, square, rectangular, beveled and 'D-shaped' | | | | logs and fastener systems. Obtain estimates for |
| logs. Milled logs will have the outer sapwood planed | | | | building your log cabin kit home on your property. |
| off before the logs are shaped. Most log cabin kit | | | | You can also learn a lot about log cabin kit homes by |
| homes manufacturers cut the logs in such a way as | | | | viewing cabin plans that have been successfully built |
| to create a tongue or groove so each log will | | | | somewhere. Every plan that you see can give you |
| interlock with the log above and below it in the wall. | | | | design ideas that you had not thought of. You can |
| This interlocking system will likely be enhanced by the | | | | make a scrapbook of the things you may want in |
| use of other materials that will help keep air and | | | | your log home design. Organize a project notebook |
| water from penetrating the log wall. | | | | where you'll keep the builder estimates, schedules |
| How do you find log cabin building kits that may be | | | | and so on. |
| right for you? | | | | Creating the log cabin building kit home design that |
| The fastest way is to go online and visit various log | | | | will provide you many years of enjoyment can be a |
| cabin kit homes manufacturers websites. You'll want | | | | lot of effort. However, it's your personal involvement, |
| to be looking for the log cabin building kits that have | | | | enthusiasm and persistence that will help ensure that |
| an appearance you enjoy. See what you prefer -- | | | | your project becomes the log cabin building kit home |
| large diameter versus smaller diameter logs, color of | | | | that you'll enjoy for many years to come. |