| Here are some tips to help you narrow your search | | | | and fun. Some are very simple and easy to use, |
| for plans for your new log home.Use your old home | | | | although may not contain features that are specific |
| to help you plan your new home | | | | to log homes. Others are more robust, more |
| One of the ways to help you decide on a plan for | | | | expensive, and more difficult to use. Use Google or |
| your new home is to take a look at your present | | | | other Internet search tools to find sources for this |
| home and use it as a reference point for your new | | | | type of software.Search for standard plans |
| plans. Treat your new home plan as an "adjustment" | | | | It's possible that there is already a home plan out |
| to your old home plan. Make a list of the features | | | | there that closely meets your needs. The Internet is |
| you like and dislike in your current home. Add | | | | one of best resources. A seach for "log home plans" |
| features you don't have now, but would want in | | | | will result in a wide selection of plans, primarily from |
| your new home.Organize your plan selections | | | | log home companies. Log home magazines are |
| Start a scrapbook that includes pictures and | | | | another good source for plans.Modify standard plans |
| drawings of the styles of log home and features that | | | | Any log home floor plan can be modified to suit your |
| appeal to you. Common features will start to appear | | | | needs. You don't have to choose one of the |
| in many of your selections. For example, if your | | | | standard plans offered by log home companies. You |
| scrapbook photos show mostly handcrafted log | | | | can use the plan from one company as the basis for |
| homes, you can concentrate your search on log | | | | creating a plan to be used by another company. Plans |
| home companies that specialize in handcrafted | | | | for conventional homes can usually be adapted to log |
| construction.Start with a simple plan | | | | construction.Your log home company can help |
| Draw a rough layout of individual rooms for your | | | | Log home companies have in-house designers to |
| new home, with the rooms represented only by | | | | help you create or modify a plan. They use |
| boxes. Use the dimensions of your old rooms as a | | | | sophisticated professional software for this purpose. |
| reference. Arrange the boxes in the general pattern | | | | Be aware that you may have to make a few |
| that you would want. Account for hallways, closets, | | | | compromises in your plans to accommodate certain |
| and storage spaces. This will give you a good idea of | | | | log construction requirements.Al Hearn is founder and |
| not only your general floor plan, but also your overall | | | | operator of Log Home Advisor |
| home dimensions.Use your computer as a design tool | | | | (LogHomeAdvisor.com), a popular and growing web |
| There are a variety of home design software | | | | site that provides information and advice for log |
| products available that can make your planning easy | | | | home lovers. |