This is my favorite time of year at our log home. Crunchy, colorful leaves, bonfires w/ marshmallows, and pumpkins all over the deck. I don't know of any other home that looks better in the fall season than a log home. Here's what it looks like right now in my neck of the woods. (How does it look by you?)

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Hi,
I'm starting to plan my dream. Handcrafted, somewhere around 1800 sq ft. My property is off grid. I want to be as green as I can. I'm in northern Mn. My hope is geothermal and radiant floor heat, but I'm told that a solar/wind/battery system isn't enough to run the geothermal. There's gotta be a combo out there that will work. Perhaps adding an LP generator? I'm also looking into an outdoor wood boiler for the in floor heat? Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts? Thanks,

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Well, today could be considered the start. We picked up our sewage permit today, finally approved after what seemed like forever, but was only 4 months! We had a family friend come and witch a well location for us and met with the excavator who is going to start the septic this week. Still finalizing the plans though. Hoping to have them finalized soon, so we can apply for our mortgage and break ground in November and build over the winter. While concerned somewhat with building over winter, we'… Continue

We have been researching for some time and finally decided on square logs for our retirement home. Then the other day, we stopped in and talked with a new log home company. Started looking at swedish cope style. Now what, with the new technology out there in building log homes, is one style better than the other, or are they all the same, and it is personal preference on the look of the log? Any war stories out there or any other help. Thanks Steve

How about feedback from anyone who has used wool for insulation between logs. It is very expensive so I'm wondering if it is worth the money. I am currently building a log home and am ready for insulation. Logs are flat on flat with Oly screws and metal vertical rods through wall.

Any recommendations on the best composite deck cleaner. My log home is approx. 2 years old and I have 1200 feet of composite decking with signs of mold. Looking for the easiest most effective means in which to clean the deck keeping in mind that I have a dog in addition to many plants around the perimeter of my deck. Thanks for any suggestions.

"How do you eat a elephant? One bite at a time!"
I read that quote recently, and it describes exactly how I feel about this new home process. I've begun making appointments with builders and designers, and it's an intimidating prospect. So many questions!
Now my concern is finding a builder willing to construct the half-log/insulated log home I am planning, who is also willing to go as green as I can afford. So far, I have found a traditional home builder who is Energy Star certified, but wonder… Continue

I couldn't imagine having a log home without our puppy and kitty. They seem to complete our log home and make it that much more enjoyable.

Our cat Marvin loves climbing our log staircase and perching himself high in the loft as he hisses at our new Bernese Mountain puppy… Continue

Last month, PrecisionCraft Log Homes announced its new Inspired Living feature sharing real life stories of how Mountain Architects’ new design creations come to life. This month, the award winning team shows how on… Continue

Hello everyone! I'm new to LogHomeU, but I know I will get some great advice here!

I plan to have a small, insulated log/half-log home built on property I already own. For the past couple of years, I have been looking at floor plans, and reading everything I can get my hands on regarding energy efficiency, types of construction, heating systems and so on.

I'm having a devil of a time deciding how I want my new home to be configured, and how I want the exterior to look (roof lines, porches, dec… Continue

I have found an old log house on a concrete foundation.
Before I buy it I need to evaluate if it is in good shape. I don't want to pay an appraiser for something I could easily do myself.

What do I look for to make sure the logs are sound? Is there a moisture content I should check for in bottom tier of logs?

How do I know if there is rot, insects, etc? What do I look for?


Thanks

We recently did some landscaping around our new log home. We spent hours talking to the local garden center about just the right shrubs and trees to plant that would not be devoured by the large local deer population. So we got our plants and did our landscaping. Everything looked great for about two weeks. This is what I saw on Saturday morning leading up to our six foot blue spruce tree.

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Anyone ever built an 8 sided log cabin from their trees on their property? I am going to begin building one next month and will be using my new Norwood2000 bandsaw sawmill to cut the bottoms and tops for the logs to lay flush against each other. The only problem I can forsee is… Continue

Don't miss your chance to win a free log home design from one of North America's top producers of log homes.

Enter today for your chance to win custom design services and construction services from Hearthstone Inc.

Valued estimated at $15,000 ($3.00/sf. including travel), the prize includes a site visit and preliminary topographic survey along with preliminary 1/8" scale initial sketches and 1/4" CAD drawings. Any log profile will be designed and the winner is free to use the plans as they wis… Continue

Many of us love hearing the "story behind the home." Here is a great one by PrecisionCraft Log Homes that I thought I would share...

"Kelly and Marie didn’t have a favorite floor plan when they found the perfect build location amidst the Boise National Forest. In fact, they weren’t even set on building a custom timber frame home. After some searching, Kelly and Marie thought they had found the right home for them. Knowing their heart’s desire to have… Continue

I have been busy working on the building lot and my driveway this summer but have not posted due to the loss of my mother. I know you all like the updates so I thought I would try and post one now. I have the building lot pretty much all cut off, I have been waiting for wetter weather to do some burning of brush and limbs, I also have been working on widening my road as well as pulling final stumps that were in my road. Last weekend we Place a culvert in a small stream that we needed to cross fo… Continue

Checking in cause it has been months. We've been battling the crunch and the dwindling as many others here in So. California. Afraid our dream is getting further and further away only we are going to be in Show Low where we want to build sooner than we thought too. Still maybe a few years before we'd start our log home though. Home currently for sale with an offer. Praying for the best cause I will not imagine it getting any worst... Continue

It took me 4 years, 6 months and 2 days to convice the hubby that we needed a dog. Once we finished our log home last year, I told him it wasn't complete without a "log dog" - his answer "what about our log cat?" No worries - Marvin the cat is still loved (and he LOV… Continue

Hooray! This past February when I was thinking warm thought I was asked to write an article for the Cozy Cabin issue on maintenance. I just got my copy today, and am excited. My hat's off to the editors, who of course put out wonderful magazines. Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this issue!

Beth
See Dirt Run! Inc.