Any Log Home Designers/Drafters???

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Permalink Reply by Tami Treaster on May 7, 2009 at 11:24am

I am new to this, an am glad to come across it. I just started working on planning a log home, an am very overwhelmed. I have tons of questions and it is nice to see that there are knowledgable people with whom I can get information from out there.

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Permalink Reply by Gravitas Design on May 7, 2009 at 6:58pm

Fire the questions away....someone will answer.

Derek Hurd
Principal
Gravitas, Inc.
1524 W. Hays
Boise, ID 83702
www.gravitas.us
Twitter: Gravitasboise
208.367.1184

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Permalink Reply by Tami Treaster on May 8, 2009 at 7:07am

You are a design firm. That is great. I like the plans that I have looked at are beautiful but just not fitting my needs. Someone on another blog said to look into this plath. I have a idea that has been in my head since I was a little girl. I still have dreams about it and it is always the same place. I hope to find someone when the time comes to help me get there. If I decide to go that path, what credentials am I looking for to find the best designer for me? I live in central PA.

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Fisher on May 11, 2009 at 12:39pm

Hi Tami,
This is a really great place to learn about the extensive planning that goes into a log home. There are a few designers in these woods, myself among them. As far as credentials go I would say that you want someone who has as much experience as possible working with log construction as it is quite a bit different than stick built. Are you thinking of a kit type home or something that is hand crafted? Have you chosen a manufacturer (if going the kit route)? If you are going with a kit home there are some design constraints depending on who the manufacturer is, i.e. post locations for support of the roof if you are using log rafters, the standard wall height, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Tami Treaster on May 11, 2009 at 5:24pm

Dawn,
I have not decided on the kit route or what just yet. I have looked at several different company's floor plans and nothing has said "you belong to me". I am sure that they work for many people out there though I am not convinced that I am one of those people. I joined this site to gather all the information that I can get. I have dreamed of a log house all my life. Mom said when I was 5, I would tell everyone that I would be a mom with a boy and a girl, no husband, live in a log house were I could hang my wash out to dry naked and no one would see me. Well, I have a boy and a girl, no husband and now I am working on the log house. (Not sure about hanging clothes out naked though). Anyway,like I said, I have woken up from dreams to draw and write down everything I could remember and none of the plans look like my dream. I can walk through the entire house but no dream looks like the plans. I will keep looking, but will probably end up needing a designer. I even live about a hour from Kuhns Brothers and still don't know what I am going to do.

I am still learning.

Thanks
Tami

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Permalink Reply by Gravitas Design on May 11, 2009 at 2:06pm

Tami,
That is what a good designer will do, draw those dreams from your head and put all those years that you have spent creating that vision down on paper.
What to look for? I'll add to and reiterate what Dawn said:
Log experience
Log engineering experience
Project portfolios and capability with various styles
Relationships with manufacturers
Relationships with builders....

Look at the end product, the deliverable. You wouldn't buy a car having never seen it and based only price, you buy it based on the looks, comfort, handling, reliability...

Good luck in your quest.

Derek Hurd
Principal
Gravitas, Inc.
1524 W. Hays
Boise, ID 83702
www.gravitas.us
Twitter: Gravitasboise
208.367.1184

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Permalink Reply by Rick Taron on June 19, 2009 at 1:47pm

Hi Dawn,
This forum discussion title keeps calling after me. I have been in the neighborhood for a while but figure I had better pipe in here.

I am a feelancer who loves to work with the best handcrafted companies out there. I recommend Brian Moore log homes, Pioneer Log homes, Peter Sperlich Log Construction, John Boyes at Nicola Log works, John Niniger at Wooden House log Homes, Dan and Markus at Cascade Handcrafted Log homes and Jim Maushak at True log homes.

My current software is ArchiCad on a windows platform. I also take advantage of Zermatt and Piranesi.
Here are a couple pictures that i just finished in Piranesi.

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