What are some characteristics of log home design? Learn how modern homes can be built with traditional log home appearance. Any house can be built with a log home structure. A log home or log house is technically...
Any house can be built with a log home structure. A log home or log house is technically the same thing as a log cabin, a house typically made from logs that have not been milled into conventional wood.
"Log homes are homes that are built with large tree trucks instead of the standard stud construction," says George Hicks, a designer at A-1 Home Designs, a design service specializing in home, and small commercial building plans since 1989.
According to Log Home Design.com, when choosing logs for the home, think very hard about how the final design will be executed. Appearance is a big factor when choosing wood, but your decision should be based on more than aesthetics and emotions. In a log home, logs are used as structural components, so if the logs aren't sturdy, neither is the house.
Your budget and the type of log home design you want to build are major factors in the final decision of logs you choose to use. There are three important areas to think about when choosing logs: log species, milling procedures and drying techniques.
"They are very pretty homes, but very few people actually want a log home when they find out how expensive it is to build one," says Hicks.
When choosing a log species, look at the appearance, strength, work ability and decay resistance to natural wear and tear. There are two types of wood as well: softwood, which comes from cone-bearing trees, and hardwoods, which come from broad-leaf trees. Softwoods are more popular in log homes because they are easily available, are easier to work with, and are lighter.
Softwood trees consist of Cedar, Fir, Hemlock, Larch, Pine, and Spruce. Hardwoods consist of Oak, Yellow, and Black Walnut.
Within the log home support is needed. There are different types of support to choose from to add style and sophistication to each room. Whatever your design style is, there are choices that will compliment your décor. King posts are perfect for great rooms or areas where the trusses will have to span greater distances.
"King posts come in two varieties: suspended and full. A suspended king-post truss with a single, vertical post is often used for areas that are about 16 feet wide, a comfortable-sized room with the option for centered windows or furniture," says Hicks.
If you want a fuller length post, then king posts fit perfectly in wider spans. King posts are typically used in between bays or on an end wall to balance the area.
Another option is a queen post, which is perfect for entryways and as focal points in the home because of the rectangle design. This post is a great design choice for windows, or as an eye catching architectural element.
The third option is hammer beam, which offers the possibility of wide expanses of about 24 feet without the need for vertical support posts.
