Top 5 Things We Wish We Knew BEFORE Buying a Log Cabin

We discuss in depth all the things we with we knew before we bought our log cabin, including some of our own personal hardships and what we did to overcome those challenges. Follow us on Instagram @bellwetherfields.

Top 5 Things we Wish We Knew Before Buying a Log Cabin

Log Cabins are EXPENSIVE. It is a specialized skill that not a lot of people have and because of it being a bit more rare, it is expensive. Now there are some things that a log cabin contractor really can help you out with, including the replacement of rotten sill logs and helping put back together an older foundation but be aware that the quote that they give you may not be accurate, our quote was very reasonable until it turned into 4X that amount and the time frame was 6 months to finish the entire job, which after 6 months and 4X the amount of money quoted the cabin was still basically a shell that we had to finish ourselves.

Log Cabins are nothing like a modern home. It never really occurred to us that walls made out of antique wood, built over 150 years ago would not be square, plumb, the walls wouldn’t even be flat, that there would be sharp object sticking out of the wood that would scratch you or tear your clothing as you walked by, that you could run your hand down the wall and walk away with several splinters. It makes sense now, but as novices there were things about a modern style house that we just took for granted and we wish we had realized some of those things before we purchased a log cabin, it would have saved us a bunch of heartache.

Confusing or few DIY resources. We were not afraid of DIY and for this project, we needed to Do-It-Ourselves because of the huge inflation of costs (see item 1), but there again we made the assumption that YouTube and the internet would have all the resources we needed to get this project done. Well they didn’t. Finding log cabin DIY resources is actually quite challenging and most of the information we found was in conflict with one another. Chinking was a perfect example of that. Some people only use the PermaChink, which we didn’t use but I believe is a man-made product that expands and contracts with the logs, it comes in a tube. Other people used plaster like we did, then others only used a cement mix, each of these resources would say that their way was the “right way” to do it. In the end, we realized, particularly with chinking that all ways might be the right way and you just have to go and pick something that works for you. Again, that would have been easier if we knew that before we spend an incredible amount of time researching and stressing out about it.

Everything in a log cabin takes 2-3 times longer than you think it will. Renovations take a long time, but when you are working them on weekends and holiday and you are working on a log cabin, expect that everything is going to take way longer than you think it will. We worked on restoring our windows and thought it would take a week, in reality it took a full month and that was working on them EVERY DAY. Things just take longer than you think.

Accepting things as they are. Finally, the most helpful thing we wish we knew is that at some point you are going to have to accept things as they are. An antique log cabin is going to have a lot of character and there might be some things you need to replace for structural or safety reasons. It is after those items are fixed that you run into issues if you aren’t careful. You could walk around and want to fix this or replace that but at the end of the day it might be better to accept those things the way they are and embrace that charm of your unique log home.

[charleshinesjr.]

Have lived in a log home for the last 24 years.. Bought the home when it was 8 years old without knowing anything about the maintenance problems of log I was lucky. Here's my advice: Build or buy a home with a wraparound porch. This will perfectly protect your logs from rot and the ravages of sun, rain, and other natural intrusions provided you keep a proper stain coating. Anything above the porch roof stay with traditional construction, NOT LOGS. My gables are board and batten construction. Standard maintenance here....easy to replace a board if needed.

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

Just came across your channel and wish I knew 30 years ago what I know now. My wife and I built our "dream" home when we were about your ages. We had a log home company erect the shell on a foundation then hired a local contractor to do all the finish carpentry. Our logs were 6 x 12 with hand hewn finish and dovetail corners. I did my own wiring and plumbing. My wife and I did the permachink ourselves which has lasted very well. We had front and back porches with open gable ends.
It didn't take long to realize that those exposed ends would be a major source of trouble along with the notched corners. We ended up sawing the notched ends flush and capping with cedar planks . The gable ends were covered with a fake stone veneer to make them weather proof. So the place ended up looking like a combination log and stone home. When it was new our home was show piece and we were very proud of our accomplishment. But after about 5 or so years, reality set in.
Not only carpenter bees, but flat headed wood borders attacked the exposed wood. Woodpeckers followed after, chiseling out where the bees laid eggs.
Wood ants got into the roof and have tunneled through the foam insulation leaving little piles of powder on the floor.
One thing different between modern "replica" log homes and their antique counterparts is the type of wood used.
Today's homes are generally pine or cedar which is relatively soft. The oldtimers used American Chestnut which is a harder wood and has a natural bug repelling oil in it.
To sum it up, if I had to do it over again I wouldn't. We had a $100k construction loan to work with and if we would have built a conventional home, we would have been much better off.
Maybe a log home in the desert or some semi arid place would be fine. But hey, to each his own.
I wish you well in your life's journey.

[gdsandkes]

Dad and I built a log cabin almost entirely from scratch in 1980-1982. Every step seemed to take a month as you say. We harvested the southern yellow pine from off his 11 ac. and would drag them up to the site with his tractor, then scribe and hand hew the logs flat on two sides, then treat for bugs and strip stack them in a drying shed. Meanwhile we had a mason build the full basement foundation, then proceeded to assemble the logs making the half dovetail corners as we proceeded row upon row, and also install the floor joists and sub flooring. The cabin was actually two cabins joined at the middle, one end is 26'x26', and joined by a 24'x24' on the other end. The flooring was boughten for the main floor and loft, but the roof rafters and decking were all milled from logs we took to the mill and/or planer. Each roof deck board was hand stained with white oil based paint, then wiped off to show the grain of the wood. After we finished the metal tin roofing we let the structure sit for about 9 months. We then cut and framed the openings for the windows and doors and installed modern windows with a hand made front door. We also hand built a double flue chimney up the middle of the house, and a fireplace at one end, using stone veneer from rocks we collected from a new road project, . For the chinking between the logs we used a half and half mix of masonry cement and concrete cement. We custom fit 1" thick styrofoam insulation, and fastened expanded wire mesh on either side of the insulation, which we then applied the mortar mix to on either side of each chink joint.

[meldaa]

Great video! I bought a log home 2 years ago, and have learned a lot of hard lessons much like you folks have. The logs and structure need to be sealed, so if you're thinking of buying a log home make sure you know what it's going to take to do this if it's not already, and it's not a once and done operation. Mine hadn't been stained in over 15 years (down to the wood fibers exposed), and was poorly sealed. I'm in a wooded rural area in East TN, and the carpenter bees were a nightmare. I just had it stained, sealed, and had all the bee damage repaired. I absolutely love it now, and it's like a new home. I'm going to need to re-stain the weather exposed sides in probably another 5 years. Owning a log home is definitely not maintenance free. You need to be prepared to put money and effort in to maintain it, but is extremely rewarding if you do so.

[selecttravelvacations]

I’m doing a custom crafted round log home. Builders are on a 2-3 year wait list that can do these. So, we are starting a small kit for a small guest cabin first, to build this summer. Excited about it but sounds like it will be a long journey. I like that you were able to do so much yourselves. I love the way you’ve integrated the old logs. My designer says I’ll be able to hang art on my walls (I’m an artist/painter), apparently round logs are easier to hang art than the square logs. I thought it’d be the other way around. Great job you’ve done! Keep living your log cabin dreams!

[markstory]

I was lucky enough to have a old family friend that fooled around with cabins as a hobby. Carl built some really cool cabins. He had no experience, did the best he could with the knowledge he had. He gave me opportunities to work and learn. Soon I was sharing what I had learned and people would share with me what Grandpa told them. Along the way I was blessed with knowledge of Log home building that I have to share. I cut timbers off the northern side of my hill last December 7/8th. I'm working on the foundation right now and heuing starts soon.

[jasonpedwaydon]

Good to know that logs are not flat. Very insightful and useful knowledge.

[LJRockstar]

I don't know you guys, and I immediately love you both. We bought an older house (not a lot cabin) but we can relate to a lot of the experiences you described.

[markwylie]

Be thankful for your accomplishments and feel proud. It's called life my friends.

[mylinda]

We own a 1840 hand hewn log home as well…. I relate to everything your You did a great job none the less👍

[PossumLady]

We used hidden "shims" behind pictures to somewhat level or flatten artwork...but the majority of our walls are used as a gallery to hang antique quilts. You covered all the 😕 "pitfalls" of owning one of these beauties. 👍💚

[MOOSEDOWNUNDER]

In Finland you can have a 2 bedroom cabin plus lounge, kitchen and toilet/shower for 30K Euros new. You just assemble yourself on site. Or you can purchase old cabin in Lapland from 10K to 100K depending on what you want. I think you are very specific about your 5 tips, its seem this is with old logs alone hey?.

[mcastro]

I am feeling this times 100. I bought a cabin 4 years ago with a very handy partner.. and then we split. So I’ve been learning as I go. The smallest things have so much more consideration around them- like the exterior maintenance… my cabin came with hideous stain and I want to redo it. Either a contractor mugs your retirement fund or it’s time consuming and exhausting. Anyway, good luck! It’s somehow feels all worth it regardless. I hope.

[jameslow]

judging by the gaps in between each log.... that was a smoke house someone converted sometime in thr late 50's lol ...

[romangamez]

Thank you just looking into buying a log cabin myself

[jonathanvandorn]

HEY ! We love your vids! We are about to buy a log cabin as our primary home and your video helped alot!

[jroar]

I think it important to realize a hobby from a domicile. My question to the both of you is what would you do different and are you happy with your results?

[noahkelchner]

Our family purchased a log cabin over a year ago. I’m the one in charge of renovating because I’m the contractor in the family. But I’ve decided to use the man made chinking on the inside and then I’m going to use plaster on the outside

[villiehaizlip]

Tks for sharing been in house over 20 years & I have the splinters to prove it. But it's going to be a great story for G-kid & hope they remember some of it. In Fla

[hollanderson]

Been living in Paris for almost 2 years now, a lot of the same problems you've listed also occur in these apartments. Renovations are expensive that's why most people diy themselves. Most floors are old wooden planks filled with splinters, windows and walls are crooked, there are many holes or slits where cold air enters which are impossible to find, unless it's a very windy day and you finally find where the howling is coming from. While diy is popular, it's difficult to find anything reasonably priced (this is paris afterall, god forbid anything be cheap), best option is always go second hand and scavenge the streets, though during covid it's really a problem about hygiene. There is nothing perfect looking in most of these apartments. There will always be some type of problem with something (unless you're higher middle class then you'll have the cash to fix anything), and you learn to live with it. Point is, having also lived in a cabin in the woods before, it's not too different. The major ones would really just be noise, electricity, internet, people, and groceries, everything else is pretty much the same. xd