The Pros and Cons of Log Cabins

A log cabin, is a log cabin, is a log cabin. Although charming, log cabins have a number of drawbacks that should be taken into consideration before building one. However, there is a way to get that log cabin feel without going all-in.

Drawbacks: shrinkage, rustic inflexibility, constraints in home design, overal cost & labor, maintenance and chinking.

Logs themselves can be used in building styles using a hybrid approach that get around the drawbacks while still giving that rustic feel. This is accomplished through more of a hybrid timber framing approach. Listen as Bert gives ideas and insight on building a hybrid timber frame home using logs to give that rustic appeal.

[firstlast]

I built one from red cedar and never had any of the problems mentioned. Never had to trim any doors or windows and the heating and cooling is constant. It took me 5 years but I only had one helper from time to time. Been 20 years and still No problems.

[LNightLearning]

This man underestimates how many days I can eat a ham sandwich in a row.

[pindowskivich]

I bought a log kit in 1990. I was supposed to get 2 weeks of consultation from the company when I started building. The kit was delivered with instructions to let it sit in the barn for a while to acclimate. Two months later the company went belly up. No consultation, no help from the sales people. So, with help from family and friends, we erected a log home with zero experience. 33 years later, it is still a lot of work, but it's home.

[toeface]

The number one problem with a log home is it looks like a log home (inflexibility)? Why would you go through the hassle and expense of a log home and then try to change the decor so it doesn't look like a log home?

[bobbrinkerhoff]

How many people played with Lincoln Logs as a child and thought " some day " ?

[rollingacresfarmstead]

Properly seasoned logs as well as large overhangs/ covered porches take care of most of the problems

[zfodge]

In 1974 at age 14 and the Oldest child still living with our dad (I had 2 younger brothers and a much younger sister) and he was 100% disabled from 440 volts of electricity we built a log cabin and lived off grid. Now they weren't massive logs in diameter but we would lay logs on the log wall and roll the logs up and place them. We placed chicken wire and insulation in between the logs and then we used cement for chinking. It wasn't pretty but it was dry and warm. We wired propane lamps into the cabin. We had 4 small bedrooms. A old wood cook stove and in year 2 during the summer we hand dung a 5x5x93 ft well. For electricity we took a old Cadillac hearse, put the rear wheel drive axle into the air and put the car in drive and used it to charge car batteries that we used for light or whatever we needed electricity for. We lived that way for 4 years.

[captainbernhardf]

I have one and love it nothing better then nature

[bobbylopesjr]

Finally, a hard hitting documentary that contains things i need to know

[absolute]

Just buy manufactured D logs.

1. They are kiln dried, so they don't shrink.
2. They have a drip edge built into the log. No flat spots for rain to land on.
3. They don't need chinking.
4. Oil based old school stains work great on log homes.

But yes, I agree, timber framing looks great!

[Doc]

Hand peeled logs are gorgeous.
We’re having Meadowlark Log Cabin’s build our Log house.
Meadowlark is Amish owned and operated.
They take pride of every home, pavilion or garage they build.
Their home base is in Libby, MT.
They will build a home for you, from just making it in their factory and the owner pick it up and reassemble it themselves or they’ll do a Turn Key for their customers.
We will be there in a couple of weeks (end of May, 24), to go over our plans and pricing for what we want them to do.

Meadowlark will go as far north to Alaska, or to Florida and everything in between.

My wife is from MT and I’m from WA state.
I’m older than my wife and my health isn’t as good as it should be, so we’ll be relocating to MT so that after my death, my wife will be closer to her family and friends to help her after I’m gone.

[larrycassidy]

Great explanation. Need to do a good research before getting in over your head. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[danielmcgregor]

This was a great video. Very educational.

[dabomb]

I grew up in a beautiful log home in Oregon, can definitely agree with this video. We had a lot of maintenance to keep out rot and termites.

[whispercreekhomes]

Good information- there are a lot of design options to mitigate some of the issues you mentioned with full stacked log cabins but many of the things you point out are things to consider strongly before committing to a full log cabin. There are also many options to incorporate log components into a home design to give it that feel without having to switch to timber frame, as you mentioned. I like aspects of both log and timber frame design and have seen some amazing mountain modern designs lately that capture that old West nostalgia while also pushing the envelope with design.

[Urbannomad]

Love log cabins in alaska for a mini vacation.

[Blueblackngold]

Him: it takes a lot of labor

My self reliance: watch my dog

[mostawesome]

That was some great advice on building 🏫, Im taking well, thanks a million

[philliplee]

We bought a ‘70’s built log cabin on ten acres on a hill top that got the cold north winds, in Idaho. Big windows, sliding back porch glass door, metal roof. Logs cracked & dried, all methods of house construction had to be built inside of the logs; what a pita. Everything you do, the logs are in the way of sane construction matls & methods, doubling the amount of work and more.

[GIUL]

As a carpenter of 49 years. I have a lot of problems with log homes.
First, it's a massive waste of wood.
Second, these logs still retain moisture, causing seasonal swelling and shrinking. This puts so much stress on the structure.
Third, Termites love these structures especially the lower logs.
As a licensed residential contractor I won't repaire them anymore.
Their a nightmare.