Using Your Log Home Builder As A General Contractor
If you’ve decided on hiring a log home builder for your new log cabin or house, hiring a general contractor can be very simple. Just use the log home builder as your general contractor.
Actually, you’ll find most log builders prefer it this way. They know what to do and when to do it.
The key thing is to spend as much time as it takes to find the right log home builder for the project. Don’t be rushed into appointing the first one you talk to – or the cheapest.
Getting the right builder can make all the difference in how smoothly the building of your log home goes – and how close to your budget you stay!
Many of the guidelines here could be applied to the selection of a general contractor for any house-building project. While they are just as relevant to the building of a log home, there is one additional factor that you must give appropriate attention to – finding a contractor with suitable experience… a genuine log home builder.
It is tempting to say this is more important than any other consideration – but that isn’t really the case. You need all the attributes of a great log home builder working for you … plus experience working with log home projects like yours.
That doesn’t just mean some general log home experience – it means specific experience with the type of construction you are using, on the type of plot you are building on. A contractor who has built a number of prefabricated log cabins on a tract development is likely to be surprised by some of the challenges building a custom design on a tract of mountain land.
Now, that being said, there are many quality builders who do not specialize in building log homes but who can, with close coordination and support from a log home manufacturer, also build you a great log home. They can serve as your general contractor and work out the details of log home building with the log manufacturer.
There are a few ways you can track down log builders or general contractors with the right kind of log home experience:
- If you are building a kit, the supplier may be able to recommend contractors in your area who have built their product in the past. Some manufacturers may even provide a general contractor service for their product.
- Your architect (or other supplier of your plans) may be able to recommend contractors who have built their designs previously.
- Talk to other log home owners in the area and find out who their contractors were.
Log Home Builder Tip…
Your objective should be to finally select a reputable, trustworthy builder with the following attributes:
- Will build what you want – not what they are comfortable with
- Understands your vision and can communicate it to sub contractors
- Good – log home – references that you have checked thoroughly
- Agrees to sign a mutual agreement specific to the details of the project
- Can make the financial and time commitment necessary to complete your project
- Sufficient bank references
- Is bonded
Once you have appointed a general contractor (or log home builder) you have to let them do their job. Don’t interfere with work in progress unless you perceive a problem. If that happens, you should address everything through the contractor or builder, never directly with a sub contractor or individual worker.
Establish clear lines of communication with your contractor, including regular, scheduled updates and open channels for ad hoc advice and steering.
Create a Signed Contract With Your Log Home Builder
And, finally, no matter how confident you are in your contractor or log home builder, or how sure you are that everyone knows what is expected of them, have them sign a contract.
It may seem obvious… but you and your log home builder need to have everything in writing… that means a signed contract.
First Steps To Evaluating Log Home Builders
Deciding which of the many log home builders to use can be a daunting task. There are so many that even narrowing your list down to a chosen few can be difficult.
Making your selection even harder is the fact that there are so many very good log home builders available that it is hard to distinguish one from another. But, the fact that there are so many good ones really is good news and should be comforting to you.
Understanding the log home building process, the timeline of events, and knowing what’s involved in each stage will help you tremendously in building your log house and communicating with your builder. At the very least, you will create confidence in your knowledge and you will earn the respect of any potential builder.
Before we get to specifics, let’s look at some of the general things log home builders (especially yours) should have. This short list should get you thinking in the right direction.
You log home builder should:
- Build a quality home or cabin – You’re going to live in this a long time and you’ll want to enjoy and be proud of it.
- Have a competitive price – While your builder doesn’t have to be the lowest bidder, they should be competitive. However, if you feel the most comfortable with a higher-priced builder and can afford it, then, by all means, go with them.
- Be able to communicate with you very effectively.
- Work with you to implement your ideas
- Be flexible to your desires
One of the first things you need to decide is who is going to take the primary day to day responsibility for the construction phase – are you going to hire a builder or act as your own general contractor? There are two main benefits in being your own general contractor:
- You save money by not paying someone else to do the job
- You always know exactly what the status of the project is
Some people find that the hands-on involvement that comes with being your own contractor is a great way to reduce the potential stress of building your own log house or log cabin – you are never in the dark, worrying over what is happening and if everyone is telling you the truth about the progress being made.
Of course, this is only true if you have the skills, experience and time necessary to properly manage the construction. If not, you are likely to find the process of scheduling and managing sub contractors and materials highly stressful – and it is even possible it may end up being more expensive overall than simply hiring one of the many log home builders.
So, you have to be honest with yourself about your capabilities – and your ability to commit the time necessary to the project. Remember especially that you cannot always decide when to dedicate time to managing the construction. If a problem arises, it usually has to be dealt with immediately or it will end up costing you dearly.
The fact is, most new log home owners hire a general contractor – indeed, many lenders insist on it. While we may like to attribute this constraint to the unaccommodating nature of banks, it is really just an indication of the importance of the role, and the level of difficulty involved in doing it successfully.
Just remember – not everyone can build a log home, with or without a set of instructions. That’s why there are so many log home builders!
For related info, go to log home builder.
There are many great log home builders – the trick is to find the one that is best for you.
Log Home Construction Tips
Log home construction has come a long way in the last few decades. While full log construction is a traditional, time-honored way of building a log home, it now has the benefit of modern technology and processes.
The beauty of log construction is that it provides its own structure and even its own insulation, not to mention a natural elegance. We are talking genuine log homes, not a frame construction with log siding. Let’s be clear on that.
The art of log construction is relatively simple, once a few basic principles are understood. More than likely, you’re going to have your home built by a log home builder. But, there is a basic understanding of log home construction that is essential if you’re going to be able to communicate effectively with your builder.
Log home construction can mean different things to different people. It can certainly be about the materials used in building a log home or cabin. But it can also be about the type of house being built or about how to physically build that house.
For more information on types of log cabins or homes, go to house styles.
In this section, we will discuss the following issues regarding log home construction:
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Materials such as the log itself (cedar log, pine log, etc.)
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How to select the type of wood you want
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Log construction for better durability and easier maintenance
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Handcrafted vs. manufactured log construction
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Log styles
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Corner styles
Log home builders frequently have preferred log styles that they use in constructing a new log cabin or house. Once you have a feel for what you like, you should visit a prospective log home builder and make sure that they are willing and capable of building your desired style.
Don’t be afraid to go to another builder if you can’t find one to build what you want. Of course, they may show you something different that you may like just as well. If so, either go with them or move to the next builder and see what they have to offer.
Remember… it’s your house or cabin… that you’re hopefully going to have for a long time… so do it right and get what you want.
If you are planning on using a builder who does not specialize in log home construction, make sure they will work with your selected log manufacturer and that the log home manufacturer is also willing to make this a joint venture. Find out up front to save avoid any disappointment later!
Related Articles About Log Home Construction
What Are Log Home Corner Styles?
Log Home Plans
Browsing through new log home plans is one of the most enjoyable aspects of home building. Selecting the perfect log house from a wide variety of unique house plans is easy when you know what to look for.
When discussing log cabin plans, for example, we’re including the exterior style, the interior design and, of course, the actual floor plan itself.
Selecting your design from the many log home plans available is both an important and exciting step towards fashioning your future. The best and simplest place to start your search for unique house plans is on the Internet.
But, first, let’s give you some useful tips on finding the right log home plan for you.
Much of the appeal of building your own log or timber frame home lies in having the freedom to build the dream home that looks just the way you want it to. The main ways of transferring the mental picture of your home-to-be into reality are:
• Off-the-shelf plan
• Modified off-the-shelf plan
• One-off custom architect design
These are ranked in order of increasing cost – but you may not have to spend more to get exactly what you want.
It’s true that working with an architect to design your home from first principles will allow you to influence the smallest details, and it may be the only option if you have visualized a truly unique design, or are committed to including one or more innovative features in your home. You must remember, however, that the more unique your design, the more issues (and costs) are likely to arise during construction.
At the other extreme, working with off-the-shelf log home plans means not only will the design cost you less, but it’s likely that the resulting home can be built for less too.
The middle road – and probably the most common – is to take an off-the-shelf design and have it modified to suit your purposes. This usually gives you the best of both worlds – a tried and tested, robust design that you know will work, but tweaked to suit your family, your plot and your lifestyle.
With thousands and thousands of different log floor plans to choose from, it’s very likely you will be able to find a set of plans that will serve you well as a starting point. The difficult part for many people is narrowing down the choice to a manageable number!
To learn more about choosing the right log home plan for you, we have provided several articles below. Check back often as we will be continually adding new material in this, our section for log home floor plans.
Related Articles About Log Homes
Recommended Log Home Plans Websites
Log Homes – How To Plan, Design and Build Your Custom Log Home!
Living in a beautiful log home is a dream come true for more and more people every year. But, having the opportunity to plan, design and build your own log home or cabin is a treat in itself.
However, planning and building your own home can be extremely overwhelming. There’s so many things to consider and do it can be hard to tell where to start. The building process is much more than just looking at some log home plans.
Beautiful Log Home
Very few people actually do the physical building themselves.
More than likely you will use designers, contractors, builders and maybe even an architect.
You will, no doubt, want to know who the top log builders are.
But, even if you hire out most everything, you need to know much of what is involved in log home construction to ensure that you get the quality, well-designed home you’ve been dreaming of.
Then, there is the unique aspects of log home financing. Yes, there are some things you must know when trying to finance your log home.
Another area that is important to understand is log home maintenance and how to preserve the beauty of your new residence.
That’s why we’ve created this website. To give you a great starting place on your journey toward your new log home. You’ll find essential information you need on such topics as:
- building tips for log homes
- financing your log home
- interior design considerations
- exterior design considerations
- dealing with contractors
- log home or cabin maintenance
- floor plans
- working with builders
- various home styles
- log home construction
- cost savings tips
- and much, much more
You’ll find expert tips coming right from contractors and builders. And you’ll find out just what other log home builders, like you, wish they would have done differently so you won’t make their mistakes.
Also, we would be remiss if we didn’t give you a working knowledge of timber frame home design as timber frames are very popular and can be absolutely spectacular. Some of the most beautiful homes we’ve seen were of this style.
The navigation menu on the left will take you to any of the major sections of our website. There, you will find useful info and other related articles. For those articles that don’t seem to have a natural “home”, we’ve put them in the log home articles section.
So, browse our site and check out our recommended resources and you’ll be well on your way to planning, designing, and building a beautiful log home or cabin.