Frequently Asked Questions About Building a Log Home

The following are some answers to the more common questions we are asked about our homes. If you do not see the answer to your questions here, please feel free to contact us.

What are the advantages of building a 'handcrafted' log home?

A handcrafted log building is the only "true" log building. In a handcrafted building, the log is still a natural log, the only alteration being that it has undergone removal of the outer bark and part or all of the "cambium" or inner bark layer. Because of this, each log still possess all of the uniqueness and character that nature intended it to have. Contrast to this a machine-cut piece of wood - mechanically profiled to be identical to every other piece in the building. It is no longer a log, but a factory run piece of lumber that used to be a log. Because of this, the handcrafted log building has an aesthetic advantage - each log of every building is unique and distinctly different from every other - creating a unique building every time.

Handcrafted buildings also offer structural advantages. Using natural full-size and full-length logs up to 60' long and from 10" to 30" in diameter creates structural integrity using only wood. Contrast this to machined logs - typically 6,8,10 or 12" in diameter and up to 30' long that are nailed or screwed together at regular intervals and you will see that the larger, handcrafted log offers better thermal performance based upon it's mass. Larger, handcrafted logs joined using a "full scribe" system are stronger in all stress situations and offer greater design options based on size and length without the addition of costly design, engineering and steel fabrication.

Also, because a log building can flex without the structure failing, it is considered a safer building to be in during an earthquake. With good design and proper maintenance the well built log home will serve for centuries.

What type of wood should my log home be made from?

Design and maintenance have a large bearing on how well certain woods perform in extreme weather exposures. Western Red Cedar does well in all settings. It is more stable and has a natural oil content that helps to preserve it. Douglas fir is the strongest so we like to use it for hard working structural elements such as floor and roof beams, although a larger diameter log in cedar will do the job.

What finishes do you recommend for log homes?

Avoid anything that creates a build-up on the wood surface that will prevent the wood to from breathing. Moisture trapped inside an impermeable finish can cause severe damage.

How much does a handcrafted log home cost? What dictates the cost of a handcrafted log home?

This is a difficult question to answer due to the many variables involved in building a home. There are three main elements that influence cost:

1. Wood species:
   Cascade Handcrafted employs both Western Red Cedar  and Douglas Fir in the creation of our homes - typically using the cedar for walls and Douglas Fir for hardest working structural elements. The log cost difference between the cedar and the fir is about 20-30% with Western Red Cedar being the more costly material. Cascade will work with other species of wood on request.
   
   

2. Total volume of logs required:
   We price our homes by the volume of wood used rather than on a per-square-foot basis. We will try to illustrate this using a graphic example (see plan drawings below):

   
   
   
   
   
   Plan One
   This home is a simple 30x40 log 'shell' with four corners and no interior log walls.
   
   
   Plan Two
   This home is a slightly more complex 30x40 shell with eight corners and an interior log wall. This configuration results in a much more stable building, requiring nearly twice the wood and twice the labor as in plan one, but with the same area or footprint.
   
   
3. Design:
   Still using our basic 30'x40' shape, we can add many features that will add to the cost of the building. Perhaps the wish list is a gable roof over the front entrance, and log trusses in the roof system. Add log stairs and railings, and these additions will increase the price of the building.
   
   To give an indication, the average 'per square foot' price of a Cascade Handcrafted log home is $25-$50 per square foot (unfinished).

Compare pricing between handcrafted and machine-cut log packages.

The final price of a handcrafted home is very close to that of a machine cut home. The reason for this is the higher labour cost associated with the assembly of a machined package after it has been delivered.

The pre-built handcrafted house of 2500 square feet typically reassembles in 3 days, ready to rafter. Compare that with the same plan in machine cut styles which may take a month or more to reassemble to the same point.

Handcrafted buildings are usually more expensive for the "shell" cost due to the labour involved in the "hand" building, compared to the automated machining process. The prices even out when you compare the final product.

Many contractors have told us that handcrafted is often less expensive on the total project cost.

How can you assure wood quality?

We are licensed Timber Products Inspector (TPI) graders. If you require, each log can be graded and stamped - certified to meet or exceed TPI standards.