The Log Home Floor Plan Blog

The team at Mountain Architects have put together a Top 10 list below. Take a look at what they say are the top 10 most important factors to consider when designing custom log homes and timber frame homes:

1. Set a Realistic Turnkey Budget. Establishing a realistic budget at the beginning stages of the home design process is critical. It is equally as important to find an architect that is willing and able to work within your estimated turnkey budget range. Some cost factors you and your architect should consider include:

• Size of Your Home: The size of your log home or timber frame home is probably the biggest cost variable. If the preliminary budget is significantly out of alignment, the first place to look is at the square footage of your log home. Learn more about the layout and size of log homes.
• Complexity of Design: The complexity of a log or timber frame home’s design is probably the least understood factor impacting cost - the more corners, roof ridge lines and roof valleys, the higher the cost. Adding gables, dormers, hips and other architectural styling elements to your log home design increases its complexity, and as a result, the overall cost of your home. On the other hand, a simple rectangular design with one roof ridge line is simpler, and therefore less expensive, to build. See examples of log home design complexity.
• Level of Finishes Selected: The level of finishes that you choose for your log home has a dramatic impact on overall cost. Depending on your turnkey budget, you may select a higher level of finishes. Keep in mind that granite counter tops, Jacuzzi tubs, and wide plank flooring are beautiful amenities, but are more expensive than Formica counters, fiberglass tubs and carpet. See some examples of how home finishes can impact the cost of timber frame or log homes.
• Product Choice: The product you select for your home – milled log, handcrafted log, timber frame, a combination of log and timber, or stick frame with log & timber accents – also has an impact on the overall cost of your home. Work directly with your architect or designer to find the right product for your custom home, one that meets both your aesthetic preferences and budget. Understand product choice in the design process.

2. Know What Exterior Look You Want. Mountain Architects defines seven potential exterior styles for your home: Western Log and Timber, Pacific Northwest, Adirondack, Chalet, Appalachian, Craftsman, or French Country. Study them and other styles noted in the industry and decide which style you like best. Also magazine clippings are a great source for communicating to your architect what style and features you prefer.

3. Consider Your Site / Build Location. The general principle here is to design a log home or timber frame home to fit your build site. Consider the entrance to the site and any views you want to take advantage of. If your site has a slope you will want to consider a basement and if the slope is steep enough, a daylight basement may be in order. Other things that come into play are setback requirements; how much area is available for the house; and if there are any obstructions on the site. These are all factors that your architect should consider in designing your new log home.

4. Familiarize Your Architect with Any CCR’s. If the development you’re building in has published a list of design requirements you should become familiar with them and bring a copy to the meeting with your architect or designer. Of particular importance are any requirements regarding height limit and any submittal timelines.

5. Consider Your Lifestyle. How you intend to live in your custom log home or timber frame home will have a huge impact on its design. For example, questions of how many family members you have, if you plan to entertain, and if you participate in outdoor activities will determine the number and type of spaces within the house.

6. Establish the Main Use for Your Home. The design of a permanent, full time residence will be substantially different than that of a second home in the mountains. This is an important aspect to consider in your initial conversations with your architect or designer.

7. Decide How Many Levels You Want in Your Home. This has to do with the Exterior Look of the house and whether the client wants a basement which could be dictated due to site parameters. This can also involve segregation of spaces, available area on site, the slope of the site, orientation of the site, and of course, your budget.

8. Decide How Many Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Specialty Rooms You Need. Deciding how many bedrooms, bathrooms, and specialty rooms your want to include in your new home requires consideration of your budget, lifestyle, and the available area on your build site. The prime consideration here for you and your architect is your budget.

9. Consider Exterior Amenities. As you think about your lifestyle you should determine what features you will want to incorporate into the exterior landscape of your home. Items such as decks, patios, a spa, outbuildings and water features will greatly enhance how the house will fit your needs. You will want to take these items into account when addressing your budget of course.

10. Garage. Another huge budget item is a garage if it is to be included in the design. You will want to discuss the size and number of vehicles to be housed in the garage. Also of importance is the relationship of the garage (attached or detached) to the house and access in and out of the garage to and from the street.

See this article and more at LandWatch - Land for Sale.

PrecisionCraft’s newest log home floor plan is here! This month, Mountain Architects releases a single level design with lots of interest.

The inspiration for the Shenandoah log home floor plan comes from the cozy log cabin ideal of yesteryear. Even though this design is a single level with only 2,136 sq.ft., the plan is open and has an abundance of character. From the handcrafted log columns in the picture window to the extensive use of vaulted ceilings lined with log rafters, this plan is designed to turn heads.

With the Shenandoah log home plan, entertaining guests outside is an effortless adventure. Designed with over 300 sq. ft. of outdoor living space and a rustic stone fireplace, guests will feel right at home.

Every new floor plan, like the Shenandoah, is professionally rendered to help clients envision what the exterior of their homes will look like. Each new design is based on past experiences with clients, Mountain Architects’ own unique log & timber home vision, and the latest trends in the log home industry. The ultimate goal is simply to inspire.

As rendered, the Shenandoah shows how a combination of materials – square milled log, handcrafted log, glass, & stone – can be used together in the design of any home. If a client prefers a rustic handcrafted log home or a full timber frame home, the Shenandoah can be designed with any product in mind. In addition, the Shenandoah can be customized in size and layout. PrecisionCraft’s log home plans are simply starting points for many clients.

As drawn, the estimated turnkey cost of the Shenandoah is $500,000. This estimate reflects average construction costs generated by 3rd party, national data. With customization, the Shenandoah may turnkey at more or less taking into consideration a client’s build location, build site conditions, and design modifications.

Get more details on the Shenandoah Log Home Plan or view PrecisionCraft’s log home floor plan gallery.

Ready to make your getaway to a pristine log or timber home retreat? It won’t cost you a penny to immerse yourself in the latest in world class log home design from Mountain Architects, the log and timber home industry leaders.

This month’s unique French Country log home design, the Hickory Falls, features a hipped roof design, a custom timber frame truss at the entryway, and an impressive use of different materials. The latest design from the team at PrecisionCraft and Mountain Architects illustrates how a combination of materials – log, timber, stucco, stone, and glass can come together and create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

This log home design is also unique in its layout. The Hickory Falls’ floor plan features:

•Beautiful courtyard adjacent to the home’s entryway and living area
•Second floor balcony in the rear of the home
•Impressive studio space above the garage
•Master suite with outdoor fireplace
•Large mud room/laundry room

When designing custom homes – especially log & timber hybrid homes, it is essential to recruit an experienced architect; a designer who has an in-depth understanding of the properties and behaviors of log and timber connections. It is also important to have unlimited, direct access to your designer throughout the entire design process — from idea to the final home.

Each month, the team at Mountain Architects and PrecisionCraft Log Homes work to create a plan that reflects architectural styling elements that are new, unique, or simply inspirational. Recognizing that design is the first and most important step in bringing clients’ visions to life, PrecisionCraft’s monthly designs give clients the perfect place to find what elements and styles best describe their own unique lifestyles and visions.

You will find PrecisionCraft’s exclusive log home and timber frame home designs, like the Hickory Falls, nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Cascades, the Klamath Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians. Although PrecisionCraft is based in Idaho, you will find their log homes throughout the United States - from California to North Carolina, PrecisionCraft’s Total Home Solution™ makes the way.