Log Home Plans On The Rise

Log houses are built using logs that have not yet been transformed into lumber. This ecological and economical style of construction began in the northern parts of Russia and Europe many centuries ago, and in frontier America it was a popular building style.

During the 1920’s log houses that were made from milled logs (logs that were shaped and cut uniformly) were marketed, and vogue now seen for natural, environmentally friendly living has made log homes an extremely popular choice today. Log houses carry a natural, earthly theme with them, and are commonly designed to blend into the landscape by taking advantage of subsets, scenic vistas, and existing topographic site features such as boulders, slopes, and large trees.

The term “log cabin” refers to a little, commonly single-room, house which is great for a hunting lodge or a summer camp. House plans for log cabins are typically more simplistic than the full-blown plans used for log houses that are designed for family living. Log houses designed for family living can be quite extravagant and luxurious both inside and outside. Log cabins are built primarily by stacking handmade logs. The corners are constructed by notching the ends allowing the walls to interlock at the corners.

Some log houses are handcrafted (these typically have a more natural feel), whereas others are milled (these typically have a more sophisticated feel). Milled log houses are constructed from logs that have been processed until they are uniform in size and appearance, to make the process of construction easier and to create a less unsophisticated appearance. Handcrafted log houses, on the contrary, are constructed from logs that are more or less unprocessed. Aside from having their bark stripped in most cases, handcrafted logs otherwise appear in their natural state, remaining untouched.

Today the majority of log houses are milled as opposed to handcrafted simply because of the lower labor costs involved, and because there is a greater variety of styles and options than handcrafted houses.