These are very popular in some of the resorts, campsites and woodland locations. Due to the simplicity and beauty of these types of homes, many have invested in them as a rest house to spend some of their weekends, or even as a permanent dwelling. You can build one yourself armed with small log cabin blueprints.

There is something unique about a small log cabin which sets it apart from small houses. The site on which it is built is chosen mainly for its natural beauty.

 Good blueprints on building this structure will provide more information about this. Due to its setting, the building offers easy access to the outdoors, both through the doors, as well as through great views from inside.

Choosing Location

When going about the task of construction with the help of blueprints, the first step is to choose a location. One of the features of a small log cabin is that it can be built without affecting the natural beauty of the site. Another criterion is that it should enhance the landscape and not overwhelm it. In fact, it should blend into the surroundings.

You can choose the design from your blueprints. However, this mainly depends on the site you have chosen. A Colorado mountaintop, the shores of a Minnesota lake, the Louisiana backwoods and the Utah desert will all require different designs tailor-made to suit them.

Simple Construction

This building is built in a simple, no-frills way, and mainly offers protection from the wind, rain, cold and heat. This was the way it was meant to be in the early days of its existence, and even today, it provides minimal creature comforts. The construction is made even easier with the help of good blueprints prepared by experts.

Efficient Use of Available Space

Since space is limited inside, it has to be utilized efficiently. Let us examine some of the ways in which this can be done. You can go in for built-in storage and furniture. A window seat can be turned into a place to keep firewood or wet boots, board games, and frying pans. The space beneath the stairs can be used to accommodate drawers, pantry or firewood. A closet can be used both as an attic and as a cellar. A little bit of planning by regularly consulting your blueprints will provide you with many ideas to utilize the available space to the maximum

Promotes Closeness

There is another positive aspect of efficiently utilizing the available space inside with the help of blueprints. The small space promotes closeness and companionship. Thus, a small cabin not only helps you to bond with nature but also with other people.

Origins

Log cabins were introduced to America in Delaware in the late 1770s by Swedish and Finland immigrants. Since then, these buildings spread throughout America. So much was its popularity that not only homes but schools, churches, barns, and various other commercial buildings came to be built from logs. Many American presidents including Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson were born in a log cabin.

You can save a lot of money as well as have the satisfaction of building your own small log cabin by following good blueprints. This can be your getaway where you get recharged when the pressures of city life weigh you down.

When you’re building a log cabin the “old” way, you have a truckload of logs delivered, take them down, measure out each one a log at a time, cut them each a log at a time, notch them each a log at a time, and fit them in succession, a single log at a time in order to conform to the contours and shapes of the logs laid down previously before them. Cumbersome logs being cut and shaped on-site are heavy, and can be quite dangerous to work with – accidents can, and will happen, rest assured.

During such a time-consuming effort, with the span of time, it takes towards completion, there arise countless opportunities for delays of all types; accidents, needed design changes due to the “personality” of some logs, ordering more supplies as needed, bad weather, and the list goes on. It may take more than a year to be able to move into your new home, realistically speaking.

 You basically start with the foundation logs, then the next logs which are to be placed atop those must be shaped to conform with them, cutting them to fit the contours of the first set. Then each successive log must be shaped as it comes next to be placed according to the logs set previously before them.

 In this manner, you cannot ready any number of logs ahead, but must fit each and every one, one at a time. This is far too much of a time consuming method.

This is where small log cabin kits come in. With each log pre-shaped in the factory and all shaped perfectly to fit with each other, and all marked according to order of placement and where each one goes, the greater part of the work is already done before the parts even get to the construction site.

The most appealing part of the whole concept of small log cabin kits is the simplicity – the ease of construction and the short amount of time that’s needed for building it all. What may have taken many months to complete can now only require a few short weeks of construction work. And this is one of the biggest advantages – time.

This is why small log cabin kits just make more sense to invest in. Even more common sense is the log cabins for sale kits with pre-shaped logs is more cost effective.

Questions You May Have About Constructing a Log Cabin Home

When it comes to building your own log cabin home, it can be quite exciting and overwhelming at the same time. There are several things you will want to be prepared for prior to constructing the home. With some research and preparation, you should have no problem properly constructing the home. Here are four questions you may have about building a log cabin Ireland.

1.     What type of wood should I use?

A common question people have is what type of wood to use. There are many different kinds of wood out there that can and should be considered for your home. Everything from hard woods like mahogany and oak to soft woods like pine and redwood can make it difficult to decide which is best for you. It can be easy to get caught up in trying to find the perfect kind of wood.

What you have to realize is it is better to find the perfect constructer, even if it is yourself. Without a quality constructer, the finest wood can be built incorrectly. While there are many different types of wood that are perfect for log cabins Dublin, many times there is a variation of woods chosen based on several factors. Some of these factors include the spanning of walls and floors, insulating factors, and the availability of the wood. So there really is not the perfect kind of wood you should use.

2. Are log cabin homes expensive to heat?

Because of the thermal mass, log cabins are actually extremely cost-effective to heat. Thermal mass refers to the naturally formed air pockets created by the cell structure of a log. Of course there are always going to be specific design features that can make certain homes more expensive to heat than others. There are some other reasons as well such as the thickness of the logs and the contractors you higher. But typically, these homes are relatively inexpensive to heat.

3. How much will it cost me to construct?

One of the biggest worries with people constructing these homes is how much is it going to cost. This is the most asked question by people and unfortunately there is no specific answer to give. There are far too many things that can vary this answer. Some of the factors that will affect the cost of your home include the kind of material you use, the design details, the combinations of specifications, economic conditions, and whether you are working on your own time or hiring cabins book from www.coppolacabins.ie/.

While it is impossible to give you a straight answer right here, the best thing to do is come up with a plan and get a quote. Once you have determined the kind of material you want and have come up with a design, you will be able to get a much better answer. Research is the key to finding out what to expect.

4. How do I build an inexpensive home?

While nobody wants to build a cheap home that is going to quickly fall apart, it is nice knowing the inexpensive route. If you want to keep your home as inexpensive as possible, build a four corner rectangular log cabin. This will make it much easier to cut the wood and build the design correctly. You can still have a great home with this simple design. Typically it is the design of the home that can vary the cost.

I lived the so-called “American Dream.” I had a large house with 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, massive walk-in closets, a 3-car garage, pool, and within a gated community. I received a good 6 figure income from my work, traveled, dined out, and once owned ‘his and her’ Mercedes. What more could any red-blooded, American want? Why, the second home in the country, of course!

We had good friends that always bragged about driving up north into the mountains to stay in their “other” home that was totally furnished and well-stocked for an instant getaway. They varied from estate-sized to modest “A” frames. But the lure of the clean, non-polluted air, abundant wildlife, cooler summer temperatures, and scenic, pine-filled vistas, was truly intoxicating. We had spent many days and over-night in the area and were already convinced of the benefits. So, with a few extra bucks in the bank, we decide to do some serious investigating.

It Began with a Budget and a Plan

We wanted log houses like a dwelling that was totally different from our current residence. So, we enlisted the aid of a local high-country realtor and began the search. By the third or fourth house, we were already disillusioned. It appeared that the people living in these cabins had no concept or words such as “repair” or maintenance.” Toss in “modern appliances” and “repainting,” and you get the picture, which wasn’t pretty. We had a new comprehension of what “rustic” actually meant.

Most were smallish and in need of renovation. The agent explained that, within our price range of $100,000 to $125,000, we couldn’t expect much better. The true “log cabins” were by far, the worst. They had obvious termite damage and lacked the most common amenities. But the one thing we desired most was a view, and although they all said they had one, we decided looking at large fir tree in the front yard wasn’t our idea of a view lot. So, 25 homes later, we politely thanked the realtor and headed back down the highway homeward bound and somewhat disheartened. Yet we weren’t totally dejected and still craved that impossible dream.

Weeks later, I had some free time during the week and took a morning drive back to the mountain town. There, after I got a website of coppolacabins.ie, I discovered a small, new development with three models of modest-sized log cabins. After touring them, I found the perfect size in an affordable configuration in a two-bedroom, two-bath single level with a two-car garage. There was also a lot available that backed onto the national forest with terrific views. I immediately slapped down a deposit and drove back home with the news. My wife came back with me, agreed on the cabin and we began building a few months later.

It Was an Exciting Time

After choosing wood floors and redwood siding, we began picking out our appliances, furnishings and interior colors. By the fall, we were spending weekends in the 1200 square foot home and enjoying our first snowfall. That spring, I planted some trees and shrubs for additional landscaping and a buddy and I built a sprawling “L-shaped” redwood deck. So, right about now you’re asking yourself, what was the pitfall of this great place?

The harsh reality began slowly and spread like a disease. But first, may I offer a bit of background material. I live near Phoenix where it’s 105 degrees most summer days and 70 in the winter. The mountain town is in the ’80s in the summer and 40’s in the winter. So, from May through October it’s a perfect temperature up north, but in the winter, it gets quite cold. Nights can be in the ’20s. The purpose of the cabin was to use the deck and sit outside whenever possible, enjoying the view. But mid-October through March, it’s rather cold and not practical. So, it really was a summer retreat. Right away, our enjoyment was limited by the climatic conditions, causing a big letdown.