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Q. |
How Energy Efficient is a Log Home? A.
(More
information...)
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Q. |
What is included in your log home and timber frame
home packages? |
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A. |
Our log home kits are quite complete and include
everything you will need to build the structure for your home including
the floor and roof systems, doors and windows, perimeter walls and
interior walls, gables, soffits and fascias. Everything we furnish is listed in our material list
under our Material List section. We encourage you to ask us questions and
contact us so you can perform accurate comparisons when budgeting for your
new log or timber frame home. Have a look at our Material list.
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Q. |
What must I add to complete my log or timber frame
home? |
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A. |
To complete the construction of your log or timber
frame home you will need to add the following elements:
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Foundation, well, septic and excavation
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Interior mechanicals: plumbing, heating and ventilation systems and
fixtures
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Electrical systems and fixtures
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Insulation for the second floor and roof
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Wall finishes such as pine and drywall
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Floor finishes such as carpet, ceramic or wood
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Stairs and railings
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Mouldings and baseboards
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Kitchen and bath cabinets
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Q. |
Can I change the components of my log home/timber home package? |
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A. |
Absolutely. We can accommodate most every need that you may have for your
log or timber frame kit. This includes options such as decks and porches,
substitutions such as plywood flooring, changes to windows and doors, roof
systems, floor square footage adjustments, garages, changes to partitions,
and so on.
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Q. |
What if I have my own design or design ideas for my log home? |
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A. |
You can bring us your own plans or ideas and we can work from there to
build you a log home kit.
We can even design a log home or timber frame home for you from scratch
using a process that identifies your needs and budget.
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Q. |
How long does it take to receive a kit? |
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A. |
On average it will take 8 weeks from the day that you order your kit.
Delivery time will vary due to time of year and availability of materials
but generally, we strive to ship our kits within 8 weeks.
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Q. |
What will it cost for a log home or timber frame kit? |
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A. |
The cost of a kit will vary based on many factors including:
- the style of the home
- its square footage
- the quantity, size and style of windows and doors
- the type of basement
- interior options such as pine floors and pine ceilings
- exterior options and add-ons like porches and decks
As a general rule of thumb, our log home kits average about $55 to $65.00
(Canadian) per square foot for a complete kit. Timber frame kits run
between $65.00 and $75.00 per square foot. Try our
log home cost
calculator tool . It will give you a feeling for costs. Remember that it
is in Canadian dollars though!
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Q. |
What about the Total Cost of building a log home or timber home?
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A. |
As a general rule of thumb, you can figure out a rough estimate by
assuming that a fully completed log home will average about $140.00
(Canadian) per square foot. This does not include your land but includes
well and septic systems, electrical, mechanicals and interior finishes.
Timber frame home construction is more complex, and can average $160.00
(Canadian) or more per square foot. These prices reflect a modestly
appointed home.
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Q. |
What will affect the total cost of building my log or timber frame home?
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There are 4 key items that will affect your total cost of building:
- The Kit
The style and the options you choose will have a major bearing on the cost
of the kit. We have designed custom log homes and timber frame homes that
are well above $100.00 per foot for the kit.
- Your Participation
If you are willing to do certain tasks, then substantial savings can be
achieved. Items such as painting, building a deck, installing a finished
floor, adding trim, all lower the cost of building.
- The choice of finish materials.
The finishes you choose will have a huge impact on the total cost of
building. Finishes include kitchen and bath cabinets, finished floors,
electrical fixtures, plumbing fixtures and wall finishes. This is a major
item which requires discipline and diligence when budgeting for your home.
In our experience over the last 20 years, it is the one area where the
budget is most at risk. The reason for this is simple – the cost of finish
materials can vary by as much as a factor of 10. Consider for example the
cost difference between a basic carpet and a custom hardwood floor, or a
granite countertop when compared to a basic laminate countertop. Be sure
to always have at least 2 selections for everything – a choice selection
and a budget selection - and be prepared to shop shop shop if you want to
make the most out of your budget for interior finishes.
- The Construction Methodology
A turnkey general contractor will cost you the most money but in return
you will get a fully completed home that is in move-in condition. This is
ideal for people who do not have the time or interest in participating in
the project. At the other end of the spectrum, doing it all yourself is
the cheapest way to go, provided you have the time and experience to do
it. Another approach in terms of reducing cost while ensuring a top-notch
construction is the "pure" managed project, where a PM works with you through the whole project from start to finish, providing estimates, trial
budgets, tendering, open-book contracts, scheduling, site supervision,
inspections - the whole gamut from idea to key in the door. If you would
like to know more about project management, visit our web site at
www.maisonparagonhomes.ca
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Q. |
What should I know about selecting trades to build my log home? |
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A. |
First and foremost, the trades you select should have knowledge of
log construction and experience in doing so. This applies to:
- mechanical companies and trades such as plumbing, heating and
ventilation contractors
- electricians
- framers and building crews
Building a log home is not complex, but there are things that these trades
must know about, and know how to do. For example:
The exterior log walls and structurally insulated panels are solid walls.
That means that you cannot readily run duct work, conduits, wires or pipes
through a wall. If the trades are not familiar with building within the
confines of a log home, you may wind up with unnecessary chases and
bulkheads.
The framing crews must also follow the rules for building a log home. This
includes accommodations above the windows and doors for settling of the
logs over time. The window bucks for example must be able to follow the
log wall as settling occurs, or else you will wind up with windows and
doors that do not open and close properly. Similarly, interior wall
partitions must be able to accommodate settling. The building requirements
are not complex, it’s just that the trades you choose must be aware of the
fact that log walls will settle, and they should adjust accordingly when
building.
Electricity poses specific requirements. Your framing crew and electrician
must be able to plan properly as to where and how electrical wires are to
be run, and how fixtures are to be installed. For example, to install an
overhead light on a main beam, it is important for the framer to cut a
track through the top of the beam such that a wire can be fished through
while remaining out of sight once installation is completed.
The key is to select good, experienced trades to build your log home.
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Q. |
Are log corners built on-site or at the factory? |
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A. |
All log corners are cut on-site by the builder you choose. You do
not have to be confined to any particular type of corner style. In most
instances, you would pay a hefty premium for particular corner treatments
when buying a pre-engineered kit home. By leaving log corner cutting in
you and your builder’s hands, you can likely negotiate a better price from
your contractor on-site, and get the exact corner detail that you want.
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Q. |
How can I figure out how much log/timber home I need? |
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A. |
A key and often overlooked step is defining the square footage
requirements based on long-term needs. Here is a process to help you do
this:
- List all items from past homes that you loved and would like to see
again. Then prioritize them into "needs" (e.g., 3 bedrooms) and "wants"
(e.g., a big stone fireplace)
- Do a second list with all the dislikes and prioritize these into
unacceptable (“I never want to have this again)" and acceptable (“I can
live with it if need be)"
- Take the "needs" list and the "unacceptable" and put them together to
form your baseline for your expectations.
- Next, review each room to your house(s) in terms of how it is used,
extent of time spent, and preferences for size. Get the kids involved too!
- Take measurements of each room and make appropriate sizing decisions
(e.g., we love our country kitchen but would like it to be bigger, we
don't need a dining room...)
- Add up the square footage to give you your baseline requirements. At
140.00/ft, every foot counts!
A Few Tips:
- it’s very easy to build too much house
- sweat the inside, not the outside. The inside is where you live!
- think long term; where will the kids be in 5 years, in 10 years, where
will you be?
- think in terms of mobility, dexterity and accessibility when "using"
your house; imagine living a full day in there, going from room to room,
cooking, etc...
This will get you pointed in the right path. Then take a look at our plans
to see if they can meet these needs. And remember that we can pretty much
take any plan and size it to your needs, and we will help however we can.
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Q. |
Do you offer foundations? |
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A. |
Yes we offer preserved wood foundations (PWF) foundations. These
systems provide for a warm, dry and comfortable basement, thus adding to
your living space. They also reduce heat loss in the basement
considerably, and effectively eliminate the cold and damp feeling that is
experienced in many concrete foundations. Feel free to contact us if you
would like to know more.
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Q. |
What wood species do you offer? |
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A. |
We use eastern white pine exclusively. It is renowned as a strong, durable
and economical wood species.
It is easily worked (for corner details for example), has a uniform
texture and features low shrinkage. It is also a fast-growing tree that is
widely used in landscaping and reforestation efforts. We do not use
standing dead wood or inferior grade trunks and no trees with insect
infestations. All logs are dried naturally.
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Q. |
Does Canada Log Homes kiln-dry its logs? |
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A. |
No. Some manufacturers opt for kiln-drying when the lumber used is
standing dead wood or low-grade lumber in order to kill insects and reduce
moisture content. But the process will generally only act on the first
inch or so of the log. And once the log exits the kiln, it will re-acquire
its moisture once in the environment.
We believe kiln-drying may be more appropriate for small dimensional
lumber (2X4’s for example) and not for large solid logs.
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Q. |
What is the difference between log and timber framing? |
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A. |
In an engineered square log structure, logs come in small 8 foot sections
and are splined together to make up the log wall system. Logs are
stacked horizontally, one on top of each other, to make up a solid wall.
In some instances logs may be full length, but this is more expensive and
more difficult to handle and erect.
A timber frame home is an open framework of large structural
(load-bearing) timbers that are exposed inside the house and become an
integral part of the home’s look and feel. In a timber hybrid, the timbers
are reserved for the main living area/great room, whereas the bedrooms and
"wings" of the home are constructed using "stick-framing" to keep costs
down. Joinery between timbers may also be steel in order to reduce costs.
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Q. |
What is the difference between timber framing and post and beam
construction? |
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A. |
To be honest, we’re not sure anymore ourselves! Actually, the terms are
interchanged somewhat liberally. In general, a true timber frame
construction uses solid wood timbers throughout the wall and roof system,
whereas a post and beam can use a mix of solid timbers, standard
dimensional lumber and laminated or structurally engineered wood products
like glulam and paralam beams.
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Q. |
What’s the Difference between a hybrid and a true timber frame home? |
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A. |
A hybrid timber home is an interesting alternative for those who love the
look of a timber frame home but that are concerned about the costs of
timber framing. In a hybrid design, a conventionally erected shell is
designed using conventional lumber, after which timbers are then grafted
onto the structure. The add-on timbers are still substantial in size, but,
unlike a true timber frame home, they are not load-bearing, which provides
many cost and visual benefits:
- you get to decide how much timber will be exposed throughout the home
- you get to set the upper limit for timber sizes to save on costs
- you can modify the look and feel of the timber design without being
worried about structural details
- you can reduce the timber spacing to your liking
- custom joinery (e.g., tongue and fork, blind mortises, etc…) is
eliminated
- conventional framing crews can be used to frame your home
- you can literally “add” timber elements over time
A hybrid gives you the big timber look you want, without the expense.
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Q. |
What type of timbers are used in a hybrid timber frame home, and how are
they joined? |
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A. |
As a general rule, timbers come in two types:
- a solid 6X8 pine timber or,
- a machined hollow timber, which is available in any size, but which is
usually 8X8 pine
Solid timbers give you the rustic charm of a timber home, complete with
checks and cracks, whereas hollow timbers generally do not check and crack
as they are engineered and machined to tight tolerances using milled pine
lumber.
Joinery for a hybrid is quite flexible, but usually consists of mitred
joints and/or metal braces to keep costs down.
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Q. |
Why is Timber Framing more expensive than log? |
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A. |
Large timbers are more expensive than smaller timbers and, unlike a solid
log wall, each timber is a stand-alone structural, load-bearing element. A
timber frame kit may include timbers that are 6X10, 8X10 or larger. By
comparison, a basic log kit uses a 6X8 log for its walls. In general,
trees that can yield an 8” log are much more plentiful. So while there is
generally less timber in a timber frame home, the timbers are much more
expensive.
And our timber frame kits also include structurally insulated wall panels.
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Q. |
Is a SIP panel better than a conventional wall system? |
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A. |
In general, a SIP panel offers better insulating value than a traditional
2X6 wall system (which usually yields an insulating factor of R20). But
this must always be measured relative to the budget as a SIP panel is more
expensive to purchase, and to frame. And the proper standards and
procedures must be respected in SIP panel construction. It is possible to
create a wall system with very high insulating value using conventional
means such as using a 2X8 wall system, styrofoam sheathing,
and so on. Back to the Top
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Q. |
I live in the United States. Why should I buy a Canadian product? |
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A. |
Canadian weather can be very extreme. As a result, the quality of our
materials is quite high. That said, you can expect excellent quality from
many suppliers back home. The key difference has to do with cost. When you
do the exchange rate calculations you will likely find that you can afford
much more home for your money by buying a kit from Canada Log Homes. You
can use the savings to top up your 401K, buy more home, spend more on
options and finish elements, pay bills or take a vacation to Canada! In
addition, there are no fees, duties or taxes to pay when shipping an
unassembled log kit and materials to the United States.
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Q. |
Can you ship a partial kit, that is, one without certain elements? |
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A. |
We get many requests to ship partial kits, or logs only, however these
fall under different trade and tariff regulations which may make your kit
less economical. That is why we ship all our kits complete, per our
materials list. Back to the Top
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What is the cost of shipping? |
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A. |
Shipping costs are very dynamic so we go out tender at the time of
delivery. However we can usually give you a good ballpark estimate via
e-mail or phone. We can also quote prices FOB for those of you who prefer
to set up their own shipping. Back to the Top
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Q. |
Do you have catalogues or plan books we can take a look at? |
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A. |
We do not have a catalogue as we keep all prices, material lists, options
and sample plans directly on our web site. From the web you can print any
plan or photo, print price lists, material lists and options.
We also have an interesting cost budgeting calculator that you can use to
do ball park budgeting. Just enter the size of home, type of log, options,
and it will estimate costs of building for you.
About 90% of the log homes we build are designed from scratch with our
clients. This allows us to really capture the spirit of the home, while
helping to respect your budget by making every square foot count. In the
planning process we try to take everything into account including the
budget targets, your needs, the longer term objectives for the home, where
it is being built, economic factors, staging, and so on. This ensures that
the home works for you! |
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