| ||
| ||
|
Home Improvement Information | |
|
|
Log Homes for Beginners - 10 Steps to Success
For those who may be thinking of building a new log home and enjoying the lifestyle that comes with it, there are a number of steps you should take to make the process smoother. 1. Decide on a home style by reading log home magazines and visiting log home shows in your area. Attend log home company seminars. Do you want a single-story, one-and-a-half story, or two story house? Do you prefer a traditional cabin style, or a more contemporary look? Do you like round logs or square logs? 2. Decide on a rough floor plan. Based on the plan, determine how many square feet of living space you'll need. Find standard floor plans at log home shows and on log home company web sites. Standard plans can be customized if needed. 3. Narrow down your choices of log home companies you think you would want to work with. Contact their representative in your area and discuss your plans. Visit model homes build by each company. 4. Based on the plan you choose and the number of square feet of living space, determine the rough turn-key cost of building your home. Remember, the cost of a log home "kit" is only part of the overall cost of your home. Cost estimator calculators are available on some log home company web sites, and on the Log Home Advisor web site. 5. Based on the estimated cost to build your home, determine if the cost is within your budget and your ability to be approved for a mortgage. If not, go back to Step 2 and make changes to reduce cost. 6. If you're OK on the financing, locate and secure property. Make sure that there are no problems with road access, zoning, building restrictions, utilities, or services. 7. Arrange your financing with a bank or finance company that understands log homes. Many banks don't offer log home mortgages. 8. Get a contractor/builder who has log home experience, preferably experience with your particular log home company's building methods. Sign your log package contract with your chosen log home company, and arrange for delivery. 9. Monitor the construction process closely to make sure everything is going smoothly and correctly. 10. Move in and live your dream. Al Hearn is owner and operator of Log Home Advisor, a web site dedicated to the needs of log home enthusiasts.
MORE RESOURCES:
Home-Improvement - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Kitchen Magic It's amazing -- some people manage to get a complete aerobic workout just while preparing dinner! Back and forth, back and forth -- I get tired just watching! Today, pay attention to the way you move while you cook. How many times do you cross the length of your kitchen in one evening? Do you find yourself doing squats to get at your pans? Stretches to reach your dishes? Are you becoming a world-class hurdler, jumping over the dog's dish every time you go from refrigerator to stove? All it takes is a few minutes to re-arrange your kitchen storage, saving you a lot of time and energy in the long run. Planning Permission Tips UK - Illegal Building Works - Is there an Upside? Many times throughout the year we are called in to assist people who have got into trouble by completing building works without Council permission. This can be either Planning or Building Regulations - often both. Planning Permission Tips UK - Free Design Advice In The UK - How And Where To Get It Isn't it funny how people shelve projects for the new year - perhaps the new year feels like a fresh canvas or something - I don't know. Many potential clients I saw in Q4 of last year our now coming through as confirmed commissions - it's a funny old world with no rhyme or reason. 10 Common Uses for Baking Soda Baking soda is a great household cleaner. Here are ten ways to clean your home with baking soda:1) Make a paste of baking soda and water and rub on insect bites to relieve itching. Soy Candles? What Will They Think of Next? Quick: What comes to mind when you think of soy candles? Before my formal introduction to soy candles, I thought organic (read expensive) and BEIGE! And not just the color beige, but beige as an overall description for soy candles-blah like baby food, ground chick peas, and a pale winter pallor. I had no idea why it would even occur to anyone to purchase a soy candle. Buying Replacement Windows While most buyers of double glazing are looking for replacement windows to help reduce their energy costs, or because their old windows are rattling in their frames, there's a whole class of buyers who are 'trading up' - replacing perfectly good window frames for the sake of having the windows they want. They may be looking to replace all of their windows with a different style, or trying to restore their home to its architectural period. Unfinished Furniture - Finish It Yourself! Unfinished furniture has started to become extremely popular in the last few years. As customers have discovered the benefit of buying unfinished wood furniture, the industry has responded with an even larger selection. Physiological Response to Window Coverings Nothing soothes the brain like Mother Nature, whose intrinsic scenery relaxes and refreshes us, consciously and subconsciously. Therefore, a view of nature should never be completely covered up during the day. Window Shutters On A Budget While there is great value in installing custom-made interior wood window shutters, sometimes they are still too expensive for certain applications. Some alternatives - including poly or vinyl shutters - are less expensive but also much less attractive. Why Double Glazing? Why replace your single-glazed windows with double glazing ? For most, the precipitating factor for looking into double glazing is a need for new construction (or renovation) to conform to modern energy standards. Others decide to replace their windows as an energy saving measure. Complete Home Rehab In 10 Days This report is about taking a house and restoring it to an aesthetically pleasing dwelling that has reclaimed it's functional utility. In effect, it is the anti-aging medication for bricks and mortar. Remove Ink Stains From Carpet One of the best solvents you can use to remove ink stains from carpet is also one of the cheapest: rubbing alcohol. It works better if it is 90% isopropyl alcohol, but there is no danger in trying the ones that are 70% if that's what you have available. Fixer-Uppers: What To Fix You've bought a house, a fixer-upper you can make some money on. What improvements and repairs should you make? First of all, you need to know this before you buy, as I explained in another article. Building a Garage Addition to Your Home One of the most rewarding home improvements I made to my house was to build a garage addition. For years I contemplated building a garage addition while I scraped the ice and snow from my cars and waited for them to warm up during the winter months. Wall Oven - A Necessity For The Disabled Wall ovens, available in electric and gas forms, are best ovens for the people with disabilities. The ovens can be placed considering the required height of the user, and the controls can also be placed within the reach of the standing or sitting user. How to Install a Ceiling Fan - A Simple Guide A Complete manual on how to install a Ceiling Fan may take more than just an article; it may all even take up an entire booklet. Let me just give you a simple, no-nonsense essential guide in installing a ceiling fan. A Look at Steel Building Kits Steel building kits are a comprehensive set of all the parts required to assemble a steel building. They contain everything right from pre-drilled holes to the bolts for joining the individual components together. Daydreaming About Your Home Makeover Projects Most of us enjoy daydreaming about our perfect home. Do you ever think about your home just before falling to sleep? Instead of worrying about your tasks for tomorrow, try this exercise tonight: imagine you're arriving home. Selecting the Right Air Compressor for Your Air Tool An air compressor is used to power air tools such as spray guns, air sanders, air wrenches, air hammers, and much more. While not as widely used, air tools are more powerful than traditional electric power tools. Warm Up the Night! Patio Heaters and Fire Pits In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for sitting outside in the evening -- the bugs have gone and the sky is clear -- but the nights are chilly. Don't let the cool evenings send you inside -- extend your outdoor living season by heating your deck or patio.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
