Why Using Douglas Fir for Building Is a Solid Idea
The use of wood for building structures dates back longer than recorded history. Archeological evidence of woodworking in humans is estimated to be over a million years ago in Tanzania. Back then, wood was a bountiful resource that people could use to build things like ships, homes, and tools. Over time, humans perfected the practice of building structures and tools using wood. Today, we have more or less perfected the practice of building homes through the knowledge of wood characteristics like strength-to-weight ratios, hardness scales, textures of the grain, exceptional durability, and more!
What does this have to do with Douglas Fir lumber? Douglas Fir trees, also known as Pseudotsuga taxifolia, are actually considered softwood that is more or less its own species. Douglas Fir may be called a “fir,” but it isn’t a true fir tree, and it can be found in North America. The characteristics of Douglas Fir wood and its wide availability are what make Douglas Fir for building so popular! In fact, Douglas fir lumber is considered to be one of the best woods for home building by many woodworking professionals. Let’s cover the wood characteristics before answering what is Douglas Fir used for and why are many homes built with this type of wood!
Strength to Weight Ratio and Durability: Douglas Fir has an average weight of 32 lbs per cubic foot with a crushing strength of 6900 lbs per square inch. This means that the wood is super durable and strong while also staying relatively lightweight; Douglas Fir is considered one of the strongest woods in the class of softwoods. Douglas Fir lumber has received the highest softwood lumber grades for its ability to bend, tension parallel-to-grain, horizontal shear, and compression. All these factors make Douglas fir lumber particularly adept at resisting harsh weather and also easy to nail and bond together. Strong and lightweight are qualities that make Douglas Fir for building a popular choice!
Not So Soft Wood: Douglas Fir has a Janka hardness rating of 660, which is a hardness scale used to determine the hardness of wood. This slightly bizarre method of measuring hardness involves embedding a steel ball into the tested wood until it reaches the widest diameter of the steel ball. For comparison, hard maple has a Janka hardness rating of 1450, and red oak has a hardness rating of 1290. Douglas Fir may be lower on the hardness scale, but there are key differences in why Douglas Fir for building is chosen for construction instead of the two aforementioned hardwoods.
Cost Efficiency and Sustainability: Douglas Fir wood, on average, costs less than other wood that is used for building. Douglas Fir trees are also plentiful in North America, and custom builders like Logangate Timber Homes source lumber from mills that value sustainability.
What Is Douglas Fir Used For?
Douglas Fir is used for building homes, boats, aircraft, and other structures. Douglas Fir is also a popular wood for use in woodworking projects since it is durable, affordable, and readily available (depending on the region/country). Logangate Timber Homes uses Douglas Fir for building for all of the reasons listed above and then some!
At Logangate, we use Douglas Fir for building because Douglas Fir is a beautiful wood that has a mild resin and woody smell. These factors, coupled with vaulted ceilings and amazing views, make for an authentic timber frame cabin ambiance that other woods cannot compete with. At Logangate Timber Homes, our post and beam construction provides vaulted wood ceilings supported by the strength of Douglas Fir timbers. As stated earlier, the benefit of Douglas fir timbers is that they are stronger, more durable, and can handle higher impacts/weight loads.
Post and beam construction is referring to the term for building home frames with large timbers. Typically steel plates often tie members together. This allows for a home to have much more clerestory space to enhance the beauty of wood. The construction style, coupled with the wood choice, equates to super durable homes that can withstand more extreme weather and is built to last longer than other wood types.
What Makes Logangate Timber Homes Different
So what is Douglas Fir used for, and why is Logangate the premier choice for a Douglas Fir timber home? At Logangate, we are proud of our reputation as one of the trusted leaders in the industry. We’ve earned our name because we build amazing dream homes at fair, honest prices, even in uncertain economic times. One aspect that sets Logangate apart from the slew of other builders out there is that we build unique houses that look and feel like forever homes our customers can be proud to live in. Our homes are gorgeous and offer a lot of flexibility to customize the size and floor plan. Many of our satisfied customers tell us that their new home makes them feel like they are on vacation all year long!
Are you looking to build your Douglas Fir timber home from the ground up with Logangate? Contact Logangate Timber Homes to start your journey today!
Similarities to Building a Flood Proof House and a Mountain Home
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), coastal flooding has become more frequent, and non-coastal areas have begun experiencing unusual changes in extreme weather. As climate change continues to persist, predictable weather patterns have become something of the past. As new homebuyers search for their perfect homes, it is a good idea to build a home that will be more resistant to extreme weather conditions, particularly flooding, as sea levels continue to rise.
Characteristics that make a flood-proof house resilient can be transferable to homes in different environments, such as houses built in steep mountain lots. Building a house in either terrain can be an overwhelming task for new and seasoned homeowners alike. Understanding the criteria for a great home is key in deciding how to choose a home builder that fits your personal taste and needs.
Similarities of a Flood Proof House to a Mountain House
First, let’s cover the characteristics of a flood-proof house and how it compares to a home designed for mountain terrain. Floodproof homes are typically found in coastal areas that experience heavy rains or are in flood-prone areas. While homes built in flood plains are typically thought of as “bad” places to live, there are some advantages to living in coastal flood-prone areas. For example, many residents who live in flood prone areas enjoy amenities such as easy access to oceans, rivers, lakes, or other natural bodies of water.
Floodproof homes are typically built on stilts or are raised several feet into the air to keep the structure off of the ground in case of flooding. At Logangate Timber Homes, we offer elevated homes that are similar to stilt homes but are also vastly aesthetically different. Logangate elevated homes are built on foundations that are raised above ground level to protect against flooding. Being elevated, the home will incur less damage in the event of a flood. An added benefit is that this smart building style is a lot more affordable than pouring an entire slab foundation.
Using this building technique allows Logangate elevated homes to be built in practically any location or terrain, no matter how difficult it may appear. Before the perfection of elevated homes, home designs for mountain terrain were entirely contingent on the surrounding landscape and what the builder has to adjust for the sloping terrain. Today, limitations on home design for mountain terrain have reversed, and homes can be built anywhere if the right home builder is chosen.
How to Choose a Home Builder
Choosing a home can be an electrifying and exciting process. Surfing the internet to find a great deal, good location, and amenities can take hours of research, exploring, and consulting with a real estate agent. While these processes are often thought of as rites of passage for homeowners, why choose a home that is going to be built by a cookie-cutter company or an already-built home that someone else has lived in? According to the US Census Bureau, roughly 1.3 million homes were completed in 2021. The census report does not distinguish between high-quality custom homes and identical home builds.
At Logangate Timber Homes, we believe in quality over quantity and encourage interested new homeowners to consider building a unique house that our customers can call home. When choosing a home builder, there are some variables that stand out: customer care, builder experience, building quality, and overall cost are key factors that stand out.
Customer Care: It’s always a good idea to pick a home builder that cares about the home more than the homeowner. Many potential new homeowners are deterred by the added time, stress, and unexpected costs and delays associated with building a home. That’s why choosing a home builder that cares about customer experience is a good builder to trust. A trustworthy builder is one that isn’t just a “yes” man; building a home requires an open dialogue between the professionals and the homeowner. This segues to our next key variable: builder experience.
Builder Experience: Experience is a key variable that can’t be taught; it comes with time. Experienced builders are worth their expertise because it will indirectly save you more time and money in the long term. Experienced home builders are more likely to have accurate cost estimates and often produce better quality homes.
Build Quality: This key variable is the cornerstone of any successful home-building company. Unlike cookie-cutter homes, having a premium quality home that stands out among the rest is a feeling that can’t really be described! When homeowners see and feel the quality of a house, it truly becomes a home.
Overall Costs: Cost is the biggest variable that new homeowners contend with when deciding how to choose a home builder. New custom homes cost more on average, but green building techniques can help ease the financial pain over time. Homes that are built to be energy efficient can potentially save hundreds in energy costs compared to other homes. Premanufacturing the home off-site and having it delivered for final construction is another great way to save; as modern technology continues to improve, premanufacturing has become more common and more affordable.
Build with Logangate
Whether you’re looking for a flood-proof house or a mountain home, Logangate is the premier choice. Each and every one of our homes are built with the environment in mind. You will feel comfortable living in the interior environment of the home, and by building your home in our sustainable manufacturing facility, you are helping the outside environment.
Benefits to choosing a Logangate Timber Home:
A timber frame home built by Logangate will stand for generations, providing housing value that lasts.
Timber frame homes are versatile. A timber frame house plans to suit both modern and classical architecture.
A timber frame home is spacious. The entire structure rests on the frame so your interior remains open and airy, giving you more living space.
Timber frame homes are beautiful. The timber framework is fully visible from the inside, adding warmth to your home décor.
Timber frame homes are warm. Insulation panels surround the timbers, making your home thermally efficient.
When building a modern house on steep terrain in the mountains, it is important to understand that homes are not a one-size-fits-all kind of investment. Steep city terrain, like the buildings found on Bradford Street in San Francisco, CA, has the luxury of established infrastructure that seldom has natural challenges like trees, large boulders, etc, that impede its construction. In mountainous urban areas, most new homes don’t have the luxury of having established resources to make the building process easier. For this reason, building a house on rocky terrain has historically been extraordinarily expensive or nearly impossible.
Today, building a modern house on steep terrain has become more commonplace in mountainous areas or steep lots due to the marvels of modern building practices. Here are our picks on things to know when building a house on rocky terrain in rural mountainous areas. We’ll cover plot locations, block foundation vs poured, ways to reduce the overall construction cost, and how Logangate Timber Homes builds green homes.
Picking the Perfect Plot
Mountains or beaches? There’s a reason why this is a popular icebreaker prompt that people ask each other when learning about the other. Roughly 25 million Americans currently live in the Mountain States (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming), so it’s safe to say that mountains are a strong contender! Most mountain dwellers will say that they enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with living in rural mountain areas. When building a house on rocky terrain or on steeply sloping terrain, using modern building techniques such as cantilevered construction and pedestal foundations can allow you to build in land lots that were previously thought to be too difficult or impossible. Pedestal homes save on foundation costs, which leads to the next topic: block foundation vs poured.
Block Foundation VS Poured: Which Is Better?
Block foundation is the practice of using cinder blocks that are mortared together. Cinder blocks are concrete masonry bricks that are used for building residential and commercial structures; these blocks are typically made of sand and cement but can be made with alternative materials. Block foundation typically has greater vertical weight accommodations compared to poured foundations.
Poured foundations are exactly as described: they are poured concrete structures. These can be poured as walls, as flat foundations, or in whatever shape is necessary for the structure. Poured concrete structures are typically easier to waterproof and are cheaper than their blocky counterpart due.
For a steep terrain home, there is no outright “best” option. The options will be limited to external variables such as lot size, steepness/angle of the intended lot foundation, budget estimates, and more. For this reason, whatever foundation you are leaning towards, the “best” option is to hire an experienced and professional contractor who can advise the pros and cons of each option when choosing to build a modern house on steep terrain and how to reduce the cost of the overall build.
Saving on Cost Doesn’t Mean Lowering Quality
Unlike traditional flat-built homes, building a brand new home in the mountains can seem like an overwhelming task, a big factor being the cost of the home. This is where the genius of Logangate Timber Homes comes in. Traditional stick-built homes require dramatic and devastating changes to the plot in order to bring the home to building codes and standards.
This is because steep terrain requires extensive leveling and clearing land to allow for stable ground to be flattened. Doing this can easily eat away your build budget and will leave you with a half-built home. At Logangate, we have perfected designing and building cantilever homes that won’t destroy your home budget.
Modern cantilever homes are homes that are built with beams that are anchored only on one end. This allows for overhanging structures without having to have external bracing, giving your home a clean, unique look. Foundation savings can be realized with this approach. Cantilever homes are a clever way around restricted footprints and building on steep terrains. They also come in extremely handy whenever a good panorama needs to be captured. The resulting buildings are both visually and spatially exciting – almost surreal structures of excitingly frail equilibrium.
Green Homes That Give Back
The most significant modern housing achievements aren’t in smart technology or smart home devices. The most significant modern housing achievement is the development and implementation of certified green building practices. Building green homes is a Logangate specialty, our homes are built with panelized window, roof, and wall systems that are designed to be ultra energy efficient. Because Logangate Timber Homes are built in a climate-controlled manufacturing facility. Our panels are tight-fitting, which translates to a reduction in the amount of lost energy after the home is finished.
Timber Homes Built With Careful Detail
At Logangate Timber Homes, we are experts at turning dreams into reality. While catering to our client’s tastes, we pay special attention to specific detail throughout the whole process. We strive to provide our customers with beautiful, energy-efficient, affordable prefabricated homes. All of our homes are manufactured responsibly, sustainably, and with great attention to detail. Start building your dream home with Logangate, and contact us today!
It’s not a secret that people love living near bodies of water. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 127 million Americans live in coastal counties! Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to living near bodies of water; inclement weather and flooding is a problem that coastal-dwelling Americans have to contend with. But what does this have to do with living in a modern mountain home? Many people who live in mountainous homes erroneously believe that mountain homes don’t flood. While many steep mountain homes are unlikely to flood, flooding can still occur if homes are built near mountain streams, rivers, or lakes. With climate change continuing to change the landscape of the world, extreme weather patterns have become more frequent, and floods have become more common in unlikely places. At Logangate Timber Homes, we have created modern solutions to mountain flood zone house designs that look incredible without sacrificing safety or style. Let’s take a look at modern flood zone house designs, A-frame on stilts, small foundation homes, and which is more suitable for mountainous areas!
Homes on Stilts: A Frames And Mountain Pedestals
Stilt homes are also known as “piling homes.” Simply speaking, a piling home is a home that is built on raised piles that serve as a foundation for the home. The poles resemble stilts that the home sits securely on top of. This type of construction typically rests 10-12 feet off the ground to safely allow for high tide if the home is located in a coastal county or on a flood plain. The main reason a piling home is built is to protect against flooding. These homes are typically vacation homes that appear to almost hover over the water.
Piling homes have been around for thousands of years; some pre-historic pile dwellings date back to 5,000 BC! Pre-historic people built these types of houses for much the same reason as in modern times: to stay dry in an area surrounded by water. Another great feature is that this type of construction keeps out unwanted pests. It’s also convenient as the space underneath the house can be used as storage or workspace.
A-frame homes were a home construction trend that was most popular in the 1950s and 70s. These unique homes fizzled away as trends shifted. Today, these homes have made a comeback as tiny homes become increasingly popular among Millenial and Gen-Z populations looking for smaller homes with more land for pets to have and explore. Pedestal homes are a popular building practice where homes are built on a raised pedestal foundation, typically in a steeply sloping landscape. Pedestal homes have increased in popularity since the 2000s as modern building practices have made producing pre-manufactured homes become more streamlined. So are A-frames on stilts better than having an A-frame on a pedestal? A-frames on stilts are currently more popular in flat forest regions and in coastal areas. This is because A-frames on stilts are suitable for flat areas that can be raised. Many modern variations of these closely resemble tree houses. The drawback to these building styles is that it typically requires a flat lot for the a-frame to sit on. Due to the design of the home, the size of the lot would dictate the side of the home.
Why Pedestal Homes Are Preferred in the Mountains
Small foundation homes like pedestal homes are great for steeply sloping mountain lots. Getting a home with a scenic mountain view for an affordable price used to be nearly impossible. At Logangate Timber Homes, we perfected building small foundation homes and building in sloping landscapes. This style of building has a smaller foundation that the main structure cantilevers over, usually on all four sides. This smaller foundation allows you to build your dream home in harder-reaching areas that would be too cumbersome or costly to build a regular foundation. Plus, you have a smaller footprint on the environment with a pedestal home as less of the ground is disturbed to build your home. You can buy cheaper land with beautiful views that were once thought too difficult to build on with a pedestal home.
How do pedestal homes tie into our topic on mountain flood zone house designs? Flood zone house designs usually include elevated living space to protect the home and the valuables within. Logangate pedestal homes achieve this through smart cantilever designs and a variety of floor plans for homebuyers to choose from! What makes flood zone house designs different from traditional home designs is the extra variables that come with weatherproofing. Coastal homes that are built on stilts may be flood-resistant, but extreme weather conditions seem to have been increasing as climate change continues to persist.
For mountain homes that are built near flood zones such as near lakes or rivers, having a Logangate Timber Home can make a difference between catastrophe or complete calm.
The Conclusion and Solution
At Logangate Timber Homes, we have made it our life’s work to provide you with a beautiful, energy-efficient dream home at an affordable price. We specialize in building homes in hard-to-build areas like mountainsides and flood plains. We have a variety of prefabricated homes that can be customized to fit your needs, style, and budget. Logangate Timber Homes is committed to delivering premium quality homes at a fair price that you will love to live in. For more information about Logangate, contact us today!
Prefab homes are gaining popularity. Those looking to save building costs by researching alternatives typically start by asking: what is a prefab home? Understanding how prefab homes work, including their advantages, limitations, and available prefab home options, will help you determine if buying a prefab home is the right decision. This article will answer those specific questions and provide an overview of the considerations for buying prefab unique timber frame homes.
What is a Prefab Timber Home?
Prefab, which is just a shortened version of the word “prefabricated,” simply means that home was manufactured off-site in separate sections and shipped to the final location for full assembly. There are two primary types of prefab homes: modular and kits. All modular homes are, by definition, prefab. However, all prefab homes are not necessarily modular. Modular homes are usually about 70% built when delivered to the home site and often use a light steel frame construction with cheaper building materials. Quality, high-end prefabricated timber homes can be beautifully crafted and feature stunning designs.
What is a prefab home compared to a mobile home? There are several key differences between mobile homes (often called “trailer homes”) and prefab homes. As opposed to a trailer home, prefab homes are not completely assembled before delivery. Prefab homes also use an entirely different manufacturing process and significantly higher quality materials. High-end prefab builders like Logangate Timber Homes actually use real lumber for an authentic look and feel. While trailer homes are constructed on a chassis for easy transportation, prefab homes are usually built on stronger foundations (including poured cement or block foundations), giving them much more stability and resilience to severe weather.
What is a High-End Prefab Home?
Non-modular, high-end prefab homes are typically made with higher quality materials and more reliable construction techniques. This greater attention to quality results in more durable, sustainable, customizable, longer-lasting, and attractive homes. You can see examples of unique timber frame homes built by Logangate here:
How do Prefab Homes Work?
Prefab homes are built at the manufacturer’s location and shipped in pre-assembled portions to the final home site. These portions, often called panels, are specially engineered to fit together easily and precisely. Before the building process even begins, the manufacturer should partner closely with you to assess your preferences, needs, budget, and timeline.
Although some people with the proper tools and knowledge do opt to errect prefab homes themselves, most buyers use a local general contractor or construction company to complete the assembly of their unique timber frame homes. A general contractor or similar resource will also be needed to help with projects like plumbing, electrical, and interior finishing. The typical time required for a complete prefab home build is approximately six months to one year depending on location.
Because prefab homes are offered in standard kits, the manufacturing process for the entire house can be standardized without sacrificing quality. Customization options also mean that your home will be a unique timber frame home that will incorporate excellent materials and construction methods, like the renowned post and beam design. The post and beam construction method, used by Logangate Timber Homes, has been relied on for centuries due to its strength, stability, and unique ability to showcase the natural beauty of timber.
Advantages of a High-End Prefab Home
There are significant advantages to choosing a high-end prefab home. Whether or not these advantages apply to you depends mostly on your specific tastes and overall budget. Five of the most widely applicable advantages are listed below:
Prefab homes are often chosen because they are faster to construct and require less labor and materials than custom stick-built alternatives.
Prefab homes can be less expensive than traditional homes. In comparison to the cost of building a high-end traditional home, which can easily be $400 per sq foot or more, high-end prefab homes can cost as little as $250 per sq foot. Additionally, prefab homes have little to no cost variance during their manufacturing and assembly. Because the material costs are predetermined, and the homes are specifically designed for easy assembly, the total building costs can be precisely estimated and controlled. Lower building costs can allow homeowners to focus on getting a dream property that suits their needs.
Depending on the manufacturer, high-end prefab homes are often more sustainable and environmentally friendly than traditionally-built homes.
Many manufacturers offer customizable options for their prefab homes, allowing you to personalize aspects of the home to your liking.
Most prefab home manufacturers provide all the drafting services you will need. You will save thousands of dollars since you will not have to hire an architect.
The strength and durability of high-end prefab homes are often preferred in locations known for severe weather, or for hillside locations that would make traditional building difficult.
Prefab Home Limitations
What is a prefab home limitation? There are some limitations to what a prefab home can offer buyers, especially if budget is not a primary concern when building. Some important limitations to consider include the following:
While prefab homes offer a significant range of flexibility and customizable options, traditional homes can truly be built with 100% custom specifications tailored precisely to the homeowner’s preferences. These preferences can include unique architectural layouts, one-of-a-kind carpentry flourishes, or other special features that require the help of experienced designers and contractors.
Traditional and Prefab homes have stronger resale value than modular homes as they are often the first option home buyers seek.
Any quality prefab homes will still require access to all of the same utilities required by traditionally built homes, including gas, electricity, water (city or well), and things like a driveway and walkway, etc. The cost of adding these amenities and utilities will likely be higher in a rural setting.
When to Consider Buying a Prefab Home
With custom home building often entailing a long and costly process, many buyers are wondering: should I buy a prefab home?
Most prefab home buyers share some traits in common, including the strong preference to avoid long, stressful building timelines, a strict budget, a focus on sustainable living, and the desire to live on a larger or more rural property that is less developed. Concerns about exceeding your budget are especially relevant now as the cost of building a custom home is the highest it has been in recent years.
Another key consideration for if now is the time to consider buying a prefab home is if you have purchased a piece of property and want to either replace the current dwelling unit or start from scratch. Prefab homes can be an easy way to accomplish either of those goals for your next move.
If you’re considering a timber home for your family, you are about to embark on a home investment that is unique, breathtaking, and beautiful. One unique timber home style to consider is the pedestal home. The pedestal home is an incredibly unique and beautiful type of timber home. The main structure of your home actually cantilevers ten feet from all four of its sides. Just as the name suggests, a cantilevered home uses beams that are only anchored on one end. This allows for structures to hang over without having to have external bracing. The foundation is very small and that doesn’t cause very much of a site disturbance which helps to preserve the grounds in the area. With the grounds in their pristine and natural conditions, the beauty of this particular timber home is hard to beat. Because the pedestal home is literally on a pedestal above environmentally sensitive sites such as flood plains, marshes, and steep slopes, the sky is the limit on where you are actually capable of building. You will also love the fact that you will save tens of thousands of dollars with the smaller, pedestal foundation. This opens up so many possibilities that it’s no wonder this unique home is a viable solution for those that know about it.
What is a Chalet Home?
A chalet home style, also commonly referred to as a Swiss Chalet house, is a style of home architecture common in the Alpine region of Europe. A chalet home style is typically made of timber and includes a gently sloping roof and overhanging eaves. The overhanging eaves are great for providing protection from the elements and rough weather as well as providing a beautiful architectural style. Swiss Chalet homes were introduced to the United States in the mid-1800s by architect Andrew Jackson Downing. Because of their mid-European roots, these homes are fantastic choices for mountainside residences or fit for any other uneven landmass. The design is frequently used for vacation homes but is fantastic for year-round living as well.
Benefits of Chalet Homes
What is a chalet home benefit? There are numerous benefits to owning a chalet house. The house’s fairly simplistic construction with basic materials and an uncomplicated design means chalet houses can be built more affordably than homes of a similar size. The floor plans are very flexible, with plenty of opportunities for customization with the overhanging eaves, windows, and exposed architecture. Common unique features that can be added to a chalet home are carved rafters and ornamental shingles. Chalet home style comes in numerous sizes as well, depending on your needs. Our traditional chalet home floor plans start at 600 square feet but can go up to 4000 square feet with the addition of a single wing or two wings to construct a Grand Chalet home. Chalet homes typically have a lot of windows that allow for copious amounts of natural light and a beautiful view of your surroundings. Due to the A-frame design, the ceilings in chalet homes are very high, with a lot of open space for an open and cozy home. Chalet home style offers a very sleek and elegant aesthetic while maintaining the warmth and coziness of a Logangate Timber Home.
Premium Quality, Luxury Prefabricated Homes by Logangate
So, what is a prefab home by Logangate? Our homes are customizable, high quality, affordably built, and resilient houses that are designed with comfort and style in mind. At Logangate Timber Homes, we don’t compromise on our buildings and value client satisfaction above all else. At Logangate, we don’t just build average cookie-cutter houses; we are dedicated to building homes with heart and care. Start building your dream home today and contact Logangate now!
Why Post and Beam Construction Is Popular in Mountains
Post and beam construction has existed since the European Middle Ages, depicted in paintings, and some even stand in Europe today. In greater North America, there are some post and beam construction homes that are still standing from colonial America. Today, post and beam home designs are becoming more prevalent and modernized with technology and advanced techniques that give them a modern look without sacrificing the post and beam charm.
Let’s dive into why post and beam homes are popular in mountainous areas and regions, as well as a brief comparison of timber frame homes. The timber frame building method is a popular building method that lasts equally as long as the post and beams. The two construction methods are very similar, so let’s first take a look into what the difference between the two is.
Post and Beam VS Timber Frame, What is the Difference?
Timber homes can be either post and beam construction or timber frame, with the main difference being how the timbers are connected to each other. Post and beam construction typically uses decorative steel plates to tie members together. Timber frame, on the other hand, uses centuries-old building techniques that are connected by mortise and tenon joints and secured together with wooden pegs, typically made of strong material like maple or oak. Oak pegs are traditionally used for their durability as well as their availability.
The beams of both techniques of these homes are fully exposed to the inside. The timbers allow for a home to have much more clerestory space adding great amounts of volume to a room and highlighting the beauty of the wood. Many cabin homebuyers appreciate and love the beauty of the exposed framing in both build styles, and you can’t go wrong with either style.
Post and Beam VS Timber Frame: the Pricing
Timber frame homes are typically much more expensive than post and beam log home designs. The primary reason for this is that precision cutting and fitting the joints is very labor intensive and requires skilled labor to be done correctly. The second reason is that timber framing requires a cost increase for the extra timber. At Logangate Timber Homes, we utilize post and beam home designs to achieve a beautiful end product without breaking the bank or over-extending your intended budget.
Post and Beam VS Timber Frame: Similarities
Timber frame cabins and post and beam home designs both typically feature expansive wood vaulted ceilings instead of traditional drywall ceilings. Wood vaulted ceilings mean no popcorn ceiling, which is a vehemently opposed tragedy that was popular between the 1950s to the 1980s. So when you choose timber frame cabins or post and beam log home designs, you’re actually choosing timeless elegance that won’t go out of style.
Post and Beam Construction in the Mountains
Now that we’ve covered the two build methods, why are post and beam framing so popular in mountainous or hilly regions? The answer lies in its sturdy construction practices and how homebuyers love the traditional feel of open timber homes. Many mountain homes and lodges begin with a strong foundation on a steep lot. In a traditional home building project, the sloping grade of the lot is a very difficult problem to solve. Today, professional contractors often use a combination of pedestal homes and cantilevers to build the home around the natural landscape with minimal disturbance to the site. Building homes in this manner means preserving the natural beauty of the mountainous landscape. Another option is our Horizon plan. On steeper lots you don’t want a deep house plan, meaning from street side to view side. The deeper your plan the taller and taller your back foundation the more costly. The Horizon is only 22’-24’ deep and the width grows and shrinks in 6’ increments.
Logangate’s Mountain Home Building Process
Logangate Timber Homes are designed and built with affordability, style, and reliability in mind. Our homes begin with materials that are directly sourced from long-time partners. Partnering with lumber distributors saves on time and cost, which trickles down to the homebuyer. Additionally, our homes are manufactured in parts of a whole in an off-site climate-controlled manufacturing warehouse. Building homes in sections (also known as prefabrication) saves on the cost of materials, allows for greener and more energy efficient homes, and faster build times.
Reputation for Building Affordable and Reliable Homes
At Logangate Timber Homes, we hold a core value of building quality homes at an affordable and fair price for our clients has kept us going for over 50 years. At Logangate, we are proud of our reputation as one of the trusted leaders in the building industry. We’ve earned our reputation by building high-quality, gorgeous timber homes throughout the continental United States at a fair price with an emphasis on our client satisfaction. We believe everyone should have the home of their dreams, and we are committed to delivering post and beam home designs that will exceed expectations and be a pleasure to call home for generations to come.
Whether the property will be an investment home, a vacation home, or a forever home, homebuyers love the look and feel of a mountain lodge or cabin. Post and beam homes embody that spirit that homebuyers look for, and many look no further than Logangate Timber Homes!
Choosing to build a new home can be a daunting task. According to the US Census Bureau, 1.34 million homes were completed in 2021, with a majority of those homes in the southern region of the US. Even with so many homes being constructed, there continues to be a shortage in the present day. Of course, there are many variables that influence the American housing market. In an interview with Karan Kaul, a Housing Supply Specialist at the Urban Institute, estimates that the US will be experiencing a housing shortage for at least a decade.
With so much pressure on the housing market, it can be even more stressful for new home buyers when choosing timber frame house plans for their Logangate dream home. Here is our guide on tips and tricks to consider when choosing timber frame floor plans for your home.
Pick and Stick to a Budget
A common mistake that new homebuyers make is that new homebuyers often exceed their budget or hire an inexperienced home contractor that does not provide transparent pricing estimates in the early stages of the build process. According to Nationwide, when a new home is built, there will be an average of 22 subcontractors working on the project. This is a lot of variables to handle for an inexperienced homebuyer, and trusted general contractors are hard to find. Picking a Logangate Timber Home will come with transparent pricing and an experienced contractor who will help you pick the right choices every step of the way.
Lot Sites for Timber Frame Home Plans
A big factor to consider when choosing a timber frame house plan is the lot size and how your timber frame home plans will be impacted by the size, shape, and elevation of your lot. Many modern mountain homes utilize pedestal home designs to accommodate challenging build terrain. Using cantilevered designs helps expand options for timber frame floor plans and opens the floor for homebuyers to customize wherever they see fit.
Simple is Sometimes Better
They say that French King Louis XIV is the founder of the simple spice combination of salt and pepper because he believed that simple seasoning was better to avoid crowding food taste. Today, simple timber frame home plans can be better depending on what the homebuyer is searching for. Simple timber frame house plans have the typical perk of saving on build time as well as typically having more open spaces to make the home feel large and welcoming. At Logangate Timber Homes, we offer several floor plans from which our homebuyers can choose, or they can design their own. Our Logangate homes are either 24’ or 28’ wide, and the length is variable in 4’ increments, i.e. 24 x 36, 40, 44. Also, check out our new Modern Cabin called Unity.
Determine the Basics
Knowing what basic attributes of the home you’re looking for will help in planning your timber frame floor plans. For example, how many square feet can your lot size accommodate? How many bedrooms and bathrooms are you looking for? What about a walkout basement, storage spaces, kitchen, living room, and laundry spaces? How many floors are you wanting? Having an idea of what attributes you’re looking for can allow correspondence between you and your contractor when brainstorming idioms for timber frame house plans. It’s important to have options when choosing timber frame home plans so that you can narrow down your options to a perfect build.
Why New Homeowners Choose Logangate Timber Homes
As stated earlier, having experienced home builders is extremely important when building a new home. A National Public Radio (NPR) interview with Karan Kaul, a housing supply specialist at the Urban Institute, suggests that there is strong evidence pointing to a lack of professional builders to be a leading cause of the present American housing shortage. Fewer experienced builders have led to fewer homes being built, coupled with high demand has created a significant shortage of new homes. At Logangate Timber Homes, we have built modern timber frame cabins for over 50 years with no plans of slowing down. When you choose a Logangate home, you’re choosing experience so that your home will be a quality build.
Logangate Floor Plan Styles
The styles we offer are the Chalet, Grand Chalet, Timber Frame Cabin, Grandfather, Appalachian, Nantahala, and Sugar. Each of these homes is built with exceptional quality and is beautiful in its own right. Despite all of them being floor plans for timber homes, they each offer a distinct charm separate from one another.
Features of Each Floor Plan:
Chalet: Inspired by Swiss architecture, this style has gained popularity in the U.S. for its charm that is reminiscent of a secluded mountain home getaway.
Grand Chalet: A larger version of the Chalet floor plan, it has a similar architectural design but with the addition of extra space with one or two wings on either side.
Cabin: The aesthetics of a cabin are perfect for complementing the natural wooden environment. The Douglas firs used to create our cabins are very durable and give your home the strength it needs to withstand the wilderness.
The Grandfather: A large 2-story timber home featuring a large garage space, covered porch, and an optional fourth bedroom. This beautiful home is perfect for a family vacation home or for those that want to live with the luxury of a large timber home.
Appalachian: Smaller than The Grandfather but similar in aesthetic quality, the Appalachian floor plan is great for smaller families or couples that desire the charm of a semi-spacious timber home.
Nantahala: This floor plan provides a quaint timber home with vertical paneling and a cozy second floor that contains two bedrooms, a bath, and a loft.
Sugar: Despite it being the smaller option of our timber homes, Sugar creatively uses its space to provide two bedrooms, two baths, a loft, a storage area, and more.
No matter which floor plan you choose, each of our timber homes is designed to look great in the scenic environment of a wooded area or a suburban neighborhood. To learn more about which floor plan will work best for you, contact Logangate Timber Homes today!
What are Panelized Home Kits and How Does it Save Money?
Prefabricated homes have existed for a long time. The first documented instance in the recent century is in 1908 by the Sears & Roebuck company. Sears & Roebuck created an assembly-line style of cottages that could be ordered through a catalog. While Sears & Roebuck were the first to pioneer the prefabricated home, they certainly did not perfect it. Very few of these cottage designs have survived over the century but the pre-manufacturing practice lives on to this modern age of laser-precision and AutoCAD computer models.
Today, modern panelized home kits are considerably more sophisticated compared to their humble beginnings. Panelized home kits, panel-built homes, and panelized homes are synonymous and refer to the practice of pre-building the home in parts in an off-site facility. Panelized homes have pre-made pieces, like walls, gable panels, roof panels, etc. Today, the benefit of a modern panelized home kit is that they are extremely smart and energy-efficient homes.
Savings Before Building
There are many reasons to consider a prefabricated home for you and your family. Let’s start with the beginning. When the homebuyer chooses one of our panelized home kits, a Logangate professional consultant will work with you to determine the home floor plan. The project site and floor plan will determine much of the cost. At Logangate Timber Homes, we pass on savings in material costs by sourcing reliable materials from trusted suppliers. These materials come in the form of timber, passive solar window systems, and next-generation insulation boards. From there, savings are passed onto the homebuyer.
When the homebuyer chooses a floor plan, the home will be built panel-by-panel inside of a climate-controlled factory setting. Our controlled factory setting is an important aspect of building your home. Since the walls of our homes are built in our facility, this enables us to give you an airtight seal that is hard to create outside of our own factory setting. Traditional headers above windows can significantly reduce your home’s efficiency. A header bridges the load from the roof/floor above. Logangate Timber Homes use Post & Beam construction with rafters 4’ on center. As long as the window is between those points no header is required and you can insulate the space above the window.
Why Modern Panelized Home Kits are Preferred
There are so many benefits to choosing a home from Logangate Timber Homes. Our homes are comprised of panelized walls & roof panels along with pre-cut Douglas Fir timbers. You may be asking yourself: “why don’t we build our panels on the job site?”. That’s a good question and the answer is that panel-built homes are built in our facility so that we can get the tightest seal possible in all panel construction components. This ultra-tight seal is nearly impossible to recreate outside of a controlled factory setting. Using air sealing methods inside of a controlled environment means that the sealant is allowed to dry in optimal conditions. Air sealing plays an important role in eliminating drafts and helping the homebuyer save on energy costs. Without the airtight seal, you will have gaps and leaks and the home’s energy bills will be more difficult to control.
Panelized home kits also eliminate wasted materials. Compared to homes that are traditionally built-on site, there is a significant amount of wasted products. For panelized homes, any waste materials can be recycled and reused in the next home thus allowing more of that cost to be saved. Panelized home kits also allow for precision fit construction and significantly reduce the overall build time. Building inside of a manufacturing warehouse also allows for labor cost savings as well.
Our panelized home kits combine the beauty of post & beam and the efficiency of panelized construction. We offer many types of homes including pedestals, cabin kits, cantilevered, timber, and contemporary homes. Whatever home is right for you and your family it will be built well and with a special emphasis on the environment. This is true for every single home we build no matter what style or design you choose.
Building Quality Homes for Decades
Logangate Timber Homes has been building homes for over fifty years. At Logangate, we pride ourselves in sustainable building practices, being certified in green building, and providing truly breathtaking end products. Our homes are designed with the highest attention to detail and even higher quality materials.
With the price of energy continuing to go up year after year, Logangate Timber Homes provide highly energy-efficient homes that save homebuyers annual savings that will continue for the life of the home. Investing in efficient passive window systems, siding, and smart panelized roof systems is one of the several ways that Logangate Timber Homes deliver an energy-efficient home.
Here at Logangate Timber Homes, we are extremely proud of our reputation as one of the trusted leaders in the building industry. We know there are a lot of options when it comes to building a perfect home which is why we make sure every single client of ours gets the very best customer service and treatment.
Contact us at Logangate Timber Homes to start building your energy-efficient dream home today!
Building an Energy-Efficient Cabin has Been Made Easy
Building an energy-efficient cabin has never been more popular than they are now! Everyone is looking for a rustic but modern look with an emphasis on energy cost savings. At Logangate Timber Homes, we are dedicated to building an affordable cabin for our customers and can help build your dream cabin faster than traditional stick-built methods. There’s a reason why timber frame homes have existed for centuries, homebuyers love the durability, design flexibility, and insulation properties that timber frame homes provide. Coupled with modern building practices, energy-efficient timber frame home plans are becoming more popular than ever. Let’s take a look at what goes into our energy-efficient timber frame home plans and why energy efficiency is a hot topic.
Early Steps in Building an Energy Efficient Cabin
At Logangate, our process begins with sourcing energy-efficient building materials from reliable partners. These materials not only include Douglas Fir rafters but also high-quality insulation and modern passive window systems. Our energy-efficient timber frame home plans are prefabricated. We begin building a home inside of a climate-controlled manufacturing facility. Utilizing this method allows our builders to eliminate waste while also protecting your energy-efficient building materials from harsh elements before they are weatherproofed.
Pre-manufacturing of panels also allows for a precision fit and tight air-sealed walls; this will reduce the number of drafts in your home, ultimately saving more on future energy costs.
Douglas fir timbers & Tongue & Groove: These are some of the strongest and most durable timbers in the industry, so you can feel confident your cabin will last for a long time.
Energy Efficient: Since parts of your home are built in our facility, you get air-tight seals to help reduce energy bills. Insulated roof panel system with R-values from R-33 to R-40. Passive Solar design to maximize natural efficiencies.
Quality: Our manufacturing facility allows us to make your home more factory-controlled. This reduces defects and drafts in your home. Saving you energy dollars.
Green: Our manufacturing facility is dedicated to using renewable sources of energy and we strive toward zero waste.
Large Selection: We have a variety of cabin & chalet plans available that can be customized to fit your needs.
Energy Efficient Timber Frame Home Plans
When our customers decide on having our professionals build a cabin home, we collaborate with the homebuyer in choosing their floor plans. The floor plans can vary depending on the individual preferences of the homebuyer and can be limited depending on the job site. Building on sloping, difficult terrain can be extremely expensive. Traditional concrete foundations can be extremely expensive. For building an affordable cabin on sloping terrain, it is recommended to choose a cantilever design or a pedestal home with a smaller concrete slab, this will save the homebuyer on foundation costs and offers less disturbance in the surrounding area.
Building an energy-efficient cabin is more than just saving on the front end of the cost, it is also using high-quality materials that have inherent insulation qualities.
Why Energy Efficient Building Materials Matter
The numbers may be shocking but they certainly do not lie. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), more than 90% of the 116 million homes in the United States are expected to have higher heating bills this winter compared with last winter, mainly because of higher projected prices for residential natural gas, propane, and electricity. For 2021, the EIA reports that households spent 54% more than the previous year to heat their home in the winter. This is a profound rise in energy costs, which is why many American homebuyers are scrambling to find ways to cut down costs.
One of the ways to lower energy costs is through using Energy Star appliances and Energy Star-rated products and electronics. Energy Star labels are awarded to any energy-consuming products that are designed to protect the environment and also save consumers money. These labels follow strict guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the US Department of Energy. Using Energy Star products can lower energy costs by anywhere from ten to sixty percent in energy costs compared to non-Energy Star labeled products. While using Energy Star products is a great way to save, mechanical products have a lifespan. Refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and even microwave ovens all have a lifespan. If these appliances don’t break, the overall efficiency of it will eventually deteriorate and the initial savings will eventually dry up.
For this reason, a more permanent solution to energy savings is the building itself. Logangate Timber Homes is committed to green building practices, we utilize sustainable manufacturing, conserve electricity, use renewable energy, and strive toward zero waste.
We offer pedestal homes, timber homes, and cabin kits as you create your dream home at an affordable price.
Building an Energy-Efficient Cabin is an Investment
With the price of energy continuing to go up, homeowners are after every possible way to keep their energy bills in check. Energy-efficient appliances are a great start but the biggest way to save energy is with a home that is built for efficiency. At Logangate Timber Homes, every home that we build is an energy-efficient home that will last for generations, compounding the savings in energy cost over time. The EIA estimates that an energy-efficient home can save up to 25% on utility bills annually. While this rate can fluctuate depending on what measures are taken to save on energy, homebuyers who buy Logangate Timber Homes can rest assured that their home is built with energy savings in mind.
At Logangate Timber Homes, we use practices that include creating structures and using processes that are responsible and as efficient as they come. We practice sustainable manufacturing in our facility, conserving electricity, striving towards zero waste, and using renewable energy. For more information, contact us at Logangate and start building your dream home today!
Years ago when people had homes built there really wasn’t a big emphasis on building the most energy-efficient home. Conscious decisions in building an energy-efficient home became popular when climate change became an emphasized reality across the world. Things have definitely changed but that doesn’t mean that every builder is focused on the environment. In fact, many builders still just want to keep costs down, so they will use materials that cost less in an effort to stay on budget. At Logangate Timber Homes, we focus on building an energy-efficient home while staying within your budget without trading away quality.
We are dedicated to energy-efficient building practices to ensure a high-quality end product. Our homes are manufactured responsibly and sustainably so you can feel good about a green home from Logangate Timber Homes.
Saving Money Through Reliably Sourced Materials
At Logangate, we field our materials through direct purchasing from lumber mills, window manufacturers, and other suppliers to allow us to save on material costs. From there, we utilize modern energy-efficient building practices to manufacture our panelized walls, windows, roofs, etc. Saving on material costs in the early stages of construction means we pass those savings on to our Logangate customers.
Logangate’s Energy Efficient Building Practices
Our commitment to sustainable living means that your Logangate Timber Home will be highly energy efficient. One of Logangate’s solutions to reducing heat loss in the winter is by improving building energy efficiency through the elimination of thermal bridging. This is an industry-popular method of green building that significantly increases the overall energy efficiency. To eliminate thermal bridging, we use an insulation board over wooden studs on the walls to greatly reduce the energy loss through the wooden stud.
Green building also refers to building an energy-efficient home using the pre-manufacturing process of panels. Logangate Timber Homes are pre-manufactured in an enclosed climate-controlled warehouse facility that keeps materials dry and sheltered from the elements. This is an essential component to the overall quality of the home because the materials are not needlessly exposed to harsh elements before the home is ready for weatherproofing. Another advantage of using pre-manufacturing techniques is that there are significantly fewer wasted materials. Any wasted materials can be recycled and reused in the next house, eliminating the famous burn pile at the construction site. A huge win for the environment.
Logangate understands that most consumers are interested in building the most energy-efficient home because they want to do everything possible to live responsibly. Our Team will be committed to building an energy-efficient home with you to ensure you get the most efficient and durable home possible. This team constantly studies the industry looking for new technologies and better methods of green building so they can extend that knowledge to your home.
Why Improving Building Energy Efficiency is Important
According to a 2021 report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average US household paid an average of 30% more in heating energy costs in the winter of 2021 due to rising fuel prices and overall fuel demand. Households using oil to heat their homes paid an average of 43% more than compared to 2020 and propane users were impacted the hardest with a 54% rise in prices compared to 2020. This is a staggering rise and it is expected to increase as the global oil and gas consumption increases each year, with these increases in energy cost it makes sense why improving building energy efficiency is at the forefront of everyone’s minds!
Of course, high oil and gas prices mean that electricity is the next viable option. Fortunately for electricity users, prices for homes that were heated with electricity rose 6% compared to the previous year. While electricity prices rose the least, electricity furnaces typically cost more overall to run.
With these energy cost factors in mind, it is completely understandable why new home buyers are interested in building the most energy-efficient homes to combat the next spike in energy cost. Improving building energy efficiency is key to a sustainable home and future.
Logangate’s Popular Construction Styles
If you are really leaning towards building a home and absolutely love the beauty of wood, our Post and Beam Construction is a great option to consider. Essentially, the term Post and Beam Construction is a term used for building home frames with large timbers. Typically steel plates often tie members together. This allows for a home to have much more clerestory space to enhance the beauty of wood. Another name for Post and Beam Construction is Timber Framing. Timber Frame utilizes connections by mortise and tenon joints and is secured together with pegs. Many homeowners love Timber Home construction because the beams of these homes are fully exposed. It creates a rustic and gorgeous presence that is impossible not to notice.
This type of construction provides vaulted wood ceilings supported by beautiful and solid Douglas fir timbers. Wall & Roof components are built in a controlled factory environment for the highest level of craftsmanship. We specialize in classic architecture including mountain lodges, and lakeside retreats, and Contemporary timber frame structures.
We build in a way that saves energy, which in return will save you a significant amount of money every month on your energy bills.
Modern Techniques to Conquer Difficult Terrain
For site locations that are in a floodplain or an environmentally sensitive site, an elevated home is a must. Basically, an elevated home is a home that is raised above the ground; these styles are similar to a stilt home and with some distinct differences. The two styles are similar in that they are built on foundations that are raised above the floodplain.
Our elevated pedestal home can not only be raised but it can cantilever over awkward or difficult terrain. This building style makes some locations now possible such as steep mountain slopes or floodplains. Using elevated pedestal homes is another environmentally focused building practice used by Logangate; these smart designs mean less disruption to the natural environment.
Homes Built with Honesty and Affordability in Mind
In the building industry, the term ‘slab-on-grade‘ (also known as having a shallow foundation) is simply referring to a type of foundation that is very near to the surface. A slab-on-grade foundation is an excellent choice for many homeowners because it is a more affordable foundation that is also extremely durable. With that being said, as cost-effective, as a slab-on-grade foundation is, it really only makes sense in warmer climates where freezing and thawing are less of a concern.
We also keep our overhead down so we can offer fair and honest pricing. For 50 years, Logangate has been dedicated to providing high-quality, gorgeous timber frame cabins and homes to our customers. We strive to provide our low environmental impact homes at an affordable price. Our homes are manufactured responsibly and sustainably so you can be proud of your Logangate Timber Home. We listen to our homeowners and put their needs first to ensure that you not only end up with a great house but your dream home. Contact us at Logangate Timber Homes and start your journey to having your dream home today!
Logangate Timber Homes is custom home builder in Asheville, North Carolina, specializing in building beautiful Modern Post & Beam Homes, Pedestal Timber Homes, Chalet Timber Homes, and Timber Frame Cabins. We have over 50 years of experience building panelized Timber Frame Homes that can be found all over the nation and are particularly popular in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. We are dedicated to designing beautifully crafted affordable Timber Frame Homes.
