Energy Efficient Timber Frame Homes are the Future
Building a Logangate Timber Home shows that you have exceptional style, taste, and standards! At Logangate, we use the highest quality materials while placing an emphasis on protecting our environment. Logangate Timber Homes offer the highest quality pedestal homes, timber homes, and cabin house kits at a very affordable price.
Building Sustainable Living Homes
At Logangate, we are dedicated to building sustainable living homes. Our post and beam construction refers to the way we build homes using large timbers. Typically, steel plates are used to tie members together. This allows for a home to have much more clerestory space that will enhance the beauty of wood. In addition to the natural beauty of large timber wood, Logangate’s post and beam homes also provide exceptional durability! In fact, they are structurally stronger than conventional platform construction. For over fifty years, Logangate has been dedicated to providing high-quality and gorgeous homes that are built in a way that is kind to the environment.
Things are Looking Up in the Ceiling
When you choose to build an energy-efficient panelized home, you might expect a dull dry walled ceiling to allow for insulation space. Luckily for you, Logangate Timber Homes has perfected not just creating a beautiful exterior, but we have also designed an energy-efficient timber frame home without a standard flat drywall ceiling. An expansive energy-efficient timber frame home ceiling is a specialty at Logangate and it can be yours for pretty much the same price as traditional flat drywall. Our post and beam construction provides vaulted wood ceilings supported by solid and gorgeous Douglas Fir timbers and 2×6 Douglas Fir Tongue and Groove.
Common Misconceptions About Panelized Building
A key component in creating sustainable living homes is the use of energy-efficient panelized home building practices. According to Build With Rise, approximately 35% of all energy loss in a home occurs through the walls. These inefficiencies can also happen in the attic, windows/doors, and basement. The most energy loss is through the walls.
Today, our wall and roof components are built in a controlled factory setting to give you the highest level of craftsmanship. Manufacturing the home in parts allows for greater control of the process, fewer waste products, and ensures a tight fit of the home overall. This process saves on energy costs over the life of the home and passes those savings off into your energy bills.
It’s time to start enjoying a comfortable home all year long and lower your energy bills. Our energy-efficient panelized homes can be shipped anywhere and allow for much faster drying times. You can customize the floor plan including expanding the home in 4ft. increments, i.e. 24ft. X 36ft., 40ft., 44ft. etc. Select a floor plan, and then design it to meet your dreams. With Logangate Timber Homes, building your energy-efficient timber frame home is affordable, easy, and customizable!
Modern Solutions to a Modern Problem
It’s no secret that building codes across the United States and beyond are becoming more stringent when it comes to energy efficiency. With the global energy crisis in full effect, new homeowners are scrambling to find ways to save on long-term energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint in their sustainable living homes.
While existing homes can be retrofitted to increase efficiency levels to an extent, new home builders have the distinct advantage of being able to plan and prepare for higher efficiency and the savings that come along with it. Here are a few tips we’ve learned in our business that is inspired by a recent article by Timber Home Living:
Roof Insulation: The number one area that provides the most bang for your buck is a properly insulated roof system. We all know heat rises and wood is a very poor insulator. You want a roof system with continuous foam roof insulation without any wood 2x rafters between them that blanket your roof and prevent any thermal bridging. If you have ever seen unfrosted lines on a frosted roof on a cold morning, that is actually heat being lost through the wood roof trusses. At Logangate Timber Homes, we use panelized roof systems to add to our arsenal of options for sustainable living homes. BASF makes our NEOPOR foam which is EPS foam that they inject graphite into it. The graphite turns the panel gray but more importantly, it reflects heat better and is denser. Our standard R-value on our roof panels is R-40.
Quality Windows and Doors: With even the best windows, the most inefficient part of your building envelope will be the windows. Being a part of your home’s shell, windows and doors have to be able to integrate well into the wall systems and have low-E capabilities. If a window is poorly installed or is of lower quality, it can comprise the efficiency of the entire envelope. Make sure your windows have a U-value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient that meets the code for where you are building. Remember: the lower the numbers, the better.
Insulated Foundations: In our experience building traditional timber homes, the combination of timber framing and SIPs with ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms) or Superior Wall foundations has proven to create extremely tight envelopes that are well insulated from the ground up, literally.
Large Overhangs: Eaves and overhangs help protect your windows and interior spaces from sun exposure. Having eaves with an appropriate depth for your area and climate can also help to protect the home from the area’s weather systems year-round.
At Logangate Timber Homes, we follow these principles in all energy-efficient timber frame homes we build. Green and energy-efficient buildings refer to the way of building that’s kinder to our environment. It’s also a way of building that saves energy, which in return will save you a significant amount of money every month on your heating and cooling bills.
Why ‘Green Building’ is More than a Catchphrase
When you hear the term green building you typically think of a way of building that’s kinder and gentler to the environment. That is true but when a home is built using these building practices, you will also save a great deal of energy and money! Ultimately, it is a practice that includes creating structures and using processes that are responsible and efficient. At Logangate Timber Homes, we are extremely proud of our reputation as one of the trusted leaders in the industry; we sustain this reputation through constructing energy-efficient timber frame homes to show that we take green building seriously—it’s an integral part of who we are! We practice sustainable manufacturing in our facility conserving electricity and striving towards zero waste; these are key components to building our energy-efficient panelized homes.
Our commitment to sustainable living means that your Logangate Timber Home will be extremely energy efficient. Our in-house Green Building Team will work with you to ensure you get the most efficient, durable home possible. Our team constantly studies the industry looking for new technologies and better methods of an environmentally friendly building so they can extend that knowledge to you and your home. These methods include:
Evaluate insulation types and specify above-code R-values
Evaluate opportunities for green building certification programs such as ENERGY STAR,
LEED, the NAHB National Green Building Standard
Detailed passive solar design review including overhang sizing & shading analysis, window location and specs, and thermal mass
Plan for and integrate renewable energy systems
Ongoing evaluation of energy-efficient panelized home building practices
At Logangate Timber Homes, we have been in business for over 50 years. We are dedicated to providing high-quality energy-efficient timber frame 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 feel good about a green home from Logangate. You can rest assured that your home from Logangate will be beautiful, durable, energy-efficient, and will last for generations. We can walk you through all the options and assist you every step of the way. The finished product will not only be a gorgeous, showstopper home but an energy-efficient home built with a commitment to sustainable living. Logangate Timber Homes are your partner to help you design your home as efficiently as you want and within your budget! Contact us today!
When you think of mountain home architecture, what usually comes to mind? Most people envision breathtaking and majestic mountain scenery with trees stretching high, playful wildlife teeming around you, and fresh air to soothe the busy city soul. For many, this is the perfect place to call home… most of the time.
House Method conducted a survey and found that the average median home age in the US is 63 years old. If you’ve ever visited or driven past a mountainous state in the US, you might have noticed that some homes have fallen into disrepair, are sorely outdated, or have problems with utility lines. While these 63-year-old homes might feel young at heart, time inevitably takes its toll. Fortunately for us, mountain home architecture and mountain modern home design have come a long way from sixty years ago!
Let’s take a look at mountain modern home design foundation building practices, types of modern mountain home designs (post and beam vs timber frame), and common interior designs of mountain homes.
Lot Restrictions and Exterior Mountain Home Architecture
Like with all buildings, mountain modern home design begins with the foundation. Foundation designs center around the slope of the lot. Let’s quickly cover the pros and cons of traditional poured concrete, pier and beam foundations, and crawlspace stem walls in the use of mountainous/sloped homes.
Poured Concrete/Monolithic Slab
In mountain home architecture, using poured concrete to make a large foundation slab is not exactly ideal. This type of foundation is typically used for buildings on flat ground. If this method is used on a slope, it would require builders to cut out the natural slope, level the site, install an expensive retaining wall, and then create an unnaturally steep driveway.
There are several disadvantages to this style of building on a mountainous slope: this building style typically causes rainwater to fall into the siding of the home, limits the view from the curbside, and does not make good use of the naturally occurring slope. Furthermore, the cost of the extra material for the concrete slab foundation can quickly drain the budget for any home build project.
Pier and Beam
The second method of approach to mountain modern home design is the pier and beam foundation. These homes are actually typically found in oceanfront homes and use stilts to lift the structure to a level position high enough to be safe from the rising tide. In modern mountain home designs, this style of foundation can help alleviate some of the problems created by flat building techniques, many homeowners are turned away by the long stilts and higher insurance premiums.
Stem Walls and Crawlspaces
Stem walls are often used for sloped lots, they are more durable than monolithic slabs and can be built to different heights, depending on the site’s needs. Most stem walls are created using cinderblocks, concrete, and metal rebar reinforcements and can cost more due to the extra time and materials needed.
Most modern mountain home designs actually use a combination of foundation styles and use cantilever house designs in mountainous areas because the design allows for smaller foundations. Having a smaller foundation can mean that the homeowner ends up saving a significant amount of money in their budget. Cantilever homes also allow for more patio space to accentuate the open mountainous views of the terrain.
The combination use of stem wall and pier & beam foundations can further stabilize the house structure and are sometimes seen in modern pedestal homes. Modern architects also sometimes use stone accents on the foundation to hide cinderblocks and create a rugged and luxurious look to the home.
Post and Beam vs Timber Framing
To the uninitiated, the nuances of post and beam construction and timber frame construction are minimal; the two construction styles are very similar but can be vastly different in terms of overall look, cost, and charm. The similarities lie in the framing of the home. Because the weight of the home is carried in the frames, load-bearing walls aren’t necessary and allow for large interior spaces and high ceilings. Both styles are known for their long-lasting durability and the natural beauty of the exposed beams.
The key difference between the two styles is how the connections are made in the frame. Post and beam homes are connected using metal connections to join the frame together. Because of this, post and beam homes typically require less complex engineering and non-precision construction. This style of framing means that the construction is slightly more efficient and simple than timber framing.
Timber frame homes are, on average, more expensive than post and beam homes because timber frame homes require more precision and craftsmanship to make the joints fit together. Precision milling machines with computer-assisted laser guidance and expert construction are required to make a timber frame home.
Common Interior of Modern Mountain Home Designs
So far, we’ve covered general mountain home architecture of foundations, common exteriors to mountain modern home design, and post and beam versus timber frame homes. The interior design of your dream mountain home is usually customizable to your specific wants and needs. Depending on the location of your home, there are some factors to consider when choosing the interior layout.
Mudrooms and foyers are important for locations with a lot of snow, these rooms are often overlooked when individuals design their own homes. Homeowners who are new to snowy areas might be unprepared for the mess that wet and snowy boots can track into the home.
Another feature to consider for your modern mountain home designs is the sizes of your windows. Depending on your budget, having large windows can be a game-changer to the feel of the home. Large windows bring natural sunlight into the home and provide a greater view of the beautiful natural landscape.
When in Doubt, Talk to a Professional
Let’s face it, you’re probably not a master-level architect that is knowledgeable about every facet of modern mountain home designs. Traditional home buying is difficult and stressful enough without having to consider variables that you’re not familiar with or ready for. Luckily for you, Logangate Timber Homes has been building modern panelized post and beam mountain homes for over 50 years. Start your journey to your dream mountain home today and check out Logangate today!
Are you thinking about living in a prefab home? Prefabricated homes, “prefab” for short, are homes that are built from a primary location (typically a warehouse) and then shipped and erected on-site for the homeowner. Prefab homes is a general term that can include trailer homes or double wides, modular, log and timber home and panelized homes. We are kind of a hybrid as a Panelized Post & Beam Timber home package.
Like all things with real estate, there are pros and cons of prefab home living. Factors to consider are cost, benefits, time factors, and government building requirements. Here are things to consider when living in a prefab home.
Pros and Cons of Prefab Homes
Pro 1: The Home Buying Process
While this process may vary depending on the contractor that the home buyer chooses, the general outline will be similar. First, the home buyer will need to determine home design and location needs. Then the home buyer will typically need to decide on things like window placement and general design features. Third, consult with a local builder for things like excavation and foundation cost. And finally, begin the actual construction of the home. At Logangate homes, our process is designed to be as efficient and stress-free as possible.
Pro 2: The Prefab Home Build Time
Fortunately, one of the benefits of prefab homes is that our panelized homes typically take around 2-4 weeks to erect getting you quicking in the dry. Compared to a traditional house around 6-12 weeks! Additional benefits of prefab homes are that there are usually many different options that can be customized to fit the dimensions of your property.
Pro 3: Efficient Building Practices
Living in a prefab home means living a greener lifestyle. Traditional homes often have waste materials that are leftover from the construction process. These materials are typically discarded and burned or shipped to a landfill or otherwise labeled as unusable waste. One of the benefits of prefab homes is that any waste material is collected at the fabrication warehouse and is recycled to use in other homes, thus minimizing the amount of wasted material
Pro 4: Energy-efficient Luxury Modern Homes
Most modern prefabricated homes are designed and constructed to be energy efficient. Logangate homes use an insulation board that serves as a barrier to thermal conductivity. In addition to insulation boards in the walls, most modern homes feature windows that are double-paned and sealed. Coupled together, these techniques ensure that when you’re living in a prefab home from Logangate homes, you can rest assured that the home is well insulated and energy-efficient.
Pro 5: Undeniably Durable
Prefabricated homes are surprisingly durable. While the general public may believe that because prefab homes are built so quickly, the quality of the structure may be negatively impacted. Fortunately, this belief has been proven otherwise. Prefabricated homes are built with the same structural requirements as traditional homes and often exceed the expectations of some traditional home building practices!
Pro 6: Looking for a Mountainside View? No Problem!
With modern building practices, living in a prefab home can be done anywhere. Prefabricated homes are often preferred when choosing to live on a steep hill or mountainside, most feature a post and beam style that is just as safe and structurally sound as a typical stick-built home.
Like with all things, living in a prefab home isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Here are some of the cons you will need to consider when choosing a prefab home:
Con 1: Possible Transportation Problems
One common issue is transportation problems. Depending on where the location of the job site is, transportation of the prefabricated pieces could be delayed or rerouted. Winding roads, steep grades or lack of turn around for large semi trucks can make it difficult to deliver to the job site. Building sites within 3 hours of Asheville NC, we us small 26’ flat beds and 26’ box trucks that allow us to go anywhere.
Con 2: Cost of Utility Connection Service
While one of the benefits of prefab homes is the low overall cost of the building process, a large portion of the budget will be spent on utility connection services. If public water and sewer are not readily available, then a septic system will be necessary. Septic systems range between $2,500 and $16,000 with many variables factoring into the overall cost.
The cost of an electricity connection varies depending on the distance from the home to the power supply; sometimes this requires additional poles and transmission lines to be installed which increases the cost. To compensate for this, some prefab home builders offer alternative energy sources such as solar paneling on the roof or, depending on the size of the lot, around the home.
Luckily, a gas utility connection is not always required. With modern high-efficiency electric appliances and the existence of electric water heaters, gas utility is viewed by some as a luxury. If the home buyer opts to have a gas utility connection service, then additional costs will be incurred. As with water and sewer, if a public gas utility is not available then a propane option may be available.
So, When Do You Move In?
Now that you know the practical pros and cons of prefab homes, let’s touch on what living in a prefab home is like! Modern prefab homes are becoming popular for their stylish construction and luxury feel without being overpriced. The popular tv show Impossible Builds often feature prefabricated homes.
Important information to remember is that prefabricated homes are faster to build, eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and more affordable overall.
See how Logangate Timber Homes is changing the prefabricated home market with advanced build techniques and fully customizable home design today!
Are you sick and tired of the hustle and bustle of the city? Can you no longer deal with the noise pollution of busy roads and freeways that somehow reach your living space?
If so, you’re not alone. Many homeowners and prospective home buyers want to feel less surrounded by the constant noisiness and pervasive grayness of modern life.
Getting away from the concrete jungle of cities and suburbs has many advantages, such as being conducive to living a longer life. Plus, living in more natural surroundings is said to bolster creativity and inner peace.
But there remains the matter of finding the right home. While you might have a thirst for living in a more outdoor setting, you’ve likely grown up with modern, indoor comforts. As such, you need to find the best possible modern timber cabin designs that can mesh your contemporary expectations with your desire to be in touch with nature.
Read on as we make our suggestions for the top modern timber cabin designs you should consider:
Pick #1: Modern Post and Beam Homes
We’re well into “the future,” where digital environments have steamrolled over brick and mortar. This shift has left many prospective homebuyers with an urge to get in touch with their more nature-based roots. After all, contemporary homes reflect this shift to digitization, seemingly built as enormous electrical outlets waiting to be plugged in.
Enter our Modern Post and Beam homes that blend the sleek modernity of contemporary architecture with a frame structure fit for old-world living.
These homes are characterized by the usage of clean lines and the artful implementation of glass that attracts light in droves. Then there’s the signature structural steel cantilever, maximizing every inch of space in your timber cabin, walking the delicate tightrope where form meets function.
The uniting philosophy of these homes is to integrate quality materials with natural habitats. That means offering you the comforts of current-day living with the many benefits of being immersed in the outdoors. Sure, you can remain connected to the present and all its technology. But you can simultaneously feel in touch with the elements that make you feel whole.
Volume is one of the standout features of Modern Post and Beam Homes. Sky-high timbers characterize this ample volume, a signature element of our expertly designed houses.
Furthermore, there are no attics in these homes. Instead, vaulted ceilings reach the roofs.
Another standout element in the Modern Post and Beam Homes is the authentic 4×8 Douglas-fir timbers and 2×6 Douglas-fir tongue and groove material. Once more, we have a prime example of form-meets-function. The wood is as gorgeous and eye-catching as it is structurally robust.
An advantage of the wood, beyond its reliability as a building material, is the warmth it radiates. When surrounded by our timbers, the intimate mood is unrivaled, offering a sense of sanctuary to residents.
Prospective homebuyers looking at steep sloping lots should strongly consider looking at Pedestal Timber Homes. That is if you want your pick of well-sized modern timber cabin designs.
For one, Pedestal Timber Homes allow you to enjoy a spacious abode without you forking out the exponential funds associated with larger foundations. How does the math work? Because these unique timber cabins are designed to cantilever 10 feet on all ends of the compass.
The financial toll reduced by smaller foundations of Pedestal Timber Homes is equaled by their minimized environmental footprint.
While the benefit discussed above presents many big-picture advantages, it also impacts the environment surrounding your house. Specifically, a cabin with a smaller footprint means minimal site disturbance and reduced soil erosion, which is pivotal to building on steep lots.
What else makes Logangate’s Pedestal-based Modern Timber Cabin designs so ideal for prospective homebuyers wanting to immerse their daily life in the wilderness?
Even counties with rigid restrictions on homes built on steep slopes welcome these designs. Better yet, since we tuck the foundation beneath the house, more trees can surround your property than traditional lots.
Our Pedestal Timber Homes maximize space so expertly they can be built up to 3,600-square feet (though you can have them built as little as 1,000-square feet if you’d prefer small timber frame cabin designs).
There’s also the plethora of windows that expertly leverage sunlight to ensure you enjoy all the related Vitamin-D-infused benefits.
Standing out most about Logangate’s prefab Chalet Style Homes is the Swiss Alps Architecture that will make you feel like you’re living in a luxury ski lodge.
This design aesthetic is highlighted by these two incredible features:
● Steep sloping roofs with extended overhangs
● A prow front (meaning, the front of your home resembles the front of a ship)
The trademark overhangs in our Chalet Style Homes are customizable. On the eaves, they can be 1 to 2 feet. And they can be up to 4 ft. on the ends of your home.
Our Chalet-Style overhangs reflect a common theme in all our home designs: form meeting function. They’re stylish and sleek, pleasing the eye of even the most visually inclined homebuyer. But they also stave off rain, snow, and wind, protecting your home from potential damage.
Now, onto the Prow front–the pinnacle feature of our Chalet Style Homes, located at the gable end in the living room and often pointed at the view. Additionally, the wall’s center section sticks out 4 feet at the midpoint.
We often place 8-foot-wide doors and 5 pieces of fixed glass above each door at both midpoint’s sides. This design method allows us to install 2-to-8-foot-wide doors and 10 pieces of fixed glass on the view-side of the Chalet Style Home. As such, you’ll get to enjoy gorgeous visuals of your natural surroundings to their fullest extent.
Owning a cabin in the mountains and being at one with nature has an array of benefits. For one, living in this elevated state enhances your quality of life, improving both your mental healthand physical health.
Provided you’ve made the decision to either purchase a vacation home or permanent residence in the mountains, there’s plenty to be excited about.
But you’ll want to ensure your home is designed to maximize the environment you’ll be living in. Fortunately, this article will highlight four of the top cabin designs for you to consider including small modern mountain homes, post and beam homes, chalet-style homes, and more!
Top Modern Mountain Cabin Designs #1: Post and Beam Homes
Modern post and beam home designs incorporate interior and exterior spaces into the surrounding mountain environment. This technique ensures the structure blends with the terrains, textures, and colors in the area, nestling you in the natural, rustic beauty.
Another standout characteristic in these designs is the towering timbers, offering warm, rustic vibes.
There are also no attics, meaning the ceilings are vaulted all the way to the roof, offering an open, freeing, and spacious feeling.
These home designs use authentic 4×8 douglas fir timbers and 2×6 douglas fir tongue and groove material. Together, the materials provide structural function and aesthetic form. The woody tones are pleasing to the eye and also help enhance focus and creativity.
Furthermore, post and beam homes at Logangate are a top modern cabin design because of the versatility offered in our kits.
For example, you can either put drywall or something else (potentially more “outdoorsy”) on the walls. The studs are exposed to the inside when the homes are built, giving you nothing but choices. Post and beam homes can also be configured into small modern mountain homes if you choose!
Top Modern Mountain Cabin Designs #2: Pedestal Timber Homes
Learning about modern cabin designs isn’t as complicated as it might seem at first.
One general rule is that sloping, steep lots need small foundations, but that doesn’t need to impact the home’s overall size. That notion is crystal clear when purchasing a pedestal timber home, namely when it’s built with Logangate’s sure hands.
Perfected in 1978, the pedestal timber home cantilevers at 10 ft in all four directions off a small foundation.
While a smaller foundation cuts down costs, the vertical pedestal layout adds to the overall square footage.
To the above points, these homes go all the way up to 3,600 square ft at Logangate, starting at 1,000 square ft.
Most crucial to the design, and a signature in our homes, is the volume of Douglas Fir in the ceilings. The warmth and coziness are an ideal contrast to all the vertical space and openness within Logangate’s pedestal timber homes.
An abundance of Energy Star certified windows provides plenty of natural light, enveloping you in the outdoors even when you’re inside.
Better yet, there’s the possibility of having Passive Solar designs, which restrict heat in the summer and increase the temperature come winter.
Pedestal timber homes can be built on flood plains and steep slopes, helping your home blend in no matter the terrain.
Top Modern Mountain Cabin Designs #3: Chalet Style Homes
What makes chalet-style homes one of our favorite modern cabin designs? It’s their most standout feature: the Prow front.
At the gable end in the living room, typically, the Prow is pointed towards the view. At 4’ at the midpoint, the wall’s center section protrudes. Then, the midpoint of Logangate’s chalet-style homes usually has 8’ wide doors and 5 pieces of fixed glass above them.
From there, the 2’-8’ wide doors and 10 pieces of fixed glass on the view-side of this cabin help you enjoy the spectacular mountain vista.
Also, our chalet-style homes are influenced hugely by classic Swiss Alps architecture. Speaking to those influences is the sloping roof with long overhangs at the eaves.
We’ll then note that our overhangs add functionality as much as architectural flair, protecting the cabin from snow, wind, and rain.
Top Modern Mountain Cabin Designs #4: Modern Timber Frame Cabins
A standout feature of modern timber frame cabins is the fully exposed loft floor system.
These homes highlight the beautiful Douglas Fir in the ceiling using the same 4×8 timbers as your floor joist. They also use the same 2×6 fir tongue and groove as your flooring. You’ll always feel submerged in natural beauty inside Logangate’s timber frame cabins.
Furthermore, the upstairs bedrooms add to the sense of openness because they’re fully vaulted. And the living rooms, as clerestory spaces, generally offer 20’ plus heights at their peak.
Like all our homes, our modern timber frame cabins make you feel like you’re at one with the terrains, wildlife, and plant life while you’re safely tucked away indoors.
Are you interested in Logangate’s high-quality, eco-friendly home designs? Then contact us today to find out more about what we can bring to your modern mountain cabin.
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 the 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 a prefab home.
What are Prefabricated Timber Homes?
Prefab, which is just a shortened version of the word “prefabricated,” simply means that a 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.
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 high end prefab 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 build prefab homes themselves, most buyers use a local general contractor or construction company to complete the assembly of their prefab home. 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 four to six months.
Because prefab homes are offered in standard kits, the manufacturing process for the entire house can be standardized without sacrificing quality. High-quality prefab homes 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 hill-side locations that would make traditional building difficult.
Prefab Home Limitations 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 of prefab homes will still require access to all of the same utilities required by traditionally built homes, including gas, electric, 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 the 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.
A chalet home, also commonly referred to as a Swiss Chalet house, is a style of home architecture common in the Alpine region of Europe. A chalet-style home 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
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 homes come 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 homes offer a very sleek and elegant aesthetic while maintaining the warmth and coziness of a Timber Home.
Interested in Owning Your Own Chalet Home?
If you are interested in constructing your perfect Chalet house, whether traditional winged or grand, Logangate is here to help. Our experienced team will walk you through all of your options and assist you every step of the way. You can rest assured that in a Logangate Chalet Home you are getting a beautiful and durable home that will last a lifetime. With Logangate you will never want to leave your home again. That is the Logangate difference! Contact us today to learn more!
No matter which new building methods are in style at the time, nothing can quite compare to the sturdy and stylish designs of a post and beam home. Post and beam construction utilizes high-grade, heavy timbers to create long-lasting, age-resistant homes with beautiful spacious interiors. This construction method can be traced back to ancient times but will never go out of style thanks to all of the benefits it provides.
Sprawling Interior Space
Home designs that utilize cheaper materials have to rely on a large number of structural support columns. This is not so with post and beam home designs. Thanks to the use of those sturdy, high-grade heavy timbers, post and beam houses are able to spread out the structural supports, allowing for more living space in your home. And since this means there aren’t any load-bearing walls, the floor plan can be just about anything you want it to be. Section off your floor plan however you’d like without worrying about its structural integrity.
Efficient Construction
Because of the relatively simple design of post and beam homes, construction time may be greatly reduced in comparison to other construction methods. When used in conjunction with our pre-built panel systems, post and beam construction can go by quite quickly, letting you move into your custom dream home faster than ever. Our panelized home kits use pre-cut, sanded, and numbered Douglas Fir rafters, allowing for faster build times and virtually no waste or mistakes on the job site.
Long-Lasting
Post and beam construction has been world-renowned for its strength since its inception. Notoriously hard to destroy, post and beam houses are often the only ones still standing after natural disasters, with some post and beam homes from the middle ages still retaining their structural integrity to this day.
Many modern construction methods utilize treated lumber in combination with other weak materials as they’re only expected to be lived in for roughly 40 years. This is in stark contrast to reliable post and beam methods which only use the best materials that are expected to last at least 100 years.
Natural Beauty
With their exposed beams and cut timber, post and beam homes are built around their natural beauty. Nothing can compare to the warmth and comfort you’ll feel inside your post and beam home. The wooden exteriors of post and beam houses also let your home blend seamlessly into the natural environment around it, allowing it to become part of the landscape.
At Logangate, we use incredibly strong and gorgeous Douglas Fir Timbers which are pre-cut and sanded and are very rare east of Mississippi. We use these timbers because of their incomparable strength and their stunning beauty.
Post and beam construction also respects nature itself by reducing the waste commonly associated with new construction, and by avoiding the use of chemically treated materials. Logangate is also committed to ensuring that your post and beam home is energy efficient. Our in-house Green Building Team constantly studies the industry looking for new technologies and better methods of green building and will work with you to ensure you get the most efficient, durable home possible.
Contact Us
If you’re interested in constructing a post and beam home, whether modern or traditional, Logangate is here to help. Our experienced team will walk you through all of your options and assist you every step of the way. You can rest assured that with a Logangate post and beam home, you will get a beautiful, durable home that will last a lifetime. With Logangate you’ll never want to leave your home again. That is the Logangate difference!
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.
If you’ve always loved the great outdoors so much that you’ve fantasized about having your very own cabin, you’ve certainly come to the right place! At Logangate Timber Homes, we feature outstanding cabin plans that you will instantly fall in love with.
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.
