There are literally thousands of designs and floor plans for log homes. Deciding on the perfect one for your family is not as easy as it may seem. To help you make an informed decision, you should use the following guidelines to narrow down your search before you even start to look at what specific log home builders are offering.

You can simplify the design process by using your present home as the starting point. Take a notebook or pad and write down notes and draw rough sketches. If you see a picture of log homes that you like on the internet, you can print them out and paste the picture in your notebook.

Make a list of the features that you like about your present home. This will ensure that you will not forget to add these features to your new plan. Write down the problem areas of your present home, and the solutions that you want. You can add these changes to the new house (bigger den, bigger pantry, study area, home office, etc.).

Make a wish list of features that you would like added to your new log home: sundeck, veranda, loft, breakfast nook, bay windows, etc.

List the number of rooms you want, and the features or amenities such as T&B and walk-in closets.

Be sure to organize your initial plans. Its important to back up your lists with basic or rough drawings and pictures. Don’t worry if you’re not a great artist, it’s just to give the designer a better feel for what you want. What you are actually creating is a logbook that contains all of the detailed and specific preferences for your new log home.

Do it with Simple Boxes
Draw a rough layout of rooms that you would like to have for built in your new home. You can represent the rooms with simple cut-outs or box drawings. Measure the rooms in your present house and use them as a reference to either scale up or down the dimensions for the rooms in your new house. Make sure to arrange them in the places where you want them to be, taking into account hallways, closets, and storage spaces. Doing this will give you a rough estimate of your overall floor plan and insight to the overall dimensions of your new home. If you are comfortable in using your computer, you can use it to design the floor layout of your new home. There are a number of home design software products that can make your planning easier and possibly more enjoyable.

Search the Internet for Standard Home Plans
The Internet is the first place you should look for a home plan. It’s a powerful tool, and you can probably find just what you’re looking for. Instead of just using the term log home, log cabin, or log house; try adding the word kit, plan, or builder after each phrase to make more relevant searches. You might find the perfect log home plan that youve been dreaming about. If not, you can choose whatever comes nearest to what youre looking for, and have your home builder make the necessary modifications the way you want.

Its easier to communicate exactly what you want by having a scrapbook of box drawings, pictures, and specific features that you want in your log home. Miscommunication with the builder is almost completely eliminated.

As you study the notes and sketches you have made and talk to different log home builders, you will be able to narrow down your search for a reliable log home builder. Although log home builders have their own preferred style of constructing log houses, their receptivity and openness to what you prefer is what matters.

Plans are ALWAYS Customizable to your Preferences
Any floor plan can be modified to suit your needs. Remember, you should never be constrained to choose a log home builders standard floor plan and design. In fact, the floor plan does not even need to be a plan for a log-style home.

From a construction point of view, its important to keep in mind that log homes are less flexible than conventional stick frame homes. The lesser number of corners you have in your plan, the less complicated the design will be. This translates to easier construction and more importantly, lower costs for your dream home.

Seek the Assistance of the Log Home Builder
By providing your builder with your dream log home scrapbook, you can have their in-house designers help you create a plan according to your preference. These designers use professional Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) software for this purpose, and it will be easy for them to come up with floor plans based on your notes. Buyers are often charged for this service, especially if they do not choose the design company to build the house.

Although you sketched what you want, there may be extenuating circumstances that may prevent you from having your way for a number of reasons such as: excessive cost, structural problems, or building code restrictions.

This makes it even important to design your scrapbook before you consult with a professional designer. A professional log home designer will have the knowledge to help you adjust your plan so your log home can be build with the least amount of complications.

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