How to Design a Log Home in Minnesota
Minnesota, also known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, is a perfect place to build a log home. When traveling in the state you'll see thousands of log cabins, from small cottages to large log homes that resemble palaces. The lush woods and forests that surround the waterfronts make log cabins fit in with the surrounding nature. The simplicity of the structure also makes log cabins an affordable option for a home. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Choose a location for your log cabin. Make sure that the land you choose is elevated or in an area that stays dry. Any place where there is a potential for water runoff is not a good place for a wood structure. Clear the land to the extent that your cabin can be built, being careful to leave as much of the trees and brush as possible. This will enhance the look of your cabin when finished. Depending on the size of your cabin, you might have a concrete foundation poured, but it's not necessary for small cabins with less than 1,000 square feet of floor space.
-
2
Choose what type of wood you want for your log home. Although log cabins are simple structures, you can't just use wood that has been chopped from a tree. Logs used to build log cabins are treated or hewn by hand or machine. There are numerous companies in Minnesota that specialize in wood for log cabins and homes. Companies like Voyageur Log Homes (voyageurloghomes.com) and Majestic Log Homes (majesticloghomes.com) offer different styles, colors and cuts of wood. Typically, the size of the logs you will choose is determined by the size of your cabin. For instance, a 500-square-foot cabin would require logs between 12 to 14 inches in diameter, while a 3,000-square-foot cabin should be built with wider logs, such as 16 inches in diameter.
-
-
3
Look at log cabin floor plans to choose the best design for your cabin. If you have mountain or water views, you'll want to ensure that the cabin faces in the direction that provides you the best view. Decide whether your cabin will be one floor or two floors, as well as whether outdoor balconies or patios will be part of the structure. Many of the log home builders in Minnesota, such as Heim Log Homes & Restoration (heimloghomes.com) and CCTralle Log Homes (cctralleloghomes.com), offer log cabin packages that include all the pieces you need for the log home of your dreams.
-
4
Ask the top log home companies for estimates to build your log cabin. Three major log cabin builders in Minnesota are Heim Log Homes & Restoration, Majestic Log Homes and CCTralle Log Homes. All of these companies can take your property, wood preferences and design specifications and make them a reality.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit LOG CABIN HOMES image by PICTURETIME from Fotolia.com
