Log cabins come in all shapes and sizes and with different purposes. Do you want a holiday home, hunting lodge, guest house, main property, a just a place to just be alone? They are usually accommodating, very homey. Not to mention elegant and energy efficient. And the best part? You can build one yourself. If you’re feeling brave, you can spend about 280 days felling, debarking and shaping trees trees to craft every piece of the house, or… You can buy self-build log cabin kits from all over the globe and have your house ready in a few days.
DIY Housing
DIY housing – that’s what we’re discussing in this article. Log cabin kits are an alternative for those who would like to build their own homes, but don’t have the commensurate structural engineering skills to back the dream, but still want to do it anyway. There is nothing quite like living in a house that you built with your bare hands. Every log you use is a tangible step toward your goal. The sweat and fatigue you endure during construction is instantly offset once you see the complete structure, with your kids running around the garden, and the sweet smell of dinner welcoming you home.
Self-build log cabin kits take care of most of the work: designing the house, sourcing timber, shaping it, notching the logs, and the rest of the grunt work. The makers simply send you all the materials you need to build a complete house, then they leave the fun part to you. You get to assemble the parts, and to find the right decorations to go with the house.
Setting a Budget
The first step in buying a log cabin kit is to set a budget for your construction project. You must consider more than the cost of the log cabin kit: other costs such as buying the land, planning fees, laying foundations, labour, and interior finishes do have an impact on your bottom line. Typically, the cost of the log cabin kit usually amounts to 40% of the total project cost. Ensure you can facilitate all these costs before embarking on construction, because if you don’t your project will likely stall.
Finding a Kit Supplier
The next step is to look around for a good log cabin seller. Take your time looking, because there’s very many options, all with different offerings. Some sell high quality log cabin kits, others offer cheap ones. Don’t settle for anything other than what you want. If you want a Scandinavian log cabin, focus on that. You will need to do your research about what goes into your dream house, and the fact that you’re reading this article means you’re on the right path. Keep in mind that if you want a log cabin that lives for decades, you will go for quality over cost.
We work with trusted partners who specialise in producing high quality and versatile log cabin kits that are easy to assemble and have a minimum of 3-decade lifespans. The kits are usually built in such a way that the logs interlock with each other, making assembly fast and removing the need for hammers and nails (on the most part.) Most manufacturers provide a 10-year warranty.
Bespoke or Not Bespoke?
If you go for a ready-made design (which you can buy directly from our partners), the seller will then ship the log cabin kit to your construction site. If you want some changes done to the design, these should be communicated at the time of ordering. The good thing about log cabins is that they are incredibly versatile in shape and purpose. Suppose you need a home office, ask them if they can include that in the design. If you’d like the windows to look a certain way, or need more space than the design allows, inquire don’t hesitate to ask. Most of the time they’re perfectly capable of accommodating such changes.
Once the log cabin kit arrives at the site, you need to decide exactly where you want to put it up. The delivery team will usually advise on the location and type of foundation to use, and they can also put the cabin up for you if you wish (there is usually an additional charge for this). As rule of thumb, the best sites usually have good drainage, water and electricity supply, and are easy to access.
Construction usually takes from 3 days to a week, depending on the size and complexity of the log cabin. Log cabin kits usually include detailed instructions on assembly and maintenance, and if you follow them clearly, you should have a perfectly delightful home that will serve you for decades to come.
