How to Choose the Correct Building Materials for Dormers from Log Cabin Home Builders
Dormers are an excellent way to create more space and functionality for your log home cabin. These roof structures bring more light and ventilation into the home and increase its curb appeal. However, if you want to add dormers to your building plans, you will need to know how to choose the best building materials. Here is advice from log cabin home builders on how to choose the correct building materials for dormers.
Solid Log/Timber
Many log cabin home builders love the advantages solid log/timber dormers can provide. These environmentally friendly structures are strong and durable to last many generations. Solid log walls are more energy-efficient and less likely to spread fire than wood frame walls.
Framed/Sided
Framed/sided dormers can be affordable and easy to build compared to other options.
Common choices for exterior siding for dormers popular with log cabin home builders include cedar shake, board and batten, and matching log or timber. Cedar shake roofing and siding from log cabin home builders provide exceptional beauty and durability. All of these options can be aesthetically pleasing and provide a change-up of materials that compliment the logs in the remaining structure. It also provides an excellent tie-in to other structures on the property such as a garage, pump house or storage building that has siding matching that used on the dormers.
Interior Finish
When it comes to the interior finish of dormers for your home, many log cabin home builders choose either wood paneling or drywall. Common choices for a wood finish include matching log/timber or tongue and groove paneling. If you want a uniform look that matches the exterior, matching log/timber can be a smart choice. The wood finish can be used with flooring, walls and ceilings. If you plan to use timber in wet areas such as the kitchen or bathroom, you will want to apply a waterproof finish to the wood.
Tongue and groove paneling can provide a beautiful aesthetic look, but it can be tricky to install. The pieces can be difficult to straighten out, so they align with each other, which can cause issues with secure joints. To avoid any exposed unfinished exposed areas at the joints as the boards season it is best to finish the boards before installation. If repairs are needed in the future, it can be more expensive to remove the damaged paneling. If you are considering a tongue and groove interior finish, you may want to leave the work in the hands of experienced log home cabin builders.
Log Cabin Home Builders Can Help You with Homeowner Association Requirements
Are you thinking about building a log cabin home in a neighborhood governed by a homeowner association? Having a log cabin home with a homeowner association can be advantageous with amenities and maintenance upkeep, but the organization can have strict building restrictions and regulations. Log home cabin builders can help you navigate these challenges so you can build the home of your dreams in a way that will keep the homeowner association happy. Here are many things you need to know on how log cabin home builders can help you with the requirements of a homeowner association.
Purpose of Homeowner Associations
Homeowners associations are most often established primarily to assure the other residents that homes built within the neighborhood will be of similar appearance and market value so they don’t negatively affect the property values of the other properties. Log homes are generally considered an asset to a community due to their value and attractiveness. Other requirements often include provisions for signage, business activities, fencing, building heights, noise, allowable construction times, seacon and duration. Be sure to provide a copy of the homeowner’s association requirements to your log home designer and builder so they know what is required. Regulations are unique to each association.
Reduce Planning Research Time
Building a log cabin home can take extensive research in choosing the right materials and design. A homeowner’s association can have rules on what materials may be used and the process for construction. Log cabin home builders have years of experience working with homeowners’ associations and are familiar with the specific requirements required for construction. This can save you time and effort from figuring out all this information on your own. You can rest assured that your log home design plans will be customized to meet the demands of the homeowner association, so they don’t cause project delays.
Handle Permits and Other Construction Documents
Log home builders are knowledgeable about the zoning requirements and construction documents needed to build your home. These professionals can manage all the paperwork to satisfy the homeowner’s association. If you are building a custom log cabin, you may need several types of permits, depending on your location. Individual permits may be required for plumbing, electrical and mechanical projects. You may also need special permits for the building site layout (site plan), driveway (approach), excavation, concrete driveways, sidewalks and other projects attached to your log cabin home.
Building permits need to be secured before construction begins, or you may face penalties, fines and project delays. The plan details must be submitted to your local code office for approval. Log cabin home builders often have a professional team of designers and architects that can create these plans to meet exact specifications. If you attempt to submit the plans yourself, you can be liable for any construction-related damages from flaws in the design process. By having log cabin home builders handle the submission process for permits and other construction documents, you take the headaches and stress of this responsibility off your hands. Of course, you need to be prepared to pay for their time and services.
Meet Specifications for Building Codes
The building codes required by your city or county and the homeowner association can be extensive and confusing. There can be conflicts between what the city requires for building codes and the demands from the homeowner association. Professional log home cabin builders often work with a network of professionals to handle every aspect of the construction process, which can help you build your home faster. In addition, you can rest assured that the construction of your log cabin home can pass the building inspections required by the homeowner association.
Log Cabin Builders in California Offer Alternate Roof Structures
Choosing the roofing system for your log home is crucial for its interior’s structural integrity and overall feel. There are numerous choices available, which can make it hard to decide. Here are the pros and cons of alternate roof structures offered by log cabin builders in California to help you make the best-informed decision possible.
Fink Truss
A fink truss is one of the most used residential construction trusses log cabin builders in California use. It supports several different types of roof lines while providing strength and stability. This type of truss is created off-site and lifted in place. Typically, the truss manufacturer places the trusses directly on the log walls when they are delivered. That helps prevent damage to the trusses from improper handling.
The downside to this alternate roof structure is in expectations beyond what the fink truss is designed to handle. For example, it cannot accommodate loft floors in log cabins where additional joists may be necessary. In addition, changing supports or adding loads could compromise the structural integrity of the roof.
Vaulted Truss
A vaulted ceiling truss, also known as a scissor truss , is another popular alternate roof structure option used by log cabin builders in California. The bottom chords of this type of truss are sloped to create a dramatic ceiling. The vaulted truss can be used anywhere in the home where the roof is wide enough to allow for the ceiling height to be increased at a relatively low pitch.
It is possible to be creative with trusses and combine the fink truss and vaulted truss structure. One very popular area to do so is the master bedroom with the bedroom area being vaulted and the closet and bathroom area having flat ceilings. Vaulted trusses cost more than fink trusses but are less costly to install than the ridge and rafter roof system described below.
Attic Truss
An attic truss is an alternate roof structure offered by log cabin builders in California when an attic or additional loft space is needed. With other types of trusses, the webbing can limit storage or living space. With an attic truss the center section becomes livable space. The truss forms the floor, walls and roof structure of that space as well as the ceiling of the lower floor in addition to the areas beyond the living space that is created within the truss.
Approximately ⅔ of the width within the exterior walls becomes a livable area rather than attic space. The biggest disadvantage of this structure is that it can require a steeper roof pitch to make room for usable living space within the attic truss which can add to the cost. The bottom and top cords of the truss in the attic area is made large enough to support the floor load. Due to the larger board sizes required, it costs more for attic trusses than fink trusses.
Heavy Timber/Log
Heavy timber or log alternate roof structures are an environmentally friendly option offered by log cabin builders in California. An exposed heavy timber or log roof structure is used when the desire is to maximize the amount of visible log or timber within the roof. This is typically the most costly roof structure as it requires the greatest amount of material and labor to build.
The heavy timbers or logs are covered with 2×6 tongue and groove decking and another roof structure built on top of that to provide the insulation cavity. Consequently, this type of roof structure is commonly called a built-up roof. It can cause a problem when building in California where interior sprinkler systems are required. How do you make the sprinkler heads extend below the beams and look attractive?
Ridge and Rafter
Ridge and rafter alternate roof structures is the most commonly used roof structure for log homes. The ridge beam is either log or timber, depending on the log profile used and appearance desired. The rafters are typically I-Joists of whatever size and frequency is required to support the snow load at the building location. This roof structure creates the most open area within the home. The underside of the I-joists are typically covered with tongue & groove paneling to create a beautiful appearance from below.
When choosing this roof structure it is necessary to balance the cost of heat and cool the additional expanse of space with the beauty created by the expanse of space.
Expert Log Home Cabin Builders You Can Trust
Dormers supply greater functionality to your log cabin home. It is important to make a weather tight connection to the logs. The type of building materials you choose will depend on the climate you live in and your overall budget. The expert log cabin home builders at Sierra Log & Timber can recommend the best building materials for dormers with your dream home. With over 25 years of experience building log homes nationwide, you can have peace of mind that your home has been built to last for many generations. Call to schedule a design consultation today.
