A History of Log Cabins

If you’re building a vacation home, you might consider a log cabin. You just can’t beat the coziness and down-to-earth appeal of a log cabin home! Whether you want to build a vacation home or a major home for you and your family, log cabins are a great investment. They also have a rich history throughout the world.  

 

Log cabins are shelters typically made of logs hewn together. Traditionally, these houses were single roomed or storied. Log cabins are believed to have their original roots in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe and were probably first built in the Bronze Age period. Straight pine and spruce tree trunks in the Scandinavia facilitated construction of the cabins, and this still goes on today.

 

Europeans continued building log cabins as frontier shelters when they migrated and settled in North America. Some historians believe that the settlers built their first cabin in 1638 in New Sweden. Construction of log cabins continued in other colonies.

 

As the early settlers built more formal houses, log cabins served as animal shelters and outdoor stores. Some famous personalities like Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson among others were born in log cabins. Cabins have currently transformed into leisure homes but their interesting history remains unforgotten.

Foundation

Pioneers of log cabins had to choose an ideal site to offer the inhabitants good drainage and access to sunlight. Cabins foundation was set on stones. Large stones were used especially for the corners. More stones were also used along the sill or bottom log for very large cabins. The stone foundations kept the shelters from damp soil. Space between earth and the cabin served as storage. Cabins that were constructed on earth floors needed no stone foundations. Cabin floors were normally made from hard-packed clay.

Walls

Traditional log cabins had walls that were made out of straight tree trunks placed one on top of another. The trunks or logs were later interlocked at the corners and notched at the ends. This made the structures very strong as no nails were used, just like today’s log houses.

 

Complex joints were developed over the decades. Spaces that were left between the trunks and at the joints were sealed using moss or other soft materials from surrounding plants. Small window openings were allowed on the log walls to allow in some light and warmth. A fireplace also existed in the cabin for more warmth which also served as a cook stove.

Roof

As for the roofing, log cabin pioneers used rows of overlapping short boards. The size of the house depended on the length of the tree trunk. Similar sealing was used on roofs to keep away moisture. Traditional log cabins also had smoke allowance which served as chimney.

 

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How to Avoid Common Framing Errors

Simple things can make a big difference. This is particularly true in the home construction industry. It is true that home construction is not a technologically advanced field. We still use more or less the same technologies that we used ten or twenty years ago. However, better building materials are available now and they significantly improve the structural stability and performance of the building.

Here is a quick overview of common framing mistakes that can lead to callbacks and complaints:

Installing sheathing as a single span: Sheathing needs to be installed over 2 or more spans.

Installing strength axis in the wrong dimension: It is generally a good idea to install panels with their strength axis across the supports.

Sheathing that isn't properly supported: If the wooden panels are cut less than 24 inches in width, they will probably deflect over a 24” panel. Since these panels are usually installed on the roof ridges, workers may walk over them during the construction. If the panels are narrower, you will have to support them with edge support clips.

Installing glued laminated timber upside down: These beams tend to be of the unbalanced kind. Generally, different levels of bending stresses are assigned to the tension and compression zones. If you find the label 'Top' on the top lamination, you must ensure that that side of the timber goes up.

Panels that are not properly spaced: When installing panels, make sure you space them properly. Panels made of wood may expand or shrink when there is a difference in the climate. When they are exposed to moisture, they may expand.

If panels are installed with hardly any space between them, expansion will be prevented. This may lead to buckling. To prevent buckling, there should be a gap of 1/8 inches between panel ends and edge joints.

Fasteners that are overdriven: Improper fastening will lead to aesthetic and structural problems. They are the number one cause of call backs.

Inconsistent joist spacing: Make sure that the deflection across the floor is consistent. If not, expect a lot of call-backs from angry customers.

Inconsistent floor gluing

Squeaking is one of the most common complaints about wooden floors. If the floor system is properly glued and nailed there will be no squeaking.

By following the five framing principles given below you can prevent these common mistakes.

·         Wooden panels tend to have a strength direction. If you adhere to this rule, you will be able to prevent most deflections.

·         Since wood has a tendency to expand or contract, you need to ensure that the panels are properly spaced.

·         Make sure that your building practices are consistent. Inconsistent materials, framing and alignment can cause a lot of problems.

·         Most vapor related problems can be prevented by using vapor retarders.

·         The builder or the contractor also needs to ensure that the sheathing is continuous. Continuous sheathing will offer greater resistance against high winds.

Improperly built field notches

If the field notches are made improperly, they may compromise the structural capacity of the framing member.

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The Basics of Green Building Contracts

Green building opportunities are engaging a lot of attention. This is a result of many factors, such as tax credits, greater regulatory assistance, and increased consumer awareness about environmental conservation. However, green building contracts aren’t as easy-to-understand as conventional building contracts.

What Makes Green Building Contracts Challenging?

For a long time, there was an absence of standard green-construction contracts. As a result, green-building contracts have often been vague, creating a lot of problems for contractors and other involved parties. Being relatively new and still coming to terms with different state-level and national regulations, maintaining uniformity in green-building contracts can be difficult. Recently, this issue has been addressed.

Green-building contracts addressing different types of green risks are now available. The construction industry is still familiarizing itself with this contractual format. Typically, green contracts try to address unique liabilities, responsibilities, and risks associated with green buildings.

We will talk about different aspects of comprehensive risk-management strategy in such contracts. Ideally, the contract should include anticipated/possible risks followed by different clauses and sub-clauses that clarify every aspect of the risks involved. According to the recently-introduced standards, a green-building, risk-management contract should address the following:

Designate responsibilities—establishing accountability is an essential component of building contracts as specific people/departments are designated different job responsibilities. The contract should clearly mention people or parties responsible for failure to achieve green certifications or tax credits. The contract must explain the extent of responsibilities (or risks) of the contractor. Standard and additional risks should be explained. The contract should mention parties responsible for collating and preparing documents for getting green ratings.

Clearly defining green terminology—this includes often-used terms like “green certification” and “sustainability”. These terms don’t have an established, universal definition. Therefore, the contract should define these terms, making them clear for all the concerned parties.

Disclaimer—usually, contractors like to include a disclaimer. This provides more assurance to all the concerned parties. Here, the contractor provides a guarantee for achieving the desired outcomes. The desired outcome can be a green-building certification or the intended energy-efficiency figures. Failure to achieve these outcomes can lead to substantial damages. The disclaimer should state whether the consequential damages will be waived or executed and under what circumstances.

Terms related to project delivery—the contractor should present clear estimates or defined dates by which the green building project will be completed. In the conventional building documentation, contractors often warrant their workmanship. Green contracts are slightly more challenging. Here, contractors can be held responsible for designing flaws that can ruin green-performance ratings.

Liabilities—the contract should clearly address liability in case of a green technology or product failure. The green building niche often uses experimental materials. The success rate of such entities is often not known. Green building systems might even require the collaboration of conventional and new building techniques. The contract should address these challenging issues and assign liability across all the involved parties.

Payment Provisions—the contract should include payment provisions to avoid delays or confusion over payments. Sometimes, the payment schedule is tied to completion of different stages of construction/building. For instance, some contractors might be ready to accept payments when the green certification is received. However, some contractors might not feel comfortable with this clause. It is better to have clear terms about advances, making partial payments, releasing retainage, and final payments.

It has been observed that green building projects that use visual construction often perform better. Key elements of green building modeling are weaved together and then compared with expected outcomes. This makes it easier to gauge the most probable conflicts and create possible resolutions.

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Why Custom Builders Need to Think Beyond their Business Cards

As far as marketing is concerned, word of mouth is extremely important. But if you are a custom builder, you don't really have to wait for your old clients to pass your visiting card to their friends or colleagues. Custom builders don't have model projects to show. They don't have an in-house marketing team either. As a result, most of them rely on their reputation. As for marketing, their business card is their only tool. However, a smart custom builder can use several other promotion techniques as well.

So, instead of waiting for the clients to come to you, you should reach out to them. Try to engage with your community. Understand what people want and try to offer solutions. Try to position yourself as a resource for designers and architects. They are the people who bring business to you.

Create goodwill

You should share your knowledge with people who will benefit from it. You don't necessarily have to promote yourself. Instead, grab every opportunity to share your expertise. Let people know that you are an expert and they will readily seek your service.

Conduct workshops

You should also conduct free workshops for the general public. Such events can be used to discuss topics such as building a green home or undertaking a remodel. The key is discussing a topic that might spark an interest. This requires an understanding of your audience.

Don't expect an immediate return on your investment, but over the time, these people will come back to you and give you business.

Your website

Your website is one of the most potent weapons in your arsenal. You can use your website to differentiate you from other builders. Add useful articles and how-to guides. The goal is to build a relationship with potential clients. Once you build trust, they will readily leave their contact information. Write about how you can solve their problem.

When you promote your business online, you should be willing to provide high quality photos of your products. Good photos of your past projects or computerized images can bring your project to life. 3D images allow you to create multiple angles of the property even before it is fully built.

High quality images will appeal to a buyer's imagination. The home may take one-and-a half years to build and until it is complete, the buyer has no idea how it will look. Using computer aided graphics you can show the buyer what the finished product will look like.

Offer tours

Another technique that many custom builders employ is that they let their prospects tour the project during the construction and just before the client moves in. This gives potential clients an opportunity to assess the quality of the work before hiring the builder. During these tours you can also point out how your projects differ from others.

Remember that when the work is complete, a green home doesn't look any different from other homes. So if you incorporate green features, you should encourage prospects to tour the property during the construction stage itself. This will allow you to point out the structural and functional differences that will make your home healthier and more energy-efficient.

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How Technology Can Help Builders Work Smarter

More and more builders now rely on technology to run their businesses better. Technology helps builders reduce costs by organizing their information better.

Automated payment systems, for example, can eliminate costly mistakes that might arise from double paying vendors. In addition, they prevent the vendor from changing prices without your knowledge. 

There are apps for scheduling and they work really well. They can email reports to traders and contractors.

DIY Technology

Some real estate companies have built their own operating systems. When an organization has its own operating system, it will have a better control over functions such as scheduling, purchasing and customer relationship.

Paperless offices are becoming the norm. Here is how to use technology to your advantage:

Blogs and websites

Your website is a great tool to connect with your existing and potential clients. Is it fully functional? Does it provide value to the visitor?

Surveys conducted among home shoppers reveal that they prefer to search online before visiting a property. If you have a search engine optimized site, you will get targeted visitors to your homepage. Post compelling descriptions and photos of your homes on your site.

Your website is a sales center where you can showcase your homes. In addition, it allows you to capture valuable information about potential clients. Using interactive tools, you can even recommend structural changes online. Many websites offer live chat facilities, so that customers can fix appointments to visit model homes and interact with salespeople.

You may also consider adding homeowner portals to your site. They will allow the buyer the opportunity to watch their houses being built. Also include information about community areas on your site. You can also offer do-it-yourself video guides about construction topics.

Sales management

These tools can create an automated system that can manage every step involved in home buying. Besides helping you generate leads, they will also allow you to handle leads acquired from traditional and online channels. You can also generate reports that will let you know if a particular strategy is working or not.

Scheduling and purchasing

Proper estimating, scheduling, and purchasing are essential to cut costs and make profits. There are comprehensive apps that let you manage these vital processes. Since these applications allow you to share documents with every stakeholder mistakes and misunderstandings are unlikely to happen.

Warranty

When you have a Warranty system in place, you can ensure that people who bought your homes are happy with the purchase and ready to recommend your company to their friends or relatives. A comprehensive warranty system can schedule building inspections. Builders can also track warranty requests online and recommend work orders. Thanks to the reporting programs, this system also aids quality control and vendor analysis. Since it monitors inspection requests, recurring problems can be handled effectively.

Accounting

A sophisticated accounting system will keep your processes in order. It can handle automated payments, payroll and trade invoicing. In addition, it can generate reports which will keep your budget on track.

Even if you are not willing to spend lots of money on an integrated OS, there are several tools that allow you to work smarter and quicker. For example, Skype and FaceTime enable video conferencing in real time. Dropbox, another open source app, is used by several builders to share photos and documents.

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Home Construction: An Industry Rebounding with Optimism

The home building niche and its associated businesses have been instrumental in bringing about numerous cycles of economic recovery. This has helped the nation to recover from the aftermath of the economic crisis. Today, the home construction industry is actively addressing the renewed interest in home ownership and long term home rentals.

It Could Have Been Better

The number of homes built for occupancy and rentals grew steadily during 2013. This positive outlook is expected to sustain through 2014. As impressive as this might seem, it doesn’t reflect the potential of the industry. Home builders usually take upon 1.7 million homes during a year that is not hammered by recessionary cycles. Addressing the demands of younger, smaller families and home rental-seekers, the industry could have done much better. The resurgence has been impaired by the devastating effect that the slowdown had on the entire housing sector.

Understand How Recession Took a Serious Toll

During 2005, the home construction sector was at its peak. No amount of supply could meet the ever-rising demand. During this period, homeownership statistics were very high across the nation. However, some policy mistakes and regulatory oversights combined with the forthcoming recession ensured that an unprecedented shock was delivered.

Demand gradually declined and rising interest rates further mocked interest homebuyers. As the national and global economy started crumbling, house prices declined but not sufficiently to stimulate a rise in demand. Potential home buyers grew more skeptical about their sources of income and lending had already become too stringent.

It should be noted that the industry was among the first to show signs of recovering in a battling economy. The process has taken five years but its former glory hasn’t been restored, yet. Yes, the housing construction business grew impressively by double digits for two consecutive years—2012 & 2013. However, this growth seems impressive because during the preceding years, the demand was abysmally low. The journey of recovery has been slow and steady so far but now it seems ready to push through.

Having Recovered, Industry is set to Grow Insatiably in 2014

The overall picture seems rather encouraging for the next two years. A number of reasons explain this optimism across the industry.

For starters, genuine buyers who had been stuck during the slowdown years are set to return, i.e. demand homes. Whether they are first-time buyers wanting a new apartment or families trading for a bigger home, this is genuine demand that will drive ownership. In the last few years, homeowners have been very cynical about home ownership. This sentiment is fast changing. Job growth rate had impressed during 2013 and this trend will continue during 2014 with no palpable reasons for hiring to decline. Young adults are increasingly finding more jobs and getting better wages. Leading economic, trend-analyzing firms expect household incomes to increase and smaller businesses to recruit more during 2014.

Optimism Mixed with Some Caution

Construction firms are keeping a close watch on prices of building materials, ensuring that they are prepared for an unwarranted price hike. The national economy can do little if a major, international catastrophe emerges. More jobs need to be created across the nation to ensure that demand from first-time home buyers doesn’t decline.

Concluding Thoughts

The market is looking ripe for more home-ownership deals. Savings rates have dipped, bringing a cheer to families who have been waiting for normalcy to return. The stock market seems renewed and lending is becoming easier with financing institutions feeling more confident. Some mortgage trends are still in the negative but the numbers aren’t too alarming to halt the overall optimistic trend. The political instability that plagued the economy now seems largely cured. The much-argued stimulus packages and spending cutbacks aren’t derailing the enthusiasm of an upbeat market. Hiring is rising across the industry as demand for new homes is no longer being speculated.

Why Energy Efficient Homes are the Norm Today

Builders conduct quite a few studies before launching a residential project because the stakes are usually high. They do feasibility studies and analyze the market. And only the most viable projects are approved. Still, all that pro forma work merely reduces the risk; it doesn't eliminate it.

Until recently, builders only needed to focus on codes for guidance on ensuring energy efficiency of their homes. However, in many markets across the country, houses with third party energy efficiency certifications are attracting more buyers. In fact, some prominent builders now only offer homes with energy efficient certifications. This has made it necessary for builders to incorporate some form of energy efficiency into their projects.

In today's housing market, the number of buyers who factor in the cost of ownership is steadily increasing. Since energy efficiency is crucial for reducing utility bills, more people are looking for homes boasting of Energy Star certifications.

What if you don't already offer energy certifications on your homes? That is no cause for major concern now because you can choose from several certification options. The National Green Building Standard is a voluntary certification developed by the International Code Council and the NAHB in 2009. This has been approved by ANSI.

Over the last 5 years, about 30,000 new houses received NGBS certification, and almost 2,000 homes are waiting for approval.

Since the certification is non-prescriptive, there is no way builders can take short cuts. That also explains why NGBS is the only green certification approved by ANSI.

There are several other competing standards and each one has its proponents and benefits.

Depending on the kind of competition you face in your local market, you need to know more about each of these certifications and choose the one that allows you to differentiate your products from your competition.

This year will be remarkable for builders in many ways. The housing sector is expected to register exponential growth in 2014. This year, buyers of all segments are expected to enter the market. In 2013, the real estate market received a major boost from investors who purchased a large number of properties. This helped dry up the existing inventory and also drove the prices up.

In 2014, the market will see the participation of more entry level buyers. And then we will also get to know more about the specific buying preferences of people aged 18 to 32. Since many of these buyers have waited several years to enter the market, they will have a decent understanding of the products. They will also be more interested in learning about ways to make their home more energy efficient and comfortable.

There is enough evidence to prove that buyers are showing greater willingness to pay slightly higher prices for homes that possess energy-efficient certifications.

In fact, energy efficiency has become the norm today, and builders can no longer ignore it. The year 2014 will be a great year for builders who have exciting projects on offer. But the risks associated with the trade are also becoming bigger. Not offering homes with energy-efficient certifications is the biggest mistake that builders can commit now.

Economic And Housing Activity Seeing Upward Movement

Good news! The National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI) reports that the housing market in 58 out of approximately 350 metropolitan regions across the country stayed at or exceeded the last normal level of activity. This means that on average the nation is at 87 percent of the normal housing and economic activity. This is great news for every facet of the housing market, from buyers to mortgage professionals to realtors to brokers to builders and more.

Housing Market Seeing Slow And Steady Progress

NAHB Chairman Rick Judson also works as a home builder in Charlotte. He says of the report, “U.S. housing markets are continuing to see a slow and steady progress back to the normal level. As the confidence of consumers gets stronger, this increases the number of buyers that are in the market.” As a builder, he understands and sees this firsthand in his own business.

The co-sponsor of the LMI report, First American Title Insurance Company, released this statement from vice chairman, Kurt Pfotenhauer. “We are pleased to see these continuing upward market trends, which are highlighted by the signs of improvement that were seen in eight-five percent of all metro areas over the last year.” As you can see, this is a trend that is spreading across the country, which is a sign that the market may be finally recovering.

What has been the impetus to this change? NAHB Chief Economist, David Crowe, attributes it to the firming housing prices that are being found in a number of markets. He went on to say that the healthiest housing markets in the country are actually in smaller cities that have a strong local economy. Among these are the gas and oil producing states of Wyoming, North Dakota, Louisiana, and Texas. This may be due to the steady job market that is offered in the community, as well as the income levels.

Small And Large Cities Seeing Growth In Activity

Both small and large metropolitan areas are seeing significant growth in the housing market activity. In the larger cities, at the top of the LMI list is Baton Rouge, LA, which has a score of 1.41-, which means that they had an increase of 41 percent over their last normal market level. Other metros that were listed include: Austin, Houston, Honolulu, and Oklahoma City. Two areas have exceeded their previous norms. They are Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, PA.

In the smaller metro areas, the top of the list is Bismarck, ND, Casper, WY, and Grand Forks, ND. Odessa and Midland, Texas have an LMI score of 2.0 or better, which means that the housing market is now at double the strength that it was before the recession.

This is good news for all segments of the housing market. Beginning to see upward movement is almost certainly a trend that will continue to grow in other metro areas, both small and large. Continuing to watch the LMI, as well as other reports, can enable us to stay on top of the market now and in the future.

Green Building That Is Out Of The Box

As a builder, you want to build high-performance homes that will stand the test of time, be beautiful, and give your clients maximum function. It is important, however, to do your part in being more sustainable as well. That is why you want to consider taking existing homes and turn them into products to build a new home, which is good for the environment and can offer materials that you may not even be able to get anymore.

Rethinking Building A Green Home

Most people think of a green home as one that is energy and water efficient, but it can be so much more than that. Reusing materials, such as bricks, flooring, windows, and molding, can be a way to be sustainable and green as well. Deconstruction can be more expensive and time consuming than a classic home demolishment, but its benefits to the environment, homeowner, builder, and the community more than outweighs the extra cost. You may even be able to get a tax deduction for donating materials that were saved.

What is deconstruction and how is it different than demolishment? It is when a building is permanently dismantled in a way to salvage as much of the materials possible. From windows to bricks to wood flooring to moldings and more, most any material can be saved to allow it to be reused in another home or to serve another purpose. Demolishment does not concern itself with salvaging and takes the broken and unusable materials to the dump.

The best benefit to deconstruction and reusing materials is that many materials, such as those found in a 100-year old home, may not even be available anymore. Bricks from long closed down brickyards and old-growth wood cannot be purchased at your local home improvement store. They offer not only a functional purpose, but also a richness and beauty that cannot be found with new materials.

Builders Should Think Green

What if there is not an existing home to deconstruct? A builder should be thinking about green long before the site is even cleared. Whether they purchase reclaimed materials from a supplier or include more environmentally friendly materials found at the building supply, being green is not just a color for St. Patrick’s Day. It is a way of life that many clients are choosing to espouse not just in their everyday life, but in their building choices as well.

By finding a deconstructed material store or site in your community, you can not only build with materials that have stood the test of time, but also save the environment by decreasing the distance that they will be transported and the energy used in manufacturing new materials. This is an important consideration for many buyers, which is why you want to be sure that you consider adding this to your business practice.

If you are looking for a way to bring new clients to your building business, think green. It may be the key to taking your company to a new level with an entirely new demographic of clients. Consider deconstruction for your projects. You may find that it can make your homes even more beautiful, as well as green and environmentally friendly.

Home Building Increases Signal Economy Recovery

Great news! Home building is on the rebound at last. In almost every time of economic recovery, the housing market has led the country’s economy out of recession and into recovery, except for the most recent time. That is why it is good news for not just builders and those who work in construction, but also for the economy as a whole, because it signals that the economy may be on an upward swing after several years of upheaval and decrease.

Hope Is Increasing In the Home Building Market

Normally, a little over 1.5 million homes are begun each year. This includes single-family homes, as well as apartment units. When the housing market was at its peak, this number was at more than 2 million to try to keep up with the demand. The last few years, however, an average of less than 600,000 homes were started and, in 2013, the number increased to 900,000. This year, that number is expected to climb to over 1 million, which is a sign of hope in the real estate and construction world.

Even though we are beginning to see good news, it will take a while before it will get back up to the normal range. The housing market collapse was immense, and its effect upon the economy was immense as well. While ups and downs are a normal part of the economic cycle, this event contributed to the entire collapse of the financial market and affected not only our economy, but also economies all over the world. The key is to gradually begin building more homes until you are sure that the demand is there.

Housing Market Recovery Will Be Slow

The recovery from this collapse has already taken five years and it will most likely take several more. Even though the rate of housing construction grew in 2012 and 2013 at double-digit rates, this was largely due to the fact that the numbers were at a very low level to begin with. Recovery seems to be on its way, which is the good news. We are on a course to see great growth in the next two years, due to:

·         Demand from young adults beginning home ownership & from existing homeowners

·         Job growth increases

·         Net worth replenishment, due to increase in home values and revival of stock market

·         Government economic situation more stable

While this is all good news, it is important to note that we are just at the beginning of the upswing. However, it is better to be in the midst of it going up, than at the bottom, which is where most homebuilders were just a few years ago. It may be time to amp up your marketing efforts to connect with more clients who may be thinking about building a home in the near future.

With home construction numbers on the rise, it is important to rethink how you are reaching clients and make plans to reach even more. With the younger adults entering the workforce and beginning families, and existing homeowners beginning to feel better about building, you have the opportunity to grab your ride on the upswing and reach the peak in great condition.