Why We Love Log Homes (& You Should Too!)

Do you ever feel that life lacks a certain ineffable richness? Do you long to partake in the seasoned, austere integrity of our forefathers? Have your presidential aspirations, much to your own chagrin, all but withered away? Has your old Pioneer dug a rut straight through your Hank Williams records?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it might be time to cast off your cold chains of sheet rock and two-by-fours in exchange for the singularly intimate ambiance of a log home.

Picture yourself in a cabin on a hill. You are greeted each dawn by a low, gauzy fog outside your window and the gentle cooing of a mourning dove. There is work to be done, but none so important as to interfere with your ritual bacon and egg breakfast. You are a family on the frontier. You are warm, and you are home.

Not sure if you're ready to sign up for a mortgage on a backwoods camping adventure? Well, you won't have to! Today's log homes might share the rustic aesthetic of their 18^th century counterparts, but they also come packed with all the amenities that us 21^st century folks have come to know and love.

So fear not! Little Jimbo won't be fending off bobcats on his way out to the latrine every night at 4am. You and your kin can fall asleep tucked in to the cool breeze of your HVAC and wake up the next morning to a hot shower and the local news station.

At Schroeder Log Home Supply, it's no secret that we care an awful lot about the proud tradition of log construction. Every once in a great while, some unfortunate soul who has no doubt lived out their formative years in a brick and vinyl sided townhouse will come along and ask us why we love log homes so much. Once we take a moment to recover from the breathless shock of being asked such a silly question, we tend to reply in the following manner.

“ Well Sir (or Madam), there are all sorts of reasons to love log homes. What we love most about log homes though, is the dual nature that they embody (bear with us here). You see, log homes harmonize almost seamlessly with natural settings, and yet they are instantly identifiable by virtue of their unique construction. They are immensely strong, but they invite us inside with a warm, familiar tenderness. They remind us of an earlier, simpler time, but they look every bit as fashion-forward as contemporary style homes. We seek solitude in them in them one day, and we just can't wait to have company over the next.”

by this point our brave log home initiate is usually in tears, felling an oak tree with a hand axe and dreaming of their future cabin in the woods.

Quite simply, we just can't imagine why anyone would think twice about the opportunity to live in a log home. We believe there's a little part in all of us, a part we've held onto since childhood, that is devoted to the dream of living in a log home. We keep it close to dreams of light houses and space ships, cowboys and castles.

It's time to indulge your inner dreamer and find yourself in a log home.

Call Schroeder Log Home Supply today and let us help you embark on a new adventure that begins at your front door.

Questions you Should Ask Before Constructing Your Log Home

You've spent years thinking about the possibility of owning your own log home. After a great deal of deliberation and contemplation, you've finally decided to take the great leap and join the scores of other happy homeowners who have chosen to live by the great law of the log. Congratulations are in order!

But before you reach for that spokeshave, there are a few important questions you'll want to consider to ensure that your log home is the perfect fit for you and your family.

What is my budget?

The alpha and the omega of financial considerations. Your budget should be carefully outlined before the axe ever hits the trunk, so to speak. Log construction is, in and of itself, a fairly economical mode of building. If, however, you are the sort of person who values things like heated floors and granite counter tops, you can expect the cost of construction to go up significantly. Have a clear idea of what amenities are must-haves and what can wait for later upgrades. Be sure to include the cost of utilities in your calculations (do you want copper piping or PEX, a gas fired boiler or a heat pump?) as these can also have a measurable impact on the overall cost.

Who will be my manufacturer?

This question will require a bit of research leg work. The good news is that there are loads of log home manufacturers out there, and at least one of them should be able to build you a lovely home to suit your needs and wants.  The bad news is that there are loads of log home manufacturers out there, and not all are created equal. Shop around. Speak to builders face-to-face. Look over examples of their previous work. Be cautious, and go with your gut. If you like a builder's portfolio, but you're still not sure if you want them building your house, then you probably don't want them building your house. Take your time, and wait to find a builder you trust. Your home is an enormous investment in the future, and it should be treated as such.

Where should I build?

This question is tangentially related to our first question. Location choice will also influence the cost of construction. In addition to land value and property tax considerations, be sure to look into the price and accessibility of building permits in the county where you want to build your home. Many people want to build their log homes in remote, secluded areas. This can make for a beautiful pastoral setting , however it can also negatively impact your homeowner's insurance premiums. The further you are from a fire department, the harder it will be to find an affordable insurance policy. Above all though, look for a place that already feels like home. You're going to be spending a whole lot of time at this place, so you'd better darn well love it.

What kind of home do I want?

The obvious, albeit no less important question. These days, log homes come in all shapes and sizes, so it's a good idea to have a clear picture of what you want before you start shopping around. Do you envision yourself in a cabin on the frontier, or a ski chalet in the Swiss Alps? Different manufacturers have designs to suit different tastes; be sure to find one whose portfolio aligns with your vision.

Once you've done the research and tackled the hard questions, call us at our toll free number or come-in to take the next steps toward owning your very own log home.

Cleaning Your Woodwork

One of the most alluring quality of log cabin homes is the beautiful exposed woodwork. Before the summer months come to a close, make it a goal to deep clean your home's woodwork. Here are some tips for keeping your home's wood in the best shape:

Standard Wood Cleaners

When cleaning the interior of your log cabin home, you can simply scrub the walls with a sponge or cloth using Murphy’s Oil Soap and/or a citrus-based cleanser. You can also use a mixture of water and color-safe bleach (NOT regular bleach) to scrub out dust and stains. 

Polish

You’re welcome to use a coat of wood polish a day or two later to restore the wood’s shine if you so choose. Keep in mind that you should try scrubbing in an inconspicuous place first, to test and see how your logs react to various products. If you bought the home from a previous owner, ask them for tips on what they used to clean and maintain the wood. 

For Strong Stains

If you need a stronger stain remover, you can mix a cup of a powdered detergent known as “TSP” (tri-sodium phosphate) with one quart of plain liquid bleach and three quarts of warm water. Use a hand-pump garden sprayer to apply this mixture to the wood, and then, after five minutes, rinse it off. Wear rubber gloves and a mask over your nose and mouth since you don’t want to get this mixture on your hands or the fumes in your lungs. In addition, make sure the area is well-ventilated.

Sanding

A last resort is to sand the wood, which is hard work. Sanding, however, will help restore the logs to their original color.

Exterior Cleaning

As for the log cabin home’s exterior, you can use a power washer to remove dirt and grime. Two guiding principles for power washing are: don’t stay on one spot too long and don’t use too much pressure. Remember, it’s good to test a little spot to determine what works best before you go and tackle an entire wall or house.

Love Your Cabin

Hundreds of years ago, log cabins were the most efficient option for building homes. When they were built, the trees were hand cut and molded into the correct shape for building. The owner and his family would spend years selecting the wood and carving it into shape – hundreds of times over, until they had finally achieved a full structure. These homesteads were where families spent generations. They were built to last. 

As technology developed, we have been able to draw inspiration from these earlier builders and improve on the process. We look at their hard work and we really value what it took to accomplish such great things by hand. Using them as an inspiration, we’ve made log homes more efficient. They are able to be built quicker, last longer, and instead of moss and dirt – we are able to properly insulate them.

No doubt that log homes have come a long way over the years. They allow us to revel in rustic culture while still keeping in touch with modern convenience. Today, log homes are comfortable and nostalgic. 

Here are a list of a few improvements we’ve made to the modern log cabin:

Caulking

No doubt an important process in building any home today, caulking ensure that what should stay out, stays out – and what should stay in, stays on. By using an eco-friendly caulk, you are ensuring that the surrounding environment also stays intact. Need to figure out how much caulking you’ll need for your log home? We have a calculator.

Chinking

This technique is used to fill gaps between logs. It’s sort of like a synthetic mortar and it’s vital to the life of any log home.  Keeping the joints sealed will ensure better insulation, and a longer lasting home. For more information, and even another handy calculator – click here.

Pest Control

One of the drawbacks of rustic living is that it forces you to cooperate with nature in ways that are uncomfortable. Bugs are a normal part of the outdoors, but it’s nice to be able to escape from them in our homes. With a variety of pest control options, your log home can be a private oasis away from even the bugs.

Insulation

Traditionally, winters were long months of suffering through terrible freezing conditions. Things have changed a bit, and believe it or not, we aren’t suffering as much as our ancestors were 200 years ago. We’ve been able to create innovative ways to insulate log cabins to make the winters and summers a little more bearable.

 Investing in these various improvements or implementing them during construction can vastly improve your log cabin experience. Give us a call if you have any questions about your log home. We’ll do our best to help!

Build Your Dream

by r.m. prunty '95

We've had this original painting hanging in our office for nearly 20 years. It's a fun reminder to build your dreams! Log home owners range from a guy cutting trees on his hunting property and building a small cabin, all the way up to the large log castles you see on the Travel Channel. Whether a hunting shack in the woods, a standard log home for a family, or a log castle that a billionaire visits two week a year, every log cabin and every log home begins with a dream!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are some log home inspired Valentines just for fun!

Thoughts on a Log Sauna

An historic sauna in Sebeka, MN.

What's in a log sauna? Much of the history of building with logs traces back to Northern Europe, and especially to the nation of Finland. Finnish craftsmen brought their art to the New World and we still see many of their structures scattered throughout the northern lake states. Hand-in-hand with log cabins and homes, the Finns brought with them their saunas. The idea of a sauna isn't completely unique to Finland; many other Scandinavian and other Europe nations have similar traditions.

Many non-European cultures have similar baths, such as the Native American sweat lodges. Nonetheless, saunas seem to be a particular highlight of the Finnish culture, and as a result the regions of their settlement are speckled with saunas old and new. Rumor has it the sauna was the most important structure to Finnish immigrants, and therefore the first building to be erected when settling on some new acreage. Here in Northern Minnesota, the author is constantly encountering people who have discovered, purchased, or inherited century old log structures and many appear to be built as saunas.

From Native American sweat lodges to Turkish baths to Scandinavian saunas, no matter what cultural tradition one heralds we can all appreciate a great a log sauna and the rich history that sizzles from its stones. A log sauna is an affordable structure that is a great option for those who aren't in a position for a full log home; the smell of cedar and comfort of wood are all synthesized to make a log sauna the perfect place for relaxation for anyone.