Thinking of buying a log home? Here are a few helpful hints.
Log Homes surely have that unique warm and comfy majestic style along with beauty no other home can claim. Not only are log homes enchanting, they’re extremely sturdy, impressive and energy efficient. They have very good resale value when they have been properly maintained.
I would like to bring out a few facts relating to purchasing and maintaining a log house.
I’ve had the opportunity of looking at and inspecting log houses which are more than one hundred years old and they are in good shape, mainly because they happen to be taken care of, and I’ve often inspected 20 year old log homes which have major problems around the wood logs on account of inferior design and upkeep.
This information is regarding log homes that happen to be no more than 20 years of age.
There are plenty of different varieties of wood logs and models but a majority of the actual water problems and routine maintenance really are basically the same. Let me reveal my personal top 10 list of things to look for in the event you are buying a log house.
1. Hire a local home inspector to look at your log home that has some knowledge about log houses.
2. Look to see if there is any timber rot or any type of past water damage on the logs at the ends and corners. You should utilize a ladder to take a look at these locations.
3. Check all of the logs for wide cracks between your logs or chinking, a little cracking of the logs is to be expected in any log home.
4. Look for visible insect/pest damage; Look along all of the logs especially along the lower edge for evidence of any termite or pest damage. Look over the exterior walls and all of the overhanging roof trim and gable edges for tiny circular holes created by carpenter bees.
5. Check your porches and decks to confirm they’ve been attached and properly flashed. It is common to find water damage and wood rot below decks.
6. Check the soil clearance to the logs. Twelve inches is normally recommended; but you should not allow any of the logs in contact with the earth.
7. Log houses will likely shrink over the years so check every door on the inside as well as the exterior entrance doors to make certain they all close and open adequately.
8. Make sure all the windows are in good working order.
9. Look for dark streaks or places of mold and mildew along the log structure.
10. Check all of the accessible rafters and the framework and in particular the place where the roof surface sits over the log walls as there really needs to be an 18″ or more overhang over all log houses.