See What Your Log Home Would Look Like With Different Colors Of Stains, Chinks, Decks & Trim

Weatherall has a fun -- and FREE -- program you can download to see what your log home would look like with different color schemes. Yep, change the stain color on the logs, the deck, the trim work. Change the color of the chinking -- if any. You can even change the style and color of the roof. Download Weatherall Color Viewer here.

Log Homes In Florida... Good Or Bad?

Do you advise future homeowners in Florida to build a log home, as opposed to a traditional stick-built home? What do you think... how well do log homes hold up in Florida?

Why We Decided Against Composite Decking For Our Log Home

After a lot of research and homework, we've actually decided AGAINST using composite decking at this time. It wasn't an easy decision. Far from it. In fact, we were honestly looking forward to trying it. But the cons outweighed the pros at this point in time. Here's why...

Exterior Doors: Should You Buy Paint Grade Or Stain Grade Doors?

It didn't make sense to me why our decision to paint vs stain the exterior doors couldn't be made after-the-fact -- after we had installed the doors -- and why it would affect the price of the doors anyway. But after a conversation with a contractor about this, I learned that we should always say we want a stain-grade door, rather than a paint-grade door. Here's why...

Little-Known Facts About Obtaining Homeowners Insurance For A New Or Used Log Home

Before we could close on our construction loan with the bank, we had to submit proof of 'builder's risk insurance' to the loan officer. We THOUGH there would be a simple builder's risk type of policy from the insurance companies that would cover things like 'theft of materials', 'new construction theft', and 'dwelling under construction. What we found was most insurance companies wanted you to buy a complete homeowner's policy with them instead.

Painting Full Log Walls Inside...The Effect Painted Logs Might Have on the Resale of Your Log Home

The following pictures show some of the ways that you can still have a nice log home without necessarily having 'shades of brown' as your primary color scheme. Typically, you'll see one wall painted to serve as a focal spot or an accent wall. I have no interest in painting ALL -- or even most -- of the log walls inside our house. Just 1, maybe 2 of the smaller walls instead. Like these...

Log Homes And Hurricanes... Can A Log Cabin Survive Strong Winds And Tornadoes?

With hurricane season upon us -- June 1 through November 30 -- I thought it might be worthwhile to see how well log homes fare under typical hurricane conditions. You'll also find some excellent tips here if you are currently building a log home and you want it to be able to withstand hurricane force winds!

How To Fill Nail Holes In Wood... And Log Walls

Blemishes and nail holes in wood trim and log walls are two things that most log home owners are going to want to 'hide' at some point -- especially if you're trying to sell your log cabin or log home.

How Log Home Windows & Porches Increase Energy Efficiency

Log home energy efficiency... how Low-E windows and porches work together to utilize passive solar energy in log homes.

Mother Nature: A Log Home's Best Friend & Worst Enemy

I would venture to guess that those who buy (or build) log homes are typically people who have a greater appreciation for -- and involvement with -- the outdoors. There's just something about a rustic cabin-type abode that appeals to outdoorsy people. But did you ever stop to think that Mother Nature is both a log home owner's friend... and enemy?