Log and Timber Home Living April/May 2023

I’m a warm-weather woman. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s being cold, so as you can imagine, the first inkling that spring has finally sprung is my cue that it’s time for some serious porch sitting, birdwatching and garden planting. Sure, sometimes it’s false hope that the elevated temps are here to stay, and Mother Nature has a good laugh at the practical joke she plays on us all, but it doesn’t matter. Once I’ve gotten a whiff of that springtime air in my nose and feel those first warm rays on my skin, my mood instantly shifts from winter blahs to the delight of spring. My home has four separate outdoor areas from which I can properly enjoy this change in clime: a traditional front porch, an…

Q: We have a long wish list for our future custom home but are trying to be conservative with square footage. How can I make the most of a relatively small footprint? A: Whatever your reason for building a smaller home (and we know there are plenty of good ones), employing a few clever design tactics can help you seriously maximize the square footage you do have. Here are a few of our favorites: ◼ Open-Concept Layouts. A simple, wide-open floor plan will not only feel more spacious, it also will create a visually larger space by removing dividing lines (aka, walls). The benefit is two-fold, as this layout lends itself to multipurpose rooms, combining spaces that may not need their own dedicated areas.◼ Lofts. Most small cabins are one story,…

Dealing with waste removal isn’t the sexiest home-ownership topic to discuss, but it is one that matters for every single home, whether it’s constructed with logs, is timber-framed or is built in some other fashion. Tapping into a municipal sewer is by far the most convenient option, but let’s face it — if you’re building out in the country, which is where most log and timber homes are located, there’s a very good chance you are going to need a septic system. Most people are at least some-what familiar with the workings of an in-ground, gravity-fed septic system; however, topography, soil conditions and other site-specific factors may not be suitable for this type of arrangement, fabric and in that case, an above-ground, or “mound” system may be necessary. Because they…

Just because you receive approval for a septic system that will support a three-bedroom, four-bath house doesn’t mean that you can place the septic field anywhere on the property you like. Approved septic areas are specific, and all too frequently, homeowners and even some builders jump the gun, cutting in the driveway, digging the well, building a storage shed, etc., and then when they go to pull the construction permit, the area where the septic field could have gone has now been disturbed and is no longer viable, affecting everything from permit approval to resale value. When you buy land, the immediate concern shouldn’t be where will the house go, it’s where will the septic field (as well as a reserve field) be located. Answer these three key questions first:…

Some lucky log and timber homeowners get to choose between hooking up to public sewage or installing a septic field. The idea of not having to pay the monthly utility bill can tempt anyone into opting for an off-the-grid septic system, but is it always the most cost-effective option? Consider this: In Dan Mitchell’s market in Tennessee, installing an average septic system for a three-bedroom, two-bath home costs $7,500, while the tap fee to connect to a municipal sewer is between $800 to $1,100, then homeowners pay an average of $25 to $45 per month for the service. It will take roughly 12 years of paying public utility bills to cover the cost of installing the septic system – and that doesn’t include paying for periodic pumping or regular maintenance…

Even with online shopping available, there’s something dreamy about settling in with a seed catalog at the end of winter — the only challenge is knowing it will be months before you see the results of whatever seeds you select. However, there is a way you can shorten that time frame: Install a backyard greenhouse. Because these structures are warmer than the outdoors and large windows let in sunlight, they can give you a significant jump on starting seedlings for your garden. Also, depending on where you live or if you’re willing to keep it heated in the winter, you can grow some plants in the colder months, too. Here are some factors to keep in mind if you’re considering adding a greenhouse to your gardening efforts: Location: The ideal…