![]() Assembling dry logs in a controlled indoor environment minimizes those problems.Īssembling kiln-dried logs out of the weather eliminates a lot of moisture-related problems. A common complaint about log homes is that wet logs settle over time as they dry out, leading to cracked logs and creaking noises that homeowners don’t like. “It’s better to build in a factory where it’s dry and the logs don’t get wet before they’re used,” says Smith. There’s also a quality advantage, thanks to the fact that the kiln-dried logs are kept inside until the module is ready to ship. In addition, assembling logs on-site is a difficult job that needs to be done by workers with specialized skills but with modular, the small amount of site finishing can be done by standard carpentry crews. Some of the advantages are the same as those offered by conventional modular, such as the ability to get homes finished more quickly. The first question most people ask is, why choose a modular log home rather than building a traditional site-assembled one? If the customer wants a metal roof, Blue Ridge will prep the home for it, but the customer needs to get their own roofing contractor to install the metal. ![]() Roofs are clad with architectural shingles. Most of the company’s homes have vaulted ceilings. Modular interiors are indistinguishable from those of a site-built log home. On-site mechanical and electrical work involves making connections between modules where necessary and connecting the house to the utility services. “The typical electrician or plumber doesn’t like working with logs, but with our system, they don’t have to,” says Smith. The modules arrive at the site pre-wired and pre-plumbed, which removes a common objection to log construction. Cabinets and most interior trim are also installed at the factory. Interior walls are stick framed then covered with rustic-looking wood paneling. Workers apply foam tape and caulk between courses to create a draft-free structure, and then drive screws through the logs to secure them.Įach log is secured to those above and below it with a double tongue and groove detail, as well as with long screws. In general, however, logs are keyed to one another with a double tongue and groove detail. Smith describes the assembly process as “fairly complex.” The exact details used to fasten each log to the one below it depend on where the home is located, with the main variables being local code requirements for wind resistance and seismic bracing. Customers can choose from various stain colors. ![]() They’re kiln-dried to 18% or 20% moisture content then coated with an exterior stain that includes an insecticide. “We have delivered to 32 states from Arizona to Colorado to Wyoming and Maine, as well as to Canada,” says Smith.īlue Ridge uses readily available Eastern White Pine logs. Customers around the country seem willing to pay for the real thing, despite shipping costs. Modules are trucked to the site and craned into position, which for most projects takes less than one day.Īs with any modular product, homes get finished more quickly compared to site-built.Įxterior walls are solid log construction, not log siding. That allows for larger, more complex structures. These homes have been embraced by some community developers.īlue Ridge isn’t the only modular log home manufacturer but while some companies limit themselves to single modules, its homes are multi-sectional-that is, any number of modules can be combined for any home design. has been in the modular log home business for 20 years, and while their core products are custom homes, they also complete a few developments every year, usually with 10 to 20 units, according to company president Chip Smith. Blue Ridge Log Cabins in Campobello, S.C. ![]() Some developers have even built communities with them. They often serve as second residences, and a growing number of investors are building them for use as short-term vacation rentals. A South Carolina company brings the efficiencies and quality advantages of offsite construction to a very traditional, handcrafted marketīlue Ridge builds modular log homes in a variety of sizes, from small cabins to large custom homes.Īlthough modular log homes may sound like a novel concept, they’re a proven construction method with strong appeal in some markets, especially rural, mountain areas.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |