Do you dream of living in a gorgeous log cabin? Many homesteaders dream of this, as do off-gridders, but you might even if you’re neither and even if you own your own home already. You might just want a log cabin for recreational weekends on hunting land, in the mountains, or on the shores of a lake. Of course in order to do so, you’ll need to know how to build your log cabin. In the age of modular concrete homes and prefabricated furnishings, the right log cabin can provide you a place in nature that features rustic charm and possibly even distinct craftsmanship and character.

If you’re looking to build a log cabin, you’re obviously not looking to buy an existing one, or have decided that route isn’t for you. Still, building your own isn’t as easy as sawing down trees and stacking them up. There are still decisions to be made, and there are actually three different ways you can go about building your log cabin. The first is doing it on your own. The second is buying a kit you do on your own. The third is just paying someone else to build one for you. Keep reading to learn the key points to consider among all of these options.

On Your Own

If you choose to build your own log cabin, then you do so in five general stages as follows:

The first phase is planning out your log cabin. Pick out a design and floor plan. Then, check about applicable zoning laws and building codes that apply to your selected land. Of course land selection would be a part of this process if you haven’t got acreage already. Also figure out the costs of a log cabin, not just in building, but also property taxes and ongoing maintenance.

The second phase of building your own cabin is starts with picking and preparing the logs. You need to know the best tree species to use, and that’s true whether you use local species or order from afar. A log calculator can help you figure out how much wood you need for your floorplan, and then you may need to fell enough trees before debarking and drying them out.

You might not think a log cabin would need a foundation, but it honestly does, unless you plan on just having dirt floors. This might get you close to nature, but it’s neither sanitary nor safe. One good rainfall can make you sick, or wash away your home, making a foundation a crucial third phase.

The fourth phase of building a log cabin on your own will be laying the logs. First, they need to be silled, and then you install the floor. Follow that with the construction of the log walls and handling the log cabin notches. Frame and attach the roof before finishing things with the doors and windows.

The fifth phase of building your own log cabin is going to be seeing to the exterior and maintenance, and of course this phase will run as long as you own it. Figure out early what maintenance and upkeep tasks need to happen to keep the place comfortable, safe, and weatherproof, and see to it these steps are taken as often as need be.

Hire A Builder

Just as much as you would do in a neighborhood, you can hire an architect to design your log cabin and a builder to put it up. Costs might go up depending on how rural your cabin is going to be, but it can mean having a home of your dreams when you can’t handle building it on your own or just don’t want to. There is a peace of mind that comes with letting the professionals handle it.

Order A Kit

If you’d like to split the difference between having a builder handle everything and doing it all on your own, consider ordering a log cabin kit. They come in various sizes, as some might just have plans and tools, and others show up with all the lumber and wood you need, but they make the process cheaper than using a full builder, but easier than handling every single step on your own using resources available on the land.