Building A Log Home Hybrid

There has been a lot of talk in our circle lately about hybrid home. Regarding the log home we’re building this pertains to the fact that the log part of our home is the main floor and the second story (loft, 2nd bedroom and bath) is framed construction.

Over the last 8 months I have poured over magazines, books on building, books on log homes, cabins and retreats. Although I’ve always favored the stone cottage style of a country home, we don’t have time or resources to facilitate that type of build – even a hybrid.

Eric favors the log home which is why we choose to build this way. At the time we made that decision we also were eager to have the home built and be moved in swiftly. Building a log home ourselves gave us the promise and hope we needed at the time.

If you’re a regular reader you already know that we had the log portion built and were ready to move onto the next step within 10 days. We were empowered. That was over 2 months ago though.

In the last two months we have struggled with the angled roof line, gable ends, window framing, and dormers. We have fought against the elements – more rain in Ontario than any other summer in my frame of reference. And we have lost our ’stride’ by running out of steam, not having nearly enough free time on our hands, and just feeling generally overwhelmed.

Some friends recognized our frustration and anguish and jumped in giving us a huge push in the process. Suddenly we didn’t feel so alone and overwhelmed and our dedication to the task returned.

But we’re still not there yet.

The roof is only 2/3 done and the part that remains may be the most challenging yet. A large cathedral center, requiring it’s own ridge beam and rafters – seperate and at a different angle than the rest of the roof.

(Speaking of angles, this has been the largest challenge to date with this entire process of building a log home. We have two small dormers up front both different as one is in a room, the other is only a partial hanging from the roof rafters, one large shed dormer out back, a 12/12 pitch on the remaining area of the roof, etc.)

Since this post started as a discussion of log home hybrids, let’s get back to it…

If you are thinking of building a log home, and you have to build it yourself (either for personal or financial reasons), be sure you know what you’re undertaking if you choose to go hybrid.

In retrospect I would have designed our home differently (one level ranch style, all logs), if I’d known the time, skills, and work required to frame and roof such a complicated second floor as this hybrid.

On the other hand, if you have a builder, a budget, or a husband who has built a home before and has nothing but time on his hands – a well built log-hybrid home with an interesting roof has a higher resale value in the end.