Fireplace & Stove Basics

Imagine…its January…blustery cold…you plop on the couch after a tough week at work...gazing through the window of your log home you can see kids ice skating on the frozen lake.  Totally relaxed now, you turn to the fireplace to add another log on the fire. 

For many, a similar Norman Rockwell like image is etched in their minds when they think of their dream log home.  The fireplace is often a center piece of any design and adds comfort and value to your investment.  

But today you have many choices, here are some basics to help you get started.

There's a wide selection of size, style, quality, price, efficiency, performance, etc. for a fireplace or stove from numerous manufactures.  To help you narrow your search, start by asking yourself these questions to help you determine what’s best for you.

1. How often do you plan to use the fireplace or stove?  As a heat source (alternative/primary) or just have an occasional fire for ambience?
2. What type of fuel do you plan to burn, hardwood, pellets, corn, coal or gas?  What are the availability, access and cost of your fuel of choice?
3. Is efficiency or environmental concerns important to you?
4. What level of priority is a fireplace or stove on your “wish list” and how much can you allocate to this item in the budget?

Fireplace Options:

The traditional masonry fireplace or firebox which is typically made of brick/stone and mortar and requires substantial structural support to carry the weight.  If this is your choice you’ll need to plan ahead and design in footing and foundation support at the preliminary design stage.  A traditional fireplace is very inefficient, around 10%.  You’ll also have an option to install a fireplace insert to improve efficiency.

 

The most popular option today is to install an engineered (also known as pre-fabricated or zero-clearance) fireplace unit with a double wall stainless steel chimney pipe inside a framed wall with culture stone veneer.  This option, you get the look of real stone, but with the choice for higher efficiency than a traditional fireplace.  Many manufactures offer outside air intakes and fan blowers to push heated air into the room.  There are typically three grades of fireplaces in this class, builder grade, heater grade, furnace grade.  The later can be EPA certified, offer insulated fireboxes, heat exchangers, upgraded doors for improve efficiency and offer higher quality of construction.

 

Masonry heaters (a.k.a.: Russian Stove, Finnish Fireplace, Soapstone Fireplace) are common in Europe and are a becoming a popular option in the USA (this will also require planning at the preliminary plan stage for structural support in the foundation).  They are designed to burn a hot fire where the exhaust flows through a series of baffles which allows the masonry thermo mass to slowly absorb the heat energy and release it back into the space.  These units are very clean burning, emit little smoke and very efficient up to 90%.  Masonry heaters can be custom built or you can purchase manufactured units of all sizes.  If you want to heat efficiently with wood and have the budget, this maybe a choice for you.

Stove Options:

Typically less expensive than a fireplace this is a cost effective way to add heat to your home as a primary or secondary heat source.    There is a wide selection of stoves on the market that burn a variety of fuel such as wood, corn, coal, gas, wood pellets, cherry pits and more.  Typically the stove is placed on tile or stone over a fire retardant underlayment.  Some pellet or gas stoves are near zero clearance and can be placed close to a wall with direct horizontal venting through the wall.  Efficiency varies by stove, but expect up to 60%.

No matter what system you choose, we recommend you consult with a fireplace professional to explain more about the products, performance and costs so you can determine which fireplace or stove that’s right for you.   Your builder can often supply you with names of local fireplace stores that can assist you.  We always recommend that you have your fireplace, stove, masonry heater built or installed by a professional. 

TIP:  If you plan to burn daily as a primary heat source, you’ll want to review with your builder of record and/or HVAC contractor about maintaining the correct relative humidity level in your log home.  

By The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC

www.leelanauloghomes.com 

Log Home Site Planning Basics: Determining the foundation elevation

Have you ever seen a house that sits low in the ground?  It looks like it's sinking and you have to wonder if there are water issues in the basement. 

Part of developing the site plan involves determining the depth of the foundation wall footings in relation to the foundation wall height, terrain, water table level and the final grade.  It's basically a balancing act that factors these elements to get it just right.  Before we dig the hole, we’ll spend a significant amount of time at the building site doing all these calculations to determine the optimal footing depth for the foundation wall.  It’s so crucial to the appearance, performance and overall health of the home.  Since many log homes are built near water or on uneven terrain or both, this challenge becomes even more important when preparing the site plan.  

There are three key areas that we factor when setting the footing depth: 

•          Appearance of the log home with 18-24” of foundation wall showing at final grade.
•          Site water table and if there are hydro-static water pressure issues.
•          Site terrain and final grade on all four sides of the home (water runoff and drainage).

Here are some steps we typically take when working with the foundation contractor.

To determine the water table depth on the building site, we’ll test dig 1-4 holes at least the depth of your basement or crawl space floor and 1-2 holes at least 1-2 feet deeper than the basement or crawl space floor.  Let them sit for 24-48 hours and check them to see if water is in the hole(s), that tells us the water table level.  We’ll measure from the water level to the top of grade to help us calculate footing depth in relation to the foundation wall height and factoring the grade and 18-24” of foundation wall show.  This test also will give us a good idea of the seasonal high water mark based on the time of year of the test. 

Next we’ll meet with the foundation contractor on site prior to the scheduled excavation date to review the overall game plan for site clearing, excavation, location of topsoil pile, seek his opinion on the test hole results, discuss if additional fill sand maybe required and review the our estimated footing depth measurements.

On excavation day we’re there as they dig the foundation hole.  Once the hole is dug for the footings at our pre-determined depth we’ll evaluate the soil conditions (sand is good, clay is bad) and check for water issues if any and if necessary make adjustments to the footing depth.

If there is water or a potential for water issues, we’ll take the necessary steps to insure the foundation will perform properly.  Typically we’ll spec perimeter drain tile around the outside of the foundation at the footings, plus drain tile inside the foundation draining into a sump crock with pump.  We may also spec 6” of pea stone fill inside the foundation under the slab floor which effectively dissipates the hydro-static pressure.  In addition, we may upgrade the foundation wall coating to waterproofing or membrane barriers if there a significant risk of excessive hydro-static water pressure issues.  These steps are inexpensive insurance and will help protect your investment from potential water issues.

Factoring the existing terrain we'll make sure the grade is away from the foundation and we achieve 18-24" of foundation showing with the final grade on all four sides of the home.  This may require additional fill.

Because each new home is unique and presents its own challenges not every foundation site plan will be the same.  We hope this gives you some insight into the many factors used to avoid that sinking log home look. 

By The Leelanau Log Home Company

www.leelanauloghomes.com

Current Leelanau Log Homes Project

Visit our Facebook Page and checkout the current project of The Leelanau Log Home Company.  A 2,900 sq. ft. custom designed log home with half log siding with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms with finished walkout basement, attached screened porch and detached workshop.  For more photos, click on the link below to see the photo progression of this project.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150244002863160.327360.96111723159

By The Leelanau Log Home Company LCC
www.leelanauloghomes.com 

Log Home Site Planning Basics: General

Determining the placement of your new log home on your property is not a casual exercise.  It can be as simple as fitting a rectangle house on a square lot to as complex as finding the best location on 100 acres.  The key in any scenario is to carefully evaluate all the factors that go into developing your site plan so your new home functions well within its surroundings .  Here are some of the key elements you should consider for your site plan:

•          View and view angles
•          Summer and winter solar angles
•       If you already have a design, window locations
•          Driveway approach
•       Relation to other buildings, i.e. detach garages, pole barns, etc.
•          Seasonal wind direction from the North and West
•          Privacy from roads and neighbors
•          Zoning setbacks
•          Utility access and connection paths
•       Potential drainfield constraints
•          Determine which trees you’ll keep for aesthetics and/or for shade
•          Soil conditions
•          Natural terrain
•          Drainage

Typically your log home dealer and/or builder offer this service and will work with you to evaluate all the elements that are specific to your project and assist you in developing your site plan.

Keep in mind that site planning can take an enormous amount of time, forethought and vision.  But the time invested to get it right will be realized every time you pull into the driveway. 

By The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC

www.leelanauloghomes.com

Log Home Construction Basics: Should your builder of choice be local to your project…does geography really matter?

Well that answer is a matter of opinion, but we think it does.  Yes, there are excellent log home builders and general contractors that do travel long distances.  However, we've outlined some distinct benefits to consider by choosing a local log home builder or general contractor (GC). 

1. A local builder/GC is typically on the job-site daily and can answer questions, has the knowledge of the project to make changes, etc.
2. A local builder/GC will have the knowledge of quality subcontractors in the area, such as plumbers, electricians, foundation companies, etc.
3. A local builder/GC will have the knowledge of local sources for products and materials for your project.  Potentially savings to you $$$ with lower transportation costs.
4. A local builder/GC is already home.  Therefore they aren’t charging you for travel, lodging and meal expenses whether it’s a line item in there proposal or included in their labor fees.
5. A local builder/GC will have knowledge of building code requirements for that specific state and/or county of your project.
6. An established local builder/GC will have local projects that you can visit, speak with the owners about their experience and see for yourself the quality level of craftsmanship.
7. Reputation matters, today more than ever.  An established local builder/GC understands that his livelihood depends on the outcome of any project big or small.
8. An important aspect that many homeowners overlook is the builder/GC warranty.  Typically warranties range from 12-18 months from the date on the occupancy permit with a couple of routine service intervals during that warranty period.  But what if there’s an emergency issue(s) that needs immediate action?
9. Staying close to the project timetable is critical for you and your lender.  If the builder/GC of choice has more than one project in progress what impact does that play for your project if there are delays from weather, materials shortages, etc.
10. Supporting your new community by contracting with a local builder is always a good thing.

The bottom line, it’s your home and whom you choose is ultimately up to you.  We hope you find these considerations helpful.

By The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC:  www.leelanauloghomes.com

Log Home Series: Selecting the right log home builder for you

In this series, Selecting the right log home builder for you, we’ll cover tips and suggestions for navigating through this important process.  Time spent doing a thorough job here will pay big dividends and take you steps closer to realizing your dream of living in your custom log home. 

Okay, now you’ve made the decision to build your log or timber frame home, congrats!   But, as with any major purchase you’ll want to do some research and due diligence to insure the builder you’ve selected is right for your project.   This decision needs to be made with the same care and consideration as your choice for log home supplier and financial institution.   Here are some things to consider:

What’s your game plan?

Determine what part you’ll play in the overall construction game plan?  

• Do you want a professional log home builder and/or general contractor to complete a turn-key project?  Do you know the difference between the two? 
•  Are you planning to act as the general contractor and manage the entire construction project?  Check with your lending institution before you decide on this endeavor.  Some lenders will not approve owner- general contractors.
•  Are you planning to do some of the work yourself, if so what elements of the project?  Will the builder of choice be flexible and work with you to make this happen?  Maybe the bigger question…have you budgeted the necessary time to complete the work so you won’t slow down the project?

Whatever role your plan to play in the construction process, we recommend you discuss this topic early in your conversations with prospective log home builders.

Where do I find a log home builder?

Your log home dealer, in many cases, works with local independent log home builders and can refer you.  Or the log home dealer is also a builder and general contractor (like us) and they can sell you the package and present you with a proposal to build it.  Some log home manufacturers also provide construction services, so ask your log home dealer if that’s an option.

Other sources can be the local Home Builders Association, local lumber yards or check the Yellow pages, but keep in mind that can be very limiting.

If you’re not having much luck with the above, go to the internet.  Since most shopping and research is now performed on the internet, Google searching for local log home builders in many cases be your best bet.  Today, it’s probably how you found your log home supplier.  There you may find individual builders and companies, directories and even checkout some of the log home magazine websites.  Take your time and conduct several searches by typing in “log home builders, your city, your state” and experiment with different combinations and evaluate the results.

As you explored the different sources, make sure you make notes and begin to list possible log home builders.

Series:  Selecting the right log home builder for you, future topics:

• Should your builder of choice be local to your project, does geography really matter?
• Don't over shop
• How to research and evaluate your findings
• How to interview log home builders
• The difference between a builder and general contractor
• Why visiting client references is critical
• Get it in writing (proposals and contracts)

By The Leelanau Log Home Company:  www.leelanauloghomes.com 

Welcome

Welcome to the new Leelanau Log Home Company blog.  We'll share informative how-to's, tips, suggestions and our opinions about shopping, buying, building and maintaining a custom log home.  We promise to spare you the annoying sales & marketing spin and definitely won't post trivial stuff like what we had for breakfast.  Our goal is to educate and inform while having a little fun.  We hope you follow along and welcome your comments.  

The Leelanau Log Home Company Blog Link:  http://undertheinfluenceofwood.blogspot.com/

By The Leelanau Log Home Company:  www.leelanauloghomes.com