There is a 60-mile stretch of Highway 93 under the big skies of Montana. The soaring peaks of the high Rockies tower to the east. The snow-capped Bitterroot Range comes down to the road from the west. While Hwy. 93 enters the United States at the Canadian border and only comes to an end in the middle of Nevada, this 60-mile piece is special. It begins in Missoula and ends near Darby. Log homes and log home builders dot the surrounding landscape, blending into, and reflecting the region itself. Rocky Mountain Log Homes, out of Hamilton, will build one for you. Montana Timber Structures in Corvallis will build one for you, or sell you a kit to build it yourself. You can be in it before the snow flies, and you don’t even need to live in Montana to get one.
Most of us don’t have homes that tourists want to sniff. Brick, mortar, stucco, and fiberglass siding don’t inspire the olfactory senses, but the nose knows when a log home is around the bend. Log homes are not only beautiful but fragrant as well. They have a “cool” factor that bespeaks yesterday, and a hip factor that calls to tomorrow.
“But are they for me?” “Aren’t they drafty?” “What about “settling”? That creeps me out.” Gildshire Magazines had these same questions. We went after answers. Is a log home for you? Here’s the info you need.
As far as drafts are concerned it is an ongoing debate, with passionate advocates on both sides of the issue. Because log homes don’t readily read well on an “R Factor” chart, it is assumed they are poor insulators. That isn’t necessarily true. The logs absorb heat in the summer, keeping the room cooler than one would think. The logs slowly give up the summer heat when the weather turns cool, providing a warming factor to the interior. On the other hand…
Maintenance and upkeep costs (and time) can be greater than with a traditional home. The logs will likely require caulking and/or chinking to keep the air and water outside. Sanding and staining may be needed as well. There may indeed be some settling that can be factored into the building and purchasing agreement. Know these things before you buy. Do it yourself types will accept this as a part of the fun. Folks who call the plumber when the toilet gets plugged may want to consider this as an additional expense of ownership. On the other hand…
Log homes are “green.” It doesn’t seem as if it would be the case, but today’s log cabin is built from sustainable yield forests. That ensures that the safety of forests already in a bad way. Combined with the energy efficiency we already discussed, this means green. On the other hand…
Bugs! Oy vey, the bugs we have you wouldn’t believe.
Guess who is coming to dinner.
Okay, it may not be that bad but you’re living in the middle of the carpenter ant’s Old Country Buffet cinnamon roll table. Termites, carpenter ants and wood-loving critters of the insect type will drop by for a visit, and maybe a nosh. These visitors, unlike Uncle Kvetch from Brooklyn, can be controlled with regular attention from pest control experts. Just stay on top of the problem and it won’t turn into an infestation. On the other hand…
Log homes have never come with more modern conveniences than they do today. Always high on the rustic beauty scale, you can order your log home to include modern kitchens with every possible modern appliance known to the Food Network. Do you want central heat and air? How about open floor plans with vaulted ceilings and integrated technology? Ask and ye shall receive. On the other hand…
You should only buy a log home if you intend to be in it for awhile. Log homes can be hard to sell because you’ll need to find a buyer with the same unique taste in homes that you possess. Not everyone is as adventuresome as you were when you fell in love with your log home.
Are you ready to contact the builders we listed above? Or, did the cons make you double, triple, and quadruple think your earlier desire to buy a log home? Are you ready to pack up and move to Montana, or have some of that Hwy. 93 beauty set up in your neighborhood? Is it “Darlin’ I love you but give me Park Avenue?” Either way, we hope we helped.
