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Barna
Log Homes-Michigan
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The
Great Lakes
Regional Headquarters  |
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Click on one of the questions below or submit a question of your own. Submit a question:
1.
How much is my home really going to cost me? 2. Can Barna Log Homes, Inc. provide a builder for me? Each year a few of our customers build their own home log by log, but most of our customers have one of the independant local crews put the shell package up for them. We have independant local Michigan crews that can build your log home home as well as crews based out of Tennessee that can travel just about anywhere in the world to build for you. These men are all experienced in log home construction and know the detail that it takes to make your log home dream a reality. We can offer dry-in construction or a complete turnkey. The crew is supervised by Barna Log Homes, Inc. so this ensures that your home will be constructed according to Jim Barna Log Systems' specifications. 3. What is the R-Value of your log homes? R-Value measures the performance of an INSULATED wall. Since a log wall is a solid mass (there is no insulated space), R-Value does not apply correctly. The log home is measured by Thermal Mass. The studies that have been done on the differences between insulated walls vs. solid log walls point out that a solid log wall is superior based on the average costs for heating and cooling. Note: The R-Value for our standard insulated roof system is 32.4. 4. Can I add on to my log home in the future? Yes. Just about any of our homes can accommodate future additions. Click HERE to see pictures of some recent log home additions. 5. Can I custom design my own log home? Yes. Approximately 85% of our customers either completely custom design their own log home or modify versions of our standard models. As a general rule, just about any floorplan can be built as a log home. Click HERE to see our standard floorplans. 6. Why is your price higher/lower than other log home companies? Our customers often comment on how difficult it is to compare prices between different manufacturers. So let's take a minute to review the most common sources of difficulty. 1. Package Contents 2. Shipping costs 3. Standard and Custom
Pricing In conclusion - if
you are seeing wide ranges in prices from different manufacturers,
take a minute to consider what is included in each price. Some
of the differences may be explained by the quality or finish of
the materials. If there are still large discrepancies, it can
most likely be found in the amounts of materials and services
being quoted. The only way to find these out and adjust for them
is to study the manufacturers' materials and ask their representatives
for clarifications. 7. Will my log home settle after construction? Probably. Settling is an important issue with any log home. But why would you want your home to settle??? Believe it or not, settling is not a disadvantage with our log homes; it is actually beneficial to you - the customer. The logs have a tendency to shrink or move during the first year or two after construction. If the logs were not allowed to settle once they shrink, small gaps would potentially open up between each log. By allowing the logs to settle, the gaps are allowed to close up. The bottom line is that a log home that is built to settle ultimately provides a tighter, stronger home. Note: Don't be too alarmed. Our homes are built to allow for 2 inches of settling, but it is rare when the home settles more than 3/4 of an inch. The home is constructed to be mostly self adjusting. 8. Will I be in greater danger of fire in a log home as opposed to a regular home? No. This is a common misconception. Consider this: If you threw a 2X4 and an 8 in. log on a fire, which one would be there after an hour? The same is true for a log home. It takes much longer for the log wall or heavy-timber rafter system to catch fire, and also takes more time for them to completely burn. 9. Will I be at greater risk of insect infestation in a log home as opposed to a regular home? All homes (or at least most) are made of some sort of wood- you just don't always see it. For hundreds of years, homes in North America have been constructed with wood timbers as a frame and then covered with some sort of siding- aluminum, brick, vinyl, wood etc. Bugs are not necessarily more attracted to a log home than the brick home next door. Solid log homes by nature have more structural integrity against certain wood-eating bugs like termites. If you did happen to have termites around your log walls, you would most likely be able to detect their presence right away before any serious damage occurred. Jim Barna provides several ways to "bug-proof" your log home. First, the pine logs are kiln-dried, so any pests or larva living in them are killed. Then, Penetrete is shipped with your log home package. This substance is to make your log home bug (and rot) resistant. Finally, if you live in an area prone to termites (or other pests), use a termite shield and/or treat the soil- the same way you would if you were building any other type of non-log home. 10. What kind of maintenance will my log home require? The two major areas of concern will be Staining and Caulking. Your log home will require some sort of stain or sealant between 6 months and 1 year after construction. You will not want to cut corners when choosing your sealant. We recommend using Sikkens. If you use a low quality product, you will probably be re-staining your house every summer. If you use a high-quality product, you can up to 4 years of coverage (this usually depends on how much exposure to the sun, wind, and rain the home gets). Caulking is another maintenance item. If any small cracks or gaps open up on the exterior of the home, it is imperative that these be filled. Prolonged exposure to rain and ice will cause these openings to decay. The majority of the cracks and gaps will occur within the first 1-2 years, and it is recommended that the home be caulked at this time. 11. What steps should I take to get my log home project underway? 1. Determine when you are planning to build. This will help you develop a time line for the entire planning process. If you plan to start this year or early next year, you will want to talk to your salesperson to determine package costs. If you are looking at building between 1 and 2 years from now you may want to consider the Jim Barna Layaway Plan. Click here for more information about the layaway plan. 2. Choose your lender and determine your budget. It is often helpful for you, the homeowner, to work with a lending institution that has experience in dealing with log homes. We carry information from a number of lending institutions. Feel free to call us (877-BILD-LOG) if you are interested in receiving any of this information. 3. Choose your floorplan. Assuming that you already own land or are looking for a place to build, it is time to consider what size and style of house you are planning to build. We offer a variety of standard plans ranging from small cabins to large homes. You can view the standard plans at our website on the "See Our Homes" page. All of the standard plans can be customized to meet your needs. In addition to the standard plans, we can also custom design. If you already have a floorplan in mind, we should be able to work with it. 4. Obtain a quote. Contact our office or your salesperson for more information on one of our standard plans or a custom design. They will be able to provide an accurate price quote for the design. We can also assist in forecasting a complete project cost. 5. Determine whether you plan to general contract or hire a professional general contractor. There are pros and cons to both. The general contractor plays the most important role in a construction project. He/she is responsible for all aspects of the project from the initial site preparation all the way through the finishing touches. Two of the biggest reasons you would choose to do it on your own are (1.) to save money and (2.) to have a hands-on role in constructing your own home. Two good reasons to consider hiring a professional are (1.) to have an expert handling each detail and (2.) to have someone knowledgeable overseeing each subcontractor. 6. Visit our model and the manufacturing facilities. This is a good step to take at any point during the process. Our model in Mayville, MI is open Monday through Saturday by appointment. Our manufacturing facilities are located in Oneida, TN. Plant tours and mini-seminars are offered each month. Check our calendar of events for exact dates. 7. Attend any local seminars, open houses, or shows available to you. Check our calendar of events for exact dates. Call us at 877-BILD-LOG for updated information on upcoming log home events. These steps should
be helpful in getting your project rolling. Your salesperson will
be able to help you with these steps as well as many other details
pertaining to your log home. We can help you achieve your goal
of building a log home! |
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