Blog - Page 43 of 123 - Handmade Houses with Noah Bradley

The best way to learn how to build a log cabin

When you work with old materials such as antique logs, it’s inevitable that you start to acquire piles, and piles, of misc materials.

Whenever a pile would reach a stage where I could build something out of it I’d put the crew on a mission to do just that.

I’d generally pick the newest crewmen… the ones with the least experience and the lowest level of confidence. I’ve always found that the best teacher in this trade is found in the act of “doing”.

I guess that’s true of most things.

I’d often sell these “odds and ends” structures at, or below, cost. I long ago lost track of the number of these that were built. But, here is one, under construction, to share with you today.

Originally posted 2015-05-20 13:31:57.

The best way to learn how to build a log cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:16:01+00:00

A house like no other

One of the greatest homes that I’ve ever seen. To me it was hollowed ground. I quietly looked around, took a few photos, and then left, never to return.

I know… I need help. 🙂

Originally posted 2015-05-20 13:16:32.

A house like no otherNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:16:00+00:00

Near the highway and unloved this late 1700’s home was purchased by someone out of the area and they hired me to document this house, carefully take her down, and then ship the house to where someone else would put her back up.

I never heard any follow up reports, nor did I ever see any finished photos, but from the efforts the owner put into it this house in the beginning stages of her salvage, I choose to believe that she once again stands as proud as she did the day she was new.

Originally posted 2015-05-20 13:07:49.

How to salvage an old houseNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:15:59+00:00

A one window cabin

This cabin had only one very small window.

I’ve heard that a glass window was the single most expensive part of an early-American home.

Originally posted 2015-05-19 21:31:08.

A one window cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:15:58+00:00

A yellow house

We once restored a late 1700’s home in Orange, Va.

I had never seen a house design like this before, nor have I since.

Stately and proud, she is.

We replaced the siding on this house with meticulously replicated materials and painted it in it’s exact original color.

We scraped old paint off of things. We carefully patched holes. We re-glued and re-nailed things that were loose.

The owner of this home was a pleasant, private, fellow… one who requested that a minimum of photos be taken, so I’ll stop today with this one.

This historic restoration in comparison to most of my other projects was routine. Everything went smoothly, no great tales of conquering adversity to share. We simply showed up to a mess of a home, and left with one ready to take on the next couple of centuries.

Originally posted 2015-05-19 13:59:57.

A yellow houseNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:15:57+00:00

Three outbuildings

And here is the second of three outbuildings that I’d like to share with you today.

I don’t know, maybe I’m the only one, but I find these three outbuildings fascinating. Each is unique in size, and design. And yet I can see that they belong together.

A matched set.

I’m sure that they were each built with a specific purpose in mind, but I don’t know what that was. Anybody want to fill me in?

I think each of them are attractive. Likely more attractive today than the day they were built.

How is it that a farmer could/would design and build three unique buildings like this on his property? Did he hire an architect for each? Was there a stock book of outdoor plans available? or did the people back then just have an ability to design that we have somehow lost today?

Originally posted 2015-05-18 12:03:44.

Three outbuildingsNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:15:56+00:00

The best log cabin

There was a treasure hidden behind the siding of this house. Without a doubt some of the most beautiful logs I had ever seen.

On a scale of one to ten… these logs are tens.

I have always emphasized that when the time comes to build your dream cabin to get the very best logs that you can, after all it is the essence of the entire home, and there are so many other things ahead in the building process to spend money on… you don’t want to find yourself having spent more on your heating/air system than you did on your logs… oh, the tragedy of having a mediocre cabin while having bragging rights on a Trane heat pump unit.

Anyway, at the time that I encountered this cabin, I had been routinely acquiring salvage rights for a few thousand dollars. The owner of this cabin wanted fifty thousand dollars. I was in shock at not only the beauty of this cabin, but at the price tag.

Today that kind of price, on an exceptional cabin, is nearly commonplace.

So, do I regret missing out on this cabin?

yes, I do.

I have missed out on so many opportunities due to LWS (lean wallet syndrome).

Originally posted 2015-05-17 17:16:53.

The best log cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:15:55+00:00

Not good enough

A rustic little cabin… sweet and charming… but the logs did not meet my standard for reuse in building a new home.

How about that chimney?

Originally posted 2015-05-17 14:46:27.

Not good enoughNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:15:54+00:00

Another tiny log outbuilding

Like a little puppy this little cabin just wanted to go home with me… but it didn’t work out.

Originally posted 2015-05-17 14:29:43.

Another tiny log outbuildingNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:15:53+00:00

An old mill that got away

I would have loved to have salvaged this old mill and built a home for myself out of it. She had plenty of roof leaks and spots of decay here and there.

All of her machinery and a lot of her features, from windows to flooring, had long ago been salvaged but her heart was true and her frame was incredible. The farmer (who owned her and who stored his hay within her) and I could never agree on a price.

Originally posted 2015-05-17 13:33:47.

An old mill that got awayNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:15:52+00:00