I did not build this log cabin. Yet, I was called in to design and build an addition for it. I wondered why.
The cabin had been built “by a nationally recognized expert on log cabins”. Why wasn’t he being called in to add an addition?
The cabin did have some things going for it… nice old logs, not a bad chimney, appealing roof pitches, and a porch located on the side of the house where one could enjoy the views.
There were a couple of things though that jumped out at me that I would have done differently, but I didn’t comment on them to the owner. For one thing I’ve never been a big fan of square windows… I like windows that are taller than they are wide.
Also, I don’t care for board-and-batten siding on a log cabin. In all my years of looking at historic cabins… hundreds and hundreds of them… I have never seen a single one that originally had board-and-batten siding on it. None, at all.
Now don’t get me wrong, I like board-and-batten, just not on, or near, a log cabin… they tend to give a cabin an “outbuilding feel”… If you want your cabin to take on a chicken-coop look, go with board-and-batten. If not use horizontal siding.
I asked the cabin’s owners about their relationship with their previous builder and if they were pleased his workmanship. The long list of problems they began describing was unbelievable, starting with their discovery that the builder had not installed footers under the foundation and that they were forced to hire someone else to jack the house up and build a new proper foundation under it.
hmmmmm. So, his building skills needed improvement but what about his design work?
I’ll let you judge… in Part 3.
Originally posted 2015-03-09 21:21:01.