25 Steps for Building a Log Cabin: From Custom Design to Your Dream Log Home

Discover the entire process from start to finish of building a log cabin customized to meet your needs. Zach Parmeter, a third generation of Golden Eagle Log & Timber Homes, has been around the business his entire life, and he shares his experience building his dream log cabin. This process takes time, but every step along the way is worth it when your blueprint becomes a reality.

25 Steps for Building a Log Home

Watch our popular 10-part video series where you can see how Zach's dream log home in central Wisconsin came together. Episodes one through four go in-depth into the planning, customization, and design process before any building begins. Here is an overview of the initial planning period when building a timber frame home or log cabin.

1. Set a Budget: The first step when deciding to build a custom log cabin is to determine your budget, properly allocating enough for the land, the cost of building a log home, and all of the amenities. You'll want to go to a bank to discuss loan options and find an amount you are comfortable with spending on your dream log home.
2. Choose a Floor Plan: The next step is to find a log and timber floor plan that meets your needs and suits your lifestyle. Zach chose the Clearwater floor plan, a ranch-style log cabin.
3. Consult the Design Team: An initial rendering of the log cabin floor plan is presented, and customizations based on the budget can be made.
4. Select a Builder: Find a builder who can see your vision, and make sure they can stick to your budget. The builder can take a look at the log home floor plan and make suggestions for customizations so you can stay within budget.
5. Customize the Floor Plan: After discussing the budget, you can customize the log home plan down to the finest details. The expert design team shares their knowledge and experience with you as you modify a floor plan to maximize the space and make the home exactly how you want. Other options may be presented, and multiple variations of the log cabin plans can be drawn up.

In this log cabin dream home video series, Zach modified his floor plan by adding a half bath near the garage right off the mudroom and laundry space. He included an area for his dogs with a doggy door that leads outside. Zach chose to add barn doors to close off the laundry room from the rest of the home, and he also maximized the space by adding lofts to bedrooms with high ceilings. The space above the garage was used to create a place for additional storage. Once he gets these changes to the design team, the engineering team will implement the changes.

6. Visit the Showroom to Finalize the Exterior and Interior Details: Golden Eagle is a one-stop shop for timber and log home packages, from the designs to the materials chosen. The showroom features hundreds of options to choose from as you design your dream log home. You'll be able to walk through the showroom with a log home expert and choose the materials you want to be used on the exterior, like the type and style of the wood, the color of the stain, stone, metal railings, and other details. You'll also pick the cabinetry, countertops, faucets, tile, stains, and wood species.

Zach knew he wanted timber trusses, "Old World" drywall, wood planking on the ceilings, and hand-hewn wood trim throughout the home. He added more windows to let in plenty of natural light. He made sure that all of the design elements that he chose complemented each other.

7. A 2D or 3D Rendering is Created: The design team and engineers can then mock up a 2D or 3D rendering of your home based on all of your custom selections. This can be modified until you are satisfied with the layout and how the log home looks.
8. Hand Over the Final Log Cabin Plans to the Builder: You'll present the plans and renderings to the builder, and they will have everything they need, specified to code for the location where the home is being built.
9. The Builder Marks the Property: This step is where the house is marked, and changes can be made. You can choose where you are going to lay out the home and face windows a certain way to optimize the natural light.
10. Complete the Driveway Approach Permit: Decide where the driveway will be, and fill out the driveway approach permit so you have an address for deliveries.

The design process can take months. Once the log home plans are finalized, it's time for the builder to get to work and begin breaking ground to create your dream log cabin.

Episodes five to nine in this video series of Building a Dream Log Home show each of the construction phases of the project. Once the construction gets moving, everything comes together quickly.

11. Excavation Begins: Trees can be cleared out on the property, and the basement of the home can be dug out using an excavator. The topsoil is removed and saved for landscaping once the home is built.
12. Log Cabin is Framed Out: The construction crew stakes in the perimeter of the foundation, all of the load-bearing walls, and egress windows. The aluminum forms where the concrete will be poured are built on top of the footings.
13. Foundation is Poured: The forms are filled with concrete, creating the foundation walls. The forms are then removed, and the crew backfills the exterior using dirt that they removed.
14. Floor System is Built: The in-floor heating tubes are laid out, and then floor sheathing and floor trusses are built.
15. Exterior Walls are Framed: The crew frames the exterior walls of the home, and the log cabin starts to take shape.
16. Roof System is Assembled: A prebuilt roof system is used with roof sheathing. The roof liner and shingles are added.
17. Concrete is Poured in the Garage and Basement: The concrete floors are poured, covering the in-floor heating tubes that connect to the boiler system.
18. Exterior Design Elements are Added: The windows and doors are trimmed out. Half log, stone, and cedar shingles are added to the exterior. Timber trusses are installed. The deck is built, and the front porch railings are added.

19. HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Systems: These important elements of a home are properly installed by subcontractors.
20. Insulation & Drywall are Installed: The drywall is finished in a unique "Old World" style.
21. Ceilings are Finished: Wood ceilings are installed, and timber trusses are added. Timber rafters and exposed beams add a wow factor to the custom log and timber frame home.
22. Wood Burning Fireplace is Constructed: Each stone is carefully applied, and a large circular hearth is built, adding rustic detail to the dream log home.
23. Doors & Windows are Installed: The trim around all of the interior doors and windows is put into place. The baseboard is also added.
24. Finishing Touches & Design Elements are Added: Custom cabinetry and beautiful countertops are added to the kitchen, bathroom, mudroom, and closets. Tile is added to the bathrooms and the kitchen backsplash. Lighting fixtures are installed, adding to the industrial character of the home. Appliances are delivered and fit into the designated spaces, and the stone range hood over the oven is finished. Closet organizers complete the space, adding plenty of room for storage. The staircase leading to the basement is finished with hand-hewn wood.

The interior of the log cabin dream home is complete. Now, the final step is adding landscaping and finishing the exterior of the home.

25. Exterior Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces are Finished: Beautiful landscaping with boulders gives the exterior a natural, rugged mountain feel, even though the log home is surrounded by woods. The outdoor living space is ideal for entertaining, complete with a space to eat and a firepit.

This 10-part video series for building a dream log cabin culminates with Zach giving a full tour of his custom log home in episode 10. He walks through the ranch-style log cabin, pointing out details that he included. All of the craftsman style, rustic, and industrial details are there, giving his dream log home the wow factor that he was looking for. Ultimately, building a log cabin helped Zach create the home of his dreams, with a blend of comfort and functionality. See the 3D virtual tour of this dream log cabin, and view the home's photo gallery.

A bonus video, episode 11, features two members of Golden's Eagles sales team as they share even more details about Zach's custom log home. They share common questions people have when they are building a timber frame home or log cabin and many other popular customization options for the Clearwater floor plan. The possibilities are endless when you build a custom timber frame home or log home. Browse our entire selection of log cabin floor plans for more options.

More Details About Zach's Floor Plan - Timber Ranch II - UCT