Considering a log house, advice appreciated

alice_clare

Hey everyone,

We are thinking of buying a log home, purely as it's cheaper than your normal brick home.

Can anyone help to shed some light on these for me? We know nothing about them and are trying to research at the moment.

We intent to buy it as our primary residence and want it to last us throughout our lives.

Would you advise log houses?

Do you need planning permission?

Do log homes increase or decrease in value as time goes on?

Is it a better idea than you're normal brick house?

Could you recommend a company to go with for these houses?

Any other recommendations or advice would be seriously appreciated!

We are only beginning to research this!

Thanks in advance

riclad

house value depends on location and size of the building .
You,ll need planning permission to say build a 3 bed house .
You,ll need a site with acess to water and esb supply.
http://www.daft.ie/longford/property-for-sale/?s%5Bmxp%5D=75000

in most places outside dublin its cheaper to just buy a house ,than buy
a log cabin .
http://www.logcabinhome.co.uk/log-cabins-homes/pricelisthomes.html

theres not much difference between log cabin , vs brick house ,
re price rise , In rural area,s they may look better than a standard semi d house.

UK Planning law is not the same as irish rules ,eg i think all new houses now need a bathroom
on the ground floor in ireland .

a 1 bed house in dublin can be worth more than a 3bed house in cavan.

BryanF

alice_clare wrote: »

.

Would you advise log houses?

Do you need planning permission?

Do log homes increase or decrease in value as time goes on?

Is it a better idea than you're normal brick house?

Could you recommend a company to go with for these houses?

Any other recommendations or advice would be seriously appreciated!

)

No

Yes

Decrease

Not that simple

No sorry

Find a site and find an architect

Austin1

Oh yeah - and good luck trying to get an Irish household insurer to cover that bad boy.....

riclad

Say you are living in longford ,clare , kerry it,d be cheaper to just buy
a house from daft.ie ,for 50k than buy a log cabin.
eg any where outside dublin.
There,s assembly cost, planning permission 2k approx,transport cost,
site cost.And insurance would probably more expensive than a standard
brick house.
http://www.scanhome.ie
price seems to be 42-52k , for a standard house.
So overall not better than a brick house,
apart from you can pick out a design and add on extra,s ,like extra insulation etc
standard brick houses in rural area,s are selling well below the cost of building a new house.
obviously a log house is more vunerable to a fire .

BryanF

riclad wrote: »

Say you are living in longford ,clare , kerry it,d be cheaper to just buy
a house from daft.ie ,for 50k than buy a log cabin.
eg any where outside dublin.
There,s assembly cost, planning permission 2k approx,transport cost,
site cost.And insurance would probably more expensive than a standard
brick house.
http://www.scanhome.ie
price seems to be 42-52k , for a standard house.
So overall not better than a brick house,
apart from you can pick out a design and add on extra,s ,like extra insulation etc
standard brick houses in rural area,s are selling well below the cost of building a new house.
obviously a log house is more vunerable to a fire .

Please Don't confuse timber frame construction with 'log' homes these are very different. Timber Frame construction can comply with Irish building regulations where as I haven't seen 'log' construction managing this.

Also it would be a shame to be touting for the concrete federation - there is nothing wrong with timber frame construction: more sustainable, faster, heats up quicker.. And I don't buy the insurance argument.

Unless someone has a thing for timber framed houses as a preference ( not a log house which is a different thing ) What appeaser to be being asked in these sort of threads is...Has anyone found a.. complies with planning permission legal, safe, way of housing themselves long term that is significantly cheaper that the conventional way of doing it.

Log cabins as a second home in back gardens and farms in rural Ireland are not uncommon but it rarely complies with planning permission.

Gumbo

mariaalice wrote: »

Unless someone has a thing for timber framed houses as a preference ( not a log house which is a different thing ) What appeaser to be being asked in these sort of threads is...Has anyone found a.. complies with planning permission legal, safe, way of housing themselves long term that is significantly cheaper that the conventional way of doing it.

Log cabins as a second home in back gardens and farms in rural Ireland are not uncommon but it rarely complies with planning permission.

Or Building Regulations.

If trying to house yourself cheaper is the goal, a few months ago there was a piece on the radio about a group self build in Dún Laoghaire the program interviewed the architect who had come up with the plan and they were getting help from the council the homes were going to significance cheaper that conventional build homes.

Ask anyone who had ever done the census in any semi urban area near an area of high demand for rented property what they have come across.

Someone told me about there complete amazement at the type of accommodation some had in their back gardens. There must be a significant amount of people housed in semi legal situations in Ireland.

riclad

There are people who built extensions then got planning permission a few years after they were built.
i saw some article about a self build coop near dublin,
The architect said the house cost will be 80-100k ,
but you have to be able to spend x hours per week building The house.
Theres wood frame house,s and then theres a log cabin .


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1453756/Struggling-to-afford-your-first-place-Try-a-log-cabin.html
However, planning laws may be an obstacle to the spread of log cabins. If a cabin is built log by log, it is treated as a conventional house and requires the same planning permission as a standard home. In cases where the cabins, which come in pack form, are deemed to be prefabricated, they are treated under the less onerous planning rules governing mobile homes. It is left to individual local authorities to decide on each cabin on a case by case basis.

I understand timber frame construction is not the same as a log cabin.
we have building regulations, fire regulations,
eg x amount of insulation,ventilation
and theres planning regulations .

Graham

mariaalice wrote: »

Someone told me about there complete amazement at the type of accommodation some had in their back gardens. There must be a significant amount of people housed in semi legal situations in Ireland.

I'm struggling to see what's even 'semi-legal' about such arrangements.

Michael D Not Higgins

riclad wrote: »

There are people who built extensions then got planning permission a few years after they were built.
i saw some article about a self build coop near dublin,
The architect said the house cost will be 80-100k ,
but you have to be able to spend x hours per week building The house.
Theres wood frame house,s and then theres a log cabin .


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1453756/Struggling-to-afford-your-first-place-Try-a-log-cabin.html
However, planning laws may be an obstacle to the spread of log cabins. If a cabin is built log by log, it is treated as a conventional house and requires the same planning permission as a standard home. In cases where the cabins, which come in pack form, are deemed to be prefabricated, they are treated under the less onerous planning rules governing mobile homes. It is left to individual local authorities to decide on each cabin on a case by case basis.

I understand timber frame construction is not the same as a log cabin.
we have building regulations, fire regulations,
eg x amount of insulation,ventilation
and theres planning regulations .

That's a story about the UK. I don't think there's any confounding of log cabins with mobile homes in Ireland, especially regarding planning and building regs.

riclad

Yes , you need to make sure that any house you build is in line with Irish
building regulations as you,ll need to get planning permission to build it.
The reason i linked that article is it shows that log cabins may be cheaper
than a standard brick house.

Michael D Not Higgins

riclad wrote: »

Yes , you need to make sure that any house you build is in line with Irish
building regulations as you,ll need to get planning permission to build it.
The reason i linked that article is it shows that log cabins may be cheaper
than a standard brick house.

It may only be cheaper if it doesn't need to meet the same requirements like building regs and planning.

Gumbo

riclad wrote: »

Yes , you need to make sure that any house you build is in line with Irish
building regulations as you,ll need to get planning permission to build it.
The reason i linked that article is it shows that log cabins may be cheaper
than a standard brick house.

Log cabins are cheaper because they are garden rooms and glorified domestic sheds, not houses. That's why they are cheap to buy compared to building a home.

Ask any log cabin supplier in Ireland can they comply with the building regulations...anwser will be no.

Planning regulations are a different kettle of fish, in theory you can get planning for a log cabin for use as a shed or garden room.

riclad

grand designs 9pm c4 uk tonight, Its about building a wood frame house.
I Don,t think log cabins are popular in ireland as you can buy a house for 50k in many area,s and just modernise it or extend it .

Graham

riclad wrote: »

I Don,t think log cabins are popular in ireland as you can buy a house for 50k in many area,s and just modernise it or extend it .

I don't think log cabins are popular with planning departments in Ireland.

Gumbo

riclad wrote: »

grand designs 9pm c4 uk tonight, Its about building a wood frame house.
I Don,t think log cabins are popular in ireland as you can buy a house for 50k in many area,s and just modernise it or extend it .

I think people keep getting mixed up with log cabins and different building methods. Log cabins can comply with the building regulations, but the cost to make them comply mean they are the same price as normal houses so nobody. Others.

Can you post a pic of what your perception of a log cabin is.

Graham wrote: »

I don't think log cabins are popular with planning departments in Ireland.

Or building control departments. It's not the style, is the use that the planning department don't allow. Especially when in rear gardens!

riclad

http://cdn.goodshomedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Cumberland-cabin-kit-1-640x480.jpg
so it would be cheaper to just build a brick or woodframed house
Than an american style log cabin.

Graham

riclad wrote: »

http://cdn.goodshomedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Cumberland-cabin-kit-1-640x480.jpg
so it would be cheaper to just build a brick or woodframed house
Than an american style log cabin.

Is that a question or a statement?

GreenFolder2

Be very aware that what works in dry air of parts of North America and drier parts of Scandinavia can turn into moss-covered rot here in a matter of a few years.

Wooden structures here need to be extremely carefully treated where the wood is exposed to the elements.

Gumbo

riclad wrote: »

http://cdn.goodshomedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Cumberland-cabin-kit-1-640x480.jpg
so it would be cheaper to just build a brick or woodframed house
Than an american style log cabin.

That's a garden shed. It wouldn't comply with Irish Building regulations.

GreenFolder2 wrote: »

Be very aware that what works in dry air of parts of North America and drier parts of Scandinavia can turn into moss-covered rot here in a matter of a few years.

Wooden structures here need to be extremely carefully treated where the wood is exposed to the elements.

+1
And ventilated where hidden from the elements.

alice_clare

mariaalice wrote: »

If trying to house yourself cheaper is the goal, a few months ago there was a piece on the radio about a group self build in Dún Laoghaire the program interviewed the architect who had come up with the plan and they were getting help from the council the homes were going to significance cheaper that conventional build homes.

@''mariaalice'' You wouldn't have any link that could help me contact these guys by any chance would you?

Houses near me start at €100,000 and this is for a dilapidated house that has no windows/roof/not livable . I should mention that I live on the outskirts of Limerick city, but it's county Clare.

I am trying to find a way of getting a cheaper more conventional home as I can't justify paying a mortgage for the rest of my life (although i may have to!)

From what I have learnt about log homes so far (not timber frame houses) is that they last for up to 3 generations, are 40% warmer, more conventional, quicker built, best to buy in Finland, need planning permission. So we would need to buy a site, get planning permission, get the log house built and then wired and plumbed. There's every chance it may cost the very same as the traditional brick built home.

I do think that these houses may be actually ''better'' than brick houses in many ways i.e. cheaper to run & warmer. However they may require more maintenance. I have seen them being called glorified 'garden sheds,' but I would definitely say that this is incorrect. These log houses seem amazing!

We are first time buyers and are trying to look at all our options with open minds. Having something different that what is ''normal'' doesn't bother us but obviously, with something so important we want to research all avenues fully.

As I said in my first comment, I am only just learning about all this so every comment is appreciated!

Does anyone have any other ideas or know of anyone I could talk to about first time buying or log houses?

Home-ownership co-operatives help members who have the financial capacity to do so to build or buy their own homes. When suitable sites and finance are available co-operative group schemes of 10 – 30 homes can be developed. Most of these co-operatives have been developed in the Dublin area.

Co-operative housing in Ireland dates back to the 1950s. These were local, self-help, home ownership building co-operatives providing affordable homes for their members.

http://www.nabco.ie/Cooperative_Housing/Default.545.html

Graham

alice_clare wrote: »

Does anyone have any other ideas or know of anyone I could talk to about first time buying or log houses?

You're not the first to have the log-house idea and I don't imagine you will be the last.

Have a search through the other threads about log houses. So far the number of people that have returned with pictures of their completed log house is hovering somewhere around zero.

Here's a few search results to get you started:

Log House
Log Cabin

That's not to say it's impossible, there's quite a nice log cabin for sale on DAFT at the moment for north of quarter of a million.

IvoryTower

Hi op, similar to yourself I'm trying to keep my options open. Another avenue might be modular homes. If you search northern Ireland modular homes or wood houses there's a few sites that have samples. Houses from about 120 upwards. One site shows a few of them that were built in ireland. Might be worth a look. I'm at the very early stage of saving so I haven't gone any further than browsing websites

Gumbo

TV3 now!
Log cabins exposed. Conor Popes Consumer 999.
Engineers reports confirm that they are for use as a garage and not for habitation!

riclad

Look On daft,ie limerick houses under 70k,
http://www.daft.ie/limerick/houses-for-auction/limerick-city/4-keyes-row-athlunkard-street-limerick-city-limerick-1326703/

theres always cottages for sale that may need modernisation ,and basic repairs .
there,s very few log cabins built in ireland.
There seems to be very little difference between the cost of building a log cabin vs a more standard wood frame house as it still needs to pass current building regs .

chutney50

kceire wrote: »

TV3 now!
Log cabins exposed. Conor Popes Consumer 999.
Engineers reports confirm that they are for use as a garage and not for habitation!

Just to clarify that the Conor Pope Consumer 999 programme of 19/10/2016 didn't expose logs cabins per se, but the work of a particular company called Beaver Log Cabins NI (formerly Beaver Log Cabins Ltd) run by Trevor Watson.

alibaba12

We just finished building a 2 bedroom log house . Is lovely and I'm very impressed with the build. You can get insurance companies to insure the building there's just not as many as a block built house. Pm me if you want the name of who we used.

Recommendations by pm only as per our forum charter please. Mod

Gumbo

alibaba12 wrote: »

We just finished building a 2 bedroom log house . Is lovely and I'm very impressed with the build. You can get insurance companies to insure the building there's just not as many as a block built house. Pm me if you want the name of who we used.

Recommendations by pm only as per our forum charter please. Mod

Is it a new dwelling or a garden shed?

Michael D Not Higgins

kceire wrote: »

Is it a new dwelling or a garden shed?

The websites advertising these log cabins to the Irish market noticeably list them as "extra room", "summerhouse", and most telling is their section on planning permission which is wishy washy and has the header "garden extension" at the top of the page. Two different websites also mention that there is an appeals process within ABP, almost knowingly that the planning will be refused for anything more than a uninhabited shed.

Advbrd

alibaba12 wrote: »

We just finished building a 2 bedroom log house . Is lovely and I'm very impressed with the build. You can get insurance companies to insure the building there's just not as many as a block built house. Pm me if you want the name of who we used.

Recommendations by pm only as per our forum charter please. Mod

Any pics?

gctest50

riclad wrote: »

..............

theres always cottages for sale that may need modernisation ,and basic repairs .

how bad things can be :

http://www.thejournal.ie/house-of-horrors-wicklow-dream-house-condemned-3037500-Oct2016/

alibaba12

kceire wrote: »

Is it a new dwelling or a garden shed?

It's a dwelling

alibaba12

Advbrd wrote: »

Any pics?

Not yet used my "fancy" camera haven't had the chance to out onto laptop yet.

alibaba12

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

The websites advertising these log cabins to the Irish market noticeably list them as "extra room", "summerhouse", and most telling is their section on planning permission which is wishy washy and has the header "garden extension" at the top of the page. Two different websites also mention that there is an appeals process within ABP, almost knowingly that the planning will be refused for anything more than a uninhabited shed.

From what I understand P.P. is for anything over 20ft x 20ft and that is a fixed structure. There are also kit houses that don't require P.P.

Gumbo

alibaba12 wrote: »

It's a dwelling

I'd love to know what county this is in and how you complied with Part L of the Building Regulations?
I strong,y believe you haven't built a new dwelling using a log cabin as discussed in this thread.

alibaba12 wrote: »

From what I understand P.P. is for anything over 20ft x 20ft and that is a fixed structure. There are also kit houses that don't require P.P.

That's a very simplistic view of it tbh, extensions over 40 Sq. M to the rear require planning. All new houses, every single new house in the country requires planning irrespective of the size, construction material, so no, there are no kit houses that don't require planning. You also need to comply with building regulations and planning regulations with regards to open space, minimum room sizes etc

Parchment

A friends family had a large log house (6 bedroom if i remember correctly) imported from Finland and built in a rural area in Clare.

It was a GORGEOUS house that suited the landscape so well. I think it was a preference for them rather than a cost saving measure as it was built on an expensive site.

But i do recall them having issues with getting insurance but they did in the end.

I would love a log house, i see them on the continent all the time and they look great.

Michelle McGovern

alibaba12 wrote: »

We just finished building a 2 bedroom log house . Is lovely and I'm very impressed with the build. You can get insurance companies to insure the building there's just not as many as a block built house. Pm me if you want the name of who we used.

Recommendations by pm only as per our forum charter please. Mod

hi can I get more information please and pics

Gruffalo27

@mariaalice. Did you ever go ahead with the log house if so how did it turn out. Budget. Building regs, planning etc

Caranica

avinmike wrote: »

@mariaalice. Did you ever go ahead with the log house if so how did it turn out. Budget. Building regs, planning etc

The OP has not posted in two years

Gruffalo27

Caranica wrote: »

The OP has not posted in two years

She must be still flat out building it so