Choosing the Right Foundation for Your Log Home

There are many types of foundations that you can choose when building your log home.  They are selected based on preference and what your building site allows.  Whichever foundation you choose, it is important to construct it properly so you have a solid base for your log home.  Let’s take a look at the choices you have.
 
Slab
A slab foundation is a single layer of concrete that is several inches thick.  A footing is placed below the frost line and then the frost walls are added on top.  Once this is in place the slab is poured between the walls.  When doing a slab for your foundation, most often homeowners will use radiant heat for the home.

 Crawlspace
A crawlspace elevates the home to allow access plumbing, wiring, and ductwork.  Crawlspaces are used where a foundation is not permitted.  They should be at least 18 inches high and can be 3 to 4 feet high.  Crawlspaces are typically constructed with concrete or masonry blocks.  

                                                       Baskahegan Cabin on Crawl Space
 
Full basement
A full basement is just that.  Is it the area beneath the home and standard wall height is 8 feet, however it is not uncommon to see 9 or even 10 foot foundations. It depends on what the homeowner plans on doing down in the basement such as finishing it off for extra rooms.  You can use a full basement to place the furnace, water heater, and other utilities.  If your lot allows, you can plan for a walkout basement with large windows and doors.  Basements are constructed from poured concrete, cinder blocks or prefabricated panels like ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms).

When deciding on what foundation is best for your site and log home, some things to consider are; adding insulation to reduce heat loss, accessibility (if a concrete truck cannot make it in to the lot, masonry blocks may need to be used), and drainage.  Proper drainage is important to shed water away from the foundation.  Installing French drains around the foundation will go a long ways.

Start today and view the many log home floor plans we have.

If you have questions on how to go about researching for your home, call us at 800-341-1566 or drop us an email.

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