Design Architecture

The first and most important step in the process of owning a custom log home or timber home is the design phase. As a future owner of one of our luxurious custom-built log or timber homes/cabins or commercial buildings. The design Phase is the most important for the following reasons:

- Making sure you stay within your budget. The design process helps to evaluate you're needs and eliminate as many unexpected costs as possible.

- Creating the look and feel you want. by talking to a designer or architect you can literally design your dream home.

- By having a solid design in place, it gives your tradesmen all of the relevant information they need to prepare and complete your home.

Design to your budget

There are many different styles of log and timber homes. Old Yale's goal is to set you up with a ahome that will fit your lifestyle and budget.

Choosing a designer or architect

If you know exactly what you want, a designer will work just fine for you, however, if you are having trouble or do not have the time, an architect can create a vision of your dream. They can also provide you with many valuable services such as budgeting, what materials to use, tips on working with your contractor as well as offer unique ideas.

If you need help finding the right architect or designer, Old Yale Log Homes can help you find the right one for you. We work with many different designers and architects.

Design costs

The cost of a custom design by a designer may run anywhere from 1 to 2 dollars per square foot. An architect generally charges based on how much service is provided or on a percentage of the cost of the home, which is generally a much higher cost than a designer.

Recomendations

Design your home for the budget you have. if you are desiring a larger log home but are working on a limited budget you may consider a hybrid style log home, which is combining logs with traditional framing techniques. This can cut the log package cost in half or less. This also gives your designer or architect more options on how the home will be finished. Some of our nicest designs we have supplied for have been hybrid log homes.

How to get your design started

One of the best ways to get started is to look at other already completed designs to compare different techniques and ideas to incorporate in your design. Some great resources for this are magazines and the internet. You can have a look through our gallery for inspiration as well. After your ideas and inspiration has been conveyed to a designer, they will provide a preliminary drawing that gives you the opportunity to make changes, improvements or bounce more ideas off them. Essentially you continue to work with the designer until you both have something that is agreable and realistic based on your budget and needs. If your designer is not familiar with us and the specs necessary in designing a custom log home, we are more than interested in meeting with them and providing them with all the necessary information.