Architectural drawings for log cabins / timber frame houses.

[matelot]

If I was going to design/build a house I'd be using a heat pump during Autumn/ Spring and a stove during the winter months.

[SteveA]

Hi matelot, sounds an interesting idea about the tin roof.

 

Regarding a heat pump, thats one idea i am going to look at closely. Its just weather i can run one in conjunction with a wood / log / chip bio / burner.

 

If you're looking at a tin roof check out the secret fix 'vieo' system by Euroclad.... you should be able to download various technical drawings, u value ratings, etc which may help you to finalise drawing dimensions. Vieo Metal Roof and Wall System

 

Alternatively, look at the proper zinc roofing (much more expensive) by e.g, VM Zinc... VMZinc

 

cheers, steve

[harvey b davison]

cheers for the info chaps.

[Peat]

Shingle roofs need a steeper pitch than most other options, 25-30 degrees if I remember rightly. Cleft oak or chestnut shingles can last 80 or so years and are expensive. However you can't get more environmentally friendly if you buy handmade ones from a local woodsman!

 

I installed a roof with that bonded insulated steel roofing that matelot mentioned. Its usually used for commercial building - roof and walls and so the interior surface ends up the finish. It is white plastic coated steel and doesn't look too bad. Anyway it ended up cheaper when labour was included to use this stuff rather than plasterboard, insulation and roofing sheets. I was impressed. Flew up right quick!

[drinksloe]

I've got the above insulated sheets on my garage and they're really good with no condensation on them, unfortunately put 2 insulated skylight sheets in, cost a fortune and designes for using with these sheets condensate like crazy.

 

Look at some of the new mini/micro water treatment plants, the run off can go straight into a burn and no need for alll the soakaway sytems with a normal sceptic tank.

 

For ur cabin i'd be looking at the common sense stuff like running ridge so roof is facing SW to catch most sun, the solar thermal water panelss are meant to work pretty good and work well with any of ur heat pump systems as they struggle to do Hot water.

if ur going for a heat pump system possibly UFH as it works better with the lower temps than radiators.

 

Big windows in south/west facing sides and not so much n north side to gather sun heat.

Even a mechanical heat recovery system to move any excess heat from ur stove/living room/kitchen into other parts of the house

[harvey b davison]

Hi All,

 

I now have a major headache I have basically designed my house on this

Log Style House Plan - 5 Beds 3.5 Baths 2588 Sq/Ft Plan #17-478

 

My headache now is how the hell do i start and price this up for the build costs.

 

I need to price up the price of the house only ( no foundations or any services) and the cost of erecting it.

 

I know its cheeky for me to ask , but for those of you that work in timber framing, i could do with knowing as mush detail as possible about pricing this up.

 

Thanks in advance

 

H.

[dirtybiker]

Hi All,

 

I now have a major headache I have basically designed my house on this

Log Style House Plan - 5 Beds 3.5 Baths 2588 Sq/Ft Plan #17-478

 

My headache now is how the hell do i start and price this up for the build costs.

 

I need to price up the price of the house only ( no foundations or any services) and the cost of erecting it.

 

I know its cheeky for me to ask , but for those of you that work in timber framing, i could do with knowing as mush detail as possible about pricing this up.

 

Thanks in advance

 

H.

 

Allow about £1000 per sq metre, both upstairs and down. That's a rough ballpark of the total spend.

[drinksloe]

Have u seen the tv programe Building Alaska, on the travel channel, 46? on free view,

came across it while watching ray mears 1 nite.

Building proper log cabins in middle of no where, sometimes with just a chainsaw as only tool.

 

Is the 1000 a sq m not for a more traditionally built house,and even that could be low at times. Depending how the logs are built could easily be more expensive again

[daltontrees]

I'd say £1k/m2 is way low for a one-off. One of the reasons timber framed houses are popular, apart from better thermal performance than masonry, is that the framwes can be mass-produced offsite where there's dray factory floors to work on, Tye're then brought in and put up in no time, saving on development funding time. I'd say a one-off would hardly be worth producing in a factory and would just take a long time to put up, it might be better building it piece by piece instead of pre-fabbing big sections.

 

In this country I don't think there's any slack cut on U values and fire protection for 'log-style' houses, and so it's not like a cheap single skinned log cabin with relaxations for only occasional occupation, so the log would be a cladding or an external leaf and you're still going to have a lot of structure in the inner leaf and finishes that are non-standard. Some savings to be made by ensuring openings take standard size doorsets and windows. A lot is going to depend on whether anyone in the UK produces modular materials for log cabins.

 

I can't think how much you would save on standard build costs for foundations and services, I'd think they are pretty much the same rate for any kind of construction.

 

I'd guess you're up at £1500/m2 for a fully compliant dwelling, but could be much less if it can be treated as a short-stay summer-only chalet or some other class of building. IU don't eve see it lending itself to a rate/m2 pricing, you'd probably need to fully spec it with nominated suppliers before anyone would cost it for you in the real world without thinking of a (big) number and doubling it.

[harvey b davison]

Hi chaps.

 

So are you saying approx £1500 per sq meter of actual material and build, and this is for all joinery / woodwork, If so how much would that work out at per linear mtr ?

 

Another way of doing it would be to cost each log.

 

for example, if the build needed 300 logs at 4800, and each log cost £100 then the total cost for the logs would be £3000.

 

So would that be an easier way of pricing it ? I think it might be. Although i do like the idea of an all in price for all timberwork.

 

Also does anyone know a true cost of roundwood timber approx 300mm dia and at 4800 long. I believe it is cedar that is most commonly used.

 

cheers again

H.