Concept Drawings

Foundation, Floors, & Structure

Footing & foundation.

Will it be block, poured, prefab, or ICF (insulated concrete forms)? What thickness and height? Will you have a full basement, crawlspace, slab, or pylons?

First-floor framing.

Choose between conventional 2x joists, I-joists, or trusses.

Log walls.

Logs can be 6″, 8″, 10″, or 12″ thick in various species sizes, and shapes. You’ll also decide ceiling height–that determines how many courses of logs you’ll need.

Gables & dormers.

Solid logs, log siding, or other materials (e.g., rustic clapboards, cedar shaekes) can be used here.

Corner styles.

Do you want butt and pass, saddle notch, or dovetails?

Second-floor/loft framing

Options include exposed heavy timber post-and-beam, conventional 2x, I-joist, or truss systems.

Roof Systems and Porches

Roof framing.

• Heavy timber, exposed post-and-beam with nail-base insulation panels gives a classic look and continuous insulation.
• A less-expensive approach is conventional rafters or trusses with fiberglass or other cavity insulation. Note: This is not recommended for cathedral ceilings or where you have live valleys, because it’s difficult to maintain the required ventilation with fiberglass.

Porch decks & roofs.

Porch decks can be treated cedar, composite, or concrete slab on footings. Porch roofs can be heavy timber exposed post-and-beam or 2x framing.

• All of these material choices can make a big difference in the final cost of your home.

Interior Finishes

Match your interior selections to your material budget and find the right balance. Sometimes drywall is used on interior partitions to give added constrast to your wood.

Stairs

Enclosed conventional, open tread, or round pole stringers with half-round treads.

Railing

Commonly log rails, or other choices in wood, glass , or metal.

Fireplace

True masonry, manufactured zero-clearance with stainless chimney, or framed surrounds and everything in between.

Flooring

Carpet, hardwood, T&G (e.g., 1×6/1×8). The species and profile you select can greatly affect both cost and character.

Colors

You’ll choose everything from stone to shingles. Colors don’t usually change cost much, but some manufacturer options do. For windows, as an example, certain colors or finishes may only be offered in the more expensive lines; selecting a standard color may allow you to specify a more economical series. Ask your designer to confirm availability so you can compare apples to apples in bids.

Designers don’t need to be involved with construction, but they do need your selections to produce drawings that can be priced consistently by the builder, subs, and log manufacturer.

Use your designer’s creative mind to get your money’s worth. Most truly love what they do and will help beautify your ideas. Don’t be shy about reigning things in if selections run past budget; you can always add a few embellishments later.

If you are planning a garage, breezeway, or dormer, decide materials for those as well so the concept drawings reflect the full scope.

Living the Plan: A Practical Lens

Concept drawings are about more than elevations. They’re about how you live. Use everyday routines to test the plan. Below is a checklist, organized for easy decision making.

Of all the things we tell you to do, this is probably the most important.

‍When you receive the concept drawings from the designer, you will want to do some serious reviewing. The best way to do that is to imagine each scenario of your home, life, and living habits, something like this: Suppose visitors arrive. Will they find the door you want them to go to? They come to the door, and you welcome them. If they’re friends, you invite them in, take their jackets and you hang them or lay them, where? You invite them to sit down. You offer them refreshments. You prepare and serve.‍

They ask to use the bathroom. You show them. You excuse yourself to prepare dinner. She offers to help. You graciously accept her offer. Try to get the whole family involved in brainstorming like this. Ask yourself who, what, when, where, and how?

Spend a lot of time thinking of these things and you will have a lot less of the “if I ever build again” syndrome.

Morning departures (husband & wife):

Getting up, stretching, shaving, fixing clothes, fixing breakfast/coffee, eating breakfast/coffee, reading the newspaper, chores, and leaving for the day.

Coming home from work:

Parking car, entry, tools/boots drop zone, shower & clothes, relax.

Visitors & hospitality:

Front door arrival, entertain, eat, overnight stay (bedroom & bathroom).

Doing chores:

Gardening, lawn care, hobbies, stoking the stove, firewood, maintenance, recreation, honey-do’s, emailing, laundry, doing dishes, cooking.

Children—daily life:

Homework, doing dishes, chores, practice sports, entertainment, reading, playing with toys, playing with friends, playing outside, snowmen, other.

Children—leaving for school:

Getting up, getting ready, breakfast, fix lunch, homework, chores, bus, other.

Children—coming home:

Bus, entry, change clothes, snacks, homework, relax, other.

Consider too, where you will put things:

Kitchen equipment, pots & pans, clothes, equipment, rec equipment, books, phones, food supply, laundry, firewood, wastebaskets, garbage.

Don’t forget outside:

Cars, campers, boats, barn, basketball court, garden tools, lawn tools, mechanical tools, other.

As you and your designer review the concept plans, walk through these patterns. Adjust entries, mudrooms, pantries, closets, porches, and flow until the drawings match your life and needs.