It’s a timeless debate among lovers of wooden homes; log or timber frame?
Luckily, Hearthstone Homes is an expert on both. Log and timber frame homes are two distinct styles of homes that share similarities but differ in build and appearance.
Log homes are built with horizontal logs interlocked at the corners by notching for a signature dove-tail style. Logs may be round, squared or hand-hewn to other irregular shapes with chinking in between. These homes are beautiful and charming with a rustic elegance that blends in with the natural environment. They have a timeless design that never goes out of style, and they are durable and long-lasting, capable of withstanding harsh weather or natural disasters. The term “log cabin” generally refers to a smaller, more rustic log house, such as a hunting cabin in the woods. However, Hearthstone has expanded on the quaint idea of a hunting cabin and turned the charming idea of a “log cabin” into a grand masterpiece of a modern home that could easily be mistaken for a home built 200 years ago.
Timber frame homes use a frame structure of large posts and beams that are joined with pegs or other decorative joinery. The walls of the structure are positioned on the outside of the timber frame, leaving the timbers exposed for visual effect. Timber framing is strong enough to form the basis of a building that will last for hundreds of years. One of the big advantages of timber-frame construction is that it is so strong, it doesn’t need load-bearing walls cutting through the middle of the house, and so you can design the layout in any configuration. Timber frame homes are versatile and can look good in any setting. They are easily recognized by their exposed timbers that create a stunning and unforgettable visual effect.
The choice between a log home and a timber frame home most often depends on the goal of the builder. Those home builders who strive to achieve a rustic, authentic cabin that models the original settlement homes of our country will be more satisfied with a log home. Hearthstone offers several styles, including random-stack log homes, in which the width of the beams varies as they are stacked at random for the most authentic-looking cabin. However, those who want to capture the magic of massive, majestic timbers with a more modern appeal are more likely to be satisfied with a timber frame home, which can vary more in both interior and exterior appearances.
The choice is difficult, as both structures are marvelous, timeless, and efficient. However, with Hearthstone Homes, one doesn’t have to choose. Hearthstone offers hybrid homes that combine the two styles to provide the best of both worlds.
Whether the goal is to look like a 17th-century Appalachian settler’s home with square-hewn logs and dovetail notching, or a unique, modern custom home with massive exposed timbers, or even a combination of both, Hearthstone Homes is here to help with the personal home-building journey.
