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Building a log home isn’t something you do on a whim. Most people come to us with an idea that’s been sitting in the back of their mind for years, sometimes decades. You picture the front porch. The big windows. A warm fire on a cold night. You know the feeling you’re after. What’s harder is knowing how to get there.

That’s where design comes in. Designing your home isn’t about having all the answers upfront. It’s about taking what you do know, how you live, what you value, and shaping the space around it.

Here’s how we recommend starting that process.

There’s nothing quite like building your own log home. The chance to choose every detail, from the layout to the lighting, makes it feel completely personal. But before the first log is delivered or the foundation is poured, there’s a lot to think through.

At Ward Cedar Log Homes, we’ve worked with homeowners for over a century, and we’ve learned that a bit of planning goes a long way. Here’s a practical checklist to help you feel more confident and prepared as you begin your home-building journey.
 

Building a log home or timber hybrid may be one of the most significant undertakings — and adventures! — you ever embrace. The process involves taking a deep, personal dive into your preferences and lifestyle, navigating the technical parts of design and planning, and then tackling the nuts-and-bolts process of construction. It may sound like a daunting task, but knowing what to expect will allow you to navigate the ins and outs of the process with confidence. Being well-prepared for what lies ahead will not only make the process easier, but it will also allow you to enjoy the journey.

As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day — and your log home won’t be either. Creating your Ward log home is a journey, and our goal is to make it one you enjoy, not just endure. While stories of custom-home builds gone awry are all too common, our 90-plus years of crafting log homes for happy clients have revealed a few key strategies to help ensure a smooth, successful, and satisfying home building journey. It’s our privilege to pass them on to you:

With all the planning and prepping of your dream home accomplished, it’s time to move into the building stage of your dream home journey. Here is a timeline of what you can expect: