Rex and Sharon Hamlet

Big changes were in store when Asheboro, North Carolina, newlyweds Rex and Sharon Hamlet blended their families in 1999. With Rex's two sons, ages 12 and 18, and Sharon's two daughters, also 12 and 18, elbow room was scarce in their 2,200 square foot log home - even on a 37-acre site. The couple turned to Pete Pyles, president of Country Comfort Homes, Inc., in Winston-Salem, for help.

With the boys ruling the "east wing" and the girls ruling the west, Rex and Sharon have balanced space with room to spare. But most important, says Sharon. "It's comfortable and feels like home. We're thrilled to death."

As the Hamlets learned, comfort is just one detail to consider during a remodel or addition. From structural restrictions to material shrinkage and expansion, log homes have special requirements. Talk with experts, map out a plan and double check details to save yourself countless headaches - and dollars - in the long run.

The reasons for additions or remodeling projects are as varied as the clients seeking them, notes Gary Hatch, vice president of Real Log Homes in Hartland, Vermont." People don't undertake additions or remodels to enhance an existing home just to sell it," he says. "Log homes are typically people's dream homes, so this should be well thought out."

First determine what the space will be used for, and then determine how much you need. Some homeowners need room for an expanding family while others require wider doorways and ramps for physical limitations. And some just want amenities for changing lifestyles.

Jason Hood, president of Jason Hood Builders in Condon, Montana, says many financially-restricted owners opt for the "plain Jane" package when they first buy a home. As their financial situation improves, they add the modern conveniences they want.

Sought-after amenities include solariums, breakfast nooks, sewing rooms with laundry facilities, home theaters and built-in central vacuum systems. Many owners request home offices and garages with overhead studios or apartments, or walkout basements to accommodate aging parents.

When planning, the main thing is to pinpoint your likes and dislikes. Hood recommends clients glean ideas from log home publications, home design books and television programs. And since log homes are specialized, talk to architects who have experience designing log structures of designers at log home companies. "These companies have a greater knowledge of what you can and can't do," Hood says. "Talk to two or three to gauge your options."

Knowledgeable builders and contractors are key. They know each log's purpose, whether for aesthetics or to accommodate a structural load point, and that you can't simply widen a door or window or move a wall, electrical fixtures or plumbing. Log shrinkage and expansion, as well as structural limitations, are often overlooked.

"There's a lot more science to it than just nailing a bunch of logs together," says Hatch. "You can't cut a hole in a wall without understanding where the load point is and other pre-existing conditions."

Pyles agrees, adding, "Most homeowners don't realize it's a process involving a series of decisions. We're here to guide them."

When he's working on a project, Pyles visits the property to make measurements and ensure all zoning requirements will be met. After visiting the Hamlets, he determined that a breezeway leading to the garage had to be turned 30 degrees to miss an existing well. In fact, he changed various angles and elevations several times to ensure the addition would work - and look right.

Most log home companies use computer-generated plans to detail building codes, wind and snow loads, and other key architectural requirements. Plus, homeowners can get a three-dimensional image to scale. "This shows exactly what their homes will look like," Hatch says. "Oftentimes, people rethink or alter their plans."

As with any project, budgeting is critical when it comes to remodeling or adding on to a log home, and homeowners can make poor decisions just to save a few bucks. Some assume they can rally family and friends to help, Pyles says, but they're often busy elsewhere when it's time to do the work. Finding a contractor to finish in the middle of a project can be costly.

Another common mistake is trying to tie contractors to hard numbers. Pyles warns that homeowners typically lose because contractors may find critical irregularities that need fixing. The best solution: develop a reasonable budget and work on a cost-plus basis. "It's the norm in the remodeling industry, and a good, honest contractor is a win-win for you," he says.

For homeowners on a tight budget, Hood suggests low-cost log siding, which are slabs of half- or quarter-logs that have been cut flat on the back and sides. Og siding attaches to the outside and inside of standard walls but looks like a full-log wall and it's just as structurally sound. Benefits include greater insulation, no shrinkage and low maintenance. Plus, it costs half as much as full logs and the pre-fitted, color-coded slabs are easy to install.

Hood tells of a husband and wife team that completed a 30-by-40 addition in one weekend. "It's like working with Lincoln Logs, but you need a screw gun," he says.

Another common oversight: Many homeowners forget expenses associated with permits, checking septic systems, trucking or shipping materials, inspections, electrical and plumbing repairs, cabinetry, deck or patio installations and landscaping. The Hamlets decided to secure a home equity loan. Although they didn't choose the most expensive materials or furnishings, they didn't cut corners either.

"We originally budgeted $200,000 and ended up spending $300,000," says Sharon. "You have to allow for surprises," Rex advises, "Add 20 percent to your budget to make sure you're covered."

Aesthetics are a key concern for homeowners who want to ensure their remodel or addition doesn't look like an afterthought. When drawing plans, Hatch advises weighing logistics and looks. Consider the existing roofline, window and door placement, foundation, septic system, driveway and walkways. Then examine the traffic flow both inside and out to make sure it's natural and practical.

"If the only practical place for the addition is off the bedroom window, that won't work" , he says. Another vital element is matching new logs with the home's original. Some homeowners use the same manufacturer, while others use stain to ensure a match.

Blending the addition with nearby structures is also important. "Sometimes you run into home association rules where your options are limited," Hood says. One of his clients in Kearney, Nebraska, had always wanted a log home, but his house was located downtown and rules required vinyl siding. Hood chose log siding inside to provide the rustic feel the client wanted.

Many homeowners learn an important skill during a remodel or addition: compromise. When the Hamlets began kicking around ideas, they realized the septic system located behind their house created a problem. They scrapped ideas for building backward and opted to build lengthwise. Although not their first choice, Rex says the long addition works because of the huge pond in front of their house. Pyles agrees and says that homeowners can add on to just about anything as long as they're willing to explore different options.

Many homes are designed with future expansion in mind. Back in 1992, Mitch and Lori White of Hartland, Vermont, knew their newly built log home would be an ongoing project. With three kids under the age of 7 and both of them working full time, time and money determine when the Whites start projects. One year's tax refund paved the way for a deck, and they recently added a one and a half story, 16-by-16 family room.

Money also determined their compromises. Lori wanted a cathedral ceiling in the family room and she and Mitch both liked a gambrel-style roof. They chose log siding and enlisted their fathers, both experienced carpenters, to help save a few pennies. Time was their biggest challenge - it took nearly six months to complete the addition.

Now seasoned remodelers, the Whites know planning is critical. "We could easily enclose our porch or extend the dining or living room eight feet, but those changes are down the road," Mitch says. When they decide to make those changes, Lori says they'll sit down with designers to ensure it looks right. "You've got to make sure what you're doing is beautiful," she ways. "Once it's up, it's up."