Prefab log homes

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tedge

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Camden, ME
Heard rumor of a bid invitation coming my way on a pre fabricated log home. I guess prefab isn't totally correct, more like a log home kit. All logs are pre cut and numbered for their placement. Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm wondering if they have pre-drilled wire chases thru the logs, or how this all works as I have never worked on one. If you have to drill as you go I see a major time sink.
 
Re: Prefab log homes

I am secondhanding this, but I remember stories pretty well. I think the standard stuff ain't bad, but extras are the killer. The customer wants an extra sconce in a hall, and you have to devote your life to it, that type of thing. I'll talk to my buddy, pretty sure the one he did was a pre-fab.
 
Re: Prefab log homes

I think that putting up extras on the exterior log walls will have to be nixed right from the start. I assume that the interior walls will be rock or v-match or something so it could be done easily on those. If the interior walls are log too, I think I'll have to let someone else fight with that. ;)
 
Re: Prefab log homes

I seen the one abe lincoln had and do not recall seeing any wires.Tell customer if they want to be that rustic to buy lanterns :D
 
Re: Prefab log homes

Originally posted by tedge:
I think that putting up extras on the exterior log walls will have to be nixed right from the start.
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Seriously though, Time & Materials would be the best way to do this house, IMO. If you have to babysit a wall being built so you can drill holes through it, etc, then time spent on thumb waiting should be paid.
 
Re: Prefab log homes

I just finished a log home last year. It took about twice as much wire as I figured. The customer wanted all the switches and recept in the logs, so I rigged up an template with the carpenter and used a plunge router to cut out all the openings, what a job. This kit was pre-drilled which made it easier to run wire but not all the holes lined up(imagine that)so I ended up laying a lot on the wire on top of the log and zigzaged through the holes. There will be an occasion (trust me) when you will have to drill up from the basement/crawlspace so I suggest you buy some good drill bits,long ones, woodeaters and a milwaukee sidewinder bit(fror grooving the logs). Have fun!! By the way T&O is the only way to go here. Switch legs are fun too!!
 
Re: Prefab log homes

Originally posted by wayne123:
...so I rigged up an template with the carpenter and used a plunge router to cut out all the openings...
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Was the template for the boxes, or for the surface change to meet the faceplate? Elaborate, I'd love to hear more about that house. :)
 
Re: Prefab log homes

Sorry, let me try this again. The log surfaces were flat in this home. The template was attached to the wall at the proper hieght. It was made 1/4 inch larger tha the actual box to allow for the collet on the router. I was able to use deep plastic nail-up boxes w/o the nail in it.I set the box in the cut out and used two or three coarse dry wall screws to secure it inside the cut out. before I put the box in I took the sidwinder bit (unbelievable tool )and groved out the bottom back side of the hole to allow room to get the wire into the box. If the log surface in the house your are going to do are round the technique will probably not work unless you can plane off enough off the log face to make it flat. Wish I had a picture!! The install I did made the face plate set flush agaist the wall. LOOKED VERY GOOD! Sometimes I surprise myself.
 
Re: Prefab log homes

Wayne,

So the wire runs were supposedly drilled straight up through the logs at each location? Were the locations based on a set layout, or did the customer lay it out first?

...I ended up laying a lot on the wire on top of the log and zigzagged through the holes
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I don't understand what you mean. Is there a channel on top of each log big enough for a wire?

Did this house have interior rock walls or logs? Haven't seen the plans yet so I don't know how it all comes together.
 
Re: Prefab log homes

tedge, the holes were drilled @ the factory or in the yard , wherever they came from. Some of the holes lined up and some didn't. The was a 4" gap between the logs where I laid the wires, there was just enough room to drive staple in to secure the romex. Also they did not drill the holes according t the code, they were spaced out too far. With the 6' rule I was placing recept every 12' no extra to avoid more routing. I only put two cables perbox because of the size of the drilled hole. I will not run more than two per hole in a stud wall either. When there was not a hole drilled i used the long flexible or n auger bit nd drilled up from the basement.It is along tedious job to do it this way but it looks good when done. There are some Log home compnies the build a chase out of 1x4 lumber at the base of the wall and cut in recept and run their wires in the chase. It may be practical to do it this way and easier but I dont think it looks as good. I suggest you get a scrap log from the contractor and practice several cut ins before you try it on the real thing. If there are no chinking joints in the walls I would suggest the chase thing or better yet stop by and see a few log dealers and ask questions. I did and I have been offered a couple more homes to wire. If I had digital camera I would take some picture and send them to you. Good luck.
 
Re: Prefab log homes

Wow, good luck on the log home. I did a lot of these in Idaho and they are always labor intensive. Here are a couple of thinks I learned. If there is not a basement try and convince the customer to allow you to build a 4 x4 wooden trough around the bottom. This will cut your time by 1/3. You can cut boxes in the face and bring all the switch legs into it and make required spices(in boxes) in it. Get a alarm installers bit. They are 4 5 ft long and worth there weight in gold. If possible, run vertical wires in door framing etc. Be careful to protect wires from nails. I actually gave the erector a drill and bit and paid him to predrill, worked well. Very important to plan ahead and communicate. Good luck, hope this helps.
 
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