M. Curtis McCoy

To protect a log cabin from severe weather, seal the logs every three to five years, keep the roof and gutters draining

The best cabin foundation is a concrete slab on flat, well-drained ground and a crawl space on gently sloped or damp sites.

Choose handcrafted logs when you want full-diameter timber, one-of-a-kind character, and a wall where no two logs are alike; choose machine-milled logs

Good log cabin lighting layers three things: natural light from well-placed windows, ambient fixtures that wash the ceiling, and task light where

The best logs for cabins are dead standing or kiln-dried logs, because they have already lost most of their moisture and will

Autumn maintenance on a log home comes down to twelve jobs, and the first four matter most: touch up the stain, clear

Log home security comes down to three layers: physical hardening at every entry point, electronic monitoring you will actually use, and fire

Summer cooling in a log home is mostly about keeping heat out rather than removing it later. Shade, roof color, attic insulation,

Do you live in a log home or cabin prone to flooding during heavy rains? Have you noticed water pooling around the

Treating a log home exterior comes down to a repeatable order of operations: wash the walls, repair the chinking, caulk the checks

Yes, log homes settle — typically up to about three-quarters of an inch over the first one to two heating seasons —

The five log home roof materials worth comparing are asphalt or architectural shingles, standing-seam metal, clay or ceramic tile, slate, and green