North Dakota is our neighbor to the east. With the recent oil activity this sparely populated state has come into the forefront of bright spots in the US economy of late. And of course our log homes can be found there as well. This state is a sleeping giant that has rushed to awaken in the last three years. With the nineteenth largest land mass but the third smallest population there are lots of wide open spaces in this state. The Western part is home to the Badlands. Nestled in the Badlands is the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I remember the first time we drove in the park we saw our first wild horses. Buffalo, prong horn antelope, mule deer, moose and other large wild ones wander these areas, reminding us of their strong western presence.

Hunter Log Cabin

After leaving the Badlands on I-94 East the rest of the state is composed of the Great Plains. Farming and agriculture abounds. Log homes are popular through out the state. The ruggedness of the handcrafted homes has drawn many to choose this style. It fits so well with the outdoor lifestyle so many live in this part of the country.

North Dakota often gets lots of snow blown down from the Arctic. With cold temperatures it is important that the log cabin home is snug against the western winds. The full scribe method is the best way to insure against snow and ice. The key is the overlap of log to log over a curved surface. The channel scribed into the underside of the logs cause them to cleave tighter together over time. Also the diamond saddle notch corners fitted together with the tight scribing make our handcrafted home excel in windy situations.

Some homeowners are concerned with foundation requirements for log homes. Our homes can be built on either a full foundation, crawl space, or cement slab. If a home site is located next to a river or lake then the water table may be too high for a full basement. In this case a crawl space or cement slab is often used. When the log home plans are delivered with the cabin a foundation schedule is included.

Log homes appeal to a wide variety of homeowners. Some oil field personnel have purchased log homes. Also ranchers and professionals from the larger cities of Bismarck and Fargo. Though Bismarck is the state capital, Fargo has grown to be the largest city. Outlying areas around the city host both large cedar log homes and small homes.

One consideration with building a small ‘cabin’ is if you are going to the time and expense — and headache– to build a home, it might not be a bad idea to go ahead an build a larger one. Though you may only see using it one weekend a month as your Idaho hideaway, you may someday want to resell it. Over the years we have seen the best return on investment to be a three bedroom two bath log home. Our smallest plan that offers this is the Eureka plan. Within 1,320 square feet three bedrooms, two baths, open loft, and Great Room are situated. A home of this size appeals to many, so also think long term when planning for your North Dakota log home.

Cowboy Log Homes