A Crush in Wood, Part 5 – Knowledge and intuition – use these tips to build a good house

Guest article

03.03.2022

A black log house with a gabled roof, covered in early winter frost. Low sunlight glints off the wall of the house.

Every time I step into our new home, I find myself thinking that this can’t possibly be real. How is it possible to create something so beautiful in such a beautiful spot?

The idea of a log house by the lake seemed like a distant dream a couple of years ago, and now it’s a reality. And now I can say that no other type of house but a log house would have worked quite so wonderfully in this spot.

The project has been long and, at times, even tough, but now that I look at the end result, it was worth it. And best of all, we did it together! Together with my husband, the site manager, the customer service team at Kuusamo Log Houses, expert friends, the architect, the carpenters, the plumbing and electrical professionals, and the earthworks team. We also needed the help and support of our grandparents, plenty of pots of soup and thermos flasks of coffee, as well as painting help from a sprightly sixth-former and encouragement from our children. It also required both of us – my husband and I – to be patient and able to meet each other halfway in difficult situations.

The living room of a log house, which has not yet been furnished. In addition to the large windows, there is plenty of exposed logwork on the walls. The living room also features a small fireplace. — The living room just before we moved in.

Our tips for future builders

Now that I can look back on the build, the following advice and tips might help those still dreaming of building or those about to embark on the journey, so here you go: our tips for future builders:

Design and planning well and in good time. Involve professionals you trust. Show the plans to others too and ask for their opinions.
Design the house to suit your current and future needs. If your budget is limited, you may have to give up some of your dreams. It doesn’t hurt to consider that the house might also appeal to others if the need arises.
Be vigilant and find out for yourself how critical parts should be built, or seek expert advice. Do not compromise on the quality of the build. This is often the biggest investment of your life. If you make a complaint to the builders, offer them a cup of coffee afterwards and have a chat. It’s best to stay on good terms, even if there are occasional disagreements.
Remember your responsibility as the owner. Be present, or at least available, when work is taking place on the site. Very often, questions arise regarding the construction process and answers are needed quickly. If you cannot answer them yourself, ask an expert or the foreman in charge. Ask the workers to wait for a response before proceeding.
Ask for help and accept it. Whether it’s volunteers for a painting session, help with looking after the children or cooking, accept it. Many people are happy to help.
Look after yourself during the build. Eat healthily, get enough sleep and do something else now and then to give your body and mind a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of the build. Your mind will work more clearly and your nail gun will be more steady if you take a breather now and then.
Enjoy the moments and admire the finished corners. There’s plenty left to do, but enjoy it, get excited and savour the finished result! You did it, your partner did it, or perhaps the carpenter or digger Jussi. Either way, it’s finished. Have a cup of coffee, listen to some good music and look around you. Building a house can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Following these instructions, our family ended up with a beautiful, atmospheric, high-quality and energy-efficient Kuusamo log house that meets our family’s needs. I must perhaps add that the energy certificate shows an A energy rating. Of course, this required a few window replacements and my husband’s meticulous sealing work throughout the house, as well as a ‘spot check’ for leaks. But I would also like to thank Kuusamo for the excellent, well-sealed structures and high-quality delivery! And a huge thank you to our trusted sales representative Jaakko for all his help during the project.

A photo collage of the log house’s living room at dusk. The large windows offer views of the surrounding landscape. — Our beautiful, atmospheric, high-quality and energy-efficient Kuusamo Log House!

Building is a balance of knowledge and emotion. We experienced the full range of emotions during the project, whilst also sorting through and utilising a vast amount of construction-related knowledge. For us, this was house number two, and I suppose in this case, two is quite enough without a third…

A log house with a black pitched roof, covered in early winter frost. Low sunlight glints off the wall of the house. — Not a third, but a second house, as the saying goes.

The family built a modern log house by Kuusamo Log Houses in Central Finland based on their own plans. Blog posts have been published on the various stages of the build. You can view photos of the project on Hirsitalo Kultsi’s Instagram.

Taija