ADVICE CENTRE
Our incredible customers have been showering us with all sorts of questions, and we’ve taken the time to address them through our informative blog over the past few years.
Introducing the Scandinavian Homes Advice Centre – a comprehensive compilation of all these insightful blog posts. Whatever area you’re interested in, you can find the answers to your questions right here!
If you can’t locate what you’re seeking, just drop us a message, and we’ll swiftly assist you in finding the perfect solution.
Can I build a house for £150,000?
Can I build a house for £150,000? Read on for some real-world topics you’ll need to factor in.
Fascinating Finnish Forest Facts and Figures
Amazing things happen in the forests of Finland! The country is home to an ever-growing, carefully stewarded and sustainable forestry sector. From our perspective, one of the most important aspects is that the forests supply our manufacturer with the timber they need...
How to insulate a log home
No matter how thick the walls of a log cabin home are, on its own, a log wall won’t meet UK building regulations if you're using your log building to live in. (Of course, if your log building is going to be used as a garage or a workshop, then log walls themselves...
Can I get a mortgage on a log home?
One of the questions we’re asked soon after we get chatting to people is “Can I get a mortgage on a log home?”. A log home is a significant investment, just like any home, and you’re very likely to need to borrow in order to finance your project. Several of our...
WINNERS AT THE BUILDIT AWARDS
We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that we have been awarded 'Best Self Build Under £300K’ at the 2024 Build It Awards! The award recognises our clients’ meticulous work over many evenings and weekends, which has resulted in a stunning and spacious family...
Modern Log Cabin Life
Why a modern log cabin? When you say the words ‘log cabin’, people generally imagine something rustic, tucked away in the woods, probably off grid and no running water, or they think about Center Parcs or similar holiday destinations. And it’s true, there are plenty...
How Long Does a Log Cabin Last?
We're often asked how long does a log cabin last, so to answer the question, we're going to take a little trip back through history. There are many, many different ways of using wood to build houses, and over the centuries, humans have tried them all. Some of these...
log home insurance
Our clients tell us that they don’t usually find difficulties getting log home insurance, nor do they find that it seems to be more expensive than insurance on a ‘conventional’ build. After all, a house built from solid timber will have to meet all of the same...
finding that perfect plot (and what to do when you find it!)
First Steps to Finding That Perfect Plot Decide on the area where you're planning on finding that perfect plot, and research it. It may sound obvious, but lots of people have a vague idea of wanting to live ‘in the Lake District’, which covers quite a large area where...
Going Off Grid
Thinking of building an eco-friendly self build house that’s completely off grid? Well, here’s some help to identify the things you need to think about, and some possible pitfalls to avoid when going off grid. We're not experts, so we may not have covered everything...
how much is a log home kit?
One of the first questions we’re often asked once people have had a look at our beautiful log homes is ‘how much is a Scandinavian log home kit?’. Or, alternatively ‘do you have a price list?’ and 'how much is a three- (or four-bedroom) home'. We’ve developed our...
Do you build houses or ship kits to Europe, USA, Australia/New Zealand?
Scandinavian Homes is a family owned, UK based company, and we import log home kits and offer a build service only within the UK. Planning and building regulations tend to differ significantly between countries, as do regulations about imports, tariffs and taxes. Even...
Can I Build a Granny Annexe in My Garden?
Many of us, especially older people, are starting to think differently about how we want to live our lives. Our older relatives still want to keep their independence, but some now also want to be closer to family in case they become less self-sufficient.
Do I need planning permission for a garden room?
One of the questions people usually ask when looking at putting an office, studio, gym, sauna or other building in their back garden is ‘Do I need planning permission for a garden room?’. The rules do change over time, and they also vary between England/Wales,...
A different approach to self build
At Scandinavian Homes, we look at building houses in a different way. We’re not a mass market housebuilder, throwing up dozens of homes on a site with little care what happens to them once we’ve sold them. We’re not an out-of-the-catalogue wooden box builder either....
What’s in Our Log Home Kits?
In today’s world, an environmentally friendly, energy efficient house is much more than a dream; it’s practically a necessity. With climbing energy prices, a home that doesn’t cost the earth to heat is on everyone’s wish list, and with one of our log home kits, you...
Health benefits of a scandinavian home
Wherever possible we also suggest using environmentally friendly finishing products such as paints and floor sealants when we build and complete your home. If you are finishing your home from a shell build, we can let you know which products we prefer to use. Timber...
The environmental impact of a scandinavian home
When you’re building your own home, you’re likely to be keenly aware of the impact of building on the environment. At Scandinavian Homes, we’re keen to help our customers reduce their carbon footprint in as many ways as possible (and of course save money over the long...
Is a log home a fire risk?
Regardless of what they are made from, all houses constructed in the UK must comply with the relevant fire safety regulations (there are separate building regulations for Scotland, England and Wales, and Northern Ireland but these are broadly similar). Much of the...
Can I get planning permission for one of your houses?
Yes and no, just like any other house. The right design in the right place will (or should) gain permission, however it is highly unlikely that you’d get permission for a log house with acres of glazing in a suburban street of brick or rendered houses. Think about the...
Do your houses comply with building regulations in the UK?
Yes, all our homes comply with, and often exceed, UK building regulations.
How energy efficient will my log home be?
All our log houses are manufactured in Finland where they have much greater extremes of temperature than the UK. They are designed to use as little energy as practicable in winter and remain cool in summer. You can specify as much depth of insulation as you want to...
Why should I buy a timber house if the cost is the same as bricks and mortar?
This depends on your own perception and whether you think bricks are “better”. Timber has a number of advantages over conventional build: It is a renewable resource. It has very low embodied carbon. It is much quicker to build in prefabricated timber and much less...
How can I get planning permission for my dream log home?
All new homes need to obtain planning permission, whether speculatively built by developers or commissioned by self-builders. Much misinformation abounds about timber houses not being regarded as permanent and therefore not needing planning permission. Don’t believe...
Can I Live In A Log Cabin All Year Round?
We’ve probably all seen pictures of a sturdy log cabin in a wood or perched on a snowy mountainside, and thought “Wow, that’s fantastic!” Judging by the reaction we get to our log houses, many of us dream of a lovely log home in a rural idyll. The ubiquitous log cabin...
Log Homes – Benefits and Drawbacks
Advantages and Disadvantages of Log Houses This is intended to answer the questions many of you ask about log homes, but which most companies shy away from and try their best to avoid answering. We have to admit that we too have been guilty of this in the past. After...
What is a Log House?
It might sound like an odd question. After all it’s obvious isn’t it? Most folks’ idea of a log house is what you’d normally call a log cabin, like these:You may love this style, but we wouldn’t expect planning to love it as much as you do. These days, log houses are...