A cabin deep in the woods is like something out of a fairytale. Private, secluded, and surrounded by the beauty of nature, a log cabin is like paradise for many. As a cabin owner, you might find that it’s a good idea to lift your cabin, and this might be for a variety of reasons. Below are seven tips for lifting your cabin home that will help you navigate the process with ease.
Clear a Path for Lifting Equipment
Most cabins are built in secluded places deep in the woods where its residents can enjoy the peace that nature offers. If this is true of your cabin, you may have to put in extra time and energy to ensure there’s a clear path for the lifting equipment. For example, if your cabin is situated in the heart of a forest, you might need to shore up the road to your cabin. If there are any narrow spots in the path, any low-hanging branches over the road, or maybe even extremely narrow segments of your driveway to your cabin, you will need to address those. Talk with your lifting contractor about the equipment they’ll bring in to lift your cabin and ensure that the path to your home is cleared and wide enough to accommodate it all.
Go for a Natural-Looking Lift
Some of the hallmarks of a cabin home are the beautiful, robust timbers that comprise the walls of the structure. When you’re planning a lift for your cabin, work with your contractor so that the lift looks as natural as possible.
For example, you don’t want to see concrete beams or steel pilings. Your contractor should execute the lift, providing structural integrity without compromising the natural log look of your cabin. When you drive up to your cabin after it’s been lifted, you want it to look like it belongs in nature.
Lift High Enough to Add a Basement or Crawlspace
What’s the reason you’ve decided to lift your cabin? Protection from potential flooding from a nearby river? Want to get your home off the ground so you can avoid being snowed in? If you’re going to go through the process of lifting your home—regardless of the reason—you should consider adding a basement.
A basement is a great way to add square footage and value to your log cabin without compromising the rustic, natural look of your log cabin. Additionally, cabins don’t typically boast a lot of storage. Adding a basement or a crawlspace will give you a ton of extra storage without adding onto your cabin horizontally or putting a shed on your property.
Insulate, Insulate, Insulate!
Cabins are notorious for lacking central heating and AC. When it’s cold outside, your cabin will be cold inside. That is, until you crank up the wood burning stove! If you’ve decided to lift in order to add a basement, we recommend you insulate that space.
You’re already operating without heat. A basement is going to be especially chilly simply due to the fact that it’s underground. While you have a contracting team building in your basement, go the extra mile and make sure your addition is really well insulated.
Protect Against Pests
Your log cabin is, as the name suggests, made of tree logs. Because of that, insects like ants, termites, carpenter bees, and even woodpeckers want to make your home their own. It’s important that you take proactive steps to protect your cabin from these pests, and during your cabin’s lift is a perfect time to do that.
While your cabin is in the air is a great time to have a pest control company come out to do an inspection. Or if you’d rather do it yourself, there are plenty of options for protecting your home from an infestation. From carpenter bee kits to fumigation to manual pest prevention, like filling in cracks in your logs, there are many ways to protect your cabin against pests. And there’s no better time to inspect for possible entry points than when your cabin in cleared of decking, landscaping, and other things that might usually block your view of your cabin’s exterior.
Consider a New Foundation
When you’re planning to lift your cabin, consider installing a new foundation. Many cabins are old and rustic—one of the draws of log cabins. But with age come potential for deterioration, especially if you own an older cabin that was built by the original owners. It’s worth your time and resources to hire an expert to conduct a foundation inspection. If need be, you can utilize your lift and have a new foundation put in so you can enjoy your log cabin for years and years or even boost the resale value when the time comes.
Don’t DIY Your Lift
Most important of all, don’t ever DIY your cabin lift. You’ll find many sites online explaining how to lift your home yourself. This is never a safe option, but hiring professional lifting contractors is! DeVooght House Lifters are the authority on house lifting and structural elevation services. We have the experience, equipment, and know-how to safely and effectively perform your cabin’s lift. Our team has years of experience lifting cabins just like yours. You can trust that your home is in the best hands when you choose to work with our team!
Conclusion
There’s a lot that goes into lifting your cabin home. But working with professional lifting contractors makes the process much easier. When you know what to expect and can trust your contracting team, lifting your log cabin can be a truly wonderful experience that you’ll benefit from for as long as you own your home!