For buildings intended for use as family homes, holiday lets or used as offices - then the answer is yes, your project will require Planning Permission and Approval. 

In Scotland there is an additional element in the form of a Building Warrant - see our guide on our Downloads Page for more information on the process in Scotland.

Yes, as a new Family, Retirement or Holiday Home/let, will need to be compliant with current Building Regulations in England and Scotland. But don't worry, most Building Regulations are taken care of in the Planning and Construction phases - such as ensuring the correct use of safety glass in windows and doors, electrics, plumbing, etc and of compliance with U Values.

Note in Scotland the rules are different and you need to prove compliance before work commences.

As in the previous section, the process in Scotland is somewhat different and will require you to use the services of approved specialists to ensure your project complies with all relevant stipulations. Check our useful guide on our Downloads Page.

If your building is below 30 m2 in size then Building Regulations do not normally apply.

When looking at your site, you need to consider vehicular access for the various deliveries that will attend your site?

This will include concrete deliveries, delivery of your timber log building and cranes required to lift logs and roofing into position (amongst others).

Take account of access from the highway, trees, bridges, inclines, streams - anything that could possibly prevent easy access?

There may be more than one delivery for your home and delivery is by articulated vehicle

Many!

Warm in winter - cooler in summer.

Log homes have a healthy internal atmosphere.

Use natural materials.

Tried and tested building method.

Longevity - 100 years plus.

Timber is hygroscopic and both absorbs and releases moisture - making your home a healthier place in which to live and work.

Lower embodied CO2 and with captured CO2 for the life of the building - it's better for the environment, better for you.

Easily recycled at the end of a very long life.

The short answer is yes possibly, but it can be difficult to make direct comparisons.

A log building is a lighter structure and so requires less digging out for the foundations and therefore less material and less waste.

Many buildings are weathertight in around 28 days or less.

Reduced architects fees - we are your designer and engineer.

You do not need the services of plasterers, carpenters, plumbing and electrical works take less time as plumbing and cabling routes can be prepared in the factory.

Worth noting also that, as a factory built home, you have much greater control of your budget!

All said, the final price is always relative to the size and complexity of your build and some costs are the same - services for example, whatever the nature of your build.

First, yes, timber burns but, the thickness of logs used in our homes means that the surface carbonises or chars and this helps prevent the spread of fire.

A log home will be safer in fire than a timber frame home for example as we use "massive" timber that should ensure the building structure remains standing, giving your family time to safely exit. Traditional builds are suspect as they use timber sections to support the roof for example often leading to collapse in the early stages of fire.                                                                   

Second, where required by Building Regulations treatments exist to coat the exposed timber surfaces in a fire retardant treatment that gives the structure a Class 0 Fire Rating - surface Spread of Flame. This is a once in a lifetime treatment and delivers permanent protection.

Unfortunately, in the UK Timber Log Homes are classed as "Non-Standard Construction" so High Street Mortgage Lenders are less likely to be interested - they may require structural warranty insurance to be in place?

We can provide you with details of lenders who may be able to offer suitable mortgages, but lenders can be readily found online and this is no different from most bespoke build projects. Find details on our suppliers page for Mayflower, specialists in mortgages and insurers for timber buildings .

There are an increasing number of lenders and brokers aiming their products at builds that are more environmentally friendly and log homes certainly fit that bill.

Your new family or holiday home is going to need water and waste, an electricity supply, telecoms (add a gas connection if required).

You will need to contact the Network Operators in your region to arrange for your favoured operator to connect you and don't forget, this will start with a temporary supply whilst works are underway on site.

By this point you should have arranged insurance for your site covering the entire site and building process.

This will be determined by the Planning Process - specifically soil type, trees, drains and then building size.

Foundations for your home - a log home is a much lighter structure than more traditional building types and can save you money with less spoil removal and shallower foundations.

It is important that you use the right foundations for your build - a geotechnical study is a good way to assess your type of foundation and is a requirement under planning in the UK.

Once you have finalised your design then you can share the plans we provide you with to allow your favoured services companies to bring their services into position in readiness for your foundations to be laid.

From the Signed Contract to the date of loading takes approximately 16 weeks, a 30% deposit is taken by week 2.

A loading week is fixed by week 5 and Main Drawing Approval should be fixed by week 7, including plumbing and electrical schematics, after this no changes can be made to your order.

Drawings and Foundation Approval is scheduled for week 10, payment of the balance is set at week 11.

Your order is released for production by week 14 and delivery information scheduled by week 14 with loading taking place by the end of week 16.

Delivery to site is subject to shipping and customs clearance.

The build process typically takes between two and six weeks to reach to a weathertight condition, depending on the build size and complexity and disregarding any site issues.

Kontio vehicles are usually equipped with cranes to off-load and our installation team(s) will arrange for suitable crane hire to move the log beams into place, the price of which is included in Eestipod Lifestyle Supply and Install package.

Your log home has no need for plastering so the move into second fix starts once you have a weathertight structure.

Electrics & plumbing, all electrical and plumbing aervices are channelled into your building during manufacture for connection on site by your chosen electrical and plumbing contractors.

With Kontios Smart Log technology there is no settling period unlike traditional log homes. 

It should be noted that as a self-build project the building shell as supplied by Kontio will be subject to VAT - our useful guide on reclaiming the VAT element can be found on our Downloads Page.

Assumes you are using a traditional method of building.

• Costs per square metre range from £1,800 to £3,000, depending on size and design
• 3 bedroom average cost - £286,000
• 4 bedroom average cost - £358,125

Build times are a large part of these costs with periods upwards of 6-12 months for a simple build to 12-18 months for larger, more complex builds.

For Kontio using Smart Log < 4months including second fix for most buildings. So considerable savings can be made with less time spent on site.

Size, design complexity will affect build costs but typically the average costs for a timber frame home are as follows:

• Average cost per square metre - £2,000
• 3 bedroom home - £240,000
• 4 bedroom home - £294,500

For timber frame, walls need plastering, plumbing and electrical works take longer.

No plastering in a log home and channeling for plumbing/electrics is done in the factory. Fewer trades on site, fewer visits and typical build times less than 4 months to completion of second fix.

Making use of Kontio Smartlog technology saves time over conventional logs where settling will occur requiring tighening of the structure.

With no settling second fix can proceed at a faster pace - kitchen, bathrooms, fitted bedroom furniture etc. saving time, money and, getting you into your property sooner.

Smartlog technology allows you to include feature elements project as there is no settling - this vastly enhances design choice.