Lodge style homes are a popular choice for people who want to enjoy the rustic charm of a log cabin without sacrificing any of the modern amenities they’re used to. There are many features that set these homes apart from other designs. If you want to capture the essence of lodge home design, this article provides a list of 5 elements to incorporate into your plans.
What Makes A Lodge Style Home?
A log cabin, or lodge, is normally found in a picturesque setting, with the home blending naturally in the landscape. Though originally built as small, quaint structures made from the available materials in nature, today’s lodge homes range from 1,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet and beyond, and contain all modern conveniences.
They are usually built with a solid foundation of rock or concrete, contain large open spaces, lots of light, and wood beams or logs in the ceiling. If you love to hunt and fish, or just enjoy the great outdoors, this might be the perfect type of house for you and your family and friends to enjoy together.
Decide On An Architectural Style For Your Lodge
A lodge style home can be built in various ways. Some popular styles are listed below:
- Traditional
- Modern
- French Country
- Lodge/Western
- Rustic Luxury
What Are The 5 Features Critical To Each Of These Lodge Designs?
1. Log Or Wood Facade
Wood, in the form of large logs, beams, and slabs, is one of the features that make lodge style homes unique. This gives the home a rustic, lodge-like appearance that can’t be replicated with other types of materials.
2. Stone Accents
One of the best ways to add character and rustic charm to your lodge style home is to include stone accents. Stone is a natural material that can be used to create foundations, walls, pillars, fireplaces, and other features. Many lodge homes source their stone from quarries nearby for added authenticity.
3. Large Windows
Part of the romance of owning a lodge is its location. Often set near mountains, rivers, and lakes, you will want to bring as much beauty as possible into your cabin. Large expanses of glass are a critical component of log cabin design for that reason.
4. Decks And Porches
Porches and decks are another great way to add character and charm to your lodge home. They can provide a space for you to relax and enjoy the outdoors, and can also be used to extend your living space.
5. Roof Design
When it comes to the roof design of your home, there are many options. However, most log homes have a mixture of standard gable roofs combined with shed dormers over porches. Since many lodges are built in areas prone to snow, the roof pitch is often very steep. More modern designs may incorporate a hip roof.
What Are The Most Common Roof Coverings For A Lodge Home?
The exterior walls of most lodge homes are wood - either siding or logs - and the roofing materials should continue the theme of the rustic outdoors. The most common roofing materials found on a cabin are:
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are popular due to their accessibility in the market, their durability, and the fact that they are the least expensive roof covering to install. They are available in many colors and design patterns, and last anywhere from 15 to 30 years. However, they are prone to lifting and cracking when subjected to weather extremes, and often suffer damage during hail storms.
Metal
Available in many colors and designs, metal roofing panels withstand all types of weather. They are known to last 30 or more years and require little maintenance. One problem is that denting can be an issue if the metal is impacted during hail storms, or from other flying debris. Metal is also more expensive to install than asphalt, and if repairs are needed in a few years, it will almost be impossible to match the faded color.
Cedar Shakes
Made from natural wood, cedar shakes are the perfect complement to most lodge homes, as they naturally accent the logs and stones on the rest of the exterior. Their rustic composition and varying widths and thickness provide a natural design element that asphalt and metal cannot compete with. However, like metal, shakes are expensive to install. In addition, they require a lot of maintenance to fend off mold and mildew, and some locations will not allow them as roofing material unless they have been treated with fire-resistant chemicals.
Slate
Slate is beautiful, and another natural roofing product that would work well on a lodge home. However, the tiles are extremely heavy and usually require additional support to hold the weight. Slate is also expensive to purchase and install.
Synthetic Composite Roof Tiles
These roof tiles provide maximum durability and beauty, with the ability to mimic many natural roofing materials, such as cedar shake, clay, and slate. They can be less expensive to install than metal, slate, or natural shakes, and require almost zero maintenance over their lifetime. Synthetic composites are lighter than their slate or clay counterparts, so there’s no need to add additional structural support. Additionally, composites are usually made from recycled materials, which makes them eco-friendly.
Brava Manufactures State-Of-The-Art Composite Roof Tiles
Our synthetic composite roof tiles are the most desired roof tile material, without the disadvantages. Brava roof tiles perfectly mimic the variations found in natural roofing materials, providing the look you want without their associated problems, like weight and availability.
That means slate and clay roof tiles can be installed without worrying about the high cost of installation, maintenance, and repair. Brava composite roof tiles are available in 3 designs:
They have Class 4 impact resistance, Class A and C fire resistance, and a 50-year limited warranty. Our tiles are made from 100%-recycled materials and can be recycled again if you ever need to replace them. We also offer an almost unlimited color section for any of our tiles - including color blends.
Contact us today for free samples and see why Brava composite roof tiles will be the best choice to protect your lodge.
