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Small Cabin Forum / Properties / restrictions on building log house in Ontario
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miket
Member
# Posted: 24 Jan 2014 04:34
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Great site first time posting... I spoke to my local log supplier Ottawa Montreal area he's getting me logs for small project back yard cabin however he says if you are building a house in Ontario now the logs have to be average 14inches to get permit. I think it's something to do with the R value...more government in your face...I was hoping to be mortgage free in a few years but it seems to get harder and harder to escape the banks...anyone hear of the above..cheers

bldginsp
Member
# Posted: 24 Jan 2014 08:29
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I know nothing of the laws in Canada, but I can tell you that wood is a poor insulator, so log cabins are fairly inefficient in terms of energy use. If you build with logs of lesser diameter in a very cold climate you will be committing yourself to high fuel costs for the life of the building.

Whether the government has the right to tell you not to do it is another question.

Rossman
Member
# Posted: 24 Jan 2014 09:45
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Quoting: miket
I think it's something to do with the R value.


I think this is exactly it. When I was talking to my building inspector about our new build, he was saying the govt is working to move the code to be all about "net-zero" houses that requires almost no energy to keep warm and run.

old243
Member
# Posted: 24 Jan 2014 10:09
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get in touch with the local building inspector. I don't know what the code says . Would think they would be more interested in structural, is this a Bunkie , or a storage building? If you are building it as a garage or storage , The regulations might be different. If so build a storage building or garage until you improve it. old243

razmichael
Member
# Posted: 24 Jan 2014 11:05
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It is change to the national building code that demands a better overall energy efficiency for all homes. For those interested here is a link to a description and mini faq New Rules

It will certainly have an impact but it does allow for the reduced RSI (this is the metric version of R value - who knew?) in a wall (up to a point) as it can be made up for in things like more insulation in the attic.

miket
Member
# Posted: 24 Jan 2014 12:51
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Thanks razmichael for the helpful link. I'll be getting some white pine logs next week to build a bunkie in the back of my property.
I was looking to get as much info as possible before I buy land and build a log house on it.

soundandfurycabin
Member
# Posted: 25 Jan 2014 04:59
Reply 


Will you be living in the log house full time? If not then you might be able to classify it as a seasonal use cabin. Check your building code to see if it contains the following:

Section 9.25.2.1 - Required Insulation
(1) All walls, ceilings and floors separating heated space from unheated space, the exterior air or the exterior soil shall be provided with thermal insulation...

If you call it a seasonal use cabin then a heating system isn't required. And if you don't have a heating system, you won't have any walls separating heated space from unheated, therefore no insulation is required. You can always install a heater later. Technically when you add a heater later, you're also supposed to add the missing insulation, but what the government doesn't know won't hurt them.

The gotcha is that building departments know this trick, and they will probably make you get a covenant on the title stating that you won't live in it full-time.

miket
Member
# Posted: 27 Jan 2014 05:22
Reply 


The bunkie is just for fun and good practice for the main log house later. This will be a full time dwelling . I love the house I'm in right now but it's getting time to downsize and get rid of the mortgage.
I took a log home building course a few years ago and as I still have the tools etc... maybe it's time to put this to good use.
East of Ottawa there are still some areas that have reasonably priced land and friendly building inspectors.
I do hate red tape but that's life!

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 28 Jan 2014 17:53 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
Reply 


Maybe go "D" logs, then fir in the inside, and add insulation plumbing and wiring. But it wont have that nice round log look which is the coolest part inside on a log home IMHO.

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