Custom House Plans,
Frequently Asked Questions,
Cedar Homes, Post and Beam

Q: What are cedar home material packages and kits and how do Cedar Designs/Linwood Homes differ from other competitors?

A: A cedar homes material package and kit home are meant to package all the necessary precut materials needed to build your enclosed structure without having to worry about buying each piece individually. Cedar Designs/Linwood homes manufacture each area of your cedar house, precut for easy construction, and panelized the exterior wall systems as an option.

The custom house package offered is one of the most comprehensive cedar home kits available in the industry right down to the windows, doors, roofing, clips, nails, caulking, and adhesives.

Cedar Designs/Linwood Homes also stands out above the rest by offering top-quality, kiln dried, precut, and panelized framing materials with quality specifications, such as their 15″ rafters and laminated glulam beams, and select grade Canadian Western Red Cedar.

Window selections include vinyl, vinyl with wood jams, wood case, and wood case/metal clad from the largest window and door manufacturer in North America.

Interior products are made available through the Maple Homes division.

Q: What house plan styles of cedar homes do Cedar Designs offer?

A: Cedar Designs/Linwood Homes represent and build five different product lines, ranging from traditional styles, and timber frames, to log homes. Log homes can be built in full-round, D-profile (round on the outside, flat on the inside), and other profiles. Our cedar homes are designed as post and beam construction.

Q: What is post & beam construction and why is it so desirable?

A: Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs relies upon a post and beam architecture and construction to support the weight of the roof instead of conventional trussed, stick house construction. It can also be combined with conventional construction for cost and design efficiency.

This engineering system allows you to design your dream home with as many open space areas as desired without the interior wall supports that would ordinarily be needed, obstructing the view, and limiting the open effect. Click here to view the differences between Post & Beam vs Timber Frame.

Q: Can I design my own cedar home, or must Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs plans be used?

Once you have finalized your 3D Site-Specific Cedar Home Concept Design (house plan) and are ready to move ahead with your custom home project, you can take the next step in getting ready to build your dream home.

A: Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs can help you design that custom dream home you have always wanted. You are encouraged to use your own custom house plans and designs and do not charge extra for them.

You can submit competitors’ house plans or choose from ideas from the variety of house plans on Cedar Designs’ websites, a combined selection of over 500 house plans.

Many customers find the perfect design on Cedar Designs’ websites and modify the floor plan, dimensions, and square footage to meet their needs.

Q: What is so special about Western Red Cedar?

Once you have the necessary house plan approvals based on your construction drawings and foundation plans, you are ready to move to the next step in getting ready to build your custom cedar, post and beam home.

A: Western Red Cedar is recognized for its superior qualities outdoors. It is pitch free, fine-grained, and has natural preservative oils, which allows it to resist cracking, splitting, shrinking, rotting, and insect molestation including termites.

Western Red Cedar is graded by quality; number 1, number 2, premium, and select grades. Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs use only select grade Western Red Cedar, which is the highest quality, graded for its uniformity, beautiful grains, varied color, natural oil extraction, and clear or tight knot features.

Q: What is the cost of building such a quality home?

A: The average post and beam home material package and kit (blueprints included) costs between $50.00 and $70.00 per sq. ft. The cost of construction, including the material package, will vary by area, state, and country, but many owners/builders (one who does his own contracting) can finish the full construction for an additional $80.00 to $100.00 per sq. ft.

It is important to take into consideration the construction cost index for your specific area of your state.

Q: How can I get additional information on Cedar Designs/Linwood Homes?

A: If you would like additional information about any of our services and pricing, feel free to contact us at:

Cedar Designs
PO Box 1123
Carson, WA 98610
Tel: (800)-728-4474 or (509)-427-4944
Fax: (509)-427-8145
E-mail: info@cedardesigns.com
Web site: www.cedardesignshomes.com

Q: How long have you been in business?

A: Robert, Brian, and Riki Chodowski of Cedar Designs have been in the design and construction business full-time for over 30 years.

Q: What’s unique about Cedar Homes By Cedar Designs?

A: At Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs, we offer you choices, custom design (including hybrids), and comprehensive packages at an affordable cost.

Choices – As authorized dealers for Linwood Cedar Homes, Hampton Timber Frame Homes, Maple Homes, Country Heritage Homes, and Cedar Mill Log Homes, we offer the most options available anywhere.

You can build a cedar home from one of over 500 house plans or from a house plan custom designed for you.

Your cedar home can be post and beam with cedar siding, log, or timber frame, or you can “mix and match” these different building systems in your custom house plan to create a “hybrid home” — the possibilities are endless.

Finally, you can work with a contractor, build your own custom home, or contract out some of the work while doing the rest yourself. Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs can help you decide what’s best for you.

Custom Design – Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs can help you design your house “from scratch,” work with a plan you’ve already found, or you can select from hundreds of plans from Linwood, Hampton, and Cedar Mill Homes.

Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs can also modify a stock plan to better suit your needs and make the house uniquely yours. In addition, we can combine log, timber frame, and conventional elements to create a custom hybrid home for you.

Your custom home can be custom designed for you at no extra charge.

Cost – With so many options for materials, there’s a good chance you can build the house of your dreams within your budget.

Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs prices are among the lowest you’ll find anywhere for top-quality cedar homes.

Builders – Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs have our own team of exclusive Cedar Designs builders that may be hired to build your dream home to the lock-up stage generally a savings of 20-40% less than most area local builders.

Q: What materials are included in your cedar home packages?

A: Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs offer the most complete, high-quality cedar home material package and kits in the industry. The custom home material package and kit include all the materials you need to enclose your home, including framing materials, siding, windows, doors, roofing — even the nails, caulking, and adhesives.

These house packages also include design and construction blueprints.

Options include sunrooms and solariums, decking, and railings. We also offer cabinets, counters, floor coverings, hardwood floors, appliances, cultured stone, wood stoves, fixtures, and other optional interior products.

Cedar Homes by Cedar Designs’ interior designer can help you to select materials that suit your tastes and your budget.

Q: What materials are not included in your cedar homes material package?

A: House packages do not include the foundation, electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, and the interior items mentioned above, but are optional.

Q: Since your custom home packages come from Canada, will I be charged a tariff?

A: No. The tariff is applied to lumber only. Since our home packages contain precut lumber that is bundled with roofing, windows, doors, and other materials, they are considered “value-added” products and are not subject to the tariff.

Q: Can I see a custom model home?

A: Yes. Please contact or call Cedar Designs at (800) 728-4474 or (509) 427-4944 to make an appointment.