After months or even years of searching, you’ve finally found the perfect site on a serene lake among dense pines. It’s time to build the lake home or cabin of your dreams, and the hardest part is over. Or is it?
The search for the right designer and builder for your lake home or cabin should take as much time as the search for the right location. And when you’re building that second or vacation home, having the luxury of time can make the process more enjoyable.
Take Your Time
“We weren’t under any pressure when we started our cottage on
Steve and his wife, Kathy, wanted the classic lake cottage that they remembered from their childhood vacations. “We had a lot of fun searching for cabins and land over a couple of years,” said Steve. “When this property—an abandoned resort with 9 cabins that I remember exploring as a kid—came up for sale, we knew it was right. The cabin on our two-acre lot had been decimated by a tornado, but we still wanted to keep the footprint small and build something with the integrity of the lake cottages we remembered.”
Do Your Homework
There’s a lot to be considered when building on a shoreline, whether it’s on a lake, stream or river. From septic system requirements, setback allowances, flood zone issues or tree removal laws to waterway protection ordinances, shoreline restoration incentives or erosion control, the information can be boggling. But not knowing the right information or who to consult can be devastating.
“You’ll probably want the land surveyed to know exactly what you are working with and your maximum buildable space,” says Paige Van Elzen of Thompson Homes Inc. in
That’s why it’s important to start the research process early before tearing down an existing cabin, cutting a single tree or moving the first mound of dirt, says Glen Johnson, president of Glen Johnson Construction, a
“Do your research, and start early. You might have to leave a wall of a tear-down up in order to meet a setback that is grandfathered in,” says Johnson, who has built custom homes in the St. Croix Valley for 30 years and recently finished a vacation home on Rice Lake, Wis., for a Hudson client. “The ordinances that apply around waterways are different from those on regular lots and acreage.”
Professional designers and architects can make the process easier. “A designer or architect should have the diligence to make sure that what is proposed can in fact be built, checking with all the municipality’s zoning and codes,” says Tim Mogck, a designer with Braden Construction of Houlton,
Local Know-How
The Metcalfs worked with Braden Construction who designed their cottage and works for T2 Architects in the Twin Cities. “It worked well even though Braden is located closer to our year-round home,” says Steve. “We started the build in September 2002 and it was beautiful weather. A couple of their employees lived further north, so they were able to have a little vacation while they worked—they built a fire pit and grilled out for lunch.”
While the Metcalfs selected a builder closer to home that their architect had worked with, a local builder will be very familiar with the variances that differ from lake to lake and have relationships with local suppliers and subcontractors, says Barb Ritzinger, executive officer of the Heart of the North Builders Association, based in
“You’ll want to ask a builder if they’ve worked with the local zoning boards, lake associations or the DNR on watershed issues that might pertain to your property since jurisdiction can change from lake to lake,” says Ritzinger.
Ritzinger says lakes differ in minimum setbacks, while others might have minimum elevations instead. “It might be a matter of a controlled height because the lake is damned,” she says. “You’ll get a lot of information if you talk with property owners on your particular lake as well as the local builders association which works with their members on continuing education and helps keep them up-to-date on zoning issues in the area.”
Licensed builders from the local association can provide a wealth of information particular to an area. “Asking questions is the primary way to ferret out local information,” says Tamilee Taylor-Detre, the executive director of the Arrowhead Builders Association. “Our web site (www.abamn.org) has a wealth of information and the National Association of Home Builders (www.nahb.org) web site has much information on best practices in hiring a builder.”
Occasionally situations will require very specialized knowledge, best acquired from a local contractor. “We do quite a bit of work that is water-access only,” says Earl Heisel of Northwoods Construction near
Green Knowledge
As green building gains momentum, more consumers are requesting those practices. For example, recycling or reuse of materials is a practice that consumers are exploring, especially in cabin tear-down situations.
“Customers are looking to save architectural elements, decent doors and other materials from the existing building,” says Van Elzen. “Unfortunately some cottages were built with castoff materials to begin with, so it would be more costly to keep it rather than to rebuild.”
Ritzinger notes that some Habitat for Humanity chapters accept reclaimed materials from builders and homeowners, and resell those materials through Habitat ‘Re-Stores’ salvage outlets. “Consumers are interested in this; it might take a little more time and effort but it’s worth it.”
And “up north,” energy use during winter is a continual concern. “We always encourage people to think about insulation, placement of the home to make the most of solar gain, and energy efficient windows,” says Van Elzen. “You really want to think about that on the lake, as there will be more wind than a regular city lot.”
Taylor-Detre agrees. “Green building is the new word in building today. In our area, we’ve seen some special permits for geo-thermal heating going under a lake.”
While an energy efficient fireplace using local river stone supplements a propane furnace while at the cottage, Metcalf regrets not installing geothermal or another passive heating system. “The drawback of a second home is the additional winter heating costs—you don’t want your cabin to freeze up when you’re not there. That is something I would prioritize if we were in the planning process as there are so many suppliers now.”
Brenda K. Bredahl is a freelance writer based out of Hudson, WI. Photo supplied by Glen Johnson Construction.
