Log homes have traditionally been found in the more wooded, natural and rural environments. We’ve found over the last several years that they are not exclusive to these areas. They are cropping up in the farm communities and fit just about anywhere. You can build your log home anywhere if the local zoning or covenants allow. Regardless of the type of construction planned, the property selected significantly affects the style and design of the log home. In the rolling hills of Western South Dakota, terrain has to be considered in design, as well as in functional aspects that play into the long term planning of the home. For example I want to know which way and how much the wind blows, the slope of the land, the amount and direction of the sunlight exposure on the site in relationship to the window placement. Other factors to consider are the covenants or developmental restrictions that may be in place. Lastly, we need to consider the topography and view as we consider how the design develops. The view in spring or summer will be considerably different in the fall and winter.
Ideally we want to be able to visit the potential home site with the client before the land is actually purchased. I want to make a personal visit to the site to see that the design we have in mind is going to suit the site.
Another significant factor in the selection of land is the septic system. The state of South Dakota now regulates all septic systems and this is a good thing. Optimally before the land is purchased a perk test should be completed. This along with other factors could significantly affect the cost of a septic system. If the cost of a septic system is significantly higher than anticipated, it may be prudent to select a different parcel of land rather than compromise the design budget.
What is a Perk test?
The percolation test is designed to determine the suitability of a site for a subsurface private sewage disposal system (i.e. septic system). More specifically, a percolation test measures the ability of the soil to absorb liquid. Septic system designers use the results of percolation tests to properly construct septic systems.
The percolation tests are designed to simulate conditions in a septic system. The percolation test consists of a hole 6-12 inches in diameter dug in the area of the proposed septic system. The depth of this hole varies depending on the soils encountered but it is generally not greater than 24 inches. The hole is initially filled with water (presoak) in an attempt to saturate the soil, allowed to drain away and then refilled with approximately 12 inches of water. The rate at which the water drops in the hole is measured at intervals over a period of time ranging from 30-60 minutes. The uniform slowest rate of drop of the water level over a measured time interval is converted to minutes per inch and used as a basis of design in determining the septic system size. For example, if the water dropped uniformly 1\4 inch every five minutes the rate would be 20 minutes per inch. The Health Code provides a simple table that determines the size of the system based on the measured perk rate and the number of bedrooms in the home. The greater the number of bedrooms and the slower the percolation rate, the larger the system required. Commercial systems are sized using the perk rate and projected estimates of water usage in gallons per day.
