We just purchased a 1936 log cabin on the lake. We love it. The only problem is some of the logs need to be repaired, and the cottage should be lifted and leveled. The back seems to have sunk over time. We spoke to a contractor, and he said he would use a hydraulic lift and shimmy it up slowly until it's leveled. Can you give some suggestions and some idea how to replace some logs? One other thing: the septic hasn't been used in more than three years. Could this be a problem?

To level the home, look at the foundation first. Determine that the foundation is not settling unevenly before you jack up the house. If it is the foundation, you must jack up the house and replace it. For this type of work, hire a contractor with expertise not only with log homes, but also in placing a new foundation under an existing home. You can check the foundation by taking a level to the top of it and seeing how level it is. Look for cracks that are wide at the top of the crack and thin at the bottom of the crack. This type of crack will more than likely be structural due to uneven settlement. The contractor must take out a building permit for the work. Please do not skip that step - it can be some of the best money spent. You will get the help you need as well as an extra set of expert eyes on the job to make sure that it complies with local building codes. The other problem could be the logs. They may have settled, which all log homes go through due to ageing and drying. This can be solved, but again I would suggest hiring a company that specializes in log homes to look at your home. This is not a DIY job. As for the septic system, if there are no odours in the home and no black sewage on top of the septic bed, the system is more than likely okay, as long as the previous owners had the system regularly checked and maintained. If you're in doubt, have a septic company check to see if the tank is full, and have them inspect the septic bed. If they find any problems, and it requires repair, this also requires a building permit. A licensed septic contractor must do the work. Check with your local building department; they may be able to give you a list of names of local licensed septic contractors.