We love log homes but have nixed them for our retirement house for maint/settling reasons(even though it would look perfect on our mountain lot). So we have decided on a post & beam home, exposed timbers, SIP.
Our house was going to be a 1 1/2 story log home w/shed dormer, two small dormers, full porch- 2000 sq. ft. Instead in addition to beautiful timbers inside, we'll add real wood on the porch posts, front door, anywhere it'll be covered and protected. We thought we'd do a concrete block foundation and cover it(3/4 will be exposed with cultured stone. We want a slate look shingle roof..so that will be lighter than metal.

We're now working on the siding decision. Stucco, vinyl- yuk! Brick...not a mountain look. What about concrete siding? James Hardie makes a rough cedar look plank & shingles (I have a sample and seen a home locally with it and it looks great). It does need to be painted (but paint lasts a really long time). It's not cheap but it is NO MAINTENANCE (unless gets damaged) , no rot, no mildew, no bugs (and fireproof we're in fire suseptible area). Will the timberframe support all the concrete? Anything we need to know about structurally before we decide?