Innholdsfortegnelse for Annual Buyers Guide 2020 i Log and Timber Home Living

Every journey begins with taking that first step. In the custom log home ownership universe, your odyssey begins with the all-important planning process. From acquiring land to securing financing to deciding what log species and shape appeals to you, these are all vital things to know at the onset. What are the specific steps toward making these decisions? We wish we could give you an exact path to follow. But the fact is that everyone’s vision of a log home varies and each decision impacts the next, so your road to log home ownership will be unique. What we can give you is the guidance you need to help you navigate these choices and stay on course. That’s exactly why the Annual Buyer’s Guide edition of Log Home Living exists.…

No two log homes are alike. Even if a home is built from the same floor plan, invariably there are custom touches that make each version of that design delightfully personalized. Because of this, answering the question, “What does a log home cost?” is nearly impossible. But we can help you plan. According to lenders, builders and manufacturers in the log homes industry, a historical analysis of their loans for log home buyers reveals average percentages devoted to specific materials and labor costs. Use these percentages to allocate your budget.…

Now that you have a better handle on wood species, profile and package options, it’s time to take that next crucial step: Choosing the company who will craft your log home. In the world of log home design and production, the team that cuts and mills your logs is much more than a supplier — they’re your partner. So with a wide array of highly qualified log home manufacturers and handcrafters out there, how do you know which one to choose? The differences among log home companies go well beyond the looks of their homes. Each one offers diverse floor plans, wood species, log styles and other components that determine the finished product. In addition, each one believes its way reigns supreme and will do its level best to convince…

Every home, no matter what materials comprise its makeup, requires maintenance. A log home’s honey-do checklist is just a little different from a conventional brick or vinyl-sided house. Designing it strategically and following your maintenance regimen from the start will go a long way to keeping your log walls looking and performing like new. Follow these nine smart steps to make short work of your log home’s upkeep: 1 Plan it properly. Reducing your home’s maintenance begins with how it sits on your land. Site your home to combat prevailing weather patterns and slope the ground away from the house for good drainage. Keeping your home’s foundation at least 6 inches above grade (experts suggest as much as 24 inches in some areas) before your first log course will combat…

Like any house, your log home’s exterior has to be washed every now and then to keep it looking gorgeous. For the best results, use a pressure washer with a fan tip to prevent gouging the wood, starting at the top and working your way down. For even more cleaning power, many companies make cleansers designed specifically for log homes. Be sure to ask your log home provider which types of cleaning products are compatible with your home’s wood and stain/sealant system.…

There are two kinds of cabin fever. Gayle and Evan Peterson had the good kind — the kind that whispers a memory and teases of the future. A fever that starts low-grade, intensifying to the point that owning a log cabin is the only cure. “Growing up, my family spent summers in a log cabin on a lake in New Jersey,” Evan recalls. “There were many fond memories of our summers in the cabin. Three boys sleeping in one bedroom can be entertaining, if not restful.” After they were married, Gayle and Evan, who had been sweethearts through high school and college, were drawn to waterfront weekend escapes with their own boys, boating and swimming in the lake just as Evan had as a child. Some 40 years later, as…

For more than three decades, people have turned to Log Home Living’s Annual Buyer’s Guide to help them plan and build their log homes. But did you know we offer even more ways to get educated? Outside of these pages (whether you’re reading our print or digital editions), we offer additional resources, both live and virtual. For starters, attend one of our Log & Timber Home Shows and/or the Log & Timber University, where you can meet the people who design, manufacture and build the most amazing log homes you’ve ever seen. These traveling two- to three-day events are held across the United States and offer a rare opportunity to visit scores of industry professionals, from log home producers to furniture makers, all under one roof. Free workshops at each show…

Many people assume obtaining insurance is one of the last holes to fill in the building-your-dream-log-home puzzle. Unfortunately, underwriters can halt the project if it doesn’t meet their guidelines, and that could spell trouble. The time to reach out to your insurance agent is before you’ve purchased land, signed a contract or written a check to anyone, says Fred Roberts of LogHomesInsurance.com, a Fayetteville, Texas-based independent agency representing numerous “A” rated state and national insurance carriers. Here are Fred’s tips for a sound insurance strategy: 1 Ensure that all contractors who set foot on your building site are licensed, bonded and insured, including liability and worker’s comp. Obtain copies of their policies and request to be listed as a certificate holder. This ensures you’ll be notified if coverage is cancelled.…

Tour a milled home on page 66 Machine-Milled Option 1. Cut to a uniform shape and size.2. A beveled edge or tongue-and-groove can be used to interlock logs. Swedish coping is also an option.3. Logs are typically stripped of their bark for consistent grain and color.4. Corner lengths are uniformly cut for a precise fit and tidy appearance.5. Chinking is often unnecessary but can be used for aesthetic purposes. Handcrafted Option 1. Logs are irregularly shaped and vary in size and diameter.2. Each log is cut to conform to the one beneath it.3. You can typically see marks from the adze and drawknives the craftsmen use.4. Corner lengths are usually not uniform.5. Sealant or chinking adheres the logs to each other and seals gaps to make the home weather-tight. Half-Log Option…

A home’s design should reflect the personality and lifestyle of its occupants. That’s obvious, right? But devising a floor plan that actually satisfies this requirement can prove something of a challenge. There’s a tendency for people to blindly follow current design trends whether they work for their daily routine or not. They think they are taking the right approach, only to be disappointed as to how the size and flow of the home functions for them after they move in. Don’t let this happen to you! Here are seven simple tactics you can take to design a log home that fits your needs now and down the line. 1 Start with Stock. Unless you’ve been fantasizing about your log home’s layout for decades, when it comes to drafting an initial…

Small For many log home buyers, this single-level plan hits the sweet spot in terms size and amenities and has an intriguing layout, complete with an owner’s wing. Model: The Tellico Square Footage: 1,504 Log Provider/Designer: StoneMill Log & Timber Homes Medium This two-story design has a quaint cabin feel with the bonus of additional square footage. The wraparound porch/deck is a low-cost way to expand your living space. Model: The Craftsman Square Footage: 2,094 Log Provider/Designer: Yellowstone Log Homes Large Five bedrooms and a dedicated game room make this home perfect for an extended-family retreat. The lower level is wide open, so everyone feels like they’re part of the action. Model: Woodland Creek Square Footage: 3,225 Log Provider/Designer: 1867 Confederation Log & Timber Frame X-Large The lap of luxury…

Since every log home design is as unique as its owners, it stands to reason that no two are built the same way (or according to the same timetable) either. However, there is something of a standard order of operations to the entire process. Use this overview as your custom-construction agenda. FIRST THINGS FIRST Preparing to build a log home can take anywhere from several months to a few years. Finding the right location, choosing a log home provider and a floor plan, estimating costs, arranging contractors and securing financing are all grouped into what professional builders call “pre-construction activities.” Although thorough planning during the pre-construction phase paves the way for a smooth build, the real excitement begins the day you break ground and start turning your log home dream…

“Our farm is unconventional and so is our home — a very fitting pairing,” observes April Smith-Patterson, who along with husband, Nick, are the proud owners of Southern Grace Farmhouse, an exceptional example of log-and-timber hybrid design and craftsmanship. Log construction was the couple’s obvious choice since April’s parents, Doug and Janie Smith, were the founders of Honest Abe Log Homes, and she’d grown up in the very first log house the 40-year-old, family-owned company produced. Completed in 2018, the Pattersons’ own house is an achievement for the company, too, as it’s the first to be built from a new 10-inch round log introduced by Honest Abe in 2017. “From the beginning Nick and I knew we wanted something different,” April says. “When most people hear ‘log home,’ they immediately…

The 40 log home companies—both manufacturers and handcrafters—listed in this directory are advertisers in this issue. The companies are given the opportunity to write their own listings, which allows readers to make comparative judgments based on the producers’ own words. (We do reserve the right to edit listings and challenge any claims made.) It isn’t possible to guarantee that all log home producers listed are quality companies that will always satisfy customers. We do, however, reserve the right to refuse to list companies with histories of consumer complaints. We also encourage you to contact us with unsatisfactory experiences you’ve had with log home companies. Buying Advice We do not rate or recommend individual companies. We believe the information provided in this publication should adequately prepare buyers to select companies and…

1 Consider What You Love As you begin planning your log home, your hobbies should play a key role in where you build. Select a region close to the activities you like, whether it’s skiing, fishing, hunting or hiking. With your favorite pastimes as your compass, seek out conducive pieces of land, whether they’re perched atop a mountain, along the lake shore or deep within the forest. 2 Look at Emerging Markets According to a 2019 report from Forbes, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio and Minnesota rank in the top 20 hottest real estate markets. With loads of available and diverse terrain, plus proximity to national forests, large lakes, world-class fishing and golf courses, these areas are ideal for log home living. However, with a sizzling market can come higher price…

Log homes are unique in the housing market — that’s obvious. But they’re not only uncommon in the way they look, they’re also different in the way they’re sold. Scores of companies sell log homes, but they do so in their own way. Although wood is the primary construction material, what each company does to the logs makes its homes stand out from others. Even homes made from the same logs for the same floor plan are likely to turn out differently This variety appeals to many buyers who welcome the opportunity to create a distinctive, personalized home. To cater to this specialized consumer demand, two entirely different groups of log home producers have emerged: manufacturers and handcrafters. Their methods differ, but their goal remains the same: to provide the…

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to start researching and visiting specific log home companies to find the perfect partner for your home. It’s helpful to use log home magazines as a starting point in your research to get a feel for the key players in the industry. Visit your favorite companies’ web sites and request information from them, in the form of brochures, plans books, catalogs or videos. Narrow your list to a few key contenders. Your log home’s cost is directly related to the nature of the package you choose; however, package components vary. They can range from a pile of raw logs from a local sawmill to a completely finished home. In order to accurately compare packages from one company to the next,…

If there’s one person who can make or break the log home experience for you, it’s your builder. No matter how expertly your log home company has prepared each element of your package, without a qualified person and his team to assemble those pieces, you could be headed for a headache (or worse, a heartache) if your home isn’t properly constructed according to the producer’s instructions. For a smooth hiring process, commit to our five easy steps to building success. Soon you’ll be on your way to building this essential relationship — and, of course, the log home you’re longing for. 1 Gather a list of names. Make it easy on yourself and start your builder search with your log provider. Although some companies won’t recommend a specific builder (unless…

In conventional construction, a structure’s weight is supported through a web of stick framing and targeted load-bearing interior walls. But a log home works a little differently. Its structural support rests almost entirely on its perimeter log walls, so it’s critical that they are built with precision. The load-bearing surfaces are known as the horizontal surfaces. These surfaces form the top and bottom of the log profile, or its shape as viewed from the end. The sides of logs are known as its visible surfaces and define the look of the logs when stacked. There are many different horizontal interface designs to account for the natural tendency of logs to shrink, swell and twist as they dry (for examples, turn to page 26). Wood species react differently during their seasoning…

Rest assured that log homes are no more prone to termite, powder-post beetle or carpenter bee infestation than an average stick-built home. But to help keep bugs at bay, consider pre-treating your logs with a borate-based solution. Derived from the mineral sodium borate, this compound is often used as an ingredient in laundry soap and as a fire retardant. It’s odorless and non-corrosive but proves lethal to wood-eating insects by disrupting their digestive process. It also adds protection against the fungi that cause wood rot. If the thought of creepy-crawlies around your log home still makes you uneasy, consider this: If insects should decide that your log home is a tasty treat, all of the wood is exposed (as opposed to a stick-built home, where the 2-by-4s are hidden behind…

At more than 11,000 square feet, it’s no secret that Jim and Susie have a big house. And, if you spend more than a few minutes with the couple, you’ll quickly find out they’ve got big hearts to match. No one knows that better than the 17 teenagers from the local Boys and Girls Club who attended a week-long summer camp at the couple’s lakeside home this past year. During the week, the house bustled with the usual pursuits — boating, swimming, fishing and campfires — but what made the activities extra-special was that they were being experienced for the first time. “These kids had never had those opportunities,” says Susie. “They’d never made a s’more, been on a boat or held a fishing pole, and through a lot of…